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Chavanton A, Mialhe F, Abrey J, Baeza Garcia A, Garrido C. LAG-3 : recent developments in combinational therapies in cancer. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:2494-2505. [PMID: 38702996 PMCID: PMC11309939 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of anticancer immune responses and in particular the action of immune checkpoint inhibitors that overcome T cell inhibition has revolutionized metastatic patients' care. Unfortunately, many patients are resistant to these innovative immunotherapies. Over the last decade, several immune checkpoint inhibitors, currently available in the clinic, have been developed, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4. More recently, other immune checkpoints have been characterized, among them lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3). LAG-3 has been the subject of numerous therapeutic studies and may be involved in cancer-associated immune resistance phenomena. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on LAG-3 as an immunotherapeutic target, particularly in combination with standard or innovative therapies. Indeed, many studies are looking at combining LAG-3 inhibitors with chemotherapeutic, immunotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic treatments, or adoptive cell therapies to potentiate their antitumor effects and/or to overcome patients' resistance. We will particularly focus on the association therapies that are currently in phase III clinical trials and innovative combinations in preclinical phase. These new discoveries highlight the possibility of developing other types of therapeutic combinations currently unavailable in the clinic, which could broaden the therapeutic spectrum of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Chavanton
- INSERM, UMR 1231Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer »DijonFrance
- Faculty of MedicineUniversité de BourgogneDijonFrance
| | - Flavie Mialhe
- INSERM, UMR 1231Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer »DijonFrance
- Faculty of MedicineUniversité de BourgogneDijonFrance
| | - Jimena Abrey
- INSERM, UMR 1231Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer »DijonFrance
- Faculty of MedicineUniversité de BourgogneDijonFrance
| | - Alvaro Baeza Garcia
- INSERM, UMR 1231Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer »DijonFrance
- Faculty of MedicineUniversité de BourgogneDijonFrance
| | - Carmen Garrido
- INSERM, UMR 1231Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC and « Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer »DijonFrance
- Faculty of MedicineUniversité de BourgogneDijonFrance
- Center for Cancer Georges‐François LeclercDijonFrance
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Kuchimaru T. Emerging Synthetic Bioluminescent Reactions for Non-Invasive Imaging of Freely Moving Animals. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7338. [PMID: 39000448 PMCID: PMC11242611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137338] [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: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is an indispensable technique for visualizing the dynamics of diverse biological processes in mammalian animal models, including cancer, viral infections, and immune responses. However, a critical scientific challenge remains: non-invasively visualizing homeostatic and disease mechanisms in freely moving animals to understand the molecular basis of exercises, social behavior, and other phenomena. Classical BLI relies on prolonged camera exposure to accumulate the limited number of photons that traveled from deep tissues in anesthetized or constrained animals. Recent advancements in synthetic bioluminescence reactions, utilizing artificial luciferin-luciferase pairs, have considerably increased the number of detectable photons from deep tissues, facilitating high-speed BLI to capture moving objects. In this review, I provide an overview of emerging synthetic bioluminescence reactions that enable the non-invasive imaging of freely moving animals. This approach holds the potential to uncover unique physiological processes that are inaccessible with current methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Kuchimaru
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
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Liang Z, Anderson HD, Locher V, O'Leary C, Riesenfeld SJ, Jabri B, McDonald BD, Bendelac A. Eomes expression identifies the early bone marrow precursor to classical NK cells. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1172-1182. [PMID: 38871999 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01861-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells traffic through the blood and mount cytolytic and interferon-γ (IFNγ)-focused responses to intracellular pathogens and tumors. Type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) also produce type 1 cytokines but reside in tissues and are not cytotoxic. Whether these differences reflect discrete lineages or distinct states of a common cell type is not understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry, we focused on populations of TCF7+ cells that contained precursors for NK cells and ILC1s and identified a subset of bone marrow lineage-negative NK receptor-negative cells that expressed the transcription factor Eomes, termed EomeshiNKneg cells. Transfer of EomeshiNKneg cells into Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- recipients generated functional NK cells capable of preventing metastatic disease. By contrast, transfer of PLZF+ ILC precursors generated a mixture of ILC1s, ILC2s and ILC3s that lacked cytotoxic potential. These findings identified EomeshiNKneg cells as the bone marrow precursor to classical NK cells and demonstrated that the NK and ILC1 lineages diverged early during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhitao Liang
