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Wang J, Seo JW, Kare AJ, Schneider M, Tumbale SK, Wu B, Raie MN, Pandrala M, Iagaru A, Brunsing RL, Charville GW, Park WG, Ferrara KW. Spatial transcriptomic analysis drives PET imaging of tight junction protein expression in pancreatic cancer theranostics. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.07.574209. [PMID: 38249519 PMCID: PMC10798647 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.07.574209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
We apply spatial transcriptomics and proteomics to select pancreatic cancer surface receptor targets for molecular imaging and theranostics using an approach that can be applied to many cancers. Selected cancer surfaceome epithelial markers were spatially correlated and provided specific cancer localization, whereas the spatial correlation between cancer markers and immune- cell or fibroblast markers was low. While molecular imaging of cancer-associated fibroblasts and integrins has been proposed for pancreatic cancer, our data point to the tight junction protein claudin-4 as a theranostic target. Claudin-4 expression increased ∼16 fold in cancer as compared with normal pancreas, and the tight junction localization conferred low background for imaging in normal tissue. We developed a peptide-based molecular imaging agent targeted to claudin-4 with accumulation to ∼25% injected activity per cc (IA/cc) in metastases and ∼18% IA/cc in tumors. Our work motivates a new approach for data-driven selection of molecular targets.
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Kare AJ, Nichols L, Zermeno R, Raie MN, Tumbale SK, Ferrara KW. OMIP-095: 40-Color spectral flow cytometry delineates all major leukocyte populations in murine lymphoid tissues. Cytometry A 2023; 103:839-850. [PMID: 37768325 PMCID: PMC10843696 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
High-dimensional immunoprofiling is essential for studying host response to immunotherapy, infection, and disease in murine model systems. However, the difficulty of multiparameter panel design combined with a lack of existing murine tools has prevented the comprehensive study of all major leukocyte phenotypes in a single assay. Herein, we present a 40-color flow cytometry panel for deep immunophenotyping of murine lymphoid tissues, including the spleen, blood, Peyer's patches, inguinal lymph nodes, bone marrow, and thymus. This panel uses a robust set of surface markers capable of differentiating leukocyte subsets without the use of intracellular staining, thus allowing for the use of cells in downstream functional experiments or multiomic analyses. Our panel classifies T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, progenitors, and their functional subsets by using a series of co-stimulatory, checkpoint, activation, migration, and maturation markers. This tool has a multitude of systems immunology applications ranging from serial monitoring of circulating blood signatures to complex endpoint analysis, especially in pre-clinical settings where treatments can modulate leukocyte abundance and/or function. Ultimately, this 40-color panel resolves a diverse array of immune cells on the axes of time, tissue, and treatment, filling the niche for a modern tool dedicated to murine immunophenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aris J. Kare
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lisa Nichols
- Stanford Shared FACS Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ricardo Zermeno
- Stanford Shared FACS Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marina N. Raie
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Liu P, Foiret J, Situ Y, Zhang N, Kare AJ, Wu B, Raie MN, Ferrara KW, Qi LS. Sonogenetic control of multiplexed genome regulation and base editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6575. [PMID: 37852951 PMCID: PMC10584809 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Manipulating gene expression in the host genome with high precision is crucial for controlling cellular function and behavior. Here, we present a precise, non-invasive, and tunable strategy for controlling the expression of multiple endogenous genes both in vitro and in vivo, utilizing ultrasound as the stimulus. By engineering a hyper-efficient dCas12a and effector under a heat shock promoter, we demonstrate a system that can be inducibly activated through thermal energy produced by ultrasound absorption. This system allows versatile thermal induction of gene activation or base editing across cell types, including primary T cells, and enables multiplexed gene activation using a single guide RNA array. In mouse models, localized temperature elevation guided by high-intensity focused ultrasound effectively triggers reporter gene expression in implanted cells. Our work underscores the potential of ultrasound as a clinically viable approach to enhance cell and gene-based therapies via precision genome and epigenome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Josquin Foiret
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yinglin Situ
