1
|
Kumar B, Singh A, Basar R, Uprety N, Li Y, Fan H, Cortes AKN, Kaplan M, Acharya S, Shaim H, Xu AC, Wu M, Ensley E, Fang D, Banerjee PP, Garcia LM, Tiberti S, Lin P, Rafei H, Munir MN, Moore M, Shanley M, Mendt M, Kerbauy LN, Liu B, Biederstädt A, Gokdemir E, Ghosh S, Kundu K, Reyes-Silva F, Jiang XR, Wan X, Gilbert AL, Dede M, Mohanty V, Dou J, Zhang P, Liu E, Muniz-Feliciano L, Deyter GM, Jain AK, Rodriguez-Sevilla JJ, Colla S, Garcia-Manero G, Shpall EJ, Chen K, Abbas HA, Rai K, Rezvani K, Daher M. BATF is a major driver of NK cell epigenetic reprogramming and dysfunction in AML. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadp0004. [PMID: 39259809 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adp0004] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) belong to a continuous disease spectrum of myeloid malignancies with poor prognosis in the relapsed/refractory setting necessitating novel therapies. Natural killer (NK) cells from patients with myeloid malignancies display global dysfunction with impaired killing capacity, altered metabolism, and an exhausted phenotype at the single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic levels. In this study, we identified that this dysfunction was mediated through a cross-talk between NK cells and myeloid blasts necessitating cell-cell contact. NK cell dysfunction could be prevented by targeting the αvβ-integrin/TGF-β/SMAD pathway but, once established, was persistent because of profound epigenetic reprogramming. We identified BATF as a core transcription factor and the main mediator of this NK cell dysfunction in AML. Mechanistically, we found that BATF was directly regulated and induced by SMAD2/3 and, in turn, bound to key genes related to NK cell exhaustion, such as HAVCR2, LAG3, TIGIT, and CTLA4. BATF deletion enhanced NK cell function against AML in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unidentified mechanism of NK immune evasion in AML manifested by epigenetic rewiring and inactivation of NK cells by myeloid blasts. This work highlights the importance of using healthy allogeneic NK cells as an adoptive cell therapy to treat patients with myeloid malignancies combined with strategies aimed at preventing the dysfunction by targeting the TGF-β pathway or BATF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bijender Kumar
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anand Singh
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rafet Basar
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nadima Uprety
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Huihui Fan
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ana Karen Nunez Cortes
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mecit Kaplan
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sunil Acharya
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hila Shaim
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anna C Xu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manrong Wu
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Emily Ensley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dexing Fang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pinaki P Banerjee
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Silvia Tiberti
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paul Lin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hind Rafei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maliha Nuzhat Munir
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Madison Moore
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mayra Shanley
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mayela Mendt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lucila N Kerbauy
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hemotherapy/Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexander Biederstädt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elif Gokdemir
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Susmita Ghosh
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kiran Kundu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Francia Reyes-Silva
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xin Ru Jiang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xinhai Wan
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - April L Gilbert
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Merve Dede
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vakul Mohanty
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jinzhuang Dou
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Patrick Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Enli Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luis Muniz-Feliciano
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gary M Deyter
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abhinav K Jain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Simona Colla
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guillermo Garcia-Manero
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Shpall
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hussein A Abbas
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center Epigenetics Therapy Initiative, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - May Daher
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Delconte RB, Owyong M, Santosa EK, Srpan K, Sheppard S, McGuire TJ, Abbasi A, Diaz-Salazar C, Chun J, Rogatsky I, Hsu KC, Jordan S, Merad M, Sun JC. Fasting reshapes tissue-specific niches to improve NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Immunity 2024; 57:1923-1938.e7. [PMID: 38878769 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Fasting is associated with improved outcomes in cancer. Here, we investigated the impact of fasting on natural killer (NK) cell anti-tumor immunity. Cyclic fasting improved immunity against solid and metastatic tumors in an NK cell-dependent manner. During fasting, NK cells underwent redistribution from peripheral tissues to the bone marrow (BM). In humans, fasting also reduced circulating NK cell numbers. NK cells in the spleen of fasted mice were metabolically rewired by elevated concentrations of fatty acids and glucocorticoids, augmenting fatty acid metabolism via increased expression of the enzyme CPT1A, and Cpt1a deletion impaired NK cell survival and function in this setting. In parallel, redistribution of NK cells to the BM during fasting required the trafficking mediators S1PR5 and CXCR4. These cells were primed by an increased pool of interleukin (IL)-12-expressing BM myeloid cells, which improved IFN-γ production. Our findings identify a link between dietary restriction and optimized innate immune responses, with the potential to enhance immunotherapy strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B Delconte
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Mark Owyong
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Endi K Santosa
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Katja Srpan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sam Sheppard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tomi J McGuire
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aamna Abbasi
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Carlos Diaz-Salazar
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jerold Chun
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Inez Rogatsky
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA; Hospital for Special Surgery Research Institute, The David Rosenzweig Genomics Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Katharine C Hsu
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Stefan Jordan
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miriam Merad
- Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph C Sun
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sefland Ø, Gullaksen SE, Omsland M, Reikvam H, Galteland E, Tran HTT, Spetalen S, Singh SK, Van Zeeburg HJT, Van De Loosdrecht AA, Gjertsen BT. Mass cytometric single cell immune profiles of peripheral blood from acute myeloid leukemia patients in complete remission with measurable residual disease. CYTOMETRY. PART B, CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2024. [PMID: 39078053 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.22197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Measurable residual disease (MRD) is detected in approximately a quarter of AML chemotherapy responders, serving as a predictor for relapse and shorter survival. Immunological control of residual disease is suggested to prevent relapse, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. We present a peripheral blood single cell immune profiling by mass cytometry using a 42-antibody panel with particular emphasis on markers of cellular immune response. Six healthy donors were compared with four AML patients with MRD (MRD+) in first complete remission (CR1MRD+). Three of four patients demonstrated a favorable genetic risk profile, while the fourth patient had an unfavorable risk profile (complex karyotype, TP53-mutation) and a high level of MRD. Unsupervised clustering using self-organizing maps and dimensional reduction analysis was performed for visualization and analysis of immune cell subsets. CD57+ natural killer (NK)-cell subsets were found to be less abundant in patients than in healthy donors. Both T and NK cells demonstrated elevated expression of activity and maturation markers (CD44, granzyme B, and phosho-STAT5 Y694) in patients. Although mass cytometry remains an expensive method with limited scalability, our data suggest the utility for employing a 42-plex profiling for cellular immune surveillance in whole blood, and possibly as a biomarker platform in future clinical trials. The findings encourage further investigations of single cell immune profiling in CR1MRD+ AML-patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Øystein Sefland
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Myeloid Blood Cancer, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stein-Erik Gullaksen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Myeloid Blood Cancer, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria Omsland
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Myeloid Blood Cancer, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Safety, Chemistry, and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Håkon Reikvam
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Myeloid Blood Cancer, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eivind Galteland
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hoa Thi Tuyet Tran
- Department of Haematology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Signe Spetalen
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Arjan A Van De Loosdrecht
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bjørn Tore Gjertsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Myeloid Blood Cancer, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cantoni C, Falco M, Vitale M, Pietra G, Munari E, Pende D, Mingari MC, Sivori S, Moretta L. Human NK cells and cancer. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2378520. [PMID: 39022338 PMCID: PMC11253890 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2378520] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a "universal anti-tumor immune tool". In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michela Falco
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tecalco-Cruz AC, Medina-Abreu KH, Oropeza-Martínez E, Zepeda-Cervantes J, Vázquez-Macías A, Macías-Silva M. Deregulation of interferon-gamma receptor 1 expression and its implications for lung adenocarcinoma progression. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:195-207. [PMID: 38455133 PMCID: PMC10915940 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i2.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a dual role in cancer; it is both a pro- and an antitumorigenic cytokine, depending on the type of cancer. The deregulation of the IFN-γ canonic pathway is associated with several disorders, including vulnerability to viral infections, inflammation, and cancer progression. In particular, the interplay between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and viral infections appears to exist in association with the deregulation of IFN-γ signaling. In this mini-review, we investigated the status of the IFN-γ signaling pathway and the expression level of its components in LUAD. Interestingly, a reduction in IFNGR1 expression seems to be associated with LUAD progression, affecting defenses against viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In addition, alterations in the expression of IFNGR1 may inhibit the antiproliferative action of IFN-γ signaling in LUAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | - Karen H Medina-Abreu
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | | | - Jesus Zepeda-Cervantes
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico
| | - Aleida Vázquez-Macías
- Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | - Marina Macías-Silva
- Instituo de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ulvmoen A, Greiff V, Bechensteen AG, Inngjerdingen M. NKG2A discriminates natural killer cells with a suppressed phenotype in pediatric acute leukemia. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:334-343. [PMID: 37738462 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad112] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are important for early tumor immune surveillance. In patients with hematological cancers, NK cells are generally functional deficient and display dysregulations in their receptor repertoires. Acute leukemia is the most common cancer in children, and we here performed a comparative phenotypic profiling of NK cells from B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) patients to identify aberrant NK cell phenotypes. NK cell phenotypes, maturation, and function were analyzed in matched bone marrow and blood NK cells from BCP-ALL patients at diagnosis, during treatment, and at end of treatment and compared with age-matched pediatric control subjects. Expression of several markers were skewed in patients, but with large interindividual variations. Undertaking a multiparameter approach, we found that high expression levels of NKG2A was the single predominant marker distinguishing NK cells in BCP-ALL patients compared with healthy control subjects. Moreover, naïve CD57-NKG2A NK cells dominated in BCP-ALL patients at diagnosis. Further, we found dysregulated expression of the activating receptor DNAM-1 in resident bone marrow CXCR6+ NK cells. CXCR6+ NK cells lacking DNAM-1 expressed NKG2A and had a tendency for lower degranulation activity. In conclusion, high expression of NKG2A dominates NK cell phenotypes from pediatric BCP-ALL patients, indicating that NKG2A could be targeted in therapies for this patient group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aina Ulvmoen
- Department of Pediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 20, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Anne G Bechensteen
- Department of Pediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Marit Inngjerdingen
- Department of Pharmacology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 20, Oslo 0372, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gurska L, Gritsman K. Unveiling T cell evasion mechanisms to immune checkpoint inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:674-687. [PMID: 37842238 PMCID: PMC10571054 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous and aggressive hematologic malignancy that is associated with a high relapse rate and poor prognosis. Despite advances in immunotherapies in solid tumors and other hematologic malignancies, AML has been particularly difficult to treat with immunotherapies, as their efficacy is limited by the ability of leukemic cells to evade T cell recognition. In this review, we discuss the common mechanisms of T cell evasion in AML: (1) increased expression of immune checkpoint molecules; (2) downregulation of antigen presentation molecules; (3) induction of T cell exhaustion; and (4) creation of an immunosuppressive environment through the increased frequency of regulatory T cells. We also review the clinical investigation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in AML. We discuss the limitations of ICIs, particularly in the context of T cell evasion mechanisms in AML, and we describe emerging strategies to overcome T cell evasion, including combination therapies. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future directions of immunotherapy research in AML, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between AML cells and the immune system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Gurska