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hope D Anderson
- Biophysical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Veronica Locher
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Crystal O'Leary
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Samantha J Riesenfeld
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bana Jabri
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Albert Bendelac
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Hofman T, Ng SW, Garcés-Lázaro I, Heigwer F, Boutros M, Cerwenka A. IFNγ mediates the resistance of tumor cells to distinct NK cell subsets. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009410. [PMID: 38955423 PMCID: PMC11218003 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint blockade targeting the adaptive immune system has revolutionized the treatment of cancer. Despite impressive clinical benefits observed, patient subgroups remain non-responsive underscoring the necessity for combinational therapies harnessing additional immune cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are emerging tools for cancer therapy. However, only subpopulations of NK cells that are differentially controlled by inhibitory receptors exert reactivity against particular cancer types. How to leverage the complete anti-tumor potential of all NK cell subsets without favoring the emergence of NK cell-resistant tumor cells remains unresolved. METHODS We performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout resistance screen in melanoma cells in co-cultures with human primary NK cells. We comprehensively evaluated factors regulating tumor resistance and susceptibility by focusing on NK cell subsets in an allogenic setting. Moreover, we tested therapeutic blocking antibodies currently used in clinical trials. RESULTS Melanoma cells deficient in antigen-presenting or the IFNγ-signaling pathways were depleted in remaining NK cell-co-cultured melanoma cells and displayed enhanced sensitivity to NK cells. Treatment with IFNγ induced potent resistance of melanoma cells to resting, IL-2-cultured and ADCC-activated NK cells that depended on B2M required for the expression of both classical and non-classical MHC-I. IFNγ-induced expression of HLA-E mediated the resistance of melanoma cells to the NKG2A+ KIR- and partially to the NKG2A+ KIR+ NK cell subset. The expression of classical MHC-I by itself was sufficient for the inhibition of the NKG2A- KIR+, but not the NKG2A+ KIR+ NK cell subset. Treatment of NK cells with monalizumab, an NKG2A blocking mAb, enhanced the reactivity of a corresponding subset of NK cells. The combination of monalizumab with lirilumab, blocking KIR2 receptors, together with DX9, blocking KIR3DL1, was required to restore cytotoxicity of all NK cell subsets against IFNγ-induced resistant tumor cells in melanoma and tumors of different origins. CONCLUSION Our data reveal that in the context of NK cells, IFNγ induces the resistance of tumor cells by the upregulation of classical and non-classical MHC-I. Moreover, we reveal insights into NK cell subset reactivity and propose a therapeutic strategy involving combinational monalizumab/lirilumab/DX9 treatment to fully restore the antitumor response across NK cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Hofman
- Department of Immunobiochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Siu Wang Ng
- Signalling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Irene Garcés-Lázaro
- Department of Immunobiochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Florian Heigwer
- Signalling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Bingen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- Signalling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adelheid Cerwenka
- Department of Immunobiochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Hernández-Magaña A, Bensussen A, Martínez-García JC, Álvarez-Buylla ER. Engineering principles for rationally design therapeutic strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1404319. [PMID: 38939509 PMCID: PMC11208463 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1404319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The search for new therapeutic strategies against cancer has favored the emergence of rationally designed treatments. These treatments have focused on attacking cell plasticity mechanisms to block the transformation of epithelial cells into cancerous cells. The aim of these approaches was to control particularly lethal cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma. However, they have not been able to control the progression of cancer for unknown reasons. Facing this scenario, emerging areas such as systems biology propose using engineering principles to design and optimize cancer treatments. Beyond the possibilities that this approach might offer, it is necessary to know whether its implementation at a clinical level is viable or not. Therefore, in this paper, we will review the engineering principles that could be applied to rationally design strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma, and discuss whether the necessary elements exist to implement them. In particular, we will emphasize whether these engineering principles could be applied to fight hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio Bensussen
