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Wang D, Dou L, Sui L, Xue Y, Xu S. Natural killer cells in cancer immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e626. [PMID: 38882209 PMCID: PMC11179524 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, as innate lymphocytes, possess cytotoxic capabilities and engage target cells through a repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors. Particularly, natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor on NK cells recognizes stress-induced ligands-the MHC class I chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) presented on tumor cells and is key to trigger the cytolytic response of NK cells. However, tumors have developed sophisticated strategies to evade NK cell surveillance, which lead to failure of tumor immunotherapy. In this paper, we summarized these immune escaping strategies, including the downregulation of ligands for activating receptors, upregulation of ligands for inhibitory receptors, secretion of immunosuppressive compounds, and the development of apoptosis resistance. Then, we focus on recent advancements in NK cell immune therapies, which include engaging activating NK cell receptors, upregulating NKG2D ligand MICA/B expression, blocking inhibitory NK cell receptors, adoptive NK cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered NK cells (CAR-NK), and NKG2D CAR-T cells, especially several vaccines targeting MICA/B. This review will inspire the research in NK cell biology in tumor and provide significant hope for improving cancer treatment outcomes by harnessing the potent cytotoxic activity of NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- DanRu Wang
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - LingYun Dou
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - LiHao Sui
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - Yiquan Xue
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
| | - Sheng Xu
- National Key Lab of Immunity and Inflammation and Institute of Immunology Naval Medical University Shanghai China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation Dongfang Hospital Shanghai China
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Feng L, Tian R, Mu X, Chen C, Zhang Y, Cui J, Song Y, Liu Y, Zhang M, Shi L, Sun Y, Li L, Yi W. Identification of Genes Linking Natural Killer Cells to Apoptosis in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke. Front Immunol 2022; 13:817377. [PMID: 35432334 PMCID: PMC9012496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.817377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of innate lymphoid cell that are involved in the progression of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Although multiple forms of programmed cell death are known to play important roles in these diseases, the correlation between NK cells and apoptosis-related genes during acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke remains unclear. In this study, we explored the distinct patterns of NK cell infiltration and apoptosis during the pathological progression of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke using mRNA expression microarrays from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Since the abundance of NK cells correlated positively with apoptosis in both diseases, we further examined the correlation between NK cell abundance and the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Interestingly, APAF1 and IRAK3 expression correlated negatively with NK cell abundance in both acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, whereas ATM, CAPN1, IL1B, IL1R1, PRKACA, PRKACB, and TNFRSF1A correlated negatively with NK cell abundance in acute myocardial infarction. Together, these findings suggest that these apoptosis-related genes may play important roles in the mechanisms underlying the patterns of NK cell abundance and apoptosis in acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Our study, therefore, provides novel insights for the further elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism of ischemic injury in both the heart and the brain, as well as potential useful therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Feng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ruofei Tian
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xingdou Mu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Health Center of Huilong Town, Shangluo, China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jun Cui
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yujie Song
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- The Second Clinical Medicine College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Sun, ; Ling Li, ; Wei Yi,
| | - Ling Li
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Sun, ; Ling Li, ; Wei Yi,
| | - Wei Yi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Sun, ; Ling Li, ; Wei Yi,
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Seelige R, Searles S, Bui JD. Mechanisms regulating immune surveillance of cellular stress in cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:225-240. [PMID: 28744671 PMCID: PMC11105730 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2597-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to explore immune-mediated mechanisms of stress surveillance in cancer, with particular emphasis on the idea that all cancers have classical hallmarks (Hanahan and Weinberg in Cell 100:57-70, 67; Cell 144:646-674, 68) that could be interrelated. We postulate that hallmarks of cancer associated with cellular stress pathways (Luo et al. in Cell 136:823-837, 101) including oxidative stress, proteotoxic stress, mitotic stress, DNA damage, and metabolic stress could define and modulate the inflammatory component of cancer. As such, the overarching goal of this review is to define the types of cellular stress that cancer cells undergo, and then to explore mechanisms by which immune cells recognize, respond to, and are affected by each stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Seelige
- Department of Pathology, University of California, 9500 Gilman Dr MC 0612, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0612, USA
| | - Stephen Searles
- Department of Pathology, University of California, 9500 Gilman Dr MC 0612, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0612, USA
| | - Jack D Bui
- Department of Pathology, University of California, 9500 Gilman Dr MC 0612, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0612, USA.