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nisi Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aris J Kare
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marina N Raie
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Wang J, Fite BZ, Kare AJ, Wu B, Raie M, Tumbale SK, Zhang N, Davis RR, Tepper CG, Aviran S, Newman AM, King DA, Ferrara KW. Multiomic analysis for optimization of combined focal and immunotherapy protocols in murine pancreatic cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:7884-7902. [PMID: 36451859 PMCID: PMC9706583 DOI: 10.7150/thno.73218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although combination immunotherapies incorporating local and systemic components have shown promising results in treating solid tumors, varied tumor microenvironments (TMEs) can impact immunotherapeutic efficacy. Method: We designed and evaluated treatment strategies for breast and pancreatic cancer combining magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) ablation and antibody therapies. With a combination of single-cell sequencing, spectral flow cytometry, and histological analyses, we profiled an immune-suppressed KPC (Kras+/LSL-G12D; Trp53+/LSL-R172H; Pdx1-Cre) pancreatic adenocarcinoma (MT4) model and a dense epithelial neu deletion (NDL) HER2+ mammary adenocarcinoma model with a greater fraction of lymphocytes, natural killer cells and activated dendritic cells. We then performed gene ontology analysis, spectral and digital cytometry to assess the immune response to combination immunotherapies and correlation with survival studies. Result: Based on gene ontology analysis, adding ablation to immunotherapy enriched immune cell migration pathways in the pancreatic cancer model and extensively enriched wound healing pathways in the breast cancer model. With CIBERSORTx digital cytometry, aCD40 + aPD-1 immunotherapy combinations enhanced dendritic cell activation in both models. In the MT4 TME, adding the combination of aCD40 antibody and checkpoint inhibitors (aPD-1 and aCTLA-4) with ablation was synergistic, increasing activated natural killer cells and T cells in distant tumors. Furthermore, ablation with immunotherapy upregulated critical Ly6c myeloid remodeling phenotypes that enhance T-cell effector function and increased granzyme and protease encoding genes by as much as 100-fold. Ablation combined with immunotherapy then extended survival in the MT4 model to a greater extent than immunotherapy alone. Conclusion: In summary, TME profiling informed a successful multicomponent treatment protocol incorporating ablation and facilitated differentiation of TMEs in which ablation is most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Wang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brett Z. Fite
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aris J. Kare
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marina Raie
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Nisi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ryan R. Davis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Clifford G. Tepper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Sharon Aviran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Aaron M. Newman
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel A. King
- Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute, New Hyde Park, NY 10042 USA
| | - Katherine W. Ferrara
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA,✉ Corresponding author: Katherine W. Ferrara PhD, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA 94305. E-mail:
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Robinson ER, Kare AJ, Kheirolomoom A, Inayathullah M, Tumbale SK, Wu B, Raie MN, Seo JW, Salazar FB, Paulmurugan R, Wu AM, Ferrara KW. Abstract 5372: CD3 and CD8 targeting of ionizable lipid nanoparticles for in vivo mRNA delivery to T cells. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-5372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of T cells has emerged in recent years as a powerful immunotherapy against cancer. Currently, T cells are harvested from the patient or donor and are genetically modified ex vivo to enhance their cancer-fighting capabilities. However, this process is costly and more complex than administering off-the-shelf therapies such as small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies. The development of methods to transfect T cells in vivo remains an important endeavor for immunotherapies.
Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have recently played a key role as carrier vehicles for mRNA in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines. While ionizable LNPs delivering mRNA have now been FDA-approved for non-targeted immune cell delivery, their potential for targeting specific immune cell subtypes has yet to be fully realized. Delivering therapeutic genes that could reprogram T cells in vivo to recognize disease-relevant antigens would be of great clinical significance in reducing the lead time and cost of current ACT therapies.