- Departamento de Control Automático, Cinvestav-IPN, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad (C3), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Yi Y, Qin G, Yang H, Jia H, Zeng Q, Zheng D, Ye S, Zhang Z, Liu TM, Luo KQ, Deng CX, Xu RH. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Increase the Natural Killer Resistance of Circulating Tumor Cells via Intercellular Signaling of cGAS-STING-IFNβ-HLA. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400888. [PMID: 38638003 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) shed from primary tumors must overcome the cytotoxicity of immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, to cause metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) protects tumor cells from the cytotoxicity of immune cells, which is partially executed by cancer-associated mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the mechanisms by which MSCs influence the NK resistance of CTCs remain poorly understood. This study demonstrates that MSCs enhance the NK resistance of cancer cells in a gap junction-dependent manner, thereby promoting the survival and metastatic seeding of CTCs in immunocompromised mice. Tumor cells crosstalk with MSCs through an intercellular cGAS-cGAMP-STING signaling loop, leading to increased production of interferon-β (IFNβ) by MSCs. IFNβ reversely enhances the type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling in tumor cells and hence the expression of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) on the cell surface, protecting the tumor cells from NK cytotoxicity. Disruption of this loop reverses NK sensitivity in tumor cells and decreases tumor metastasis. Moreover, there are positive correlations between IFN-I signaling, HLA-I expression, and NK tolerance in human tumor samples. Thus, the NK-resistant signaling loop between tumor cells and MSCs may serve as a novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yi
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Guihui Qin
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Hao Jia
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Qibing Zeng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Dejin Zheng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Sen Ye
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Tzu-Ming Liu
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ren-He Xu
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
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7
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Khalifa AM, Nakamura T, Sato Y, Harashima H. Vaccination with a combination of STING agonist-loaded lipid nanoparticles and CpG-ODNs protects against lung metastasis via the induction of CD11b highCD27 low memory-like NK cells. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:36. [PMID: 38553761 PMCID: PMC10981311 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00502-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells are effective in attacking tumor cells that escape T cell attack. Memory NK cells are believed to function as potent effector cells in cancer immunotherapy. However, knowledge of their induction, identification, and potential in vivo is limited. Herein, we report on the induction and identification of memory-like NK cells via the action of a combination of a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist loaded into lipid nanoparticles (STING-LNPs) and cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs), and the potential of the inducted memory-like NK cells to prevent melanoma lung metastasis. METHODS The antitumor effects of either the STING-LNPs, CpG-ODNs, or the combination therapy were evaluated using a B16-F10 lung metastasis model. The effect of the combined treatment was evaluated by measuring cytokine production. The induction of memory-like NK cells was demonstrated via flow cytometry and confirmed through their preventative effect. RESULTS The combination of STING-LNPs and CpG-ODNs tended to enhance the production of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and IL-18, and exerted a therapeutic effect against B16-F10 lung metastasis. The combination therapy increased the population of CD11bhighCD27low NK cells. Although monotherapies failed to show preventative effects, the combination therapy induced a surprisingly strong preventative effect, which indicates that CD11bhighCD27low cells could be a phenotype of memory-like NK cells. CONCLUSION As far as could be ascertained, this is the first report of the in vivo induction, identification, and confirmation of a phenotype of the memory-like NK cells through a prophylactic effect via the use of an immunotherapeutic drug. Our findings provide novel insights into the in vivo induction of CD11bhighCD27low memory-like NK cells thus paving the way for the development of efficient immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa M Khalifa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Parodi M, Centonze G, Murianni F, Orecchia P, Andriani F, Roato I, Gardelli C, Balsamo M, Moro M, Taiè G, Pastorino U, Petretto A, Lavarello C, Milione M, Sozzi G, Roz L, Vitale M, Bertolini G. Hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal status of lung cancer dictates metastatic success through differential interaction with NK cells. