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Yuan D, Chen W, Jin S, Li W, Liu W, Liu L, Wu Y, Zhang Y, He X, Jiang J, Sun H, Liu X, Liu J. Co-expression of immune checkpoints in glioblastoma revealed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:1534-1546. [PMID: 38633388 PMCID: PMC11021796 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most malignant tumors of the central nervous system. The pattern of immune checkpoint expression in GBM remains largely unknown. We performed snRNA-Seq and spatial transcriptomic (ST) analyses on untreated GBM samples. 8 major cell types were found in both tumor and adjacent normal tissues, with variations in infiltration grade. Neoplastic cells_6 was identified in malignant cells with high expression of invasion and proliferator-related genes, and analyzed its interactions with microglia, MDM cells and T cells. Significant alterations in ligand-receptor interactions were observed, particularly between Neoplastic cells_6 and microglia, and found prominent expression of VISTA/VSIG3, suggesting a potential mechanism for evading immune system attacks. High expression of TIM-3, VISTA, PSGL-1 and VSIG-3 with similar expression patterns in GBM, may have potential as therapeutic targets. The prognostic value of VISTA expression was cross-validated in 180 glioma patients, and it was observed that patients with high VISTA expression had a poorer prognosis. In addition, multimodal cross analysis integrated SnRNA-seq and ST, revealing complex intracellular communication and mapping the GBM tumor microenvironment. This study reveals novel molecular characteristics of GBM, co-expression of immune checkpoints, and potential therapeutic targets, contributing to improving the understanding and treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingyi Yuan
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenting Chen
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shasha Jin
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanmei Liu
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yinhao Wu
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongbin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Liu
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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2
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Liu S, Ji F, Ding Y, Ding B, Feng S, Brennick C, Lin H, Zhang T, Shen Y. VISTA: A promising target for overcoming immune evasion in gynecologic cancers. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112655. [PMID: 38986302 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but has shown limited efficacy in gynecologic cancers. VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation), a member of the B7 family, is emerging as another checkpoint that regulates the anti-tumor immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. This paper reviews the structure, expression, and mechanism of action of VISTA. Furthermore, it highlights recent advances in VISTA-blocking therapies and their potential in improving outcomes for patients with gynecologic cancers. By understanding the role of VISTA in mediating the immune evasion of gynecologic tumors, we can develop more effective combinatory treatment strategies that could overcome resistance to current ICB therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Feng Ji
- Department of Clinical Science and Research, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Bo Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Songwei Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Cory Brennick
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Clinical Science and Research, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Yang Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China.
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3
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Jin S, Liu W, He X, Zhang Y, Chen W, Wu Y, Liu J. VISTA deficiency exerts anti-tumor effects in breast cancer through regulating macrophage polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112365. [PMID: 38820964 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence had showed that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a tumor-promoting M2 phenotype which could drive pathological phenomena. In breast cancer, TAMs are abundantly present and may play an important role in the development of breast cancer. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel inhibitory checkpoint and immunotherapy target for tumor through regulating immune response. However, its effects on macrophages have not been investigated, which was also the focus of this study. Here, the scRNA-seq data further revealed that VISTA was highly expressed in multiple macrophage subclusters. In vitro experiments showed that the absence of VISTA enhanced the M1 polarization of macrophages, inhibited the M2 polarization of macrophages and the proliferation and phagocytosis of 4 T1 cells induced by M2-CM. VISTA regulated the activation of STAT1 and STAT6 signaling pathways in the process of macrophage polarization. In vivo experiments demonstrated that VISTA deficient mice exhibited reduced tumor growth, possibly due to the increase of M1 macrophages and the decrease of M2 macrophages. In summary, our study is the first to reveal the effect of VISTA on macrophages in breast cancer, which showed that VISTA affects tumor growth by critically regulating the macrophage polarization through the STAT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Jin
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wanmei Liu
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenting Chen
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yinhao Wu
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jun Liu
- New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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4
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Gao Y, He Y, Tang Y, Chen ZS, Qu M. VISTA: A Novel Checkpoint for Cancer Immunotherapy. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104045. [PMID: 38797321 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a recently identified member of the B7 family of immunoregulatory proteins. It is pivotal for maintaining T cell quiescence and exerts a significant regulatory influence on the immune response to tumors. Accumulating clinical evidence suggests that the influence of VISTA on tumor immunity is more nuanced than initially postulated. Although these revelations add layers of complexity to our understanding of the function of VISTA, they also offer novel avenues for scientific inquiry and potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we scrutinize the current literature pertaining to the expression of VISTA in various of malignancies, aiming to elucidate its intricate roles within the tumor microenvironment and in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- Translational Medical Center, Weifang Second People's Hospital, Weifang 261041, Shandong, China
| | - Yanting He
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Pingdu 266700, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- Translational Medical Center, Weifang Second People's Hospital, Weifang 261041, Shandong, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.
| | - Meihua Qu
- Translational Medical Center, Weifang Second People's Hospital, Weifang 261041, Shandong, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandon, China.
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5
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Xie H, Zhong X, Chen J, Wang S, Huang Y, Yang N. VISTA Deficiency Exacerbates the Development of Pulmonary Fibrosis by Promoting Th17 Differentiation. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:3983-3999. [PMID: 38911987 PMCID: PMC11194012 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s458651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD), characterized by pulmonary fibrosis (PF), represents the end-stage of various ILDs. The immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PF. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is an immune checkpoint with immune suppressive functions. However, its specific role in the development of PF and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Methods We assessed the expression of VISTA in CD4 T cells from patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). Spleen cells from wild-type (WT) or Vsir -/- mice were isolated and induced for cell differentiation in vitro. Additionally, primary lung fibroblasts were isolated and treated with interleukin-17A (IL-17A). Mice were challenged with bleomycin (BLM) following VISTA blockade or Vsir knockout. Moreover, WT or Vsir -/- CD4 T cells were transferred into Rag1 -/- mice, which were then challenged with BLM. Results VISTA expression was decreased in CD4 T cells from patients with CTD-ILD. Vsir deficiency augmented T-helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, IL-17A enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the differentiation and migration of lung fibroblasts. Both VISTA blockade and knockout of Vsir increased the percentage of IL-17A-producing Th17 cells and promoted BLM-induced PF. In addition, mice receiving Vsir -/- CD4 T cells exhibited a higher percentage of Th17 cells and more severe PF compared to those receiving WT CD4 T cells. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the significant role of VISTA in modulating the development of PF by controlling Th17 cell differentiation. These insights suggest that targeting VISTA could be a promising therapeutic strategy for PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiping Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuexin Zhong
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Junlin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuefang Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Niansheng Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Akbulut Z, Aru B, Aydın F, Yanıkkaya Demirel G. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1379622. [PMID: 38638433 PMCID: PMC11024234 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1379622] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in cancer treatment, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, remains a major public health problem worldwide. The immune microenvironment plays a critical role in regulating tumor progression and resistance to therapy, and in HCC, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by an abundance of immunosuppressive cells and signals that facilitate immune evasion and metastasis. Recently, anti-cancer immunotherapies, therapeutic interventions designed to modulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer, have become an important cornerstone of cancer therapy. Immunotherapy has demonstrated the ability to improve survival and provide durable cancer control in certain groups of HCC patients, while reducing adverse side effects. These findings represent a significant step toward improving cancer treatment outcomes. As demonstrated in clinical trials, the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly in combination with anti-angiogenic agents and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has prolonged survival in a subset of patients with HCC, providing an alternative for patients who progress on first-line therapy. In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of HCC and the role of the immune system in its development, and to summarize the findings of clinical trials involving ICIs, either as monotherapies or in combination with other agents in the treatment of the disease. Challenges and considerations regarding the administration of ICIs in the treatment of HCC are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Akbulut
- Cancer and Stem Cell Research Center, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Başak Aru
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Furkan Aydın
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
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Nishizaki D, Kurzrock R, Miyashita H, Adashek JJ, Lee S, Nikanjam M, Eskander RN, Patel H, Botta GP, Nesline MK, Pabla S, Conroy JM, DePietro P, Sicklick JK, Kato S. Viewing the immune checkpoint VISTA: landscape and outcomes across cancers. ESMO Open 2024; 9:102942. [PMID: 38503143 PMCID: PMC10966162 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2024.102942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimizing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy may require identification of co-targetable checkpoint pathways via immune profiling. Herein, we analyzed the transcriptomic expression and clinical correlates of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), a promising targetable checkpoint. PATIENTS AND METHODS RNA sequencing was carried out on 514 tissues reflecting diverse advanced/metastatic cancers. Expression of eight immune checkpoint markers [lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 14 (TNFRSF14), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), programmed death-ligand 2 (PD-L2), B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4)], in addition to VISTA, was analyzed, along with clinical outcomes. RESULTS High VISTA RNA expression was observed in 32% of tumors (66/514) and was the most common highly expressed checkpoint among the nine assessed. High VISTA expression was independently correlated with high BTLA, TIM-3, and TNFRSF14, and with a diagnosis of pancreatic, small intestine, and stomach cancer. VISTA transcript levels did not correlate with overall survival (OS) from metastatic/advanced disease in the pan-cancer cohort or with immunotherapy outcome (progression-free survival and OS from the start of ICI) in 217 ICI-treated patients. However, in ICI-treated pancreatic cancer patients (n = 16), median OS was significantly shorter (from immunotherapy initiation) for the high- versus not-high-VISTA groups (0.28 versus 1.21 years) (P = 0.047); in contrast, VISTA levels were not correlated with OS in 36 pancreatic cancer patients who did not receive ICI. CONCLUSION High VISTA expression correlates with high BTLA, TIM-3, and TNFRSF14 checkpoint-related molecules and with poorer post-immunotherapy survival in pancreatic cancer, consistent with prior literature indicating that VISTA is prominently expressed on CD68+ macrophages in pancreatic cancers and requiring validation in larger prospective studies. Immunomic analysis may be important for individualized precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Nishizaki
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla.
