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Ooi SL, Micalos PS, Kim J, Pak SC. Rice bran arabinoxylan compound as a natural product for cancer treatment - an evidence-based assessment of the effects and mechanisms. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2024; 62:367-393. [PMID: 38745507 PMCID: PMC11097709 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2349042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC) is a natural immunomodulator with anticancer properties. OBJECTIVE This study critically evaluates the available evidence on the biological pathways of RBAC and its effects on cancer treatment. METHODS This secondary analysis of a scoping review includes studies evaluating the mechanisms of RBAC on healthy or malignant cells, animal models, or humans for cancer prevention or treatment. Data from randomized controlled trials on survival and quality of life outcomes were subjectd to meta analysis. RESULTS The evidence synthesis was based on 38 articles. RBAC exhibited antitumor properties by promoting apoptosis and restoring immune function in cancer patients to enhance inflammatory and cytotoxic responses to block tumorigenesis. RBAC works synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents by upregulating drug transport. In a clinical trial, combining RBAC with chemoembolization in treating liver cancer showed improved response, reduced recurrence rates, and prolonged survival. RBAC also augments the endogenous antioxidant system to prevent oxidative stress and protect against radiation side effects. In addition, RBAC has chemoprotective effects. Animals and humans have exhibited reduced toxicity and side effects from chemotherapy. Meta analysis indicates that RBAC treatment increases the survival odds by 4.02-times (95% CI: 1.67, 9.69) in the first year and 2.89-times (95% CI: 1.56, 5.35) in the second year. CONCLUSION RBAC is a natural product with immense potential in cancer treatment. Additional research is needed to characterize, quantify, and standardize the active ingredients in RBAC responsible for the anticancer effects. More well-designed, large-scale clinical trials are required to substantiate the treatment efficacies further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Liang Ooi
- School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst,Australia
| | - Peter S. Micalos
- School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia
| | - Jeanman Kim
- STR Biotech Co. Ltd, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sok Cheon Pak
- School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst,Australia
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2
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Hermans L, O’Sullivan TE. No time to die: Epigenetic regulation of natural killer cell survival. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:61-79. [PMID: 38426615 PMCID: PMC11102341 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13314] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
NK cells are short-lived innate lymphocytes that can mediate antigen-independent responses to infection and cancer. However, studies from the past two decades have shown that NK cells can acquire transcriptional and epigenetic modifications during inflammation that result in increased survival and lifespan. These findings blur the lines between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, and suggest that the homeostatic mechanisms that govern the persistence of innate immune cells are malleable. Indeed, recent studies have shown that NK cells undergo continuous and strictly regulated adaptations controlling their survival during development, tissue residency, and following inflammation. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the critical factors regulating NK cell survival throughout their lifespan, with a specific emphasis on the epigenetic modifications that regulate the survival of NK cells in various contexts. A precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern NK cell survival will be important to enhance therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen Hermans
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Timothy E. O’Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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3
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Persky J, Cruz SM, Darrow MA, Judge SJ, Li Y, Bold RJ, Karnezis AN, Matsukuma KE, Qi L, Canter RJ. Characterization of natural killer and cytotoxic T-cell immune infiltrates in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Surg Oncol 2024; 129:885-892. [PMID: 38196111 PMCID: PMC10980567 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27581] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor response to systemic therapies, including immunotherapy. Given the immunotherapeutic potential of natural killer (NK) cells, we evaluated intratumoral NK cell infiltrates along with cytotoxic T cells in PDAC to determine their association with patient outcomes. METHODS We analyzed tumors from 93 PDAC patients treated from 2012 to 2020. Predictor variables included tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T-cell markers (CD3, CD8, CD45RO), NK marker (NKp46), and NK inhibitory marker (major histocompatibility complex class I [MHC-I]) by immunohistochemistry. Primary outcome variables were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Mean TILs, CD3, and NKp46 scores were 1.3 ± 0.63, 20.6 ± 17.5, and 3.1 ± 3.9, respectively. Higher expression of CD3 and CD8 was associated with higher OS, whereas NK cell infiltration was not associated with either RFS or OS. There was a tight positive correlation between MHC-I expression and all T-cell markers, but not with NKp46. CONCLUSIONS Overall NK cell infiltrates were low in PDAC and did not predict clinical outcomes, whereas T-cell infiltrates did. Further characterization of the immune infiltrate in PDAC, including inhibitory signals and suppressive cell types, may yield better biomarkers of prognosis and immune targeting in this refractory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Persky
- Division of Surgical Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Sylvia M. Cruz