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e007895. [PMID: 38458638 PMCID: PMC10921513 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) endows cancer cells with pro-metastatic properties, which appear most effective when cells enter an intermediate hybrid (H) state, characterized by integrated mesenchymal (M) and epithelial (E) traits. The reasons for this advantage are poorly known and, especially, it is totally unexplored whether the interplay between H-cells and NK cells could have a role. Here we characterize the pro-metastatic mechanics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H-cells and their subset of cancer-initiating cells (CICs), dissecting crucial interactions with NK cells. METHODS Human lung cancer cell lines and sublines representative of E, M, or H states, assessed by proteomics, were analyzed in vivo for their tumor-forming and disseminating capabilities. Interactions with NK cells were investigated in vitro using migration assays, cytotoxic degranulation assays, and evaluation of CD133+ CICs modulation after coculture, and validated in vivo through NK cell neutralization assays. Correlation between EMT status, NK cell infiltration, and survival data, was evaluated in a cohort of surgically resected NSCLC cases (n=79). RESULTS We demonstrated that H-cells, have limited dissemination capability but show the highest potential to initiate metastases in vivo. This property was related to their ability to escape NK cell surveillance. Mechanistically, H-cells expressed low levels of NK-attracting chemokines (CXCL1 and CXCL8), generating poorly infiltrated metastases. Accordingly, proteomics and GO enrichment analysis of E, H, M cell lines showed that the related secretory processes could change during EMT.Furthermore, H-CICs uniquely expressed high levels of the inhibitory ligand B7-H3, which protected H-CIC from NK cell-mediated clearance. In vivo neutralization assays confirmed that, indeed, the pro-metastatic properties of H-cells are poorly controlled by NK cells.Finally, the analysis of patients revealed that detection of hybrid phenotypes associated with low NK infiltration in NSCLC clinical specimens could identify a subset of patients with poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that H-cells play a central role in the metastatic spread in NSCLC. Such pro-metastatic advantage of H-cells is supported by their altered interaction with NK cells and by the critical role of B7-H3 in preserving their H-CIC component, indicating B7-H3 as a potential target in combined NK-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Parodi
- Immunology Operative Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Centonze
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Murianni
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Orecchia
- Immunology Operative Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesca Andriani
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Roato
- C.I.R Dental School, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Cecilia Gardelli
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Melissa Balsamo
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Moro
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Giulia Taiè
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Ugo Pastorino
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Petretto
- Core Facilities, Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Lavarello
- Core Facilities, Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Massimo Milione
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Sozzi
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Roz
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- Immunology Operative Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Bertolini
- Unit of Epigenomics and Biomarkers of Solid Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
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Xu Y, Li X, Cheng F, Zhao B, Fang M, Li Z, Meng S. Heat shock protein gp96 drives natural killer cell maturation and anti-tumor immunity by counteracting Trim28 to stabilize Eomes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1106. [PMID: 38321029 PMCID: PMC10847424 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The maturation process of natural killer (NK) cells, which is regulated by multiple transcription factors, determines their functionality, but few checkpoints specifically targeting this process have been thoroughly studied. Here we show that NK-specific deficiency of glucose-regulated protein 94 (gp96) leads to decreased maturation of NK cells in mice. These gp96-deficient NK cells exhibit undermined activation, cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production upon stimulation, as well as weakened responses to IL-15 for NK cell maturation, in vitro. In vivo, NK-specific gp96-deficient mice show increased tumor growth. Mechanistically, we identify Eomes as the downstream transcription factor, with gp96 binding to Trim28 to prevent Trim28-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Eomes. Our study thus suggests the gp96-Trim28-Eomes axis to be an important regulator for NK cell maturation and cancer surveillance in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiu Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China.
