1
|
Blümke J, Bauer M, Vaxevanis C, Wilfer A, Mandelboim O, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B, Jasinski-Bergner S. Identification and characterization of the anti-viral interferon lambda 3 as direct target of the Epstein-Barr virus microRNA-BART7-3p. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2284483. [PMID: 38126030 PMCID: PMC10732682 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2284483] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as a member of the human γ herpes viruses (HHV), is known to be linked with distinct tumor types. It is a double-stranded DNA virus and its genome encodes among others for 48 different microRNAs (miRs). Current research demonstrated a strong involvement of certain EBV-miRs in molecular immune evasion mechanisms of infected cells by, e.g., the disruption of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class Ia and NKG2D functions. To determine novel targets of EBV-miRs involved in immune surveillance, ebv-miR-BART7-3p, an EBV-encoded miR with high expression levels during the different lytic and latent EBV life cycle phases, was overexpressed in human HEK293T cells. Using a cDNA microarray-based comparative analysis, 234 (229 downregulated and 5 upregulated) deregulated human transcripts were identified in ebv-miR-BART7-3p transfectants, which were mainly involved in cellular processes and molecular binding. A statistically significant downregulation of the anti-proliferative and tumor-suppressive hsa-miR-34A and the anti-viral interferon lambda (IFNL)3 mRNA was found. The ebv-miR-BART7-3p-mediated downregulation of IFNL3 expression was due to a direct interaction with the IFNL3 3'-untranslated region (UTR) as determined by luciferase reporter gene assays including the identification of the accurate ebv-miR-BART7-3p binding site. The effect of ebv-miR-BART7-3p on the IFNL3 expression was validated both in human cell lines in vitro and in human tissue specimen with known EBV status. These results expand the current knowledge of EBV-encoded miRs and their role in immune evasion, pathogenesis and malignant transformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Blümke
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Marcus Bauer
- Institute for Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Andreas Wilfer
- Institute for Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Krukenberg Cancer Center, University Hospital Halle, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Ofer Mandelboim
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute for Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Department of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Development & Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) Design, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB), Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Simon Jasinski-Bergner
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB), Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schäfer H, Subbarayan K, Massa C, Vaxevanis C, Mueller A, Seliger B. Correlation of the tumor escape phenotype with loss of PRELP expression in melanoma. J Transl Med 2023; 21:643. [PMID: 37730606 PMCID: PMC10512569 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04476-x] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite immunotherapies having revolutionized the treatment of advanced cutaneous melanoma, effective and durable responses were only reported in a few patients. A better understanding of the interaction of melanoma cells with the microenvironment, including extracellular matrix (ECM) components, might provide novel therapeutic options. Although the ECM has been linked to several hallmarks of cancer, little information is available regarding the expression and function of the ECM protein purine-arginine-rich and leucine-rich protein (PRELP) in cancer, including melanoma. METHODS The structural integrity, expression and function of PRELP, its correlation with the expression of immune modulatory molecules, immune cell infiltration and clinical parameters were determined using standard methods and/or bioinformatics. RESULTS Bioinformatics analysis revealed a heterogeneous, but statistically significant reduced PRELP expression in available datasets of skin cutaneous melanoma when compared to adjacent normal tissues, which was associated with reduced patients' survival, low expression levels of components of the MHC class I antigen processing machinery (APM) and interferon (IFN)-γ signal transduction pathway, but increased expression of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β isoform 1 (TFGB1) and TGF-β receptor 1 (TGFBR1). In addition, a high frequency of intra-tumoral T cells directly correlated with the expression of MHC class I and PRELP