| | - R Kurzrock
- MCW Cancer Center and Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA; WIN Consortium, Paris, France
| | - H Miyashita
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Lebanon
| | - J J Adashek
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
| | - S Lee
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla
| | - M Nikanjam
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla
| | - R N Eskander
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla
| | - H Patel
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla
| | - G P Botta
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla
| | | | | | | | | | - J K Sicklick
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - S Kato
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla.
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8
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Li S, Wang G, Ren Y, Liu X, Wang Y, Li J, Liu H, Yang J, Xing J, Zhang Y, He C, Xu S, Hou X, Li N. Expression and function of VISTA on myeloid cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116100. [PMID: 38428824 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
V-domain containing Ig Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) is predominantly expressed on myeloid cells and functions as a ligand/receptor/soluble molecule. In inflammatory responses and immune responses, VISTA regulates multiple functions of myeloid cells, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, T cell activation. Since inflammation and immune responses are critical in many diseases, VISTA is a promising therapeutic target. In this review, we will describe the expression and function of VISTA on different myeloid cells, including neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In addition, we will discuss whether the functions of VISTA on these cells impact the disease processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Li
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Geng Wang
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Yan Ren
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Jianing Li
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Hua Liu
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Jiaqiang Yang
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Jingjun Xing
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Yanru Zhang
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Canxia He
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Suling Xu
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Xin Hou
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Na Li
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
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9
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Burke KP, Chaudhri A, Freeman GJ, Sharpe AH. The B7:CD28 family and friends: Unraveling coinhibitory interactions. Immunity 2024; 57:223-244. [PMID: 38354702 PMCID: PMC10889489 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Immune responses must be tightly regulated to ensure both optimal protective immunity and tolerance. Costimulatory pathways within the B7:CD28 family provide essential signals for optimal T cell activation and clonal expansion. They provide crucial inhibitory signals that maintain immune homeostasis, control resolution of inflammation, regulate host defense, and promote tolerance to prevent autoimmunity. Tumors and chronic pathogens can exploit these pathways to evade eradication by the immune system. Advances in understanding B7:CD28 pathways have ushered in a new era of immunotherapy with effective drugs to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and transplant rejection. Here, we discuss current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the coinhibitory functions of CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1:B7-1 and PD-L2:RGMb interactions and less studied B7 family members, including HHLA2, VISTA, BTNL2, and BTN3A1, as well as their overlapping and unique roles in regulating immune responses, and the therapeutic potential of these insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly P Burke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Apoorvi Chaudhri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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10
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Kim TK, Han X, Hu Q, Vandsemb EN, Fielder CM, Hong J, Kim KW, Mason EF, Plowman RS, Wang J, Wang Q, Zhang JP, Badri T, Sanmamed MF, Zheng L, Zhang T, Alawa J, Lee SW, Zeidan AM, Halene S, Pillai MM, Chandhok NS, Lu J, Xu ML, Gore SD, Chen L. PD-1H/VISTA mediates immune evasion in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e164325. [PMID: 38060328 PMCID: PMC10836799 DOI: 10.1172/jci164325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents a pressing medical need in that it is largely resistant to standard chemotherapy as well as modern therapeutics, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, including anti-programmed cell death protein (anti-PD) therapy. We demonstrate that programmed death-1 homolog (PD-1H), an immune coinhibitory molecule, is highly expressed in blasts from the bone marrow of AML patients, while normal myeloid cell subsets and T cells express PD-1H. In studies employing syngeneic and humanized AML mouse models, overexpression of PD-1H promoted the growth of AML cells, mainly by evading T cell-mediated immune responses. Importantly, ablation of AML cell-surface PD-1H by antibody blockade or genetic knockout significantly inhibited AML progression by promoting T cell activity. In addition, the genetic deletion of PD-1H from host normal myeloid cells inhibited AML progression, and the combination of PD-1H blockade with anti-PD therapy conferred a synergistic antileukemia effect. Our findings provide the basis for PD-1H as a potential therapeutic target for treating human AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kon Kim
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, and
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Section of Medical Oncology
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, OSUCCC–James Cancer Hospital
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Qianni Hu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Esten N. Vandsemb
- Department of Acute Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Junshik Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Emily F. Mason
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - R. Skipper Plowman
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jian-Ping Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ti Badri
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Miguel F. Sanmamed
- Division of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Linghua Zheng
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, OSUCCC–James Cancer Hospital
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jude Alawa
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sang Won Lee
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | | | - Namrata S. Chandhok
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Genetics and
| | - Mina L. Xu
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Steven D. Gore
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, and
- National Cancer Institute, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Investigational Drug Branch, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lieping Chen
- Section of Medical Oncology
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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11
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Vesely MD, Kidacki M, Gaule P, Gupta S, Chan NNN, Han X, Yeung JT, Chen L. Immune Inhibitory Molecule PD-1 Homolog (VISTA) Colocalizes with CD11b Myeloid Cells in Melanoma and Is Associated with Poor Outcomes. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:106-115.e4. [PMID: 37562584 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumors evade immunity through the overexpression of immune inhibitory molecules in the tumor microenvironment such as PD-L1/B7-H1. An immune inhibitory molecule named PD-1 homolog (also known as V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation [VISTA]) functions to control both T cells and myeloid cells. Current clinical trials using anti-VISTA-blocking agents for treatment of cancer are ongoing. We sought to determine the extent of VISTA expression in primary cutaneous melanomas (n = 190), identify the critical cell types expressing VISTA, and correlate its expression with PD-L1 expression using multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence. Within the tumor subcompartments, VISTA is most highly expressed on CD11b myeloid cells, and PD-L1 is most highly expressed on CD68 myeloid cells in our melanoma cohort. There is little correlation between VISTA and PD-L1 expression intensity, suggesting that individual tumors have distinct immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. High levels of VISTA expression on CD11b myeloid cells but not PD-L1 expression were associated with greater melanoma recurrence and greater all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest that cell-specific VISTA expression may be a negative prognostic biomarker for melanoma and a future potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Vesely
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Michal Kidacki
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Patricia Gaule
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Swati Gupta
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nay Nwe Nyein Chan
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jacky T Yeung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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12
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Iadonato S, Ovechkina Y, Lustig K, Cross J, Eyde N, Frazier E, Kabi N, Katz C, Lance R, Peckham D, Sridhar S, Talbaux C, Tihista I, Xu M, Guillaudeux T. A highly potent anti-VISTA antibody KVA12123 - a new immune checkpoint inhibitor and a promising therapy against poorly immunogenic tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1311658. [PMID: 38152397 PMCID: PMC10751915 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1311658] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint therapies have led to significant breakthroughs in cancer patient treatment in recent years. However, their efficiency is variable, and resistance to immunotherapies is common. VISTA is an immune-suppressive checkpoint inhibitor of T cell response belonging to the B7 family and a promising novel therapeutic target. VISTA is expressed in the immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment, primarily by myeloid lineage cells, and its genetic knockout or antibody blockade restores an efficient antitumor immune response. Methods Fully human monoclonal antibodies directed against VISTA were produced after immunizing humanized Trianni mice and single B cell sequencing. Anti-VISTA antibodies were evaluated for specificity, cross-reactivity, monocyte and T cell activation, Fc-effector functions, and antitumor efficacy using in vitro and in vivo models to select the KVA12123 antibody lead candidate. The pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of KVA12123 were evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys. Results Here, we report the development of a clinical candidate anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody, KVA12123. KVA12123 showed high affinity binding to VISTA through a unique epitope distinct from other clinical-stage anti-VISTA monoclonal antibodies. This clinical candidate demonstrated high specificity against VISTA with no cross-reactivity detected against other members of the B7 family. KVA12123 blocked VISTA binding to its binding partners. KVA12123 induced T cell activation and demonstrated NK-mediated monocyte activation. KVA12123 treatment mediated strong single-agent antitumor activity in several syngeneic tumor models and showed enhanced efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment. This clinical candidate was engineered to improve its pharmacokinetic characteristics and reduce Fc-effector functions. It was well-tolerated in preclinical toxicology studies in cynomolgus monkeys, where hematology, clinical chemistry evaluations, and clinical observations revealed no indicators of toxicity. No cytokines associated with cytokine release syndrome were elevated. Conclusion These results establish that KVA12123 is a promising drug candidate with a distinct but complementary mechanism of action of the first generation of immune checkpoint inhibitors. This antibody is currently evaluated alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in a Phase 1/2 open-label clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors.