| | - Fang Cheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bao Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Min Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Zihai Li
- The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Songdong Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
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Uderhardt S, Neag G, Germain RN. Dynamic Multiplex Tissue Imaging in Inflammation Research. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 19:43-67. [PMID: 37722698 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-070323-124158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is a highly dynamic process with immune cells that continuously interact with each other and parenchymal components as they migrate through tissue. The dynamic cellular responses and interaction patterns are a function of the complex tissue environment that cannot be fully reconstructed ex vivo, making it necessary to assess cell dynamics and changing spatial patterning in vivo. These dynamics often play out deep within tissues, requiring the optical focus to be placed far below the surface of an opaque organ. With the emergence of commercially available two-photon excitation lasers that can be combined with existing imaging systems, new avenues for imaging deep tissues over long periods of time have become available. We discuss a selected subset of studies illustrating how two-photon microscopy (2PM) has helped to relate the dynamics of immune cells to their in situ function and to understand the molecular patterns that govern their behavior in vivo. We also review some key practical aspects of 2PM methods and point out issues that can confound the results, so that readers can better evaluate the reliability of conclusions drawn using this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Uderhardt
- Department of Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Exploratory Research Unit, Optical Imaging Competence Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georgiana Neag
- Department of Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Exploratory Research Unit, Optical Imaging Competence Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ronald N Germain
- Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Tissue Imaging (CAT-I), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
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11
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Nakamura T, Sasaki S, Sato Y, Harashima H. Cancer Immunotherapy with Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with a Stimulator of Interferon Genes Agonist against Renal Tumor Lung Metastasis. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:31. [PMID: 38258042 PMCID: PMC10819482 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has a poor prognosis, and the major organ of metastasis is the lung. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is the first-line therapy, but the response rates are low. Thus, the development of a more effective immunotherapy against metastatic RCC would be highly desirable. We previously demonstrated how a stimulator of an interferon gene (STING) agonist-loaded lipid nanoparticles (STING-LNPs) significantly activates natural killer (NK) cells and induces an antitumor effect against cases of melanoma lung metastasis that have shown ICI resistance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of using STING-LNPs in the treatment of lung metastatic RCC (Renca). An intravenous injection of STING-LNPs drastically decreased the amount of Renca tumor colonies. In contrast, monotherapies using ICIs showed no antitumor effect, and even a combination of ICI and STING-LNP therapies failed to enhance the antitumor effects. The main effector cells would be NK cells, and the activation of NK cells by the STING-LNPs may avoid the increased expression of immune checkpoint molecules. These findings provide useful insights into the development of an effective immunotherapy against metastatic RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | | | | | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
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12
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Hibler W, Merlino G, Yu Y. CAR NK Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma: Potential & Prospects. Cells 2023; 12:2750. [PMID: 38067178 PMCID: PMC10706172 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is among the most lethal forms of cancer, accounting for 80% of deaths despite comprising just 5% of skin cancer cases. Treatment options remain limited due to the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms associated with melanoma heterogeneity that underlie the rapid development of secondary drug resistance. For this reason, the development of novel treatments remains paramount to the improvement of patient outcomes. Although the advent of chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapies has led to many clinical successes for hematological malignancies, these treatments are limited in their utility by their immune-induced side effects and a high risk of systemic toxicities. CAR natural killer (CAR-NK) cell immunotherapies are a particularly promising alternative to CAR-T cell immunotherapies, as they offer a more favorable safety profile and have the capacity for fine-tuned cytotoxic activity. In this review, the discussion of the prospects and potential of CAR-NK cell immunotherapies touches upon the clinical contexts of melanoma, the immunobiology of NK cells, the immunosuppressive barriers preventing endogenous immune cells from eliminating tumors, and the structure and design of chimeric antigen receptors, then finishes with a series of proposed design innovations that could improve the efficacy CAR-NK cell immunotherapies in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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13
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Piersma SJ, Bangru S, Yoon J, Liu TW, Yang L, Hsieh CS, Plougastel-Douglas B, Kalsotra A, Yokoyama WM. NK cell expansion requires HuR and mediates control of solid tumors and long-term virus infection. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20231154. [PMID: 37698554 PMCID: PMC10497399 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes capable of controlling tumors and virus infections through direct lysis and cytokine production. While both T and NK cells expand and accumulate in affected tissues, the role of NK cell expansion in tumor and viral control is not well understood. Here, we show that posttranscriptional regulation by the RNA-binding protein HuR is essential for NK cell expansion without negatively affecting effector functions. HuR-deficient NK cells displayed defects in the metaphase of the cell cycle, including decreased expression and alternative splicing of Ska2, a component of the spindle and kinetochore complex. HuR-dependent NK cell expansion contributed to long-term cytomegalovirus control and facilitated control of subcutaneous tumors but not tumor metastases in two independent tumor models. These results show that posttranscriptional regulation by HuR specifically affects NK cell expansion, which is required for the control of long-term virus infection and solid tumors, but not acute infection or tumor metastases, highlighting fundamental differences with antigen-specific T cell control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J. Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sushant Bangru