- Division of Surgical Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Morgan, A. Darrow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Sean J. Judge
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Yueju Li
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, UC Davis
| | - Richard J. Bold
- Division of Surgical Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Anthony N. Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Karen E. Matsukuma
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Lihong Qi
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, UC Davis
| | - Robert J. Canter
- Division of Surgical Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA
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4
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Stenger TD, Miller JS. Therapeutic approaches to enhance natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356666. [PMID: 38545115 PMCID: PMC10966407 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356666] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancing the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells has emerged as a promising strategy in cancer immunotherapy, due to their pivotal role in immune surveillance and tumor clearance. This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of therapeutic approaches designed to augment NK cell cytotoxicity. We analyze a wide range of strategies, including cytokine-based treatment, monoclonal antibodies, and NK cell engagers, and discuss criteria that must be considered when selecting an NK cell product to combine with these strategies. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and limitations associated with each therapeutic strategy, as well as the potential for combination therapies to maximize NK cell cytotoxicity while minimizing adverse effects. By exploring the wealth of research on this topic, this literature review aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians seeking to develop and implement novel therapeutic strategies that harness the full potential of NK cells in the fight against cancer. Enhancing NK cell cytotoxicity holds great promise in the evolving landscape of immunotherapy, and this review serves as a roadmap for understanding the current state of the field and the future directions in NK cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terran D. Stenger
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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5
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Mei Q, Chen P, Lv Y, Zheng L, Liu D, Zhang M, Liu W, Li P. Elevated of NDUFA4L2 expression in colon adenocarcinoma is correlated with an unfavorable prognosis and increased immune cell infiltration. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25462. [PMID: 38352787 PMCID: PMC10861987 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, yet, its underlying pathogenesis and genetic characteristics are still unclear. Previous studies have suggested that NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 4-like 2 (NDUFA4L2) may affect tumor progression across various cancers. However, this effect on COAD has rarely been reported. Thus, this study investigated NDUFA4L2's prognostic and diagnostic relevance and explored its potential connection with immune cell infiltration in COAD. Methods To achieve this, RNA sequencing data from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was analyzed to assess NDUFA4L2's prognostic value in COAD, and factors relevant to the prognosis of COAD, including NDUFA4L2, were scrutinized using Kaplan-Meier analyses as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression. A nomogram model was created to project prognosis based on the results of multivariate Cox analysis. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed to pinpoint key NDUFA4L2-related pathways, and single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) on TCGA data was employed to investigate the connections of NDUFA4L2 with cancer immune infiltrations. Results Our findings revealed significant associations of high NDUFA4L2 expression with poor overall survival, progression-free interval, and disease-specific survival of COAD patients. GSEA indicated close links of NDUFA4L2 with several signaling pathways implicated in tumorigenesis, including extracellular matrix receptor interaction, the intestinal immune network for immunoglobulin A production, natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, pathways in cancer, cell adhesion molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, Hedgehog signaling pathway, transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. Additionally, ssGSEA identified a positive link between increased NDUFA4L2 expression and higher infiltration degree of various immune cells, such as immature dendritic cells, macrophages, NK cells and dendritic cells. Conclusions Collectively, our findings demonstrate the association of increased NDUFA4L2 expression with adverse prognosis and heightened immune cell infiltration in COAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingbu Mei
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Ying Lv
- Department of Basic Medical Research Center, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Lihong Zheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Minglong Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Wanquan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Penghui Li
- Department of Medical Genetics, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, China
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6