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Kira Gritsman
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kent A, Crump LS, Davila E. Beyond αβ T cells: NK, iNKT, and γδT cell biology in leukemic patients and potential for off-the-shelf adoptive cell therapies for AML. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1202950. [PMID: 37654497 PMCID: PMC10465706 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1202950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains an elusive disease to treat, let alone cure, even after highly intensive therapies such as stem cell transplants. Adoptive cell therapeutic strategies based on conventional alpha beta (αβ)T cells are an active area of research in myeloid neoplasms given their remarkable success in other hematologic malignancies, particularly B-cell-derived acute lymphoid leukemia, myeloma, and lymphomas. Several limitations have hindered clinical application of adoptive cell therapies in AML including lack of leukemia-specific antigens, on-target-off-leukemic toxicity, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and leukemic stem cell populations elusive to immune recognition and destruction. While there are promising T cell-based therapies including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T designs under development, other cytotoxic lymphocyte cell subsets have unique phenotypes and capabilities that might be of additional benefit in AML treatment. Of particular interest are the natural killer (NK) and unconventional T cells known as invariant natural killer T (iNKT) and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. NK, iNKT, and γδT cells exhibit intrinsic anti-malignant properties, potential for alloreactivity, and human leukocyte-antigen (HLA)-independent function. Here we review the biology of each of these unconventional cytotoxic lymphocyte cell types and compare and contrast their strengths and limitations as the basis for adoptive cell therapies for AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kent
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | - Eduardo Davila
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
D’Silva SZ, Singh M, Pinto AS. NK cell defects: implication in acute myeloid leukemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1112059. [PMID: 37228595 PMCID: PMC10203541 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1112059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a complex disease with rapid progression and poor/unsatisfactory outcomes. In the past few years, the focus has been on developing newer therapies for AML; however, relapse remains a significant problem. Natural Killer cells have strong anti-tumor potential against AML. This NK-mediated cytotoxicity is often restricted by cellular defects caused by disease-associated mechanisms, which can lead to disease progression. A stark feature of AML is the low/no expression of the cognate HLA ligands for the activating KIR receptors, due to which these tumor cells evade NK-mediated lysis. Recently, different Natural Killer cell therapies have been implicated in treating AML, such as the adoptive NK cell transfer, Chimeric antigen receptor-modified NK (CAR-NK) cell therapy, antibodies, cytokine, and drug treatment. However, the data available is scarce, and the outcomes vary between different transplant settings and different types of leukemia. Moreover, remission achieved by some of these therapies is only for a short time. In this mini-review, we will discuss the role of NK cell defects in AML progression, particularly the expression of different cell surface markers, the available NK cell therapies, and the results from various preclinical and clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Selma Z. D’Silva
- Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Education and Research in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Meenakshi Singh
- Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Education and Research in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Andrea S. Pinto
- Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Education and Research in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Boy M, Bisio V, Zhao LP, Guidez F, Schell B, Lereclus E, Henry G, Villemonteix J, Rodrigues-Lima F, Gagne K, Retiere C, Larcher L, Kim R, Clappier E, Sebert M, Mekinian A, Fain O, Caignard A, Espeli M, Balabanian K, Toubert A, Fenaux P, Ades L, Dulphy N. Myelodysplastic Syndrome associated TET2 mutations affect NK cell function and genome methylation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:588. [PMID: 36737440 PMCID: PMC9898569 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36193-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders, representing high risk of progression to acute myeloid leukaemia, and frequently associated to somatic mutations, notably in the epigenetic regulator TET2. Natural Killer (NK) cells play a role in the anti-leukemic immune response via their cytolytic activity. Here we show that patients with MDS clones harbouring mutations in the TET2 gene are characterised by phenotypic defects in their circulating NK cells. Remarkably, NK cells and MDS clones from the same patient share the TET2 genotype, and the NK cells are characterised by increased methylation of genomic DNA and reduced expression of Killer Immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), perforin, and TNF-α. In vitro inhibition of TET2 in NK cells of healthy donors reduces their cytotoxicity, supporting its critical role in NK cell function. Conversely, NK cells from patients treated with azacytidine (#NCT02985190; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ) show increased KIR and cytolytic protein expression, and IFN-γ production. Altogether, our findings show that, in addition to their oncogenic consequences in the myeloid cell subsets, TET2 mutations contribute to repressing NK-cell function in MDS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Boy
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Valeria Bisio
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Lin-Pierre Zhao
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Guidez
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis INSERM UMR_S1131, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Bérénice Schell
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Lereclus
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Guylaine Henry
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Juliette Villemonteix
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France
| | | | - Katia Gagne
- Etablissement Français du Sang, Centre Pays de la Loire, F-44011, Nantes, France.,Université de Nantes, INSERM UMR1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA team 12, F-44000, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO « Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology », F-44000, Nantes, France.,LabEx Transplantex, Université de Strasbourg, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christelle Retiere
- Etablissement Français du Sang, Centre Pays de la Loire, F-44011, Nantes, France.,Université de Nantes, INSERM UMR1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA team 12, F-44000, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO « Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology », F-44000, Nantes, France.,LabEx Transplantex, Université de Strasbourg, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lise Larcher
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Rathana Kim
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Clappier
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Marie Sebert
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Department d'Hématologie Sénior, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France.,Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis INSERM UMR_944, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Arsène Mekinian
- Service de Medecine Interne, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, F-75012, Paris, France.,Departement Hospitalo-Universitaire Inflammation-Immunopathologie-Biotherapie, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Fain
- Service de Medecine Interne, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, F-75012, Paris, France.,Departement Hospitalo-Universitaire Inflammation-Immunopathologie-Biotherapie, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Anne Caignard
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Marion Espeli
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Karl Balabanian
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Toubert
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France.,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Fenaux
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Department d'Hématologie Sénior, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France.,Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis INSERM UMR_944, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Lionel Ades
- Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.,Department d'Hématologie Sénior, Hôpital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, F-75010, Paris, France.,Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis INSERM UMR_944, F-75010, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Dulphy
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM UMR_S1160, F-75010, Paris, France. .,Institut Carnot OPALE, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France. .,CNRS, GDR3697 "Microenvironment of tumor niches", Micronit, F-75010, Paris, France. .,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Louis, F-75010, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
A Bioinformatics View on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Surface Molecules by Combined Bayesian and ABC Analysis. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9110642. [DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9110642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
“Big omics data” provoke the challenge of extracting meaningful information with clinical benefit. Here, we propose a two-step approach, an initial unsupervised inspection of the structure of the high dimensional data followed by supervised analysis of gene expression levels, to reconstruct the surface patterns on different subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). First, Bayesian methodology was used, focusing on surface molecules encoded by cluster of differentiation (CD) genes to assess whether AML is a homogeneous group or segregates into clusters. Gene expressions of 390 patient samples measured using microarray technology and 150 samples measured via RNA-Seq were compared. Beyond acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a well-known AML subentity, the remaining AML samples were separated into two distinct subgroups. Next, we investigated which CD molecules would best distinguish each AML subgroup against APL, and validated discriminative molecules of both datasets by searching the scientific literature. Surprisingly, a comparison of both omics analyses revealed that CD339 was the only overlapping gene differentially regulated in APL and other AML subtypes. In summary, our two-step approach for gene expression analysis revealed two previously unknown subgroup distinctions in AML based on surface molecule expression, which may guide the differentiation of subentities in a given clinical–diagnostic context.
Collapse
|
12
|
Ding H, Wang G, Yu Z, Sun H, Wang L. Role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ receptor 1/2 (IFNγR1/2) in regulation of immunity, infection, and cancer development: IFN-γ-dependent or independent pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113683. [PMID: 36095965 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
IFN-γ, a soluble cytokine being produced by T lymphocytes, macrophages, mucosal epithelial cells, or natural killer cells, is able to bind to the IFN-γ receptor (IFNγR) and in turn activate the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and transcription protein (STAT) pathway and induce expression of IFN-γ-stimulated genes. IFN-γ is critical for innate and adaptive immunity and aberrant IFN-γ expression and functions have been associated with different human diseases. However, the IFN-γ/IFNγR signaling could be a double-edged sword in cancer development because the tissue microenvironments could determine its anti- or pro-tumorigenic activities. The IFNγR protein consists of two IFNγR1 and IFNγR2 chains, subunits of which play different roles under certain conditions. This review assessed IFNγR polymorphisms, expression and functions in development and progression of various human diseases in an IFN-γ-dependent or independent manner. This review also discussed tumor microenvironment, microbial infection, and vital molecules in the IFN-γ upstream signaling that might regulate IFNγR expression, drug resistance, and druggable strategy, to provide evidence for further application of IFNγR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Gongfu Wang
- Center for Drug Evaluation, China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), Beijing, China.
| | - Zhen Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Huimin Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hino C, Pham B, Park D, Yang C, Nguyen MH, Kaur S, Reeves ME, Xu Y, Nishino K, Pu L, Kwon SM, Zhong JF, Zhang KK, Xie L, Chong EG, Chen CS, Nguyen V, Castillo DR, Cao H. Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: The Future of Immunotherapy and Natural Products. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061410. [PMID: 35740430 PMCID: PMC9219790 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an essential role in the development, proliferation, and survival of leukemic blasts in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Within the bone marrow and peripheral blood, various phenotypically and functionally altered cells in the TME provide critical signals to suppress the anti-tumor immune response, allowing tumor cells to evade elimination. Thus, unraveling the complex interplay between AML and its microenvironment may have important clinical implications and are essential to directing the development of novel targeted therapies. This review summarizes recent advancements in our understanding of the AML TME and its ramifications on current immunotherapeutic strategies. We further review the role of natural products in modulating the TME to enhance response to immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Hino
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.H.); (B.P.); (K.N.); (L.P.); (S.M.K.)
| | - Bryan Pham
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.H.); (B.P.); (K.N.); (L.P.); (S.M.K.)
| | - Daniel Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco–Fresno, Fresno, CA 93701, USA;
| | - Chieh Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Michael H.K. Nguyen
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Simmer Kaur
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Mark E. Reeves
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Kevin Nishino
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.H.); (B.P.); (K.N.); (L.P.); (S.M.K.)
| | - Lu Pu
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.H.); (B.P.); (K.N.); (L.P.); (S.M.K.)
| | - Sue Min Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.H.); (B.P.); (K.N.); (L.P.); (S.M.K.)
| | - Jiang F. Zhong
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA;
| | - Ke K. Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77030, USA; (K.K.Z.); (L.X.)