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13
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Ren R, Chang X, Chen C, Yu H, Han L. VISTA as a prospective immune checkpoint in gynecological malignant tumors: A review of the literature. Open Med (Wars) 2023; 18:20230866. [PMID: 38152334 PMCID: PMC10751886 DOI: 10.1515/med-2023-0866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), encoded by the human VSIR gene, is a B7 family checkpoint homologous to the programmed death-Ligand 1 sequence. In gynecologic malignancies, VISTA is abnormally expressed and regulates the tumor immune microenvironment, causing a high upregulation of VISTA expression in T-cells and myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment and promoting tumor proliferation, progression, and immune tolerance. Here, we review the research progress of VISTA in ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers through its structure and immunomodulatory mechanism. The comprehensive study of VISTA is expected to improve the current problem of poor immunotherapeutic effects and provide new ideas for immune therapy in patients with gynecologic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Ren
- Department of Gynecology, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116033, China
- Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Biotherapy of Malignant Tumors in Children and Women in Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Xin Chang
- Department of Graduate, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
- Department of Gynecology, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116033, China
- Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Biotherapy of Malignant Tumors in Children and Women in Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Cong Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116033, China
- Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Biotherapy of Malignant Tumors in Children and Women in Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Gynecology, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116033, China
- Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Biotherapy of Malignant Tumors in Children and Women in Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Gynecology, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116033, China
- Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Biotherapy of Malignant Tumors in Children and Women in Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116011, China
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14
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Daei Sorkhabi A, Komijani E, Sarkesh A, Ghaderi Shadbad P, Aghebati-Maleki A, Aghebati-Maleki L. Advances in immune checkpoint-based immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis: rationale and practice. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:321. [PMID: 37946301 PMCID: PMC10634124 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01289-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond the encouraging results and broad clinical applicability of immune checkpoint (ICP) inhibitors in cancer therapy, ICP-based immunotherapies in the context of autoimmune disease, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS), have garnered considerable attention and hold great potential for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Given the well-established immunoregulatory role of ICPs in maintaining a balance between stimulatory and inhibitory signaling pathways to promote immune tolerance to self-antigens, a dysregulated expression pattern of ICPs has been observed in a significant proportion of patients with MS and its animal model called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is associated with autoreactivity towards myelin and neurodegeneration. Consequently, there is a rationale for developing immunotherapeutic strategies to induce inhibitory ICPs while suppressing stimulatory ICPs, including engineering immune cells to overexpress ligands for inhibitory ICP receptors, such as program death-1 (PD-1), or designing fusion proteins, namely abatacept, to bind and inhibit the co-stimulatory pathways involved in overactivated T-cell mediated autoimmunity, and other strategies that will be discussed in-depth in the current review. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Daei Sorkhabi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Erfan Komijani
- Department of Veterinary, Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Aila Sarkesh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Pedram Ghaderi Shadbad
- Department of Veterinary, Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebati-Maleki
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leili Aghebati-Maleki
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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15
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Shekari N, Shanehbandi D, Kazemi T, Zarredar H, Baradaran B, Jalali SA. VISTA and its ligands: the next generation of promising therapeutic targets in immunotherapy. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:265. [PMID: 37936192 PMCID: PMC10631023 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03116-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel negative checkpoint receptor (NCR) primarily involved in maintaining immune tolerance. It has a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and cancer and has shown promising results as a therapeutic target. However, there is still some ambiguity regarding the ligands of VISTA and their interactions with each other. While V-Set and Immunoglobulin domain containing 3 (VSIG-3) and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1(PSGL-1) have been extensively studied as ligands for VISTA, the others have received less attention. It seems that investigating VISTA ligands, reviewing their functions and roles, as well as outcomes related to their interactions, may allow an understanding of their full functionality and effects within the cell or the microenvironment. It could also help discover alternative approaches to target the VISTA pathway without causing related side effects. In this regard, we summarize current evidence about VISTA, its related ligands, their interactions and effects, as well as their preclinical and clinical targeting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najibeh Shekari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Tohid Kazemi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Habib Zarredar
- Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Seyed Amir Jalali
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Torki E, Gharezade A, Doroudchi M, Sheikhi S, Mansury D, Sullman MJM, Fouladseresht H. The kinetics of inhibitory immune checkpoints during and post-COVID-19: the knowns and unknowns. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:3299-3319. [PMID: 37697158 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01188-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] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is tightly regulated to prevent immune reactions to self-antigens and to avoid excessive immune responses during and after challenges from non-self-antigens. Inhibitory immune checkpoints (IICPs), as the major regulators of immune system responses, are extremely important for maintaining the homeostasis of cells and tissues. However, the high and sustained co-expression of IICPs in chronic infections, under persistent antigenic stimulations, results in reduced immune cell functioning and more severe and prolonged disease complications. Furthermore, IICPs-mediated interactions can be hijacked by pathogens in order to evade immune induction or effector mechanisms. Therefore, IICPs can be potential targets for the prognosis and treatment of chronic infectious diseases. This is especially the case with regards to the most challenging infectious disease of recent times, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), whose long-term complications can persist long after recovery. This article reviews the current knowledge about the kinetics and functioning of the IICPs during and post-COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ensiye Torki
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Arezou Gharezade
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehrnoosh Doroudchi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shima Sheikhi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Davood Mansury
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mark J M Sullman
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Hamed Fouladseresht
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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17
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Noelle RJ, Lines JL, Lewis LD, Martell RE, Guillaudeux T, Lee SW, Mahoney KM, Vesely MD, Boyd-Kirkup J, Nambiar DK, Scott AM. Clinical and research updates on the VISTA immune checkpoint: immuno-oncology themes and highlights. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1225081. [PMID: 37795437 PMCID: PMC10547146 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1225081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints limit the activation of the immune system and serve an important homeostatic function but can also restrict immune responses against tumors. Inhibition of specific immune checkpoint proteins such as the B7:CD28 family members programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has transformed the treatment of various cancers by promoting the anti-tumor activation of immune cells. In contrast to these effects, the V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) regulates the steady state of the resting immune system and promotes homeostasis by mechanisms distinct from PD-1 and CTLA-4. The effects of VISTA blockade have been shown to include a decrease in myeloid suppression coupled with proinflammatory changes by mechanisms that are separate and distinct from other immune checkpoint proteins; in some preclinical studies these immune effects appear synergistic. Given the potential benefits of VISTA blockade in the context of cancer therapy, the second Annual VISTA Symposium was convened virtually on September 23, 2022, to review new research from investigators and immuno-oncology experts. Discussions in the meeting extended the knowledge of VISTA biology and the effects of VISTA inhibition, particularly on cells of the myeloid lineage and resting T cells, as three candidate anti-VISTA antibodies are in, or nearing, clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph J. Noelle
- ImmuNext Inc., Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - J. Louise Lines
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Lionel D. Lewis
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Cancer Center, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Robert E. Martell
- Curis, Inc., Lexington, MA, United States
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Sam W. Lee
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Mahoney
- Department of Medical, Division of Medical Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew D. Vesely
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Dhanya K. Nambiar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Andrew M. Scott
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health and Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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18
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Yadav R, Hakobyan N, Wang JC. Role of Next Generation Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Therapy in Philadelphia Negative Classic Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN): Review of the Literature. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12502. [PMID: 37569880 PMCID: PMC10420159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), which include essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), are enduring and well-known conditions. These disorders are characterized by the abnormal growth of one or more hematopoietic cell lineages in the body's stem cells, leading to the enlargement of organs and the manifestation of constitutional symptoms. Numerous studies have provided evidence indicating that the pathogenesis of these diseases involves the dysregulation of the immune system and the presence of chronic inflammation, both of which are significant factors. Lately, the treatment of cancer including hematological malignancy has progressed on the agents aiming for the immune system, cytokine environment, immunotherapy agents, and targeted immune therapy. Immune checkpoints are the molecules that regulate T cell function in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The first line of primary immune checkpoints are programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICIT) exerts its anti-tumor actions by blocking the inhibitory pathways in T cells and has reformed cancer treatment. Despite the impressive clinical success of ICIT, tumor internal resistance poses a challenge for oncologists leading to a low response rate in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. A Phase II trial on nivolumab for patients with post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis, primary myelofibrosis, or post-polycythemia myelofibrosis was performed (Identifier: NCT02421354). This trial tested the efficacy of a PD-1 blockade agent, namely nivolumab, but was terminated prematurely due to adverse events and lack of efficacy. A multicenter, Phase II, single-arm open-label study was conducted including pembrolizumab in patients with primary thrombocythemia, post-essential thrombocythemia or post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis that were ineligible for or were previously treated with ruxolitinib. This study showed that pembrolizumab treatment did not have many adverse events, but there were no pertinent clinical responses hence it was terminated after the first stage was completed. To avail the benefits from immunotherapy, the paradigm has shifted to new immune checkpoints in the TME such as lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), V-domain immunoglobulin-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), and human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2 (HHLA2) forming the basis of next-generation ICIT. The primary aim of this article is to underscore and elucidate the significance of next-generation ICIT in the context of MPN. Specifically, we aim to explore the potential of monoclonal antibodies as targeted immunotherapy and the development of vaccines targeting specific MPN epitopes, with the intent of augmenting tumor-related immune responses. It is anticipated that these therapeutic modalities rooted in immunotherapy will not only expand but also enhance the existing treatment regimens for patients afflicted with MPN. Preliminary studies from our laboratory showed over-expressed MDSC and over-expressed VISTA in MDSC, and in progenitor and immune cells directing the need for more clinical trials using next-generation ICI in the treatment of MPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Yadav
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA; (R.Y.); (N.H.)