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Wienke J, Visser LL, Kholosy WM, Keller KM, Barisa M, Poon E, Munnings-Tomes S, Himsworth C, Calton E, Rodriguez A, Bernardi R, van den Ham F, van Hooff SR, Matser YAH, Tas ML, Langenberg KPS, Lijnzaad P, Borst AL, Zappa E, Bergsma FJ, Strijker JGM, Verhoeven BM, Mei S, Kramdi A, Restuadi R, Sanchez-Bernabeu A, Cornel AM, Holstege FCP, Gray JC, Tytgat GAM, Scheijde-Vermeulen MA, Wijnen MHWA, Dierselhuis MP, Straathof K, Behjati S, Wu W, Heck AJR, Koster J, Nierkens S, Janoueix-Lerosey I, de Krijger RR, Baryawno N, Chesler L, Anderson J, Caron HN, Margaritis T, van Noesel MM, Molenaar JJ. Integrative analysis of neuroblastoma by single-cell RNA sequencing identifies the NECTIN2-TIGIT axis as a target for immunotherapy. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:283-300.e8. [PMID: 38181797 PMCID: PMC10864003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have poor survival rates and urgently need more effective treatment options with less side effects. Since novel and improved immunotherapies may fill this need, we dissect the immunoregulatory interactions in neuroblastoma by single-cell RNA-sequencing of 24 tumors (10 pre- and 14 post-chemotherapy, including 5 pairs) to identify strategies for optimizing immunotherapy efficacy. Neuroblastomas are infiltrated by natural killer (NK), T and B cells, and immunosuppressive myeloid populations. NK cells show reduced cytotoxicity and T cells have a dysfunctional profile. Interaction analysis reveals a vast immunoregulatory network and identifies NECTIN2-TIGIT as a crucial immune checkpoint. Combined blockade of TIGIT and PD-L1 significantly reduces neuroblastoma growth, with complete responses (CR) in vivo. Moreover, addition of TIGIT+PD-L1 blockade to standard relapse treatment in a chemotherapy-resistant Th-ALKF1174L/MYCN 129/SvJ syngeneic model induces CR. In conclusion, our integrative analysis provides promising targets and a rationale for immunotherapeutic combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Wienke
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Lindy L Visser
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Waleed M Kholosy
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kaylee M Keller
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Barisa
- Cancer Section, Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Evon Poon
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Sophie Munnings-Tomes
- Cancer Section, Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Courtney Himsworth
- Cancer Section, Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Calton
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Ronald Bernardi
- Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Femke van den Ham
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Yvette A H Matser
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Michelle L Tas
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Philip Lijnzaad
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anne L Borst
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elisa Zappa
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Bronte M Verhoeven
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shenglin Mei
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amira Kramdi
- Institut Curie, Inserm U830, PSL Research University, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, Paris, France; SIREDO: Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Restuadi Restuadi
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Bernabeu
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annelisa M Cornel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Juliet C Gray
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | | | - Marc H W A Wijnen
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Karin Straathof
- University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Sam Behjati
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wei Wu
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Albert J R Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Koster
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Nierkens
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Janoueix-Lerosey
- Institut Curie, Inserm U830, PSL Research University, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, Paris, France; SIREDO: Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Ronald R de Krijger
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ninib Baryawno
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louis Chesler
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - John Anderson
- Cancer Section, Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Department of Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, UK
| | | | | | - Max M van Noesel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Division Imaging & Cancer, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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7
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Kaur K, Jewett A. Osteoclasts and Probiotics Mediate Significant Expansion, Functional Activation and Supercharging in NK, γδ T, and CD3+ T Cells: Use in Cancer Immunotherapy. Cells 2024; 13:213. [PMID: 38334605 PMCID: PMC10854567 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030213] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies have introduced osteoclasts (OCs) as major activators of NK cells. It was found that OCs exhibit the capabilities of inducing cell expansion as well as increasing the cytotoxic activity of NK cells by granule release and increasing the secretion of TNF-α and TRAIL, leading to increased lysis of tumors in short-term as well as long-term periods, respectively. OC- induced expanded NK cells were named supercharged NK cells (sNK) due to their significantly high functional activity as well as their significantly higher cell expansion rate. It is, however, unclear whether the OC-mediated effect in NK cells is specific or whether other cytotoxic immune cells can also be expanded and activated by OCs. We chose to focus on γδ T cells and pan T cells, which also include CD8+ T cells. In this paper, we report that OCs are capable of expanding and functionally activating both γδ T cells and pan T cells. Expanded γδ T and pan T cells were capable of secreting high levels of INF-γ, albeit with different dynamics to those of NK cells, and, moreover, they are unable to kill NK-specific targets. Since we used humanized-BLT (hu-BLT) mice as a model of human disease, we next determined whether NK and T cell activation through OCs is also evident in cells obtained from hu-BLT mice. Similar to humans, OCs were capable of increasing the cell expansion and secretion of IFN-γ in the culture of either NK or T cells from hu-BLT mice, providing yet further evidence that these mice are appropriate models to study human disease. Therefore, these studies indicated that CD3+ T or γδ T cells can proliferate and be supercharged by OCs similar to the NK cells; thus, they can be used individually or in combination in the cell therapy of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawaljit Kaur