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tom W. Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Beatrice Plougastel-Douglas
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Wayne M. Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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14
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Bushnell GG, Sharma D, Wilmot HC, Zheng M, Fashina TD, Hutchens CM, Osipov S, Wicha MS. Natural killer cell regulation of breast cancer stem cells mediates metastatic dormancy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.02.560493. [PMID: 37873211 PMCID: PMC10592904 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.02.560493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor positive tumors face a constant risk of disease recurrence for the remainder of their lives. Dormant tumor cells residing in tissues such as the bone marrow may generate clinically significant metastases many years after initial diagnosis. Previous studies suggest that dormant cells display "stem like" properties (CSCs), which may be regulated by the immune system. Although many studies have examined tumor cell intrinsic characteristics of dormancy, the role of the immune system in controlling dormancy and its escape is not well understood. This scientific gap is due, in part, to a lack of immunocompetent mouse models of breast cancer dormancy with many studies involving human xenografts in immunodeficient mice. To overcome this limitation, we studied dormancy in immunocompetent, syngeneic mouse breast cancer models. We find that PyMT, Met-1 and D2.0R cell lines contain CSCs that display both short- and long-term metastatic dormancy in vivo, which is dependent on the host immune system. Natural killer cells were key for the metastatic dormancy phenotype observed for D2.0R and the role of NK cells in regulating CSCs was further investigated.Quiescent D2.0R CSC are resistant to NK cytotoxicity, while proliferative D2.0R CSC were sensitive to NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. This resistance was mediated, in part, by the expression of Bach1 and Sox2 transcription factors. NK killing was enhanced by the STING agonist MSA-2. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the important role of immune regulation of breast tumor dormancy and highlight the importance of utilizing immunocompetent models to study this phenomenon.
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15
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Tharp KM, Park S, Timblin GA, Richards AL, Berg JA, Twells NM, Riley NM, Peltan EL, Shon DJ, Stevenson E, Tsui K, Palomba F, Lefebvre AEYT, Soens RW, Ayad NM, Hoeve-Scott JT, Healy K, Digman M, Dillin A, Bertozzi CR, Swaney DL, Mahal LK, Cantor JR, Paszek MJ, Weaver VM. The microenvironment dictates glycocalyx construction and immune surveillance. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3164966. [PMID: 37645943 PMCID: PMC10462183 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3164966/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to identify anti-cancer therapeutics and understand tumor-immune interactions are built with in vitro models that do not match the microenvironmental characteristics of human tissues. Using in vitro models which mimic the physical properties of healthy or cancerous tissues and a physiologically relevant culture medium, we demonstrate that the chemical and physical properties of the microenvironment regulate the composition and topology of the glycocalyx. Remarkably, we find that cancer and age-related changes in the physical properties of the microenvironment are sufficient to adjust immune surveillance via the topology of the glycocalyx, a previously unknown phenomenon observable only with a physiologically relevant culture medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M. Tharp
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sangwoo Park
- Field of Biophysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Greg A. Timblin
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Alicia L. Richards
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jordan A. Berg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Twells
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Nicholas M. Riley
- Department of Chemistry, Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Egan L. Peltan
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA USA 94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA 94305
| | - D. Judy Shon
- Department of Chemistry, Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erica Stevenson
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kimberly Tsui
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94597, USA
| | - Francesco Palomba
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, CA 92697, USA
| | | | - Ross W. Soens
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nadia M.E. Ayad
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Johanna ten Hoeve-Scott
- UCLA Metabolomics Center, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kevin Healy
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Sarafan ChEM-H and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA 94305
| | - Michelle Digman
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, CA 92697, USA
| | - Andrew Dillin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94597, USA
| | - Carolyn R. Bertozzi
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Sarafan ChEM-H and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA 94305
| | - Danielle L. Swaney
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lara K. Mahal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Jason R. Cantor
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Matthew J. Paszek
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Valerie M. Weaver
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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16