Methods: Ionizable LNPs were synthesized to encapsulate mCherry or Firefly Luciferase (FLuc) reporter gene mRNA with a fluorescent Cy7-labeled lipid on the LNP surface. CD3 monoclonal antibody, F(ab’)2 CD3e fragment, or CD8 diabody was conjugated to the LNP surface. In vitro, the aCD3- or aCD8-LNPs were incubated with Jurkat or TK-1 cell lines, respectively. LNP uptake was imaged using fluorescent confocal microscopy, and mCherry expression was quantified via flow cytometry. For in vivo delivery, the ionizable LNPs were injected i.v., and reporter gene expression and cell activation were analyzed via flow cytometry and bioluminescence imaging.
Results: Confocal microscopy of ionizable LNP uptake in vitro highlighted differences in the internalization of the aCD3- and aCD8-LNPs in their respective cell lines, and transfection was observed with each targeting ligand. In murine models, aCD3-LNPs led to FLuc expression in the spleen and liver with increased accumulation in lymph nodes. aCD3-LNPs also transfected mCherry mRNA and activated splenic and circulating T cells. Cytokine concentrations were elevated in blood 5 and 24 h after aCD3-LNP injection. The impact of LNP lipid composition on transfection will be detailed in the presentation.
Conclusions: We successfully packaged mRNAs of mCherry and FLuc reporter genes within ionizable LNPs and targeted them to T cells via the CD3 or CD8 receptor. The ionizable LNPs were capable of transfecting T cells in vitro and in vivo while causing transient activation, depletion, migration, cytokine release, and phenotypic shifts. Working towards the goal of receptor-mediated T cell targeting in vivo, we elucidate the circulation time, transfection efficiency, and activating potential of ionizable LNPs targeted to T cells in the spleen and blood via two potential targets, the CD3 and CD8 receptors.
Citation Format: Elise R. Robinson, Aris J. Kare, Azadeh Kheirolomoom, Mohammed Inayathullah, Spencer K. Tumbale, Bo Wu, Marina N. Raie, Jai W. Seo, Felix B. Salazar, Ramasamy Paulmurugan, Anna M. Wu, Katherine W. Ferrara. CD3 and CD8 targeting of ionizable lipid nanoparticles for in vivo mRNA delivery to T cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5372.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Bo Wu
- 1Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Kheirolomoom A, Kare AJ, Ingham ES, Paulmurugan R, Robinson ER, Baikoghli M, Inayathullah M, Seo JW, Wang J, Fite BZ, Wu B, Tumbale SK, Raie MN, Cheng RH, Nichols L, Borowsky AD, Ferrara KW. In situ T-cell transfection by anti-CD3-conjugated lipid nanoparticles leads to T-cell activation, migration, and phenotypic shift. Biomaterials 2022; 281:121339. [PMID: 35078042 PMCID: PMC8892572 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ex vivo programming of T cells can be efficacious but is complex and expensive; therefore, the development of methods to transfect T cells in situ is important. We developed and optimized anti-CD3-targeted lipid nanoparticles (aCD3-LNPs) to deliver tightly packed, reporter gene mRNA specifically to T cells. In vitro, targeted LNPs efficiently delivered mCherry mRNA to Jurkat T cells, and T-cell activation and depletion were associated with aCD3 antibody coating on the surface of LNPs. aCD3-LNPs, but not non-targeted LNPs, accumulated within the spleen following systemic injection, with mCherry and Fluc signals visible within 30 min after injection. At 24 h after aCD3-LNP injection, 2-4% of all splenic T cells and 2-7% of all circulating T cells expressed mCherry, and this was dependent on aCD3 coating density. Targeting and transfection were accompanied by systemic CD25+, OX40+, and CD69+ T-cell activation with temporary CD3e ligand loss and depletion of splenic and circulating subsets. Migration of splenic CD8a+ T cells from the white-pulp to red-pulp, and differentiation from naïve to memory and effector phenotypes, followed upon aCD3-LNP delivery. Additionally, aCD3-LNP injection stimulated the secretion of myeloid-derived chemokines and T-helper cytokines into plasma. Lastly, we administered aCD3-LNPs to tumor bearing mice and found that transfected T cells localized within tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes following immunotherapy treatment. In summary, we show that CD3-targeted transfection is feasible, yet associated with complex immunological consequences that must be further studied for potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aris J. Kare
- Stanford University, Department of Bioengineering,
Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Ingham
- University of California, Davis, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | | | | | - Mo Baikoghli
- University of California, Davis, Department of Molecular
and Cellular Biology, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Jai W. Seo
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA
| | - James Wang
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA
| | - Brett Z. Fite
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA
| | | | - Marina N. Raie
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA
| | - R. Holland Cheng
- University of California, Davis, Department of Molecular