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences & Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Linglin Xie
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77030, USA; (K.K.Z.); (L.X.)
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences & Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Esther G. Chong
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Chien-Shing Chen
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Department of Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Dan Ran Castillo
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
- Correspondence: (D.R.C.); (H.C.)
| | - Huynh Cao
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (M.H.K.N.); (S.K.); (M.E.R.); (Y.X.); (E.G.C.); (C.-S.C.)
- Correspondence: (D.R.C.); (H.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Allegra A, Casciaro M, Lo Presti E, Musolino C, Gangemi S. Harnessing Unconventional T Cells and Innate Lymphoid Cells to Prevent and Treat Hematological Malignancies: Prospects for New Immunotherapy. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060754. [PMID: 35740879 PMCID: PMC9221132 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconventional T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) make up a heterogeneous set of cells that characteristically show prompt responses toward specific antigens. Unconventional T cells recognize non-peptide antigens, which are bound and presented by diverse non-polymorphic antigen-presenting molecules and comprise γδ T cells, MR1-restricted mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAITs), and natural killer T cells (NKTs). On the other hand, ILCs lack antigen-specific receptors and act as the innate counterpart to the T lymphocytes found in the adaptive immune response. The alteration of unconventional T cells and ILCs in frequency and functionality is correlated with the onset of several autoimmune diseases, allergy, inflammation, and tumor. However, depending on the physio-pathological framework, unconventional T cells may exhibit either protective or pathogenic activity in a range of neoplastic diseases. Nonetheless, experimental models and clinical studies have displayed that some unconventional T cells are potential therapeutic targets, as well as prognostic and diagnostic markers. In fact, cell-mediated immune response in tumors has become the focus in immunotherapy against neoplastic disease. This review concentrates on the present knowledge concerning the function of unconventional T cell sets in the antitumor immune response in hematological malignancies, such as acute and chronic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Moreover, we discuss the possibility that modulating the activity of unconventional T cells could be useful in the treatment of hematological neoplasms, in the prevention of specific conditions (such as graft versus host disease), and in the formulation of an effective anticancer vaccine therapy. The exact knowledge of the role of these cells could represent the prerequisite for the creation of a new form of immunotherapy for hematological neoplasms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Allegra
- Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, Division of Hematology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Marco Casciaro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-221-2013
| | - Elena Lo Presti
- National Research Council (CNR)—Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Caterina Musolino
- Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, Division of Hematology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ayyadurai VAS, Deonikar P, McLure KG, Sakamoto KM. Molecular Systems Architecture of Interactome in the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:756. [PMID: 35159023 PMCID: PMC8833542 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A molecular systems architecture is presented for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to provide a framework for organizing the complexity of biomolecular interactions. AML is a multifactorial disease resulting from impaired differentiation and increased proliferation of hematopoietic precursor cells involving genetic mutations, signaling pathways related to the cancer cell genetics, and molecular interactions between the cancer cell and the tumor microenvironment, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, bone marrow stromal cells, and immune cells (e.g., T-regs, T-helper 1 cells, T-helper 17 cells, T-effector cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells). This molecular systems architecture provides a layered understanding of intra- and inter-cellular interactions in the AML cancer cell and the cells in the stromal microenvironment. The molecular systems architecture may be utilized for target identification and the discovery of single and combination therapeutics and strategies to treat AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai
- Systems Biology Group, International Center for Integrative Systems, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Prabhakar Deonikar
- Systems Biology Group, International Center for Integrative Systems, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | | | - Kathleen M. Sakamoto
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Clara JA, Childs RW. Harnessing natural killer cells for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Semin Oncol 2022; 49:69-85. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
17
|
Zeng X, Yao D, Liu L, Zhang Y, Lai J, Zhong J, Zha X, Lu Y, Jin Z, Chen S, Li Y, Xu L. Terminal differentiation of bone marrow NK cells and increased circulation of TIGIT + NK cells may be related to poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2021; 18:456-464. [PMID: 34811925 DOI: 10.1111/ajco.13723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM In order to further understand the feature of natural killer cell (NK) dysfunction in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), The distribution of NK cell subset the expression of the inhibitory receptors immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), killer cell lectin-like receptor (KLRG1), and the expression of maturation marker CD57 in NK cell subsets and their correlation with patient outcomes were analyzed in this study. METHODS We collected peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples from de novo AML (AML-DN) patients, patients who achieved complete remission after chemotherapy (AML-CR), and healthy individuals. An eight-color flow cytometry panel was used to identify different NK subsets and their expression of TIGIT, CD57 and KLRG1. RESULTS Decreased percentage of CD56dim CD16+ NK cells was found only in the PB of AML-DN and AML-CR patients but not in the BM. The expression frequency of TIGIT and KLRG1 was elevated on NK cells from the PB of AML-DN patients, while it was recovered in AML-CR patients. Moreover, a higher percentage of CD57+ CD56dim CD16+ NK cells, representing a terminally differentiated NK subset with strong cytotoxic capacity but defective replication potential, was detected in the BM of AML-DN patients and predicted sub-optimal survival for patients. CONCLUSION The results indicated that the NK cell subsets in the PB of AML patients had an exhaustion phenotype, while the BM NK cells had a terminally differentiated phenotype, which correlated with short survival for AML patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangbo Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Danlin Yao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yikai Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jing Lai
- Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jun Zhong
- Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xianfeng Zha
- Department of clinical laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yuhong Lu
- Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zhenyi Jin
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Hematology; First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gimeno L, González-Lozano I, Soto-Ramírez MF, Martínez-Sánchez MV, López-Cubillana P, Fuster JL, Martínez-García J, Martínez-Escribano J, Campillo JA, Pons-Fuster E, Ferri B, López-Abad A, Muro M, Minguela A. CD8+ T lymphocytes are sensitive to NKG2A/HLA-E licensing interaction: role in the survival of cancer patients. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1986943. [PMID: 34676148 PMCID: PMC8525952 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1986943] [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: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NK and CD8+ T cells are the main cytolytic effectors involved in innate and adaptive tumor immune surveillance, respectively. Although their educational pathways differ, similarities in their development and function suggest that CD8+ T lymphocytes could be sensitive to NK cell licensing signals, which might influence their antitumor response. To demonstrate this hypothesis, we retrospectively evaluated the impact that NK cell licensing interactions have on the expression of CD226 on CD8+ T lymphocytes and on the survival of patients with different hematopoietic and solid cancers (n = 1,023). Prospectively, we analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry the anti-CD3/CD28-induced proliferation and immune-receptor expression of purified CD8+ T lymphocytes from healthy donors (n = 17) with different combinations of NK cell licensing ligands. Results show that methionine/threonine (M/T) dimorphism at position -21 of the HLA-B leader peptide, but not other HLA class-I dimorphisms involved in the education of NK cells (HLA-C1/C2 or HLA-Bw4), is associated with greater survival and expression of CD226 in cancer patients, which was proportional to the number of methionines present in their genotype. CD8+ T lymphocytes from healthy donors with -21 M showed higher proliferation rates and lower expression of TIGIT after in vitro stimulation. Therefore, CD8+ T lymphocytes, like NK cells, appear to be sensitive to the -21 M/T dimorphism of HLA-B leader peptide, which results in the modulation of CD226 in vivo and the proliferation and expression of TIGIT after in vitro stimulation, all of which could be related to their immune-surveillance capacity and the survival of cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
- Human Anatomy Department, University of Murcia (Um), Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel González-Lozano
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - María F. Soto-Ramírez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - María V. Martínez-Sánchez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro López-Cubillana
- Urology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - José L. Fuster
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Martínez-García
- Oncology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jorge Martínez-Escribano
- Dermatology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - José A. Campillo
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Pons-Fuster
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Belén Ferri
- Pathology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alicia López-Abad
- Urology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen De La Arrrixaca (Hcuva), Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (Imib), Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gunduz M, Ataca Atilla P, Atilla E. New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9091201. [PMID: 34572387 PMCID: PMC8466804 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NK (Natural Killer) cell-mediated adoptive immunotherapy has gained attention in hematology due to the progressing knowledge of NK cell receptor structure, biology and function. Today, challenges related to NK cell expansion and persistence in vivo as well as low cytotoxicity have been mostly overcome by pioneering trials that focused on harnessing NK cell functions. Recent technological advancements in gene delivery, gene editing and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have made it possible to generate genetically modified NK cells that enhance the anti-tumor efficacy and represent suitable “off-the-shelf” products with fewer side effects. In this review, we highlight recent advances in NK cell biology along with current approaches for potentiating NK cell proliferation and activity, redirecting NK cells using CARs and optimizing the procedure to manufacture clinical-grade NK and CAR NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Gunduz
- Department of Hematology, Biruni University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey;
| | - Pinar Ataca Atilla
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Ph.D Program, Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Ankara 06520, Turkey;
| | - Erden Atilla
- Department of Hematology, Mersin State Hospital, Korukent District, 96015 St., Toroslar 33240, Turkey
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +9-05-058-213-131
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kaweme NM, Zhou F. Optimizing NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Myeloid Leukemia: Abrogating an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:683381. [PMID: 34220833 PMCID: PMC8247591 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are prominent cytotoxic and cytokine-producing components of the innate immune system representing crucial effector cells in cancer immunotherapy. Presently, various NK cell-based immunotherapies have contributed to the substantial improvement in the reconstitution of NK cells against advanced-staged and high-risk AML. Various NK cell sources, including haploidentical NK cells, adaptive NK cells, umbilical cord blood NK cells, stem cell-derived NK cells, chimeric antigen receptor NK cells, cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells, and NK cell lines have been identified. Devising innovative approaches to improve the generation of therapeutic NK cells from the aforementioned sources is likely to enhance NK cell expansion and activation, stimulate ex vivo and in vivo persistence of NK cells and improve conventional treatment response of myeloid leukemia. The tumor-promoting properties of the tumor microenvironment and downmodulation of NK cellular metabolic activity in solid tumors and hematological malignancies constitute a significant impediment in enhancing the anti-tumor effects of NK cells. In this review, we discuss the current NK cell sources, highlight ongoing interventions in enhancing NK cell function, and outline novel strategies to circumvent immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment to improve the efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapy and expand their future success in treating myeloid leukemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
High-dimensional mass cytometry analysis of NK cell alterations in AML identifies a subgroup with adverse clinical outcome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2020459118. [PMID: 34050021 PMCID: PMC8179170 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020459118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are major antileukemic immune effectors. Leukemic blasts have a negative impact on NK cell function and promote the emergence of phenotypically and functionally impaired NK cells. In the current work, we highlight an accumulation of CD56-CD16+ unconventional NK cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aberrant subset initially described as being elevated in patients chronically infected with HIV-1. Deep phenotyping of NK cells was performed using peripheral blood from patients with newly diagnosed AML (n = 48, HEMATOBIO cohort, NCT02320656) and healthy subjects (n = 18) by mass cytometry. We showed evidence of a moderate to drastic accumulation of CD56-CD16+ unconventional NK cells in 27% of patients. These NK cells displayed decreased expression of NKG2A as well as the triggering receptors NKp30 and NKp46, in line with previous observations in HIV-infected patients. High-dimensional characterization of these NK cells highlighted a decreased expression of three additional major triggering receptors required for NK cell activation, NKG2D, DNAM-1, and CD96. A high proportion of CD56-CD16+ NK cells at diagnosis was associated with an adverse clinical outcome and decreased overall survival (HR = 0.13; P = 0.0002) and event-free survival (HR = 0.33; P = 0.018) and retained statistical significance in multivariate analysis. Pseudotime analysis of the NK cell compartment highlighted a disruption of the maturation process, with a bifurcation from conventional NK cells toward CD56-CD16+ NK cells. Overall, our data suggest that the accumulation of CD56-CD16+ NK cells may be the consequence of immune escape from innate immunity during AML progression.