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Liu S, Wang S, Wang Z. Identification of genetic mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:110. [PMID: 37210507 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01543-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify the genetic mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS RNA sequencing data and clinical characteristics of HNSC patients were procured from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Lipid metabolism-related genes were collected from KEGG and MSigDB databases. Immune cells and immune-related genes were obtained from the TISIDB database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HNSC were identified and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify the significant gene modules. Lasso regression analysis was performed to identify hub genes. The differential gene expression pattern, diagnostic values, relationships with clinical features, prognostic values, relationships with tumor mutation burden (TMB), and signaling pathways involved, were each investigated. RESULTS One thousand six hundred sixty-eight DEGs were identified as dysregulated between HNSC tumor samples and healthy control head and neck samples. WGCNA analysis and Lasso regression analysis identified 8 hub genes, including 3 immune-related genes (PLA2G2D, TNFAIP8L2 and CYP27A1) and 5 lipid metabolism-related genes (FOXP3, IL21R, ITGAL, TRAF1 and WIPF1). Except CYP27A1, the other hub genes were upregulated in HNSC as compared with healthy control samples, and a low expression of these hub genes indicated a higher risk of death in HNSC. Except PLA2G2D, all other hub genes were significantly and negatively related with TMB in HNSC. The hub genes were implicated in several immune-related signaling pathways including T cell receptor signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION Three immune genes (PLA2G2D, TNFAIP8L2, and CYP27A1) and immune-related pathways (T cell receptor signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity) were predicted to play significant roles in the lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in HNSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaokun Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Shuning Wang
- Capital Medical University, No.10 Xitou Tiao, You'an Menwai, Fengtai District, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Zhenlin Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
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Yu Y. The Function of NK Cells in Tumor Metastasis and NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082323. [PMID: 37190251 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic tumors cause the most deaths in cancer patients. Treating metastasis remains the primary goal of current cancer research. Although the immune system prevents and kills the tumor cells, the function of the immune system in metastatic cancer has been unappreciated for decades because tumors are able to develop complex signaling pathways to suppress immune responses, leading them to escape detection and elimination. Studies showed NK cell-based therapies have many advantages and promise for fighting metastatic cancers. We here review the function of the immune system in tumor progression, specifically focusing on the ability of NK cells in antimetastasis, how metastatic tumors escape the NK cell attack, as well as the recent development of effective antimetastatic immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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18
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Konishi Y, Terai K. In vivo imaging of inflammatory response in cancer research. Inflamm Regen 2023; 43:10. [PMID: 36750856 PMCID: PMC9903460 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-023-00261-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation can contribute to the development and progression of cancer. The inflammatory responses in the tumor microenvironment are shaped by complex sequences of dynamic intercellular cross-talks among diverse types of cells, and recapitulation of these dynamic events in vitro has yet to be achieved. Today, intravital microscopy with two-photon excitation microscopes (2P-IVM) is the mainstay technique for observing intercellular cross-talks in situ, unraveling cellular and molecular mechanisms in the context of their spatiotemporal dynamics. In this review, we summarize the current state of 2P-IVM with fluorescent indicators of signal transduction to reveal the cross-talks between cancer cells and surrounding cells including both immune and non-immune cells. We also discuss the potential application of red-shifted indicators along with optogenetic tools to 2P-IVM. In an era of single-cell transcriptomics and data-driven research, 2P-IVM will remain a key advantage in delivering the missing spatiotemporal context in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinobu Konishi
- grid.65499.370000 0001 2106 9910Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA USA
| | - Kenta Terai
- Department of Pathology and Biology of Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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19
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Vyas M, Requesens M, Nguyen TH, Peigney D, Azin M, Demehri S. Natural killer cells suppress cancer metastasis by eliminating circulating cancer cells. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1098445. [PMID: 36733396 PMCID: PMC9887278 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1098445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, the metastatic spread of malignant cells to distant organs remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in controlling tumor metastasis; however, the dynamics of NK cell-mediated clearance of metastatic tumors are not entirely understood. Herein, we demonstrate the cooperative role of NK and T cells in the surveillance of melanoma metastasis. We found that NK cells effectively limited the pulmonary seeding of B16 melanoma cells, while T cells played a primary role in restricting metastatic foci growth in the lungs. Although the metastatic foci in the lungs at the endpoint were largely devoid of NK cells, they played a prominent role in promoting T cell recruitment into the metastatic foci. Our data suggested that the most productive interaction between NK cells and metastatic cancer cells occurred when cancer cells were in circulation. Modifying the route of administration so that intravenously injected melanoma cells bypass the first liver passage resulted in significantly more melanoma metastasis to the lung. This finding indicated the liver as a prominent site where NK cells cleared melanoma cells to regulate their seeding in the lungs. Consistent with this notion, the liver and the lungs of the tumor-bearing mice showed dominance of NK and T cell activation, respectively. Thus, NK cells and T cells control pulmonary metastasis of melanoma cells by distinct mechanisms where NK cells play a critical function in shaping T cell-mediated in situ control of lung-seeded cancer cells. A precise understanding of the cooperative role of NK and T cells in controlling tumor metastasis will enable the development of the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.