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The immune receptor Trem1 cooperates with diminished DNA damage response to induce preleukemic stem cell expansion. Leukemia 2016; 31:423-433. [PMID: 27568523 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome with extremely high risk of leukemic transformation. Here we investigate the relationship between DNA damage response (DDR) and leukemogenesis using the Fanca knockout mouse model. We found that chronic exposure of the Fanca-/- hematopoietic stem cells to DNA crosslinking agent mitomycin C in vivo leads to diminished DDR, and the emergence/expansion of pre-leukemia stem cells (pre-LSCs). Surprisingly, although genetic correction of Fanca deficiency in the pre-LSCs restores DDR and reduces genomic instability, but fails to prevent pre-LSC expansion or delay leukemia development in irradiated recipients. Furthermore, we identified transcription program underlying dysregulated DDR and cell migration, myeloid proliferation, and immune response in the Fanca-/- pre-LSCs. Forced expression of the downregulated DNA repair genes, Rad51c or Trp53i13, in the Fanca-/- pre-LSCs partially rescues DDR but has no effect on leukemia, whereas shRNA knockdown of the upregulated immune receptor genes Trem1 or Pilrb improves leukemia-related survival, but not DDR or genomic instability. Furthermore, Trem1 cooperates with diminished DDR in vivo to promote Fanca-/- pre-LSC expansion and leukemia development. Our study implicates diminishing DDR as a root cause of FA leukemogenesis, which subsequently collaborates with other signaling pathways for leukemogenic transformation.
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Taylor JG, Gribben JG. Microenvironment abnormalities and lymphomagenesis: Immunological aspects. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 34:36-45. [PMID: 26232774 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Innate and adaptive immune cells within the microenvironment identify and eliminate cells displaying signs of malignant potential. Immunosurveillance effector Natural Killer (NK) cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) identify malignant cells through germline receptors such as NKG2D and in the case of CTLs, presentation of antigen through the T cell receptor. Manipulation of immunosurveillance through altered tumor-identifying ligand expression or secretion, resistance to cytotoxicity, or compromised cytotoxic cell activity through immune tolerance mechanisms all contribute to failure of these systems to prevent cancer development. This review examines the diverse mechanisms by which alterations in the immune microenvironment can promote lymphomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John G Gribben
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
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The DNA damage response and immune signaling alliance: Is it good or bad? Nature decides when and where. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 154:36-56. [PMID: 26145166 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The characteristic feature of healthy living organisms is the preservation of homeostasis. Compelling evidence highlight that the DNA damage response and repair (DDR/R) and immune response (ImmR) signaling networks work together favoring the harmonized function of (multi)cellular organisms. DNA and RNA viruses activate the DDR/R machinery in the host cells both directly and indirectly. Activation of DDR/R in turn favors the immunogenicity of the incipient cell. Hence, stimulation of DDR/R by exogenous or endogenous insults triggers innate and adaptive ImmR. The immunogenic properties of ionizing radiation, a prototypic DDR/R inducer, serve as suitable examples of how DDR/R stimulation alerts host immunity. Thus, critical cellular danger signals stimulate defense at the systemic level and vice versa. Disruption of DDR/R-ImmR cross talk compromises (multi)cellular integrity, leading to cell-cycle-related and immune defects. The emerging DDR/R-ImmR concept opens up a new avenue of therapeutic options, recalling the Hippocrates quote "everything in excess is opposed by nature."
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Brown MC, Gromeier M. Oncolytic immunotherapy through tumor-specific translation and cytotoxicity of poliovirus. DISCOVERY MEDICINE 2015; 19:359-365. [PMID: 26105699 PMCID: PMC4780852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Achieving tumor-specific, robust, and durable effector cytotoxic immune responses is key to successful immunotherapy. This has been accomplished with adoptive cell transfer of ex vivo-expanded autologous tumor-infiltrating or engineered T cells, or with immune checkpoint inhibitors, enhancing inherent T cell reactivity. A natural ability to recruit effector responses makes tumor-targeting ('oncolytic') viruses attractive as immunotherapy vehicles. However, most viruses actively block inflammatory and immunogenic events; or, host innate immune responses may prevent immune initiating events in the first place. Moreover, the mechanisms of how virus infection can produce effector responses against host (tumor) neo-antigens are unclear. We are pioneering oncolytic immunotherapy based on poliovirus, which has no specific mechanism to interfere with host immune activation, exhibits lytic cytotoxicity in the presence of an antiviral interferon response and pre-existing immunity, and engages a powerful innate immune sensor implicated in recruiting cytotoxic T cell responses. Central to this approach is a unique confluence of factors that drive tumor-specific viral translation and cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Brown
- Department of Surgery Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Matthias Gromeier
- Department of Surgery Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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