Collapse
|
22
|
Martínez-Sánchez MV, Fuster JL, Campillo JA, Galera AM, Bermúdez-Cortés M, Llinares ME, Ramos-Elbal E, Pascual-Gázquez JF, Fita AM, Martínez-Banaclocha H, Galián JA, Gimeno L, Muro M, Minguela A. Expression of NK Cell Receptor Ligands on Leukemic Cells Is Associated with the Outcome of Childhood Acute Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102294. [PMID: 34064810 PMCID: PMC8151902 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural killer cells (NK cells) of the innate immune system are suspected of playing an important role in eliminating residual leukemia cells during maintenance chemotherapy given to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia for about two years. This study analyzes the expression of ligands for the receptors that regulate the function of NK cells on leukemic cells of more than one hundred children with acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemia. Our results show that the loss of expression of some molecules involved in the activation of NK cells is associated with poorer survival. In addition, a genetic combination of molecules that interact to regulate NK cell function seems to be associated with a higher relapse rate during/after chemotherapy and shorter patient survival. Children who carry this genetic combination are refractory to current chemotherapy treatments, and stem cell transplantation does not seem to contribute to their cure either, and therefore, they should be considered as candidates for alternative biological therapies that might offer better results. Abstract Acute leukemia is the most common malignancy in children. Most patients are cured, but refractory/relapsed AML and ALL are the first cause of death from malignancy in children. Maintenance chemotherapy in ALL has improved survival by inducing leukemic cell apoptosis, but immune surveillance effectors such as NK cells might also contribute. The outcome of B-ALL (n = 70), T-ALL (n = 16), and AML (n = 16) pediatric patients was evaluated according to leukemic cell expression of ligands for activating and inhibiting receptors that regulate NK cell functioning. Increased expression of ULBP-1, a ligand for NKG2D, but not that of CD112 or CD155, ligands for DNAM-1, was associated with poorer 5-year event-free survival (5y-EFS, 77.6% vs. 94.9%, p < 0.03). Reduced expression of HLA-C on leukemic cells in patients with the KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction was associated with a higher rate of relapse (17.6% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.035) and lower 5y-EFS (70.6% vs. 92.6%, p < 0.002). KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction was an independent predictive factor of events (HR = 4.795, p < 0.005) or death (HR = 6.731, p < 0.005) and might provide additional information to the current risk stratification. Children who carry the KIR2DL1/HLA-C*04 interaction were refractory to current chemotherapy treatments, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation; therefore, they should be considered as candidates for alternative biological therapies that might offer better results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Martínez-Sánchez
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - José Luis Fuster
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - José Antonio Campillo
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Ana María Galera
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Mar Bermúdez-Cortés
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - María Esther Llinares
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Eduardo Ramos-Elbal
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Juan Francisco Pascual-Gázquez
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Ana María Fita
- Pediatric Oncohematology Department, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (J.L.F.); (A.M.G.); (M.B.-C.); (M.E.L.); (E.R.-E.); (J.F.P.-G.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Helios Martínez-Banaclocha
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - José Antonio Galián
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
- Human Anatomy Department, University of Murcia (UM), 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Clinic University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain; (M.V.M.-S.); (J.A.C.); (H.M.-B.); (J.A.G.); (L.G.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-968-395-379
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Immune profiles in acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow associate with patient age, T-cell receptor clonality, and survival. Blood Adv 2021; 4:274-286. [PMID: 31968078 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunologic microenvironment in various solid tumors is aberrant and correlates with clinical survival. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the immune environment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bone marrow (BM) at diagnosis. We compared the immunologic landscape of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded BM trephine samples from AML (n = 69), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; n = 56), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients (n = 52) at diagnosis to controls (n = 12) with 30 immunophenotype markers using multiplex immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis. We identified distinct immunologic profiles specific for leukemia subtypes and controls enabling accurate classification of AML (area under the curve [AUC] = 1.0), CML (AUC = 0.99), B-ALL (AUC = 0.96), and control subjects (AUC = 1.0). Interestingly, 2 major immunologic AML clusters differing in age, T-cell receptor clonality, and survival were discovered. A low proportion of regulatory T cells and pSTAT1+cMAF- monocytes were identified as novel biomarkers of superior event-free survival in intensively treated AML patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that AML BM and peripheral blood samples are dissimilar in terms of immune cell phenotypes. To conclude, our study shows that the immunologic landscape considerably varies by leukemia subtype suggesting disease-specific immunoregulation. Furthermore, the association of the AML immune microenvironment with clinical parameters suggests a rationale for including immunologic parameters to improve disease classification or even patient risk stratification.