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20
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Shen M, Kang Y. Cancer fitness genes: emerging therapeutic targets for metastasis. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:69-82. [PMID: 36184492 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Development of cancer therapeutics has traditionally focused on targeting driver oncogenes. Such an approach is limited by toxicity to normal tissues and treatment resistance. A class of 'cancer fitness genes' with crucial roles in metastasis have been identified. Elevated or altered activities of these genes do not directly cause cancer; instead, they relieve the stresses that tumor cells encounter and help them adapt to a changing microenvironment, thus facilitating tumor progression and metastasis. Importantly, as normal cells do not experience high levels of stress under physiological conditions, targeting cancer fitness genes is less likely to cause toxicity to noncancerous tissues. Here, we summarize the key features and function of cancer fitness genes and discuss their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhong Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Michigan, MI, USA; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Research Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Michigan, MI, USA.
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Princeton Branch, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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21
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Deng X, Terunuma H. Harnessing NK Cells to Control Metastasis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10122018. [PMID: 36560427 PMCID: PMC9781233 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has produced remarkable results in tumor treatment. Nevertheless, its effects are severely limited in patients with low or absent pre-existing T cell immunity. Accordingly, metastasis remains the major cause of tumor-associated death. On the other hand, natural killer (NK) cells have the unique ability to recognize and rapidly act against tumor cells and surveil tumor cell dissemination. The role of NK cells in metastasis prevention is undisputable as an increase in the number of these cells mostly leads to a favorable prognosis. Hence, it is reasonable to consider that successful metastasis involves evasion of NK-cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Therefore, harnessing NK cells to control metastasis is promising. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the seeds for distant metastasis, and the number of CTCs detected in the blood of patients with tumor is associated with a worse prognosis, whereas NK cells can eliminate highly motile CTCs especially in the blood. Here, we review the role of NK cells during metastasis, particularly the specific interactions of NK cells with CTCs, which may provide essential clues on how to harness the power of NK cells against tumor metastasis. As a result, a new way to prevent or treat metastatic tumor may be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewen Deng
- Biotherapy Institute of Japan Inc., 2-4-8 Edagawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0051, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5632-6080; Fax: +81-3-5632-6083
| | - Hiroshi Terunuma
- Biotherapy Institute of Japan Inc., 2-4-8 Edagawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0051, Japan
- N2 Clinic Yotsuya, 5F 2-6 Samon-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0017, Japan
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22
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Li S, Bern MD, Miao B, Fan C, Xing X, Inoue T, Piersma SJ, Wang T, Colonna M, Kurosaki T, Yokoyama WM. The transcription factor Bach2 negatively regulates murine natural killer cell maturation and function. eLife 2022; 11:e77294. [PMID: 36190189 PMCID: PMC9560152 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BTB domain And CNC Homolog 2 (Bach2) is a transcription repressor that actively participates in T and B lymphocyte development, but it is unknown if Bach2 is also involved in the development of innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we followed the expression of Bach2 during murine NK cell development, finding that it peaked in immature CD27+CD11b+ cells and decreased upon further maturation. Bach2 showed an organ and tissue-specific expression pattern in NK cells. Bach2 expression positively correlated with the expression of transcription factor TCF1 and negatively correlated with genes encoding NK effector molecules and those involved in the cell cycle. Lack of Bach2 expression caused changes in chromatin accessibility of corresponding genes. In the end, Bach2 deficiency resulted in increased proportions of terminally differentiated NK cells with increased production of granzymes and cytokines. NK cell-mediated control of tumor metastasis was also augmented in the absence of Bach2. Therefore, Bach2 is a key checkpoint protein regulating NK terminal maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Li
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Michael D Bern
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Benpeng Miao
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Changxu Fan
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Takeshi Inoue
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Differentiation, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Marco Colonna
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
| | - Tomohiro Kurosaki
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Differentiation, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Wayne M Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineSt LouisUnited States
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