| | - Narek Hakobyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA; (R.Y.); (N.H.)
| | - Jen-Chin Wang
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA
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19
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Zhang Y, Zhang X, Han J, Guo Y, Yang F, Li F, Zhu H, Shen Z, Huang Y, Mao R, Zhang J. Downregulated VISTA enhances Th17 differentiation and aggravates inflammation in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:1000-1015. [PMID: 36944807 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10505-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Persistent inflammatory response and immune activation are the core mechanisms underlying acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Previous studies have shown that deficiency of V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) exacerbates the progression of inflammatory diseases. We aimed to clarify the role of VISTA in the pathogenesis of ACLF. METHODS Blood and liver samples were collected from healthy subjects, stable cirrhosis, and ACLF patients to characterize VISTA expression and function. An ACLF mouse model was used to ascertain potential benefits of anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment. RESULTS VISTA expression was significantly reduced in the naïve and central memory CD4+ T cells from patients with ACLF. The expression of VISTA on CD4+ T cells was associated with disease severity and prognosis. VISTA downregulation contributed to the activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells and enhanced the differentiation of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and secretion of inflammatory cytokines through the activated Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) signaling pathway. Moreover, agonistic anti-VISTA mAb treatment inhibited the activation and cytokine production of CD4+ T cells and reduced mortality and liver inflammation of the ACLF mice. CONCLUSIONS The decreased expression of VISTA may facilitate development of Th17 cells and promote the progression of inflammation in ACLF patients. These findings are helpful for elucidating the pathogenesis of ACLF and for the identification of new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyun Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajia Han
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifei Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Fahong Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoxiang Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongliang Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxian Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Hepatitis Disease, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Richeng Mao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Room 510, Building 5, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jing'An Branch of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Kim SH, Adams TS, Hu Q, Shin HJ, Chae G, Lee SE, Sharma L, Kwon HK, Lee FY, Park HJ, Huh WJ, Manning E, Kaminski N, Sauler M, Chen L, Song JW, Kim TK, Kang MJ. VISTA (PD-1H) Is a Crucial Immune Regulator to Limit Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2023; 69:22-33. [PMID: 36450109 PMCID: PMC10324045 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0219oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
VISTA (V domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation, also called PD-1H [programmed death-1 homolog]), a novel immune regulator expressed on myeloid and T lymphocyte lineages, is upregulated in mouse and human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the significance of VISTA and its therapeutic potential in regulating IPF has yet to be defined. To determine the role of VISTA and its therapeutic potential in IPF, the expression profile of VISTA was evaluated from human single-cell RNA sequencing data (IPF Cell Atlas). Inflammatory response and lung fibrosis were assessed in bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis models in VISTA-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. In addition, these outcomes were evaluated after VISTA agonistic antibody treatment in the wild-type pulmonary fibrosis mice. VISTA expression was increased in lung tissue-infiltrating monocytes of patients with IPF. VISTA was induced in the myeloid population, mainly circulating monocyte-derived macrophages, during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Genetic ablation of VISTA drastically promoted pulmonary fibrosis, and bleomycin-induced fibroblast activation was dependent on the interaction between VISTA-expressing myeloid cells and fibroblasts. Treatment with VISTA agonistic antibody reduced fibrotic phenotypes accompanied by the suppression of lung innate immune and fibrotic mediators. In conclusion, these results suggest that VISTA upregulation in pulmonary fibrosis may be a compensatory mechanism to limit inflammation and fibrosis, and stimulation of VISTA signaling using VISTA agonists effectively limits the fibrotic innate immune landscape and consequent tissue fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to test VISTA as a novel therapeutic target for the IPF treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Hun Kim
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
| | | | - Qianni Hu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | | | - Ganghee Chae
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Eun Lee
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Lokesh Sharma
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
| | | | | | - Hong-Jai Park
- Section of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Maor Sauler
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, and
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jin Woo Song
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Kon Kim
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Min-Jong Kang
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
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21
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Zheng M, Zhang Z, Yu L, Wang Z, Dong Y, Tong A, Yang H. Immune-checkpoint protein VISTA in allergic, autoimmune disease and transplant rejection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1194421. [PMID: 37435070 PMCID: PMC10330820 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1194421] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Negative checkpoint regulators (NCRs) reduce the T cell immune response against self-antigens and limit autoimmune disease development. V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), a novel immune checkpoint in the B7 family, has recently been identified as one of the NCRs. VISTA maintains T cell quiescence and peripheral tolerance. VISTA targeting has shown promising results in treating immune-related diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disease. In this review, we summarize and discuss the immunomodulatory role of VISTA, its therapeutic potential in allergic, autoimmune disease, and transplant rejection, as well as the current therapeutic antibodies, to present a new method for regulating immune responses and achieving durable tolerance for the treatment of autoimmune disease and transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijun Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zongliang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lingyu Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yijun Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Aiping Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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22
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Chmiel P, Gęca K, Michalski A, Kłosińska M, Kaczyńska A, Polkowski WP, Pelc Z, Skórzewska M. Vista of the Future: Novel Immunotherapy Based on the Human V-Set Immunoregulatory Receptor for Digestive System Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9945. [PMID: 37373091 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While gastrointestinal tumors remain a multifactorial and prevalent group of malignancies commonly treated surgically in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, advancements regarding immunotherapeutic approaches continue to occur. Entering a new era of immunotherapy focused on overcoming resistance to preceding therapies caused the emergence of new therapeutic strategies. A promising solution surfaces with a V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), a negative regulator of a T-cell function expressed in hematopoietic cells. Due to VISTA's ability to act as both a ligand and a receptor, several therapeutic approaches can be potentially developed. A broad expression of VISTA was discovered on various tumor-growth-controlling cells, which proved to increase in specific tumor microenvironment (TME) conditions, thus serving as a rationale behind the development of new VISTA-targeting. Nevertheless, VISTA's ligands and signaling pathways are still not fully understood. The uncertain results of clinical trials suggest the need for future examining inhibitor agents for VISTA and implicating a double immunotherapeutic blockade. However, more research is needed before the breakthrough can be achieved. This review discusses perspectives and novel approaches presented in the current literature. Based on the results of the ongoing studies, VISTA might be considered a potential target in combined therapy, especially for treating gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Chmiel
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Gęca
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Adam Michalski
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Martyna Kłosińska
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kaczyńska
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Wojciech P Polkowski
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Pelc
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Skórzewska
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 13 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
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23
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Chen RY, Zhu Y, Shen YY, Xu QY, Tang HY, Cui NX, Jiang L, Dai XM, Chen WQ, Lin Q, Li XZ. The role of PD-1 signaling in health and immune-related diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1163633. [PMID: 37261359 PMCID: PMC10228652 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1163633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1) and its ligands constitute an inhibitory pathway to mediate the mechanism of immune tolerance and provide immune homeostasis. Significantly, the binding partners of PD-1 and its associated ligands are diverse, which facilitates immunosuppression in cooperation with other immune checkpoint proteins. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the important immunosuppressive role of the PD-1 axis in the tumor microenvironment and in autoimmune diseases. In addition, PD-1 blockades have been approved to treat various cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the PD-1 pathway, focusing on the structure and expression of PD-1, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (PD-L2); the diverse biological functions of PD-1 signaling in health and immune-related diseases (including tumor immunity, autoimmunity, infectious immunity, transplantation immunity, allergy and immune privilege); and immune-related adverse events related to PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qiang Lin
- *Correspondence: Qiang Lin, ; Xiao-Zhong Li,
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24
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Ziogas DC, Theocharopoulos C, Lialios PP, Foteinou D, Koumprentziotis IA, Xynos G, Gogas H. Beyond CTLA-4 and PD-1 Inhibition: Novel Immune Checkpoint Molecules for Melanoma Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2718. [PMID: 37345056 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