and Cellular Biology, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Nichols
- Stanford Shared FACS Facility, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Katherine W. Ferrara
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Palo Alto,
CA, USA,Corresponding author: Katherine W. Ferrara, PhD,
Professor and Division Chief, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department
of Radiology, 3165 Porter Drive, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304,
Phone: (650)723-8906,
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7
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Aghevlian S, Wu B, Raie MN, Tumbale SK, Kare AJ, Seo JW, Ferrara KW. Pre-clinical evaluation of immunoPET imaging using agonist CD40 monoclonal antibody in pancreatic tumor-bearing mice. Nucl Med Biol 2021; 98-99:8-17. [PMID: 33962357 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A novel [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 immunoPET tracer was developed to image a CD40+ pancreatic tumor model in C57BL/6 mice and to study the biodistribution profile of the agonist CD40 (aCD40) monoclonal antibody (mAb) alone or combined with other mAbs. PROCEDURES Copper-64 ([64Cu]Cu) labeled NOTA-aCD40 and NOTA-IgG (10 μg; 7 MBq) were injected intravenously into C57BL/6 mice with subcutaneous mT4 tumors to assess specificity 48 h post injection (p.i.) through positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and biodistribution studies (n = 5). [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 was injected alone or simultaneously in combination with a therapeutic mass of cold aCD40 (100 μg), aPD-1 (200 μg) and aCTLA-4 (200 μg) mAbs. A group of mice with or without tumor received the second round of injections 1 or 3 weeks apart, respectively. PET/CT imaging and biodistribution studies were performed at 48 h p.i. The organ dose for [64Cu]Cu was estimated based on biodistribution studies with 2 μg [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 (corresponds to 5 mg patient dose) in non-tumor bearing mice. RESULTS [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 accumulation was 2.3- and 7.8-fold higher than [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IgG in tumors and spleen, respectively, indicating the specificity of aCD40 mAb in a mouse pancreatic tumor model. Tumor accumulation of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 was 21.2 ± 7.3%ID/g at 48 h after injection. Co-injection of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 with cold aCD40 mAb alone or with PD-1 and CTLA-4 mAbs reduced both spleen and tumor uptake, whereas liver uptake was increased. With the second round of injections, the liver was the only organ with substantial uptake. With a 2 μg administered dose of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 in a dosimetry study, the liver to spleen ratio was greater compared to the 10 μg dose (2.8 vs 0.37; respectively). The human equivalent for the highest dose organ (liver) was 198 ± 28.7 μSv/MBq. CONCLUSIONS A CD40-immunoreactive [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-aCD40 probe was developed. The ratio of spleen to liver accumulation exceeded that of the IgG isotype and was greatest with a single small, injected mass. The safety of human patient imaging with [64Cu]Cu was established based on extrapolation of the organ specificity to human imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Aghevlian
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marina Nura Raie
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Spencer K Tumbale
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aris J Kare
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jai W Seo
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Fite BZ, Wang J, Kare AJ, Ilovitsh A, Chavez M, Ilovitsh T, Zhang N, Chen W, Robinson E, Zhang H, Kheirolomoom A, Silvestrini MT, Ingham ES, Mahakian LM, Tam SM, Davis RR, Tepper CG, Borowsky AD, Ferrara KW. Immune modulation resulting from MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound in a model of murine breast cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:927. [PMID: 33441763 PMCID: PMC7806949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80135-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) rapidly and non-invasively destroys tumor tissue. Here, we sought to assess the immunomodulatory effects of MR-guided HIFU and its combination with the innate immune agonist CpG and checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD-1. Mice with multi-focal breast cancer underwent ablation with a parameter set designed to achieve mechanical disruption with minimal thermal dose or a protocol in which tumor temperature reached 65 °C. Mice received either HIFU alone or were primed with the toll-like receptor 9 agonist CpG and the checkpoint modulator anti-PD-1. Both mechanical HIFU and thermal ablation induced a potent inflammatory response with increased expression of Nlrp3, Jun, Mefv, Il6 and Il1β and alterations in macrophage polarization compared to control. Furthermore, HIFU upregulated multiple innate immune receptors and immune pathways, including Nod1, Nlrp3, Aim2, Ctsb, Tlr1/2/4/7/8/9, Oas2, and RhoA. The inflammatory response was largely sterile and consistent with wound-healing. Priming with CpG attenuated Il6 and Nlrp3 expression, further upregulated expression of Nod2, Oas2, RhoA, Pycard, Tlr1/2 and Il12, and enhanced T-cell number and activation while polarizing macrophages to an anti-tumor phenotype. The tumor-specific antigen, cytokines and cell debris liberated by HIFU enhance response to innate immune agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Z Fite