Collapse
|
24
|
Lamb MG, Rangarajan HG, Tullius BP, Lee DA. Natural killer cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: successes, challenges, and the future. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:211. [PMID: 33766099 PMCID: PMC7992329 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells is an emerging therapy in the field of immuno-oncology. In the last 3 decades, NK cells have been utilized to harness the anti-tumor immune response in a wide range of malignancies, most notably with early evidence of efficacy in hematologic malignancies. NK cells are dysfunctional in patients with hematologic malignancies, and their number and function are further impaired by chemotherapy, radiation, and immunosuppressants used in initial therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Restoring this innate immune deficit may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes. NK cell adoptive transfer has proven to be a safe in these settings, even in the setting of HLA mismatch, and a deeper understanding of NK cell biology and optimized expansion techniques have improved scalability and therapeutic efficacy. Here, we review the use of NK cell therapy in hematologic malignancies and discuss strategies to further improve the efficacy of NK cells against these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret G Lamb
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Hemalatha G Rangarajan
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Tullius
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zhang T, Huang C, Luo H, Li J, Huang H, Liu X, Zhan S. Identification of key genes and immune profile in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension by bioinformatics analysis. Life Sci 2021; 271:119151. [PMID: 33539912 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (lcSSc-PAH) is a complex multi-system disease with high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to identify the hub genes and immune characteristics of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and lcSSc-PAH through bioinformatics. MAIN METHODS LcSSc-PAH raw data were obtained from the GEO database (GSE19617). Weighted gene Co-expression Network analysis (WGCNA) was used to evaluate key modules. Then, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis with R software and verified the diagnostic value of the hub genes. Finally, Immune Cell Abundance Identifier (ImmuCellAI) was used to analyze the immune characteristics of the normal subjects, lcSSc and lcSSc-PAH patients, the results were displayed graphically. KEY FINDINGS Enrichment of two important modules by GO and KEGG identified key biological processes and pathways related to pathogen infection and immune function. Three hub genes (BID, IFNGR1, ZAP70) related to immune function were identified. The analysis of immune characteristics showed that the correlation and abundance of immune cells such as inducible regulatory T (iTreg) cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, CD8T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T(MAIT) cells and dendritic cells(DCs) were significantly different in the normal subjects, lcSSc and lcSSc-PAH patients. SIGNIFICANCE Pathogen infection, changes in the number and function of immune cells, and interactions among immune cells may preliminarily reveal the pathological mechanism of lcSSc-PAH. The hub genes, pathways and immune characteristics identified in this research remains to be further studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiange Zhang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaoyuan Huang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hu Luo
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiting Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shaofeng Zhan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Wu Z, Zhang H, Wu M, Peng G, He Y, Wan N, Zeng Y. Targeting the NKG2D/NKG2D-L axis in acute myeloid leukemia. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111299. [PMID: 33508619 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor is a crucial activating receptor in the immune recognition and eradication of abnormal cells by natural killer (NK) cells, and T lymphocytes. NKG2D can transmit activation signals and activate the immune system by recognizing the NKG2D ligands (NKG2D-L) on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Downregulation of NKG2D-L in AML can circumvent resistance to chemotherapy and immune recognition. Considering this effect, the exploration of targeting the NKG2D/NKG2D-L axis is considered to have tremendous potential for the discovery of novel biomacromolecule antibodies and pharmacological modulators in AML. This review was to outline the impact of NKG2D/NKG2D-L axis on intrinsic immunosurveillance and the development of AML. Furthermore, the NKG2D/NKG2D-L axis related modulators and progress in preclinical and clinical trials was also to be reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhui Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Min Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Guorui Peng
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yanqiu He
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Na Wan
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Yingjian Zeng
- The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bruni D, Angell HK, Galon J. The immune contexture and Immunoscore in cancer prognosis and therapeutic efficacy. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:662-680. [PMID: 32753728 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0285-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 867] [Impact Index Per Article: 216.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The international American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system provides the current guidelines for the classification of cancer. However, among patients within the same stage, the clinical outcome can be very different. More recently, a novel definition of cancer has emerged, implicating at all stages a complex and dynamic interaction between tumour cells and the immune system. This has enabled the definition of the immune contexture, representing the pre-existing immune parameters associated with patient survival. Even so, the role of distinct immune cell types in modulating cancer progression is increasingly emerging. An immune-based assay named the 'Immunoscore' was defined to quantify the in situ T cell infiltrate and was demonstrated to be superior to the AJCC/UICC TNM classification for patients with colorectal cancer. This Review provides a broad overview of the main immune parameters positively or negatively shaping cancer development, including the Immunoscore, and their prognostic and predictive value. The importance of the immune system in cancer control is demonstrated by the requirement for a pre-existing intratumour adaptive immune response for effective immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we discuss how the combination of multiple immune parameters, rather than individual ones, might increase prognostic and/or predictive power.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Bruni
- INSERM, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology; Équipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer; Sorbonne Université; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Université de Paris; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Helen K Angell
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology; Équipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer; Sorbonne Université; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Université de Paris; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sivori S, Pende D, Quatrini L, Pietra G, Della Chiesa M, Vacca P, Tumino N, Moretta F, Mingari MC, Locatelli F, Moretta L. NK cells and ILCs in tumor immunotherapy. Mol Aspects Med 2020; 80:100870. [PMID: 32800530 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cells of the innate immunity play an important role in tumor immunotherapy. Thus, NK cells can control tumor growth and metastatic spread. Thanks to their strong cytolytic activity against tumors, different approaches have been developed for exploiting/harnessing their function in patients with leukemia or solid tumors. Pioneering trials were based on the adoptive transfer of autologous NK cell-enriched cell populations that were expanded in vitro and co-infused with IL-2. Although relevant results were obtained in patients with advanced melanoma, the effect was mostly limited to certain metastatic localizations, particularly to the lung. In addition, the severe IL-2-related toxicity and the preferential IL-2-induced expansion of Treg limited this type of approach. This limitation may be overcome by the use of IL-15, particularly of modified IL-15 molecules to improve its half-life and optimize the biological effects. Other approaches to harness NK cell function include stimulation via TLR, the use of bi- and tri-specific NK cell engagers (BiKE and TriKE) linking activating NK receptors (e.g. CD16) to tumor-associated antigens and even incorporating an IL-15 moiety (TriKE). As recently shown, in tumor patients, NK cells may also express inhibitory checkpoints, primarily PD-1. Accordingly, the therapeutic use of checkpoint inhibitors may unleash NK cells against PD-L1+ tumors. This effect may be predominant and crucial in tumors that have lost HLA cl-I expression, thus resulting "invisible" to T lymphocytes. Additional approaches in which NK cells may represent an important tool for cancer therapy, are to exploit the unique properties of the "adaptive" NK cells. These CD57+ NKG2C+ cells, despite their mature stage and a potent cytolytic activity, maintain a strong proliferating capacity. This property revealed to be crucial in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly in the haplo-HSCT setting, to cure high-risk leukemias. T depleted haplo-HSCT (e.g. from one of the parents) allowed to save the life of thousands of patients lacking a HLA-compatible donor. In this setting, NK cells have been shown to play an essential role against leukemia cells and infections. Another major advance is represented by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered NK cells. CAR-NK, different from CAR-T cells, may be obtained from allogeneic donors since they do not cause GvHD. Accordingly, they may represent "off-the-shelf" products to promptly treat tumor patients, with affordable costs. Different from NK cells, helper ILC (ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3), the innate counterpart of T helper cell subsets, remain rather ambiguous with respect to their anti-tumor activity. A possible exception is represented by a subset of ILC3: their frequency in peri-tumoral tissues in patients with NSCLC directly correlates with a better prognosis, possibly reflecting their ability to contribute to the organization of tertiary lymphoid structures, an important site of T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. It is conceivable that innate immunity may significantly contribute to the major advances that immunotherapy has ensured and will continue to ensure to the cure of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mariella Della Chiesa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Moretta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy; Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Checkpoint Inhibitors and Engineered Cells: New Weapons for Natural Killer Cell Arsenal Against Hematological Malignancies. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071578. [PMID: 32610578 PMCID: PMC7407972 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells represent one of the first lines of defense against malignant cells. NK cell activation and recognition are regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory receptors, whose specific ligands can be upregulated on tumor cells surface and tumor microenvironment (TME). Hematological malignancies set up an extensive network of suppressive factors with the purpose to induce NK cell dysfunction and impaired immune-surveillance ability. Over the years, several strategies have been developed to enhance NK cells-mediated anti-tumor killing, while other approaches have arisen to restore the NK cell recognition impaired by tumor cells and other cellular components of the TME. In this review, we summarize and discuss the strategies applied in hematological malignancies to block the immune check-points and trigger NK cells anti-tumor effects through engineered chimeric antigen receptors.
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhao XY, Jiang Q, Jiang H, Hu LJ, Zhao T, Yu XX, Huang XJ. Expanded clinical-grade membrane-bound IL-21/4-1BBL NK cell products exhibit activity against acute myeloid leukemia in vivo. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:1374-1385. [PMID: 32357256 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adoptive NK cell infusion is a promising immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. The aim of this study was to test the activity of clinical-grade membrane-bound IL-21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cell products against AML in vivo. METHODS Fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were incubated with equal numbers of irradiated membrane-bound IL-21/4-1BBL-expressing K562 cells for 2-3 weeks to induce clinical-grade NK cell expansion. RESULTS Expansion for 2 and 3 weeks produced ∼4 and 8 × 109 NK cells from 2 × 107 PBMCs. The production of CD107a and TNF-α in NK cell products in response to AML cell lines and primary blasts was higher than that observed in resting NK cells. The 2-week expanded NK cell products were xenografted into immunodeficient mice with leukemia and were persistently found in the BM, spleen, liver, lung, and peripheral blood for at least 13 days; furthermore, these expanded products reduced the AML burden in vivo. Compared with matched AML patients with persistent or relapsed minimal residual disease (MRD+ ) who underwent regular consolidation therapy, MRD+ patients who underwent NK treatment had better overall survival and showed no major adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Clinical-grade mbIL-21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cells exhibited antileukemic activity against AML in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Yu Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Laboratory for Cellular Therapy, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Juan Hu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xing-Xing Yu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Laboratory for Cellular Therapy, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hajifathali A, Parkhideh S, Kazemi MH, Chegeni R, Roshandel E, Gholizadeh M. Immune checkpoints in hematologic malignancies: What made the immune cells and clinicians exhausted! J Cell Physiol 2020; 235:9080-9097. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Hajifathali
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Sayeh Parkhideh
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Mohammad H. Kazemi
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Rouzbeh Chegeni
- The Michener Institute of Education at University Health Network Toronto Canada
| | - Elham Roshandel
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Majid Gholizadeh
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Shimizu K, Iyoda T, Yamasaki S, Kadowaki N, Tojo A, Fujii SI. NK and NKT Cell-Mediated Immune Surveillance against Hematological Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040817. [PMID: 32231116 PMCID: PMC7226455 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent cancer treatment modalities have been intensively focused on immunotherapy. The success of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for treatment of refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia has pushed forward research on hematological malignancies. Among the effector types of innate lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells show great importance in immune surveillance against infectious and tumor diseases. Particularly, the role of NK cells has been argued in either elimination of target tumor cells or escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance. Therefore, an NK cell activation approach has been explored. Recent findings demonstrate that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells capable of producing IFN-γ when optimally activated can promptly trigger NK cells. Here, we review the role of NKT and/or NK cells and their interaction in anti-tumor responses by highlighting how innate immune cells recognize tumors, exert effector functions, and amplify adaptive immune responses. In addition, we discuss these innate lymphocytes in hematological disorders, particularly multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. The immune balance at different stages of both diseases is explored in light of disease progression. Various types of innate immunity-mediated therapeutic approaches, recent advances in clinical immunotherapies, and iNKT-mediated cancer immunotherapy as next-generation immunotherapy are then discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Shimizu
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; (T.I.); (S.Y.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (S.-i.F.); Tel.: +81-45-503-7062 (K.S. & S.-i.F.); Fax: +81-45-503-7061 (K.S. & S.-i.F.)
| | - Tomonori Iyoda
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; (T.I.); (S.Y.)
| | - Satoru Yamasaki
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; (T.I.); (S.Y.)
| | - Norimitsu Kadowaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, Rheumatology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan;
| | - Arinobu Tojo
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan;
| | - Shin-ichiro Fujii
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; (T.I.); (S.Y.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (S.-i.F.); Tel.: +81-45-503-7062 (K.S. & S.-i.F.); Fax: +81-45-503-7061 (K.S. & S.-i.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Damele L, Ottonello S, Mingari MC, Pietra G, Vitale C. Targeted Therapies: Friends or Foes for Patient's NK Cell-Mediated Tumor Immune-Surveillance? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040774. [PMID: 32218226 PMCID: PMC7226262 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 20 years there has been a huge increase in the number of novel drugs for cancer treatment. Most of them exploit their ability to target specific oncogenic mutations in the tumors (targeted therapies–TT), while others target the immune-checkpoint inhibitor molecules (ICI) or the epigenetic DNA modifications. Among them, TT are the longest established drugs exploited against a wide spectrum of both solid and hematological tumors, often with reasonable costs and good efficacy as compared to other innovative therapies (i.e., ICI). Although they have greatly improved the treatment of cancer patients and their survival, patients often relapse or develop drug-resistance, leading to the impossibility to eradicate the disease. The outcome of TT has been often correlated with their ability to affect not only tumor cells, but also the repertoire of immune cells and their ability to interact with cancer cells. Thus, the possibility to create novel synergies among drugs an immunotherapy prompted scientists and physicians to deeply characterize the effects of TT on immune cells both by in-vitro and by ex-vivo analyses. In this context, NK cells may represent a key issue, since they have been shown to exert a potent anti-tumor activity, both against hematological malignancies and solid tumors. In the present review we will discuss most recent ex-vivo analyses that clarify the effect of TT treatment on patient’s NK cells comparing them with clinical outcome and previous in-vitro data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Damele
- UO Immunologia IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (L.D.); (S.O.); (M.C.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Selene Ottonello
- UO Immunologia IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (L.D.); (S.O.); (M.C.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- UO Immunologia IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (L.D.); (S.O.); (M.C.M.); (G.P.)