More than ten years after the approval of ipilimumab, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against PD-1 and CTLA-4 have been established as the most effective treatment for locally advanced or metastatic melanoma, achieving durable responses either as monotherapies or in combinatorial regimens. However, a considerable proportion of patients do not respond or experience early relapse, due to multiple parameters that contribute to melanoma resistance. The expression of other immune checkpoints beyond the PD-1 and CTLA-4 molecules remains a major mechanism of immune evasion. The recent approval of anti-LAG-3 ICI, relatlimab, in combination with nivolumab for metastatic disease, has capitalized on the extensive research in the field and has highlighted the potential for further improvement of melanoma prognosis by synergistically blocking additional immune targets with new ICI-doublets, antibody-drug conjugates, or other novel modalities. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of presently published immune checkpoint molecules, including LAG-3, TIGIT, TIM-3, VISTA, IDO1/IDO2/TDO, CD27/CD70, CD39/73, HVEM/BTLA/CD160 and B7-H3. Beginning from their immunomodulatory properties as co-inhibitory or co-stimulatory receptors, we present all therapeutic modalities targeting these molecules that have been tested in melanoma treatment either in preclinical or clinical settings. Better understanding of the checkpoint-mediated crosstalk between melanoma and immune effector cells is essential for generating more effective strategies with augmented immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios C Ziogas
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Charalampos Theocharopoulos
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis-Petros Lialios
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Foteinou
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis-Alexios Koumprentziotis
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Xynos
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Helen Gogas
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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25
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Yao K, Zhou E, Schaafsma E, Zhang B, Cheng C. Immune checkpoint gene VSIR predicts patient prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Cancer Med 2023; 12:5590-5602. [PMID: 36394080 PMCID: PMC10028170 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint proteins play critical functions during the immune response to cancer and have been targeted by immune checkpoint blockade therapy. V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VSIR) is one of these immune checkpoint genes and has been investigated extensively in recent years due to its conflicting roles in cancer immunity. Specifically, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the prognostic value of VSIR is debated. RESULTS In both patient tumor samples and cancer cell lines we find that VSIR has the highest expression in AML out of all cancer types and, in AML, has the highest expression out of all other immune checkpoint genes. Survival analysis indicated that AML patients with higher VSIR expression have significantly shorter survival than those patients with lower expression, even within established AML subgroups (e.g., FAB subtypes). Importantly, VSIR expression is predictive of progression from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients into AML, suggesting its potential role during the very early stage of AML development and progression. In addition to AML, VSIR also demonstrates prognostic values in other cancer types, including multiple myeloma and mesothelioma. CONCLUSION In summary, our analyses revealed the prognostic value of VSIR and its potential as a target for immunotherapy, especially in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Yao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Emily Zhou
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Evelien Schaafsma
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Baoyi Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Clinical and Transcriptional Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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26
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Esparvarinha M, Madadi S, Aslanian-Kalkhoran L, Nickho H, Dolati S, Pia H, Danaii S, Taghavi S, Yousefi M. Dominant immune cells in pregnancy and pregnancy complications: T helper cells (TH1/TH2, TH17/Treg cells), NK cells, MDSCs, and the immune checkpoints. Cell Biol Int 2023; 47:507-519. [PMID: 36335635 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy problems including recurrent pregnancy loss, repeated implantation failure and pre-eclampsia are common problems in the reproductive ages. Different reasons such as genetic, immunological, and environmental agents and also infections could develop these complications. In those cases in which the cause of the abortion is diagnosed, the chance of a successful pregnancy is increased by eliminating defective factors. However, in patients with unknown causes, there may be an imbalance in immune cells pattern. As a matter of fact, an inappropriate immune response is often associated with a failed pregnancy. Hence, the focus of treatment is to increase tolerance, not to suppress maternal immune system. These findings are linked to an elevated number of Treg cells and immune checkpoints through normal pregnancy. The present review discusses the balance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, natural killer cells, T cells, and immune checkpoints, and also targeting them to maintain pregnancy and prevent associated complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Esparvarinha
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sahar Madadi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Lida Aslanian-Kalkhoran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamid Nickho
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sanam Dolati
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Helen Pia
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shahla Danaii
- Gynecology Department, Eastern Azerbaijan ACECR ART Centre, Eastern Azerbaijan branch of ACECR, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Simin Taghavi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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27
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Martin AS, Molloy M, Ugolkov A, von Roemeling RW, Noelle RJ, Lewis LD, Johnson M, Radvanyi L, Martell RE. VISTA expression and patient selection for immune-based anticancer therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1086102. [PMID: 36891296 PMCID: PMC9986543 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1086102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a B7 family member that plays key roles in maintaining T cell quiescence and regulation of myeloid cell populations, which together establish it as a novel immunotherapy target for solid tumors. Here we review the growing literature on VISTA expression in relation to various malignancies to better understand the role of VISTA and its interactions with both tumor cells and immune cells expressing other checkpoint molecules within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The biology of VISTA creates several mechanisms to maintain the TME, including supporting the function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, regulating natural killer cell activation, supporting the survival of regulatory T cells, limiting antigen presentation on antigen-presenting cells and maintaining T cells in a quiescent state. Understanding these mechanisms is an important foundation of rational patient selection for anti-VISTA therapy. We provide a general framework to describe distinct patterns of VISTA expression in correlation with other known predictive immunotherapy biomarkers (programmed cell death ligand 1 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) across solid tumors to facilitate investigation of the most efficacious TMEs for VISTA-targeted treatment as a single agent and/or in combination with anti-programmed death 1/anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S. Martin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Randolph J. Noelle
- ImmuNext Inc., Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Norris Cotton Cancer Center Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Lionel D. Lewis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Norris Cotton Cancer Center Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Melissa Johnson
- Sarah Cannon at Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN, United States
| | | | - Robert E. Martell
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Curis Inc., Lexington, MA, United States
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28
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Sadeghirad H, Bahrami T, Layeghi SM, Yousefi H, Rezaei M, Hosseini-Fard SR, Radfar P, Warkiani ME, O'Byrne K, Kulasinghe A. Immunotherapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer. Immunology 2023; 168:256-272. [PMID: 35933597 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in-depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Sadeghirad
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tayyeb Bahrami
- Liver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Sepideh M Layeghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Yousefi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Meysam Rezaei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Seyed R Hosseini-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Payar Radfar
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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29
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Rezouki I, Zohair B, Ssi SA, Karkouri M, Razzouki I, Elkarroumi M, Badou A. High VISTA expression is linked to a potent epithelial-mesenchymal transition and is positively correlated with PD1 in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1154631. [PMID: 37152039 PMCID: PMC10157209 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1154631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of tumor in women worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly anti-PDL1, have shown promise as a therapeutic approach for managing this disease. However, this type of immunotherapy still fails to work for some patients, leading researchers to explore alternative immune checkpoint targets. The Ig suppressor of T cell activation domain V (VISTA) has emerged as a novel immune checkpoint that delivers inhibitory signals to T cells and has demonstrated encouraging results in various cancers. Our study investigated the association of VISTA expression with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer patients, its involvement in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) process, and its correlation with PD1 expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that VISTA was associated with lobular and metaplastic histological type, tumor size, lymph node status, ER and PR negative status, and the TNBC molecular subtype. Furthermore, VISTA expression was strongly associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry analysis corroborated the transcriptomic results, indicating that VISTA was expressed in most immune cells (94%) and was significantly expressed in breast cancer tumor cells compared to matched adjacent tissues. Our study also showed for the first time that VISTA overexpression in breast cancer cells could be associated with the EMT process. Additionally, we identified a positive correlation between VISTA and PD-1 expression. Together, these results highlight the immunosuppressive effect of VISTA in breast cancer patients and suggest that bi-specific targeting of VISTA and PD-1 in combination therapy could be beneficial for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtissam Rezouki
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Basma Zohair
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Saadia Ait Ssi
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ibtissam Razzouki
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Elkarroumi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center (CHU) Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdallah Badou
