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Tan S, Guo X, Li M, Wang T, Wang Z, Li C, Wu Z, Li N, Gao L, Liang X, Ma C. Transcription factor Zhx2 restricts NK cell maturation and suppresses their antitumor immunity. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20210009. [PMID: 34279541 PMCID: PMC8292132 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The maturation and functional competence of natural killer (NK) cells is a tightly controlled process that relies on transcription factors (TFs). Here, we identify transcriptional repressor zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) as a novel regulator that restricts NK cell maturation and function. Mice with Zhx2 conditional deletion in NK cells (Zhx2Δ/Δ) showed accumulation of matured NK cells. Loss of Zhx2 enhanced NK cell survival and NK cell response to IL-15. Transcriptomic analysis revealed Zeb2, a key TF in NK cell terminal maturation, as a direct downstream target of Zhx2. Therapeutically, transfer of Zhx2-deficient NK cells resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis in different murine models. Our findings collectively unmask a previously unrecognized role of Zhx2 as a novel negative regulator in NK cell maturation and highlight its therapeutic potential as a promising strategy to enhance NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Tan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaowei Guo
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mengzhen Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Tixiao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Nailin Li
- Clinical Pharmacology Group, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Gianchecchi E, Delfino DV, Fierabracci A. Natural Killer Cells: Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Target in Autoimmune Diseases? Front Immunol 2021; 12:616853. [PMID: 33679757 PMCID: PMC7933577 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.616853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases recognize a multifactorial pathogenesis, although the exact mechanism responsible for their onset remains to be fully elucidated. Over the past few years, the role of natural killer (NK) cells in shaping immune responses has been highlighted even though their involvement is profoundly linked to the subpopulation involved and to the site where such interaction takes place. The aberrant number and functionality of NK cells have been reported in several different autoimmune disorders. In the present review, we report the most recent findings regarding the involvement of NK cells in both systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. In T1D, innate inflammation induces NK cell activation, disrupting the Treg function. In addition, certain genetic variants identified as risk factors for T1D influenced the activation of NK cells promoting their cytotoxic activity. The role of NK cells has also been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of PBC mediating direct or indirect biliary epithelial cell destruction. NK cell frequency and number were enhanced in both the peripheral blood and the liver of patients and associated with increased NK cell cytotoxic activity and perforin expression levels. NK cells were also involved in the perpetuation of disease through autoreactive CD4 T cell activation in the presence of antigen-presenting cells. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), in addition to phenotypic abnormalities, patients presented a reduction in CD56hi NK-cells. Moreover, NK cells presented a deficient killing activity. The influence of the activating and inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) has been investigated in SSc and SLE susceptibility. Furthermore, autoantibodies to KIRs have been identified in different systemic autoimmune conditions. Because of its role in modulating the immune-mediated pathology, NK subpopulation could represent a potential marker for disease activity and target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Gianchecchi
- VisMederi srl, Siena, Italy.,Infectivology and Clinical Trials Research Area, Primary Immunodeficiencies Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico V Delfino
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Infectivology and Clinical Trials Research Area, Primary Immunodeficiencies Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
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Patel MA, Kim JE, Ruzevick J, Lim M. Present and future of immune checkpoint blockade: Monotherapy to adjuvant approaches. World J Immunol 2015; 5:1-15. [DOI: 10.5411/wji.v5.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune regulation of aggressive tumor growth is often outpaced by tumor up-regulation of ligands that inhibit effector immune responses through the activation of immune checkpoints. A few of such checkpoints include programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte activation gene-3, T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3, Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related receptor (GITR), and killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor. With the exception of GITR, after binding to their respective ligands these checkpoints induce down-modulation of immune responses to prevent autoimmunity. However, such immune mechanisms are co-opted by tumors to allow rapid tumor cell proliferation. Pre-clinical studies in antibody blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 have led to promising augmentation of effector immune responses in murine tumor models, and human antibodies against PD-1 and CTLA-4 alone or in combination have demonstrated tumor regression in clinical trials. The development of immune checkpoint blockade as a potential future immunotherapy has led to increasing interest in combining treatment modalities. Combination checkpoint blockade with chemotherapy and radiation therapy has shown synergistic effects in pre-clinical and clinical studies, and combination checkpoint blockade with bacterial vaccine vectors have produced increased effector immune responses in pre-clinical models. The future of immune checkpoint blockade may be as a powerful adjuvant alongside the current standard of care.
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Brilot F, Strowig T, Roberts SM, Arrey F, Münz C. NK cell survival mediated through the regulatory synapse with human DCs requires IL-15Ralpha. J Clin Invest 2008; 117:3316-29. [PMID: 17948125 DOI: 10.1172/jci31751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2007] [Accepted: 08/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
DCs activate NK cells during innate immune responses to viral infections. However, the composition and kinetics of the immunological synapse mediating this interaction are largely unknown. Here, we report the rapid formation of an immunological synapse between human resting NK cells and mature DCs. Although inhibitory NK cell receptors were polarized to this synapse, where they are known to protect mature DCs from NK cell lysis, the NK cell also received activation signals that induced mobilization of intracellular calcium and CD69 upregulation. The high-affinity component of the receptor for IL-15, IL-15Ralpha, accumulated at the synapse center on NK cells, and blocking of IL-15Ralpha increased NK cell apoptosis and diminished NK cell survival during their interaction with DCs. Furthermore, IL-15Ralpha-deficient NK cells, obtained from donors with a history of infectious mononucleosis, showed diminished survival in culture with DCs. Synapse formation was required for IL-15Ralpha-mediated NK cell survival, because synapse disruption by adhesion molecule blocking decreased DC-induced NK cell survival. These results identify what we believe to be a novel regulatory NK cell synapse with hallmarks of spatially separated inhibitory and activating interactions at its center. We suggest that this synapse formation enables optimal NK cell activation by DCs during innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Brilot
- Laboratory of Viral Immunobiology and Christopher H. Browne Center for Immunology and Immune Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA
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