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale (DIMES), Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- UO Immunologia IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (L.D.); (S.O.); (M.C.M.); (G.P.)
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale (DIMES), Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Vitale
- UO Immunologia IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (L.D.); (S.O.); (M.C.M.); (G.P.)
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale (DIMES), Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Buteyn NJ, Santhanam R, Merchand-Reyes G, Murugesan RA, Dettorre GM, Byrd JC, Sarkar A, Vasu S, Mundy-Bosse BL, Butchar JP, Tridandapani S. Activation of the Intracellular Pattern Recognition Receptor NOD2 Promotes Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Cell Apoptosis and Provides a Survival Advantage in an Animal Model of AML. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:1988-1997. [PMID: 32094205 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
TLRs, a family of membrane-bound pattern recognition receptors found on innate immune cells, have been well studied in the context of cancer therapy. Activation of these receptors has been shown to induce inflammatory anticancer events, including differentiation and apoptosis, across a wide variety of malignancies. In contrast, intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as NOD-like receptors have been minimally studied. NOD2 is a member of the NOD-like receptor family that initiates inflammatory signaling in response to the bacterial motif muramyl dipeptide. In this study, we examined the influence of NOD2 in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, demonstrating that IFN-γ treatment upregulated the expression of NOD2 signaling pathway members SLC15A3 and SLC15A4, downstream signaling kinase RIPK2, and the NOD2 receptor itself. This priming allowed for effective induction of caspase-1-dependent cell death upon treatment with muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE), a synthetic ligand for NOD2. Furthermore, the combination of MTP-PE and IFN-γ on AML blasts generated an inflammatory cytokine profile and activated NK cells. In a murine model of AML, dual treatment with MTP-PE and IFN-γ led to a significant increase in mature CD27- CD11b+ NK cells as well as a significant reduction in disease burden and extended survival. These results suggest that NOD2 activation, primed by IFN-γ, may provide a novel therapeutic option for AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Buteyn
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Giovanna Merchand-Reyes
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Rakesh A Murugesan
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Gino M Dettorre
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - John C Byrd
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.,Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Anasuya Sarkar
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Sumithira Vasu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Bethany L Mundy-Bosse
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Jonathan P Butchar
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; .,Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| | - Susheela Tridandapani
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; .,Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bernasconi P, Borsani O. Immune Escape after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT): From Mechanisms to Novel Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 12:cancers12010069. [PMID: 31881776 PMCID: PMC7016529 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Recent advances in understanding its molecular basis have opened the way to new therapeutic strategies, including targeted therapies. However, despite an improvement in prognosis it has been documented in recent years (especially in younger patients) that allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only curative treatment in AML and the first therapeutic option for high-risk patients. After allo-HSCT, relapse is still a major complication, and is observed in about 50% of patients. Current evidence suggests that relapse is not due to clonal evolution, but instead to the ability of the AML cell population to escape immune control by a variety of mechanisms including the altered expression of HLA-molecules, production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, relevant metabolic changes and expression of immune checkpoint (ICP) inhibitors capable of “switching-off” the immune response against leukemic cells. Here, we review the main mechanisms of immune escape and identify potential strategies to overcome these mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Bernasconi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Oscar Borsani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-340-656-3988
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Saultz JN, Freud AG, Mundy-Bosse BL. MicroRNA regulation of natural killer cell development and function in leukemia. Mol Immunol 2019; 115:12-20. [PMID: 30100210 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are now recognized as important regulators of all cellular processes, including immune function and cancer survival. These evolutionary preserved, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules mediate important functional effects primarily through post-transcriptional regulation of protein expression. MiRNAs are known to mediate multiple oncogenic pathways in tumor cells, both tumor promoting and tumor suppressing. In addition to a direct tumor cell effect, miRNAs have also been shown to play a critical role in immune cell development, function and survival. Here we expand on previous reports to evaluate miRNA regulation in natural killer (NK) cells primarily in humans and focus on their influence on NK cell development and function in the setting of hematologic malignancies. In addition, we highlight the most recent miRNA discoveries in hematologic malignancies and discuss areas of future exploration relevant to the translational field of innate immunology and miRNA-based therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Saultz
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Aharon G Freud
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States; Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Bethany L Mundy-Bosse
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States; Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Carlsten M, Järås M. Natural Killer Cells in Myeloid Malignancies: Immune Surveillance, NK Cell Dysfunction, and Pharmacological Opportunities to Bolster the Endogenous NK Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2357. [PMID: 31681270 PMCID: PMC6797594 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes involved in our defense against certain virus-infected and malignant cells. In contrast to T cells, NK cells elicit rapid anti-tumor responses based on signals from activating and inhibitory cell surface receptors. They also lyse target cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, a critical mode of action of several therapeutic antibodies used to treat cancer. A body of evidence shows that NK cells can exhibit potent anti-tumor activity against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, disease-associated mechanisms often restrain the proper functions of endogenous NK cells, leading to inadequate tumor control and risk for disease progression. Although allogeneic NK cells can prevent leukemia relapse in certain settings of stem cell transplantation, not all patients are eligible for this type of therapy. Moreover, remissions induced by adoptively infused NK cells are only transient and require subsequent therapy to maintain durable responses. Hence, new strategies are needed to trigger full and durable anti-leukemia responses by NK cells in patients with myeloid malignancies. To achieve this, we need to better understand the interplay between the malignant cells, their microenvironment, and the NK cells. This review focuses on mechanisms that are involved in suppressing NK cells in patients with myeloid leukemia and MDS, and means to restore their full anti-tumor potential. It also discusses novel molecular targets and approaches, such as bi- and tri-specific antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, to redirect and/or unleash the NK cells against the leukemic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Truxova I, Kasikova L, Salek C, Hensler M, Lysak D, Holicek P, Bilkova P, Holubova M, Chen X, Mikyskova R, Reinis M, Kovar M, Tomalova B, Kline JP, Galluzzi L, Spisek R, Fucikova J. Calreticulin exposure on malignant blasts correlates with improved natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in acute myeloid leukemia patients. Haematologica 2019; 105:1868-1878. [PMID: 31582537 PMCID: PMC7327638 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.223933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In some settings, cancer cells responding to treatment undergo an immunogenic form of cell death that is associated with the abundant emission of danger signals in the form of damage-associated molecular patterns. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that danger signals play a crucial role in the (re-)activation of antitumor immune responses in vivo, thus having a major impact on patient prognosis. We have previously demonstrated that the presence of calreticulin on the surface of malignant blasts is a positive prognostic biomarker for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Calreticulin exposure not only correlated with enhanced T-cell-dependent antitumor immunity in this setting but also affected the number of circulating natural killer (NK) cells upon restoration of normal hematopoiesis. Here, we report that calreticulin exposure on malignant blasts is associated with enhanced NK cell cytotoxic and secretory functions, both in AML patients and in vivo in mice. The ability of calreticulin to stimulate NK-cells relies on CD11c+CD14high cells that, upon exposure to CRT, express higher levels of IL-15Rα, maturation markers (CD86 and HLA-DR) and CCR7. CRT exposure on malignant blasts also correlates with the upregulation of genes coding for type I interferon. This suggests that CD11c+CD14high cells have increased capacity to migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where can efficiently deliver stimulatory signals (IL-15Rα/IL-15) to NK cells. These findings delineate a multipronged, clinically relevant mechanism whereby surface-exposed calreticulin favors NK-cell activation in AML patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lenka Kasikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cyril Salek
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Clinical and Experimental Hematology, 1 Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Daniel Lysak
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Holicek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Monika Holubova
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology and Immunotherapy, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Xiufen Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Romana Mikyskova
- Laboratory of Immunological and Tumour models, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Reinis
- Laboratory of Immunological and Tumour models, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Tomalova
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Justin P Kline
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Universite de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic .,Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Shi M, Xu G. Development and validation of GMI signature based random survival forest prognosis model to predict clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:90. [PMID: 31242922 PMCID: PMC6595612 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0540-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease with marked molecular heterogeneity and a high early death rate. Our aim was to investigate an integrated Gene expression, Mirna and miRNA-mRNA Interactions (GMI) signature for improving risk stratification of AML. Methods We identified differentially expressed genes by pooling a large number of 861 human AML patients and 75 normal cases. We then used miRWalk to identify the functional miRNA-mRNA regulatory module. The GMI signature based random survival forest (RSF) prognosis model was developed from training data set and evaluated in independent patient cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset (N = 147). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were applied to evaluate the prognostic value of GMI signature. Results We identified 139 differentially expressed genes between normal and abnormal AML samples. We discovered the functional miRNA-mRNA regulatory module which participate in the network of cancer progression. We named 23 differentially expressed genes and 16 validated target miRNAs as the GMI signature. The RSF model-based scores separated independent patient cohorts into two groups with significantly different overall survival (C-index = 0.59, hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–4.03; p = 0.019). Similar results were obtained with reversed training and testing datasets (C-index = 0.58, hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–4.24; p = 0.038). The GMI signature score contributed more information about recurrence than standard clinical covariates. Conclusion The GMI signature based RSF prognosis model not only reflects regulatory relationships from identified miRNA-mRNA module but also informs patient prognosis. While in the TCGA data set the GMI signature score contributed additional information about recurrence in comparison to standard clinical covariates, further studies are needed to determine its clinical significance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12920-019-0540-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingguang Shi
- School of Electric Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, Anhui, China.