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
- Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat, Morocco, and Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, Casablanca, Morocco
- *Correspondence: Abdallah Badou, ; ;
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30
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Catalano M, Shabani S, Venturini J, Ottanelli C, Voltolini L, Roviello G. Lung Cancer Immunotherapy: Beyond Common Immune Checkpoints Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:6145. [PMID: 36551630 PMCID: PMC9777293 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is an ever-expanding field in lung cancer treatment research. Over the past two decades, there has been significant progress in identifying immunotherapy targets and creating specific therapeutic agents, leading to a major paradigm shift in lung cancer treatment. However, despite the great success achieved with programmed death protein 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies and with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 plus anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), only a minority of lung cancer patients respond to treatment, and of these many subsequently experience disease progression. In addition, immune-related adverse events sometimes can be life-threatening, especially when anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 are used in combination. All of this prompted researchers to identify novel immune checkpoints targets to overcome these limitations. Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-Based Inhibitory Motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) are promising molecules now under investigation. This review aims to outline the current role of immunotherapy in lung cancer and to examine efficacy and future applications of the new immune regulating molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Catalano
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Sonia Shabani
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Jacopo Venturini
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Carlotta Ottanelli
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Voltolini
- Thoraco-Pulmonary Surgery Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Roviello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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31
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J, Najafi S. VISTA immune regulatory effects in bypassing cancer immunotherapy: Updated. Life Sci 2022; 310:121083. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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32
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Yenyuwadee S, Aliazis K, Wang Q, Christofides A, Shah R, Patsoukis N, Boussiotis VA. Immune cellular components and signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:187-201. [PMID: 35985559 PMCID: PMC10735089 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade there has been a revolution in cancer therapeutics by the emergence of antibody-based and cell-based immunotherapies that modulate immune responses against tumors. These new therapies have extended and improved the therapeutic efficacy of chemo-radiotherapy and have offered treatment options to patients who are no longer responding to these classic anti-cancer treatments. Unfortunately, tumor eradication and long-lasting responses are observed in a small fraction of patients, whereas the majority of patients respond only transiently. These outcomes indicate that the maximum potential of immunotherapy has not been reached due to incomplete knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide the development of successful anti-tumor immunity and its failure. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries about the immune cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the role of key signaling mechanisms that compromise the function of immune cells leading to cancer immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasitorn Yenyuwadee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Konstantinos Aliazis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Qi Wang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Anthos Christofides
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Rushil Shah
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Nikolaos Patsoukis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Vassiliki A Boussiotis
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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33
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Gaikwad S, Agrawal MY, Kaushik I, Ramachandran S, Srivastava SK. Immune checkpoint proteins: Signaling mechanisms and molecular interactions in cancer immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:137-150. [PMID: 35341913 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint proteins (ICP) are currently one of the most novel and promising areas of immune-oncology research. This novel way of targeting tumor cells has shown favorable success over the past few years with some FDA approvals such as Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab etc. Currently, more than 3000 clinical trials of immunotherapeutic agents are ongoing with majority being ICPs. However, as the number of trials increase so do the challenges. Some challenges such as adverse side effects, non-specific binding on healthy tissues and absence of response in some subset populations are critical obstacles. For a safe and effective further therapeutic development of molecules targeting ICPs, understanding their mechanism at molecular level is crucial. Since ICPs are mostly membrane bound receptors, a number of downstream signaling pathways divaricate following ligand-receptor binding. Most ICPs are expressed on more than one type of immune cell populations. Further, the expression varies within a cell type. This naturally varied expression pattern adds to the difficulty of targeting specific effector immune cell types against cancer. Hence, understanding the expression pattern and cellular mechanism helps lay out the possible effect of any immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the signaling mechanism, expression pattern among various immune cells and molecular interactions derived using interaction database analysis (BioGRID).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyas Gaikwad
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Manas Yogendra Agrawal
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Itishree Kaushik
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sharavan Ramachandran
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA.
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GAO Z, LING X, SHI C, WANG Y, LIN A. Tumor immune checkpoints and their associated inhibitors. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2022; 23:823-843. [PMID: 36226537 PMCID: PMC9561405 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2200195] [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] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Immunological evasion is one of the defining characteristics of cancers, as the immune modification of an immune checkpoint (IC) confers immune evasion capabilities to tumor cells. Multiple ICs, such as programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), can bind to their respective receptors and reduce tumor immunity in a variety of ways, including blocking immune cell activation signals. IC blockade (ICB) therapies targeting these checkpoint molecules have demonstrated significant clinical benefits. This is because antibody-based IC inhibitors and a variety of specific small molecule inhibitors can inhibit key oncogenic signaling pathways and induce durable tumor remission in patients with a variety of cancers. Deciphering the roles and regulatory mechanisms of these IC molecules will provide crucial theoretical guidance for clinical treatment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the functional and regulatory mechanisms of these IC molecules at multiple levels, including epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and post-translational modifications. In addition, we provide a summary of the medications targeting various nodes in the regulatory pathway, and highlight the potential of newly identified IC molecules, focusing on their potential implications for cancer diagnostics and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerui GAO
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou310058, China,Chu Kochen Honors College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Xingyi LING
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Chengyu SHI
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Ying WANG
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Aifu LIN
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou310058, China,Breast Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310003, China,International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu322000, China,ZJU-QILU Joint Research Institute, Hangzhou310058, China,Aifu LIN,
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35
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Zheng S, Zhang K, Zhang X, Xiao Y, Wang T, Jiang S. Development of Inhibitors Targeting the V-Domain Ig Suppressor of T Cell Activation Signal Pathway. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11900-11912. [PMID: 36083840 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Blockade of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) has produced considerable therapeutic effect, but only in a fraction of patients, so more targets are being investigated. VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation) is a novel immune checkpoint that is broadly expressed within hematopoietic cells and multiple cancers (low expressing frequency on solid tumors), particularly those with a poor immunotherapy response rate. As a result, VISTA has been identified as an appealing target for immunotherapy, and several VISTA inhibitors are currently in clinical and preclinical trials. In this review, the structural features and binding partners of VISTA are summarized, and we describe the latest developments of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules targeting VISTA as well as possible future directions for development of therapies targeting VISTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Kuojun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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36
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Hemmatzadeh M, Ahangar Parvin E, Mohammadi H, Azizi G, Shomali N, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The role of immune regulatory molecules in rheumatoid arthritis: Implication for etiopathogenesis and prospective for treatment. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3541-3553. [PMID: 35938550 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered an autoimmune chronic disorder and the most common inflammatory arthropathy. Disease progression in RA begins with asymptomatic autoimmune responses in cases with a genetic or environmental predisposition, that alters to arthralgia phase as autoantibodies reach the joints and subjects begin demonstrating nonspecific musculoskeletal presentations lacking any clinical symptoms of synovial inflammation. After that, patients' symptoms develop to undifferentiated arthritis (UA)/idiopathic arthritis (IA) whenever the subjects progress to clinical synovitis systemic comorbidities affecting the vasculature, metabolism, and bone, and eventually with augmented immune cell infiltration, IA/UA patients progress to clinically classifiable RA. RA is mainly correlated with different immune cells and each of them contributes variously to the pathogenesis of the disease. The pathogenesis of RA is altered by the contribution of both T and B cells in an autoimmune irregularity. Modulation of the immune responses occurs through regulatory and inhibitory molecules that control activation of the adaptive system as well as immune hemostasis. To confine the exorbitant T cell-associated inflammatory reactions, the immune system provides a system of inhibitory feedbacks, collectively named immune checkpoints. In this review, we aimed to discuss about inhibitory members of immune checkpoint molecules, including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1, cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4, lymphocyte activation gene-3, T cell immunoglobulin-3, V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator, and T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain and their role in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Hemmatzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elham Ahangar Parvin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Azizi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Navid Shomali