as well as the T cell attractant CCL5 in melanoma lesions. Marginal to low PRELP expression levels were found in the 47/49 human melanoma cell lines analysis. Transfection of PRELP into melanoma cell lines restored MHC class I surface expression due to transcriptional upregulation of major MHC class I APM and IFN-γ pathway components. In addition, PRELP overexpression is accompanied by high CCL5 secretion levels in cell supernatant, an impaired TGF-β signaling as well as a reduced cell proliferation, migration and invasion of melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that PRELP induces the expression of MHC class I and CCL5 in melanoma, which might be involved in an enhanced T cell recruitment and immunogenicity associated with an improved patients' outcome. Therefore, PRELP might serve as a marker for predicting disease progression and its recovery could revert the tumorigenic phenotype, which represents a novel therapeutic option for melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helene Schäfer
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Karthikeyan Subbarayan
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Chiara Massa
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anja Mueller
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical School Brandenburg, Hochstr. 29, 14770, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bauer M, Vaxevanis C, Al-Ali HK, Jaekel N, Naumann CLH, Schaffrath J, Rau A, Seliger B, Wickenhauser C. Altered Spatial Composition of the Immune Cell Repertoire in Association to CD34 + Blasts in Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020186. [PMID: 33430322 PMCID: PMC7825771 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite a relationship between immune dysregulation and the course of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been discussed, a detailed understanding of this phenomenon is still missing. Therefore, multiplex analyses of bone marrow biopsies (BMB) from patients with MDS and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) were performed in order to determine the repertoire of lymphocyte subpopulations and their distance to CD34+ blasts. In MDS and sAML samples, the composition, quantity, and spatial proximity of immune cell subsets to CD34+ blasts were heterogeneous and correlated to the blast counts, but not to the genetics of the diseases, while in non-neoplastic BMB no CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells and only single MUM1p+ B/plasma cells were detected in a distance of ≤10 μm to CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPSC). We conclude that CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells are not part of the immediate surrounding of CD34+ HPSC. Abstract Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are caused by a stem cell failure and often include a dysfunction of the immune system. However, the relationship between spatial immune cell distribution within the bone marrow (BM), in relation to genetic features and the course of disease has not been analyzed in detail. Methods: Histotopography of immune cell subpopulations and their spatial distribution to CD34+ hematopoietic cells was determined by multispectral imaging (MSI) in 147 BM biopsies (BMB) from patients with MDS, secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML), and controls. Results: In MDS and sAML samples, a high inter-tumoral immune cell heterogeneity in spatial proximity to CD34+ blasts was found that was independent of genetic alterations, but correlated to blast counts. In controls, no CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells and only single MUM1p+ B/plasma cells were detected in an area of ≤10 μm to CD34+ HSPC. Conclusions: CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells are regularly seen in the 10 μm area around CD34+ blasts in MDS/sAML regardless of the course of the disease but lack in the surrounding of CD34+ HSPC in control samples. In addition, the frequencies of immune cell subsets in MDS and sAML BMB differ when compared to control BMB providing novel insights in immune deregulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Bauer
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 14, 06112 Halle, Germany;
| | - Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (C.V.); (B.S.)
| | - Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.); (C.L.H.N.); (J.S.)
- Krukenberg Cancer Center, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany
| | - Nadja Jaekel
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.); (C.L.H.N.); (J.S.)
| | - Christin Le Hoa Naumann
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.); (C.L.H.N.); (J.S.)
| | - Judith Schaffrath
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.); (C.L.H.N.); (J.S.)