| | - Guofu Xu
- School of Electric Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, Anhui, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Shahrabi S, Zayeri ZD, Ansari N, Hadad EH, Rajaei E. Flip-flops of natural killer cells in autoimmune diseases versus cancers: Immunologic axis. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:16998-17010. [PMID: 30864163 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play an essential role in the immune response to infections, inflammations, and malignancies. Recent studies suggest that NK cell surface receptors and cytokines are the key points of the disease development and protection. We hypothesized that the interactions between NK cell receptors and targeted cells construct an eventual niche, and this niche has an eventual profile in various autoimmune diseases and cancers. The NK cells preactivated with cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 can have higher cytotoxicity; however, the toxic side effect of IL-2 should be considered. The vicissitudes of NK cell profile and its receptors obey the environmental communications and cell interactions. Our vision around the NK cells as an immune axis remained dual, and we still cannot judge the immune responses based on the NK cell flip-flop. A design of eventual niche to monitor the NK cell and targeted cell interaction is needed to strengthen our ability in diagnosis and treatment approaches based on the NK cells. Here, we have reviewed the shifts in the NK cells and their surface receptors in autoimmune diseases, solid tumors, and leukemia, and also discussed the effective chemokines that affect NK cell activation and proliferation. The main aim of this review is to present a broader vision of the NK cell changes in autoimmune disease and cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Shahrabi
- Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Zeinab D Zayeri
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Narges Ansari
- Isfahan Bone Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Elham H Hadad
- Research Center of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Elham Rajaei
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Natural killer receptor ligand expression on acute myeloid leukemia impacts survival and relapse after chemotherapy. Blood Adv 2019; 2:335-346. [PMID: 29449224 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017015230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NKs) cells provide rapid responses to viral-infected and malignant cells, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts. The balance among inhibitory and activating signals, delivered by multiple interactions between ligands on target cells and NK receptors, determines the posture of the NK cell response to either one of target cell elimination or tolerance. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the differential expression of activating and inhibitory NK receptor ligands (NKRLs) by leukemic blasts on clinical outcome in newly diagnosed AML patients. Leukemic cells and clinical data from 66 patients undergoing induction chemotherapy were obtained from the Australasian Leukemia Lymphoma Group tissue bank. Expression of 6 activating (MICA, MICAB, CD155, CD112, ULBP1, and ULBP2/5/6) and 3 inhibitory (HLA class I, PD-L1, and PD-L2) NKRLs was analyzed by flow cytometry. AML blasts displayed heterogeneous expression of NKRLs. MICA, CD112, and ULBP1 were most frequently expressed. ULBP1 expression was significantly associated with improved 2-year overall survival (51.4% vs 11.4%), relapse-free survival (42.5% vs 10.0%), and reduced relapse (44.1% vs 78.6%). We calculated a net score of activating minus inhibitory ligands and demonstrated that the expression of an overall activating NK ligand phenotype was associated with superior 2-year overall survival (59.6% vs 24.4%) and reduced relapse (31.5% vs 68.2%). Our study provides clinical evidence for the role of NK cell-mediated immunoediting against AML, mediated by the expression of NKRLs on blasts, and supports investigation into strategies to enhance NK cell function to improve outcomes in patients with AML.
Collapse
|
42
|
Pizzorno A, Terrier O, Nicolas de Lamballerie C, Julien T, Padey B, Traversier A, Roche M, Hamelin ME, Rhéaume C, Croze S, Escuret V, Poissy J, Lina B, Legras-Lachuer C, Textoris J, Boivin G, Rosa-Calatrava M. Repurposing of Drugs as Novel Influenza Inhibitors From Clinical Gene Expression Infection Signatures. Front Immunol 2019; 10:60. [PMID: 30761132 PMCID: PMC6361841 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus infections remain a major and recurrent public health burden. The intrinsic ever-evolving nature of this virus, the suboptimal efficacy of current influenza inactivated vaccines, as well as the emergence of resistance against a limited antiviral arsenal, highlight the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, the aim of this study was to develop and validate an innovative strategy for drug repurposing as host-targeted inhibitors of influenza viruses and the rapid evaluation of the most promising candidates in Phase II clinical trials. We exploited in vivo global transcriptomic signatures of infection directly obtained from a patient cohort to determine a shortlist of already marketed drugs with newly identified, host-targeted inhibitory properties against influenza virus. The antiviral potential of selected repurposing candidates was further evaluated in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo. Our strategy allowed the selection of a shortlist of 35 high potential candidates out of a rationalized computational screening of 1,309 FDA-approved bioactive molecules, 31 of which were validated for their significant in vitro antiviral activity. Our in vivo and ex vivo results highlight diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker currently used in the treatment of hypertension, as a promising option for the treatment of influenza infections. Additionally, transcriptomic signature analysis further revealed the so far undescribed capacity of diltiazem to modulate the expression of specific genes related to the host antiviral response and cholesterol metabolism. Finally, combination treatment with diltiazem and virus-targeted oseltamivir neuraminidase inhibitor further increased antiviral efficacy, prompting rapid authorization for the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial. This original, host-targeted, drug repurposing strategy constitutes an effective and highly reactive process for the rapid identification of novel anti-infectious drugs, with potential major implications for the management of antimicrobial resistance and the rapid response to future epidemic or pandemic (re)emerging diseases for which we are still disarmed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Pizzorno
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU de Quebec and Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Olivier Terrier
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claire Nicolas de Lamballerie
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Viroscan3D SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Julien
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- VirNext, Faculté de Médecine RTH Laennec, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Blandine Padey
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- VirNext, Faculté de Médecine RTH Laennec, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Aurélien Traversier
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Marie-Eve Hamelin
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU de Quebec and Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Chantal Rhéaume
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU de Quebec and Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Séverine Croze
- ProfileXpert, SFR-Est, CNRS UMR-S3453, INSERM US7, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Vanessa Escuret
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre National de Référence des virus Influenza Sud, Institut des Agents Infectieux, Groupement Hospitalier Nord, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Julien Poissy
- Pôle de Réanimation, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille, Université de Lille 2, Lille, France
| | - Bruno Lina
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre National de Référence des virus Influenza Sud, Institut des Agents Infectieux, Groupement Hospitalier Nord, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Legras-Lachuer
- Viroscan3D SAS, Lyon, France
- Ecologie Microbienne, UMR CNRS 5557, USC INRA 1364, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Julien Textoris
- Service d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Pathophysiology of Injury-Induced Immunosuppression (PI3), EA 7426 Hospices Civils de Lyon, bioMérieux, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France
| | - Guy Boivin
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU de Quebec and Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Manuel Rosa-Calatrava
- Virologie et Pathologie Humaine—VirPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- VirNext, Faculté de Médecine RTH Laennec, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
AHR: leukemic countermeasure against NK cells. Blood 2018; 132:1733-1734. [PMID: 30361461 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2018-09-873570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
44
|
Guillamón CF, Martínez-Sánchez MV, Gimeno L, Mrowiec A, Martínez-García J, Server-Pastor G, Martínez-Escribano J, Torroba A, Ferri B, Abellán D, Campillo JA, Legaz I, López-Álvarez MR, Moya-Quiles MR, Muro M, Minguela A. NK Cell Education in Tumor Immune Surveillance: DNAM-1/KIR Receptor Ratios as Predictive Biomarkers for Solid Tumor Outcome. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:1537-1547. [PMID: 30242020 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer cell (NKc)-based therapies offer promising outcomes in patients with tumors, but they could improve with appropriate selection of donors and optimization of methods to expand NKcs in vitro Education through licensing interactions of inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (iKIR) and NKG2A with their cognate HLA class-I ligands optimizes NKc functional competence. This work has evaluated the role of licensing interactions in NKc differentiation and the survival of cancer patients. We have analyzed KIR and KIR-ligand genes, and the expression of activating (CD16 and DNAM-1/CD226) and inhibitory (NKG2A and iKIRs) receptors on peripheral blood NKcs in 621 healthy controls and 249 solid cancer patients (80 melanoma, 80 bladder, and 89 ovarian). Licensing interactions upregulated the expression of activating CD226, reduced that of iKIR receptors, and shifted the CD226/iKIR receptor ratio on NKc membranes to activating receptors. A high tumor burden decreased CD226 expression, reduced the ratio of CD226/iKIR, and negatively affected patient survival. The progression-free survival (38.1 vs. 67.0 months, P < 0.002) and overall survival (56.3 vs. 99.6 months, P < 0.00001) were significantly shorter in patients with lower expression of CD226 on NKcs. Hence, transformed cells can downmodulate these licensing-driven receptor rearrangements as a specific mechanism to escape NKc immune surveillance. Our results suggest the importance of the CD226/iKIR receptor ratio of NKcs induced by licensing interactions as critical determinants for solid cancer immune surveillance, and may provide predictive biomarkers for patient survival that may also improve the selection of donors for NKc immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Concepción F Guillamón
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - María V Martínez-Sánchez
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lourdes Gimeno
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Anna Mrowiec
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Abellán
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - José A Campillo
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel Legaz
- Forensic Medicine, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - María R López-Álvarez
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - María Rosa Moya-Quiles
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Muro
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Minguela
- Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Frutoso M, Morisseau S, Tamzalit F, Quéméner A, Meghnem D, Leray I, Jacques Y, Mortier E. Emergence of NK Cell Hyporesponsiveness after Two IL-15 Stimulation Cycles. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 201:493-506. [PMID: 29848756 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
IL-15 is a cytokine playing a crucial role in the function of immune cells, including NK and CD8 T cells. In this study, we demonstrated that in vivo, in mice, IL-15-prestimulated NK cells were no longer able to respond to a second cycle of IL-15 stimulation. This was illustrated by defects in cell maturation, proliferation, and activation, seemingly linked to the environment surrounding NK cells but not related to the presence of CD4 regulatory T cells, TGF-β, or IL-10. Moreover, NK cells from immunodeficient mice could respond to two cycles of IL-15 stimulation, whereas an adoptive transfer of CD44+CD8+ cells impaired their responsiveness to the second cycle. Conversely, in immunocompetent mice, NK cell responsiveness to a second IL-15 stimulation was restored by the depletion of CD8+ cells. These biological findings refine our understanding of the complex mode of action of NK cells in vivo, and they should be taken into consideration for IL-15-based therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Frutoso
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Sébastien Morisseau
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and.,Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Fella Tamzalit
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Agnès Quéméner
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Dihia Meghnem
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Isabelle Leray
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Yannick Jacques