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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37
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Mostböck S, Wu HH, Fenn T, Riegler B, Strahlhofer S, Huang Y, Hansen G, Kroe-Barrett R, Tirapu I, Vogt AB. Distinct immune stimulatory effects of anti-human VISTA antibodies are determined by Fc-receptor interaction. Front Immunol 2022; 13:862757. [PMID: 35967294 PMCID: PMC9367637 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.862757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
VISTA (PD-1H) is an immune regulatory molecule considered part of the next wave of immuno-oncology targets. VISTA is an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell surface molecule mainly expressed on myeloid cells, and to some extent on NK cells and T cells. In previous preclinical studies, some VISTA-targeting antibodies provided immune inhibitory signals, while other antibodies triggered immune stimulatory signals. Importantly, for therapeutic antibodies, the isotype backbone can have a strong impact on antibody function. To elucidate the mode of action of immune stimulatory anti-VISTA antibodies, we studied three different anti-human VISTA antibody clones, each on three different IgG isotypes currently used for therapeutic antibodies: unaltered IgG1 (IgG1-WT), IgG1-KO (IgG1-LL234,235AA-variant with reduced Fc-effector function), and IgG4-Pro (IgG4- S228P-variant with stabilized hinge region). Antibody functionality was analysed in mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as a model system for ongoing immune reactions, on unstimulated human PBMCs, as a model system for a resting immune system, and also on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples to evaluate anti-VISTA antibody effects on primary tumor material. The functions of three anti-human VISTA antibodies were determined by their IgG isotype backbones. An MLR of healthy donor PBMCs was effectively augmented by anti-VISTA-IgG4-Pro and anti-VISTA-IgG1-WT antibodies, as indicated by increased levels of cytokines, T cell activation markers and T cell proliferation. However, in a culture of unstimulated PBMCs of single healthy donors, only anti-VISTA-IgG1-WT antibodies increased the activation marker HLA-DR on resting myeloid cells, and chemokine levels. Interestingly, interactions with different Fc-receptors were required for these effects, namely CD64 for augmentation of MLR, and CD16 for activation of resting myeloid cells. Furthermore, anti-VISTA-IgG1-KO antibodies had nearly no impact in any model system. Similarly, in AML patient samples, anti-VISTA-antibody on IgG4-Pro backbone, but not on IgG1-KO backbone, increased interactions, as a novel readout of activity, between immune cells and CD34+ AML cancer cells. In conclusion, the immune stimulatory effects of antagonistic anti-VISTA antibodies are defined by the antibody isotype and interaction with different Fc-gamma-receptors, highlighting the importance of understanding these interactions when designing immune stimulatory antibody therapeutics for immuno-oncology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Mostböck
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Sven Mostböck,
| | - Helen Haixia Wu
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Timothy Fenn
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Bettina Riegler
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Strahlhofer
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yining Huang
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Gale Hansen
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Rachel Kroe-Barrett
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Iñigo Tirapu
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne B. Vogt
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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38
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Dormoy V, Filhol O, Sourbier C, Massfelder T. Editorial: in vitro and in vivo non-clinical models of kidney cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:987682. [PMID: 35957882 PMCID: PMC9360796 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.987682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Valérian Dormoy
- INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) UMR-S1250, P3Cell, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP-SANTE, Reims, France
| | - Odile Filhol
- INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) UMR 1292-Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (IRIG)-Biosanté, University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | - Carole Sourbier
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research 1, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Thierry Massfelder
- INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) UMR_S1260, Université de Strasbourg, Regenerative Nanomedicine, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- *Correspondence: Thierry Massfelder,
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39
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Hensler E, Petros H, Gray CC, Chung CS, Ayala A, Fallon EA. The Neonatal Innate Immune Response to Sepsis: Checkpoint Proteins as Novel Mediators of This Response and as Possible Therapeutic/Diagnostic Levers. Front Immunol 2022; 13:940930. [PMID: 35860251 PMCID: PMC9289477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.940930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis, a dysfunctional immune response to infection leading to life-threatening organ injury, represents a significant global health issue. Neonatal sepsis is disproportionately prevalent and has a cost burden of 2-3 times that of adult patients. Despite this, no widely accepted definition for neonatal sepsis or recommendations for management exist and those created for pediatric patients are significantly limited in their applicability to this unique population. This is in part due to neonates' reliance on an innate immune response (which is developmentally more prominent in the neonate than the immature adaptive immune response) carried out by dysfunctional immune cells, including neutrophils, antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages/monocytes, dendritic cells, etc., natural killer cells, and innate lymphoid regulatory cell sub-sets like iNKT cells, γδ T-cells, etc. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a family of proteins with primarily suppressive/inhibitory effects on immune and tumor cells and allow for the maintenance of self-tolerance. During sepsis, these proteins are often upregulated and are thought to contribute to the long-term immunosuppression seen in adult patients. Several drugs targeting checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1 and PD-L1, have been developed and approved for the treatment of various cancers, but no such therapeutics have been approved for the management of sepsis. In this review, we will comparatively discuss the role of several checkpoint inhibitor proteins, including PD-1, PD-L1, VISTA, and HVEM, in the immune response to sepsis in both adults and neonates, as well as posit how they may uniquely propagate their actions through the neonatal innate immune response. We will also consider the possibility of leveraging these proteins in the clinical setting as potential therapeutics/diagnostics that might aid in mitigating neonatal septic morbidity/mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hensler
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Habesha Petros
- Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chyna C. Gray
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun-Shiang Chung
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Alfred Ayala
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States,*Correspondence: Alfred Ayala,
| | - Eleanor A. Fallon
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States,Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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40
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Vivian Ma YH, Sparkes A, Saha S, Gariépy J. VISTA as a ligand downregulates LPS-mediated inflammation in macrophages and neutrophils. Cell Immunol 2022; 379:104581. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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41
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Zhang Z, Bu L, Luo J, Guo J. Targeting protein kinases benefits cancer immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188738. [PMID: 35660645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Small-molecule kinase inhibitors have been well established and successfully developed in the last decades for cancer target therapies. However, intrinsic or acquired drug resistance is becoming the major barrier for their clinical application. With the development of immunotherapies, in particular the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the combination of ICIs with other therapies have recently been extensively explored, among which combination of ICIs with kinase inhibitors achieves promising clinical outcome in a plethora of cancer types. Here we comprehensively summarize the potent roles of protein kinases in modulating immune checkpoints both in tumor and immune cells, and reshaping tumor immune microenvironments by evoking innate immune response and neoantigen generation or presentation. Moreover, the clinical trial and approval of combined administration of kinase inhibitors with ICIs are collected, highlighting the precise strategies to benefit cancer immune therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Zhang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Lang Bu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Junhang Luo
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
| | - Jianping Guo
- Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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42
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Wang JC, Sun L. PD-1/PD-L1, MDSC Pathways, and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Ph(-) Myeloproliferative Neoplasm: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105837. [PMID: 35628647 PMCID: PMC9143160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been significant progress in immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy in many solid tumor types. However, only a single failed study has been published in treating Ph(-) myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). To make progress in CPI studies on this disease, herein, we review and summarize the mechanisms of activation of the PD-L1 promoter, which are as follows: (a) the extrinsic mechanism, which is activated by interferon gamma (IFN γ) by tumor infiltration lymphocytes (TIL) and NK cells; (b) the intrinsic mechanism of EGFR or PTEN loss resulting in the activation of the MAPK and AKT pathways and then stat 1 and 3 activation; and (c) 9p24 amplicon amplification, resulting in PD-L1 and Jak2 activation. We also review the literature and postulate that many of the failures of CPI therapy in MPN are likely due to excessive MDSC activities. We list all of the anti-MDSC agents, especially those with ruxolitinib, IMID compounds, and BTK inhibitors, which may be combined with CPI therapy in the future as part of clinical trials applying CPI therapy to Ph(-) MPN.