| | - Achim Rau
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, 72016 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (C.V.); (B.S.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 14, 06112 Halle, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(345)-557-1281; Fax: +49-(345)-557-1295
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bauer M, Vaxevanis C, Heimer N, Al-Ali HK, Jaekel N, Bachmann M, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B. Expression, Regulation and Function of microRNA as Important Players in the Transition of MDS to Secondary AML and Their Cross Talk to RNA-Binding Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197140. [PMID: 32992663 PMCID: PMC7582632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), heterogeneous diseases of hematopoietic stem cells, exhibit a significant risk of progression to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) that are typically accompanied by MDS-related changes and therefore significantly differ to de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Within these disorders, the spectrum of cytogenetic alterations and oncogenic mutations, the extent of a predisposing defective osteohematopoietic niche, and the irregularity of the tumor microenvironment is highly diverse. However, the exact underlying pathophysiological mechanisms resulting in hematopoietic failure in patients with MDS and sAML remain elusive. There is recent evidence that the post-transcriptional control of gene expression mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs, and/or RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key components in the pathogenic events of both diseases. In addition, an interplay between RBPs and miRNAs has been postulated in MDS and sAML. Although a plethora of miRNAs is aberrantly expressed in MDS and sAML, their expression pattern significantly depends on the cell type and on the molecular make-up of the sample, including chromosomal alterations and single nucleotide polymorphisms, which also reflects their role in disease progression and prediction. Decreased expression levels of miRNAs or RBPs preventing the maturation or inhibiting translation of genes involved in pathogenesis of both diseases were found. Therefore, this review will summarize the current knowledge regarding the heterogeneity of expression, function, and clinical relevance of miRNAs, its link to molecular abnormalities in MDS and sAML with specific focus on the interplay with RBPs, and the current treatment options. This information might improve the use of miRNAs and/or RBPs as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for both malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Bauer
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (M.B.); (C.W.)
| | - Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 06112, Germany; (C.V.); (N.H.)
| | - Nadine Heimer
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 06112, Germany; (C.V.); (N.H.)
| | - Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.)
| | - Nadja Jaekel
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany; (H.K.A.-A.); (N.J.)
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (M.B.); (C.W.)
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 06112, Germany; (C.V.); (N.H.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-345-557-4054
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Friedrich M, Lazaridou MF, Rahn J, Vaxevanis C, Heimer N, Jasinski-Bergner S, Seliger B. Identification of immunomodulatory RNA-binding proteins in tumors. Methods Enzymol 2020; 636:339-350. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
6
|
Bauer M, Vaxevanis C, Bethmann D, Massa C, Pazaitis N, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B. Multiplex immunohistochemistry as a novel tool for the topographic assessment of the bone marrow stem cell niche. Methods Enzymol 2019; 635:67-79. [PMID: 32122554 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.05.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using specific antibodies is a well-established method for the visualization of distinct cell populations. With increasing availability of suitable methods for complex tissue analyses, new demands have arisen to provide next to complex quantitative data information on protein expression, spatial distribution and cell-cell interactions in tissue sections. During the last decade, tissue preparation, fluorescent dyes, hardware imaging and software analysis were improved to solve problems concerning quantitative preciseness and tissue autofluorescence of multicolor staining. Automated cell segmentation as well as subcellular multiparameter analysis of fluorescence-based multiplexed IHC techniques, such as multispectral imaging (MSI), allows the quantification and localization of multiple proteins in the same tissue section. This technique gives us the opportunity to visualize and record the spatial relationship between different cells and is currently employed for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, but has not yet been developed for calcified bone marrow (BM) biopsies. This chapter summarizes a novel protocol developed for decalcified FFPE BM samples. In addition, it discusses the technical aspects and pitfalls using this material thereby extending the use of MSI for analysis of BM malignancies. It provides an overview on the characterization and distribution of cell populations and protein expression patterns regarding their prognostic and predictive value, and their use for guidance of therapeutic decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Bauer
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Medical Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Daniel Bethmann
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Chiara Massa
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Medical Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Nikolaos Pazaitis
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Medical Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Anastasopoulou EA, Tzonis P, Fortis SP, Mahaira L, Vaxevanis C, Ardavanis A, Mittendorf EA, Peoples GE, Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M, Perez SA. DRB1*11 allele expression and HER2 pre-existing immunity may predict benefit in breast cancer patients vaccinated with the HER2 modified AE37 peptide vaccine. J Immunother Cancer 2015. [PMCID: PMC4652460 DOI: 10.1186/2051-1426-3-s2-p427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
|