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - James Wang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Aris J Kare
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Asaf Ilovitsh
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael Chavez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tali Ilovitsh
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Nisi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Weiyu Chen
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Elise Robinson
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Azadeh Kheirolomoom
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Matthew T Silvestrini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Ingham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lisa M Mahakian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Sarah M Tam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ryan R Davis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Clifford G Tepper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Alexander D Borowsky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 3165 Porter Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
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Ilovitsh T, Feng Y, Foiret J, Kheirolomoom A, Zhang H, Ingham ES, Ilovitsh A, Tumbale SK, Fite BZ, Wu B, Raie MN, Zhang N, Kare AJ, Chavez M, Qi LS, Pelled G, Gazit D, Vermesh O, Steinberg I, Gambhir SS, Ferrara KW. Low-frequency ultrasound-mediated cytokine transfection enhances T cell recruitment at local and distant tumor sites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12674-12685. [PMID: 32430322 PMCID: PMC7293655 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914906117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Robust cytotoxic T cell infiltration has proven to be difficult to achieve in solid tumors. We set out to develop a flexible protocol to efficiently transfect tumor and stromal cells to produce immune-activating cytokines, and thus enhance T cell infiltration while debulking tumor mass. By combining ultrasound with tumor-targeted microbubbles, membrane pores are created and facilitate a controllable and local transfection. Here, we applied a substantially lower transmission frequency (250 kHz) than applied previously. The resulting microbubble oscillation was significantly enhanced, reaching an effective expansion ratio of 35 for a peak negative pressure of 500 kPa in vitro. Combining low-frequency ultrasound with tumor-targeted microbubbles and a DNA plasmid construct, 20% of tumor cells remained viable, and ∼20% of these remaining cells were transfected with a reporter gene both in vitro and in vivo. The majority of cells transfected in vivo were mucin 1+/CD45- tumor cells. Tumor and stromal cells were then transfected with plasmid DNA encoding IFN-β, producing 150 pg/106 cells in vitro, a 150-fold increase compared to no-ultrasound or no-plasmid controls and a 50-fold increase compared to treatment with targeted microbubbles and ultrasound (without IFN-β). This enhancement in secretion exceeds previously reported fourfold to fivefold increases with other in vitro treatments. Combined with intraperitoneal administration of checkpoint inhibition, a single application of IFN-β plasmid transfection reduced tumor growth in vivo and recruited efficacious immune cells at both the local and distant tumor sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tali Ilovitsh
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Yi Feng
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Josquin Foiret
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Azadeh Kheirolomoom
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Hua Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Elizabeth S Ingham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Asaf Ilovitsh
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Spencer K Tumbale
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Brett Z Fite
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Bo Wu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Marina N Raie
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Nisi Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Aris J Kare
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Michael Chavez
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Gadi Pelled
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Dan Gazit
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Ophir Vermesh
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Idan Steinberg
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Sanjiv S Gambhir
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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