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| | - Erwan Mortier
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Nantes-Angers, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France; and
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Le Roy A, Prébet T, Castellano R, Goubard A, Riccardi F, Fauriat C, Granjeaud S, Benyamine A, Castanier C, Orlanducci F, Ben Amara A, Pont F, Fournié JJ, Collette Y, Mege JL, Vey N, Olive D. Immunomodulatory Drugs Exert Anti-Leukemia Effects in Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Direct and Immunostimulatory Activities. Front Immunol 2018; 9:977. [PMID: 29780393 PMCID: PMC5945824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are anticancer drugs with immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenesis, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic properties. IMiDs are currently used for the treatment of multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and B-cell lymphoma; however, little is known about efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We proposed in this study to investigate the relevance of IMiDs therapy for AML treatment. We evaluated the effect of IMiDs on primary AML blasts (n = 24), and the impact in natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immunosurveillance of AML. Using primary AML cells and an immunodeficient mouse leukemia xenograft model, we showed that IMiDs induce AML cell death in vitro and impair leukemia progression in vivo. In addition, treatment of AML blasts with IMiDs resulted in enhanced allogeneic NK cell anti-leukemia reactivity. Treatment by pomalidomide of AML blasts enhanced lysis, degranulation, and cytokine production by primary allogeneic NK cells. Furthermore, the treatment with lenalidomide of patients with myeloid malignancies resulted in NK cell phenotypic changes similar to those observed in vitro. IMiDs increased CD56 and decreased NKp30, NKp46, and KIR2D expression on NK cells. Finally, AML blasts treatment with IMiDs induced phenotypic alterations including downregulation of HLA-class I. The effect of pomalidomide was not correlated with cereblon expression and A/G polymorphism in AML cells. Our data revealed, a yet unobserved, dual effects on AML affecting both AML survival and their sensitivity to NK immunotherapy using IMiDs. Our study encourages continuing investigation for the use of IMiDs in AML, especially in combination with conventional therapy or immunotherapy strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aude Le Roy
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Thomas Prébet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Rémy Castellano
- TrGET Platform, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Armelle Goubard
- TrGET Platform, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Florence Riccardi
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Cyril Fauriat
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Samuel Granjeaud
- CiBi Platform, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Aix-Marseille Université UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Audrey Benyamine
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Céline Castanier
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Florence Orlanducci
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Amira Ben Amara
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Frédéric Pont
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM/Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier/ERL5294 CNRS, Oncopole de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Fournié
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM/Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier/ERL5294 CNRS, Oncopole de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Yves Collette
- TrGET Platform, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mege
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and infections (MEPHI), IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Norbert Vey
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Hematology Department, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Olive
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Chretien AS, Fauriat C, Orlanducci F, Rey J, Borg GB, Gautherot E, Granjeaud S, Demerle C, Hamel JF, Cerwenka A, von Strandmann EP, Ifrah N, Lacombe C, Cornillet-Lefebvre P, Delaunay J, Toubert A, Arnoulet C, Vey N, Olive D. NKp30 expression is a prognostic immune biomarker for stratification of patients with intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2018; 8:49548-49563. [PMID: 28548938 PMCID: PMC5564787 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytogenetics and European Leukemia Net (ELN) genetic classification predict patients at increased risk of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) except in the intermediate risk group for which further prognostic determinants are required. We have previously shown that Natural Killer (NK) cell defects in AML are predictors of poor overall survival (OS). This study aimins at validating NKp30, a receptor that mediates NK activation, as a prognostic biomarker for AML patients with intermediate prognosis. NKp30 expression was prospectively assessed at diagnosis on NK cells from peripheral blood by flow cytometry (N = 201 patients). Clinical outcome was evaluated with regard to NKp30 status. In patients with intermediate cytogenetic (N = 162), NKp30high phenotype at diagnosis was predictive of better OS (HR = 0.26; 95%CI = [0.14-0.50]; P < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (HR = 0.21; 95%CI = [0.08-0.52]; P = 0.0007). In patients with intermediate ELN (N = 116), NKp30high phenotype at diagnosis was predictive of better OS (HR = 0.33; 95%CI = [0.16–0.67]; P = 0.0019) and RFS (HR = 0.24; 95%CI = [0.08-0.67]; P = 0.0058). In multivariate analysis, high NKp30 expression independently predicted improved OS (HR = 0.56, P = 0.046) and RFS (HR = 0.37, P = 0.048). Consistently, cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was lower in patients with high NKp30 expression (HR = 0.37, P = 0.026). In conclusion, we propose NKp30 status as a simple and early prognostic biomarker that identifies intermediate-risk patients with poor prognosis who otherwise may not be identified with existing risk stratification systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Chretien
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring Platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Cyril Fauriat
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring Platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | | | - Jerome Rey
- Hematology Department, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Samuel Granjeaud
- Systems Biology Platform, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Clemence Demerle
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring Platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | | | - Adelheid Cerwenka
- Innate Immunity Group, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elke Pogge von Strandmann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Experimental Tumor Research, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Catherine Lacombe
- GOELAMStheque, FILO French Innovative Leukemia Organization, Cochin Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | | | - Jacques Delaunay
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Catherine de Sienne, Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Toubert
- INSERM UMRS-1160, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie, Immunology and Histocompatibility Department, Hôpital Saint-Louis, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Christine Arnoulet
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Biopathology Department, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Norbert Vey
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Hematology Department, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Olive
- Team Immunity and Cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring Platform, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Jin F, Lin H, Gao S, Hu Z, Zuo S, Sun L, Jin C, Li W, Yang Y. The anti-tumor role of NK cells in vivo pre-activated and re-stimulated by interleukins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Oncotarget 2018; 7:79187-79202. [PMID: 27816971 PMCID: PMC5346707 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although natural killer cells (NK cells) were traditionally classified as members of the innate immune system, NK cells have recently been found also to be an important player in the adaptive immune systems. In this context, in vitro activation of NK cells by cytokines leads to generation of NK cells with memory-like properties characterized by increased interferon-γ (IFNγ) production. However, it remains to be defined whether these memory-like NK cells exist in vivo after cytokine activation. Furthermore, it is also unclear whether such memory-like NK cells induced in vivo by cytokines could have effective anti-leukemia response. To address these issues, we used an in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation system that was able to produce NK cells with increased IFNγ secretion. It was found that after in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation with interleukins (ILs), NK cells retained a state to produce increased amount of IFNγ. Of note, whereas this intrinsic capacity of enhanced IFNγ production after in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation could be transferred to the next generation of NK cells and was associated with prolonged survival of the mice with acute lymphoid leukemia. Moreover, the anti-leukemia activity of these memory-like NK cells was associated with IFNγ production and up-regulation of NK cells activation receptor-NK Group 2 member D (NKG2D). Together, these findings argue strongly that in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation is capable to induce memory-like NK cells as observed previously in vitro, which are effective against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, likely via NKG2D-dependent IFNγ production, in intact animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengyan Jin
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hai Lin
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Sujun Gao
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Song Zuo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liguang Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chunhui Jin
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanping Yang
- Department of Hematology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Natural killer cells in acute myeloid leukemia patients: from phenotype to transcriptomic analysis. Immunol Res 2017; 64:1225-1236. [PMID: 27481509 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-016-8848-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapies allow complete remission in more than 50 % of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), however, with frequent relapse. This suggests that residual leukemic cells may escape to chemotherapy and immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells from AML patients (AML-NK) have a weaker natural cytotoxicity-activating receptors (NCRs) expression than NK cells from healthy donors (HD-NK). Coding genes for NCR1/NKp46, NCR2/NKp44 and NCR3/NKp30 are located at different loci on two different chromosomes; however, their expression is tightly coordinated. Most NK cells express either high (NCRbright) or low levels (NCRdull) of all three NCRs. This suggests the existence of negative/positive regulation factor(s) common to the three receptors. In order to find transcription factor(s) or pathway(s) involved in NCRs co-regulation, this study compared the transcriptomic signature of HD-NK and AML-NK cells, before and after in vitro NK cells culture. Microarrays analysis revealed a specific NK cells transcriptomic signature in patients with AML. However, in vitro NK cells expansion erased this signature and up-regulated expression of central molecules of NK functions, such as NCR, NKG2D and also ETS-1, regardless of their origin, i.e., AML-NK vs HD-NK. ETS-1 transcription factor was shown to bind to a specific and common region in the NCRs promoters, thus appearing as a good candidate to explain the coordinated regulation of three NCRs. Such results are encouraging regarding in vitro AML-NK cytotoxicity restoration and provide a new conceptual support for innovative cellular therapy based on in vitro NK cells expansion before their reinfusion in AML patients.
Collapse
|
50
|
Characteristics of NK cells from leukemic microenvironment in MLL-AF9 induced acute myeloid leukemia. Mol Immunol 2017; 93:68-78. [PMID: 29154208 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
NK cells are indispensable components of tissue microenvironment and play vital in both innate and adaptive immunity. The activation and function of NK cells are affected by tumor microenvironments. NK cells are also important players in leukemic microenvironment. However, their characteristics in leukemic microenvironment, including maturation status, phenotype, subpopulations and functional roles especially immunoregulatory potential, have not been well established. Here, we studied these characteristics of NK cells in MLL-AF9 induced mouse acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model. Increase of more mature NK cells were detected in the AML spleen. Splenic AML microenvironment promoted NK cell activation in early and middle stages of leukemia. Cytotoxicity molecules and cytokines were up-regulated in activated NK cells. Furthermore, NK cells from AML microenvironment regulated T cell function, not only by maintaining the activation of CD4+ and promoting the degranulation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells but also by influencing the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. Moreover, two NK cell subpopulations marked by DNAM-1 (CD226) had distinct cytokine expression patterns but similar regulatory effects on T cells. Collectively, these findings highlight the significance of immunoregulatory role of NK cells, and suggest novel therapeutic potential for leukemia by manipulating NK cell immunoregulatory activity.
Collapse
|