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Di Matteo S, Bilotta MT, Pelosi A, Haas D, Theinert T, Weber G, Schlegel PG, Berg M, Moretta L, Maggi E, Azzarone B, Vacca P, Tumino N, Caruana I. Transition to a mesenchymal state in neuroblastoma may be characterized by a high expression of GD2 and by the acquisition of immune escape from NK cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1382931. [PMID: 38736882 PMCID: PMC11082345 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by both adrenergic (ADRN) and undifferentiated mesenchymal (MES) subsets. The ganglioside sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipid (GD2) is widely overexpressed on tumors of neuroectodermal origin promoting malignant phenotypes. MES cells are greatly enriched in post-therapy and relapsing tumors and are characterized by decreased expression of GD2. This event may cause failure of GD2-based immunotherapy. NK cells represent a key innate cell subset able to efficiently kill tumors. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) that includes tumor cells and tumor-associated (TA) cells could inhibit their effector function. Methods We studied eight NB primary cultures that, in comparison with commercial cell lines, more faithfully reflect the tumor cell characteristics. We studied four primary NB-MES cell cultures and two pairs of MES/ADRN (691 and 717) primary cultures, derived from the same patient. In particular, in the six human NB primary cultures, we assessed their phenotype, the expression of GD2, and the enzymes that control its expression, as well as their interactions with NK cells, using flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and cytotoxicity assays. Results We identified mature (CD105+/CD133-) and undifferentiated (CD133+/CD105-) NB subsets that express high levels of the MES transcripts WWTR1 and SIX4. In addition, undifferentiated MES cells display a strong resistance to NK-mediated killing. On the contrary, mature NB-MES cells display an intermediate resistance to NK-mediated killing and exhibit some immunomodulatory capacities on NK cells but do not inhibit their cytolytic activity. Notably, independent from their undifferentiated or mature phenotype, NB-MES cells express GD2 that can be further upregulated in undifferentiated NB-MES cells upon co-culture with NK cells, leading to the generation of mature mesenchymal GD2bright neuroblasts. Concerning 691 and 717, they show high levels of GD2 and resistance to NK cell-mediated killing that can be overcome by the administration of dinutuximab beta, the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody applied in the clinic. Conclusions NB is a heterogeneous tumor representing a further hurdle in NB immunotherapy. However, different from what was reported with NB commercial cells and independent of their MES/ADRN phenotype, the expression of GD2 and its displayed sensitivity to anti-GD2 mAb ADCC indicated the possible effectiveness of anti-GD2 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Di Matteo
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Bilotta
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Dorothee Haas
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Theinert
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerrit Weber
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul-Gerhardt Schlegel
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Berg
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Kaur S, Najm MZ, Khan MA, Akhter N, Shingatgeri VM, Sikenis M, Sadaf , Aloliqi AA. Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer: Dwelling the Hippo Pathway to Manage the Treatment. BREAST CANCER: TARGETS AND THERAPY 2021; 13:691-700. [PMID: 34938116 PMCID: PMC8685960 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s343329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer can be categorized as a commonly occurring cancer among women with a high mortality rate. Due to the repetitive treatment cycles, it has been noted that the patients develop resistance towards the chemotherapeutic drugs and remain unresponsive towards them. Therefore, many researchers are studying various signaling pathways involved in drug resistance for cancer treatment to overcome the obstacle. Hippo signaling is a widely studied pathway involved in tumor progression and controlling cell proliferation. Hence, understanding the aspects of the gene involved Hippo pathway would provide an insight into the mechanism behind the resistance and result in the development of new treatments. Here, we review the Hippo signaling pathway in humans and how the expression of different components leads to the regulation of resistance against some of the common chemo-drugs used in breast cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the chemotherapeutics that became ineffective due to the resistance and the mechanism following the process.
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A one-step tRNA-CRISPR system for genome-wide genetic interaction mapping in mammalian cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14499. [PMID: 31601883 PMCID: PMC6787096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mapping genetic interactions in mammalian cells is limited due to technical obstacles. Here we describe a method called TCGI (tRNA-CRISPR for genetic interactions) to generate a high-efficient, barcode-free and scalable pairwise CRISPR libraries in mammalian cells for identifying genetic interactions. We have generated a genome- wide library to identify genes genetically interacting with TAZ in cell viability regulation. Validation of candidate synergistic genes reveals the screening accuracy of 85% and TAZ-MCL1 is characterized as combinational drug targets for non-small cell lung cancer treatments. TCGI has dramatically improved the current methods for mapping genetic interactions and screening drug targets for combinational therapies.
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Gopinath M, Di Liddo R, Marotta F, Murugesan R, Banerjee A, Sriramulu S, Jothimani G, Subramaniam VD, Narasimhan S, Priya K S, Sun XF, Pathak S. Role of Hippo Pathway Effector Tafazzin Protein in Maintaining Stemness of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSC). Int J Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Res 2018; 12:153-165. [PMID: 30233778 PMCID: PMC6141435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tafazzin (TAZ) protein has been upregulated in various types of human cancers, although the basis for elevation is uncertain, it has been made definite that the effect of mutation in the hippo pathway, particularly when it is switched off, considerably activates tafazzin transcriptionally and thus this results in tissue or tumor overgrowth. Recent perceptions into the activity of tafazzin, have ascribed to it, a role as stem cell factor in mouse mesenchymal and as well as in neural stem cells. Being a downstream molecule in Hippo signalling, phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of tafazzin gene regulates its transcriptional activity and the stemness of mesenchymal stem cells. Commonly, extracellular matrix controls the stem cell fate commitment and perhaps tafazzin controls stemness through altering the extra cellular matrix. Extracellular matrix is generally made up of prime proteoglycans and the fate stabilization of the resulting lineages is surveilled by engineering these glycans. Tafazzin degradation and addition of proteoglycans affect physical attributes of the extracellular matrix that drives cell differentiation into various lineages. Thus, tafazzin along with major glycans present in the extracellular matrix is involved in imparting stemness. However, there are incoherent molecular events, wherein both tafazzin and the extracellular matrix components, together either activate or inhibit differentiation of stem cells. This review discusses about the role of tafazzin oncoprotein as a stemness factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhumala Gopinath
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Rosa Di Liddo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Marotta
- ReGenera R&D International for Aging Intervention, Milano-Beijing, Italy-China, VCC Preventive Medical Promotion Foundation, Beijing, China
| | - Ramachandran Murugesan
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Antara Banerjee
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Sushmitha Sriramulu
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Ganesan Jothimani
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Vimala Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Srinivasan Narasimhan
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Swarna Priya K
- Department of Gynecology and Pediatrics, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
| | - Xiao-Feng Sun
- Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Surajit Pathak
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, India
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