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43
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Abstract
The transformative success of antibodies targeting the PD-1 (programmed death 1)/B7-H1 (B7 homolog 1) pathway (anti-PD therapy) has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, only a fraction of patients with solid tumors and some hematopoietic malignancies respond to anti-PD therapy, and the reason for failure in other patients is less known. By dissecting the mechanisms underlying this resistance, current studies reveal that the tumor microenvironment is a major location for resistance to occur. Furthermore, the resistance mechanisms appear to be highly heterogeneous. Here, we discuss recent human cancer data identifying mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD therapy. We review evidence for immune-based resistance mechanisms such as loss of neoantigens, defects in antigen presentation and interferon signaling, immune inhibitory molecules, and exclusion of T cells. We also review the clinical evidence for emerging mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD therapy, such as alterations in metabolism, microbiota, and epigenetics. Finally, we discuss strategies to overcome anti-PD therapy resistance and emphasize the need to develop additional immunotherapies based on the concept of normalization cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Vesely
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; .,Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA;
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; .,Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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44
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Hong S, Yuan Q, Xia H, Dou Y, Sun T, Xie T, Zhang Z, He W, Dong C, Lu J, Guo L, Ni L. Establishment of an Ex Vivo Tissue Culture Model for Evaluation of Antitumor Efficacy in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:851191. [PMID: 35463322 PMCID: PMC9019348 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.851191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
There are many potential immunotherapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy, which should be assessed for efficacy before they enter clinical trials. Here we established an ex vivo cultured patient-derived tumor tissue model to evaluate antitumor effectiveness of one VISTA inhibitor, given that our previous study showed that VISTA was selectively highly expressed in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumors. We observed that all the tested patients responded to the anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody as manifested by TNF-α production, but only a small fraction were responders to the anti-PD-1 antibody. Co-blockade of VISTA and PD-1 resulted in a synergistic effect in 20% of RCC patients. Taken together, these findings indicate that this ex vivo tumor slice culture model represents a viable tool to evaluate antitumor efficacies for the inhibitors of immune checkpoints and further supports that VISTA could serve as a promising target for immunotherapy in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanjuan Hong
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Yuan
- Department of Urology, The Third Medical Center of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haizhui Xia
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Dou
- R&D Center, Suzhou Kanova Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China
| | - Tiantian Sun
- R&D Center, Suzhou Kanova Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China
| | - Tian Xie
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyin Zhang
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dong
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Center for Human Disease Immuno-Monitoring, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Lu
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Guo
- R&D Center, Suzhou Kanova Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China
| | - Ling Ni
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Center for Human Disease Immuno-Monitoring, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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45
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Liu Y, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhang X, Dai Z, Wu W, Zhang N, Liu Z, Zhang J, Luo P, Wen Z, Yu J, Zhang H, Yang T, Cheng Q. Identify the Prognostic and Immune Profile of VSIR in the Tumor Microenvironment: A Pan-Cancer Analysis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:821649. [PMID: 35493077 PMCID: PMC9039624 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.821649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
VSIR is a critical immunomodulatory receptor that inhibits T cell effector function and maintains peripheral tolerance. However, the mechanism by which VSIR participates in tumor immunity in the pan-cancer tumor microenvironment remains unclear. This study systematically explored the prognostic and immune profile of VSIR in the tumor microenvironment of 33 cancers. We compared the expression patterns and molecular features of VSIR in the normal and cancer samples both from the public databases and tumor chips. VSIR level was significantly related to patients’ prognosis and could be a promising predictor in many tumor types, such as GBM, KIRC, SKCM, READ, and PRAD. Elevated VSIR was closely correlated with infiltrated inflammatory cells, neoantigens expression, MSI, TMB, and classical immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment. Enrichment signaling pathways analysis indicated VSIR was involved in several immune-related pathways such as activation, proliferation, and migration of fibroblast, T cell, mast cell, macrophages, and foam cell. In addition, VSIR was found to widely express on cancer cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and T cells in many tumor types based on the single-cell sequencing analysis and co-express with M2 macrophage markers CD68, CD163 based on the immunofluorescence staining. Finally, we predicted the sensitive drugs targeting VSIR and the immunotherapeutic value of VSIR. In sum, VSIR levels strongly correlated with the clinical outcome and tumor immunity in multiple cancer types. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting VSIR in the tumor microenvironment may be valuable tools for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Jingwei Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziyu Dai
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wantao Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- One-third Lab, College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Wen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Quan Cheng, ; Tubao Yang, ; Hao Zhang,
| | - Tubao Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Quan Cheng, ; Tubao Yang, ; Hao Zhang,
| | - Quan Cheng
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Diagnosis and Therapy Center for Glioma of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Quan Cheng, ; Tubao Yang, ; Hao Zhang,
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46
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Chen W, Qie C, Hu X, Wang L, Jiang J, Liu W, Liu J. A small molecule inhibitor of VSIG-8 prevents its binding to VISTA. Invest New Drugs 2022; 40:690-699. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-022-01244-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cancer cells evade immune surveillance partly due to the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Currently approved immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of lung cancer are aimed to inhibit immune checkpoints, such as programmed death protein-1 (PD-1), PD ligand-1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4. Despite these, researchers are currently racing to create the optimal cancer immunotherapy treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Novel immunotherapeutic drugs mainly act on activated immune cells and exert their therapeutic effects by enhancing antitumor responses. In this article, we review new therapies for the treatment of lung cancer that enhance T cell priming, remove coinhibitory signals, supply costimulatory signals and condition the TME. SUMMARY As more immunotherapeutic targets are in studies, designing multimodal strategies to provide greater efficacy with lower toxicity will be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Peng
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
| | - Zibing Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Justin Stebbing
- Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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48
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Chen Y, Feng R, He B, Wang J, Xian N, Huang G, Zhang Q. PD-1H Expression Associated With CD68 Macrophage Marker Confers an Immune-Activated Microenvironment and Favorable Overall Survival in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:777370. [PMID: 34950702 PMCID: PMC8688962 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.777370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common type of esophageal carcinoma (EC) in China. Although the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has been approved to treat patients with EC, its therapeutic efficacy is limited. Thus, additional immunotherapeutic targets for EC treatment are needed. Programmed Death-1 Homolog (PD-1H) is a negative checkpoint regulator that inhibits antitumor immune responses. Here, PD-1H expression in 114 patients with ESCC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Next, 12 randomly selected tumor tissue sections were used to assess the colocalization of PD-1H protein and multiple immune markers by multiplex immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated that PD-1H was expressed at high frequency in ESCC tumor tissues (85.1%). PD-1H protein was predominantly expressed in CD68+ tumor-associated macrophages and expressed at low levels in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in ESCC tumor tissues. Furthermore, based on ESCC data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the gene expression levels of PD-1H were positively associated with the infiltration levels of immune-activated cells especially CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, the gene expression levels of PD-1H were negatively correlated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Importantly, PD-1H expression in tumor sites was significantly correlated with favorable overall survival in patients with ESCC. Collectively, our findings first provided direct information on the PD-1H expression pattern and distribution in ESCC, and positive correlation of PD-1H expression with overall survival suggested PD-1H expression levels could be a significant prognostic indicator for patients with ESCC. Future studies need to explore the immunoregulatory of PD-1H in the tumor microenvironment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuangui Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Rui Feng
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bailin He
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Xian
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Gangxiong Huang
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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49
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Hu L, Chen L, Xiao Z, Zheng X, Chen Y, Xian N, Cho C, Luo L, Huang G, Chen L. Ablation of T cell-associated PD-1H enhances functionality and promotes adoptive immunotherapy. JCI Insight 2021; 7:148247. [PMID: 34905507 PMCID: PMC8855794 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death-1 homolog (PD-1H) is a co-inhibitory molecule that negatively regulates T cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we determined whether ablation of T cell-associated PD-1H could enhance adoptive T cell therapy in experimental tumor models. The expression of PD-1H is up-regulated in activated and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Activated CD8+ T cells from PD-1H deficient (KO) mice exhibited increased cell proliferation, cytokine production and anti-tumor activity in vitro. Adoptive transfer of PD-1H-KO CD8+ T cells resulted in the regression of established syngeneic mouse tumors. Similar results were obtained when PD-1H was ablated in T cells by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, ablation of PD-1H in CAR-T cells significantly improved their anti-tumor activity against human xenografts in vivo. Our results indicate that T cell-associated PD-1H could suppress immunity in the tumor microenvironment and targeting PD-1H may improve T cell adoptive immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Hu
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zexiu Xiao
- Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Zheng
- Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuangui Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Na Xian
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Christina Cho
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Liqun Luo
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Gangxiong Huang
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America
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50
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Abstract
The V-domain Ig Suppressor of T-cell Activation (VISTA) is an immune checkpoint regulator that suppresses immune responses and is readily expressed on human and murine myeloid cells and T cells. This immunosuppressive pathway can be activated using VISTA agonists. Here, we report the development of murine anti-human VISTA (anti-hVISTA) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), anti-hVISTA nanobodies (Nbs), and cross-reactive rat anti-murine/human VISTA (anti-hmVISTA) mAbs. All mAbs and Nbs generated bound to VISTA (human and/or murine) with dissociation constants in the sub-nanomolar or low nanomolar range. Competition analysis revealed that the selected Nbs bound the same or a nearby epitope(s) as the human VISTA-specific mAbs. However, the cross-reactive mAbs only partially competed with Nbs for binding to hVISTA. All mAbs and one Nb (hVISTANb7) were able to strongly detect VISTA expression on primary human monocytes. Importantly, the murine anti-hVISTA mAbs 7E12 and 7G5 displayed strong agonistic activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures, while Nb7 and rat anti-hmVISTA mAbs 3C3, 7C6, 7C7, and 7G1 also behaved as hVISTA agonists, albeit to a lesser extent. Cross-reactive mAbs 7C7 and 7G1 further displayed agonistic potential in murine splenocyte assays. Importantly, mAb 7G1 significantly reduced inflammation associated with the murine model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis. These agonistic VISTA mAbs may represent therapeutic leads to treat inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Sparkes
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ema Romão
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ixelles, Belgium
| | - Shrayasee Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jean Gariépy
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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