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Anahid Jewett
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
- The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Dentistry and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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8
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Zhang H, Yang L, Wang T, Li Z. NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy. Bioact Mater 2024; 31:63-86. [PMID: 37601277 PMCID: PMC10432724 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells display a unique inherent ability to identify and eliminate virus-infected cells and tumor cells. They are particularly powerful for elimination of hematological cancers, and have attracted considerable interests for therapy of solid tumors. However, the treatment of solid tumors with NK cells are less effective, which can be attributed to the very complicated immunosuppressive microenvironment that may lead to the inactivation, insufficient expansion, short life, and the poor tumor infiltration of NK cells. Fortunately, the development of advanced nanotechnology has provided potential solutions to these issues, and could improve the immunotherapy efficacy of NK cells. In this review, we summarize the activation and inhibition mechanisms of NK cells in solid tumors, and the recent advances in NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy boosted by diverse nanomaterials. We also propose the challenges and opportunities for the clinical application of NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Li Yang
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, 215123, China
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9
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Davis MA, Cho E, Teplensky MH. Harnessing biomaterial architecture to drive anticancer innate immunity. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:10982-11005. [PMID: 37955201 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01677c] [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] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Immunomodulation is a powerful therapeutic approach that harnesses the body's own immune system and reprograms it to treat diseases, such as cancer. Innate immunity is key in mobilizing the rest of the immune system to respond to disease and is thus an attractive target for immunomodulation. Biomaterials have widely been employed as vehicles to deliver immunomodulatory therapeutic cargo to immune cells and raise robust antitumor immunity. However, it is key to consider the design of biomaterial chemical and physical structure, as it has direct impacts on innate immune activation and antigen presentation to stimulate downstream adaptive immunity. Herein, we highlight the widespread importance of structure-driven biomaterial design for the delivery of immunomodulatory cargo to innate immune cells. The incorporation of precise structural elements can be harnessed to improve delivery kinetics, uptake, and the targeting of biomaterials into innate immune cells, and enhance immune activation against cancer through temporal and spatial processing of cargo to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Structural design of immunomodulatory biomaterials will profoundly improve the efficacy of current cancer immunotherapies by maximizing the impact of the innate immune system and thus has far-reaching translational potential against other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA.
| | - Ezra Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA.
| | - Michelle H Teplensky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA
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10
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Jia H, Yang H, Xiong H, Luo KQ. NK cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1303605. [PMID: 38022646 PMCID: PMC10653587 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1303605] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells kill mutant cells through death receptors and cytotoxic granules, playing an essential role in controlling cancer progression. However, in the tumor microenvironment (TME), NK cells frequently exhibit an exhausted status, which impairs their immunosurveillance function and contributes to tumor immune evasion. Emerging studies are ongoing to reveal the properties and mechanisms of NK cell exhaustion in the TME. In this review, we will briefly introduce the maturation, localization, homeostasis, and cytotoxicity of NK cells. We will then summarize the current understanding of the main mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion in the TME in four aspects: dysregulation of inhibitory and activating signaling, tumor cell-derived factors, immunosuppressive cells, and metabolism and exhaustion. We will also discuss the therapeutic approaches currently being developed to reverse NK cell exhaustion and enhance NK cell cytotoxicity in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Jia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Huaxing Xiong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
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Tang J, Xie L, Liu H, Wu L, Li X, Du H, Wang X, Li X, Yang Y. The effect of NK cell therapy on sepsis secondary to lung cancer: A case report. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220702. [PMID: 37671093 PMCID: PMC10476478 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0702] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with sepsis face high mortality rates and a bleak prognosis, prompting the need for advanced therapeutic interventions. A male patient diagnosed with moderately low-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma received diverse treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy to inhibit angiogenesis. Subsequently, he developed sepsis after comprehensive treatment, and conventional antibiotic combinations proved ineffective in combating the infection. As an experimental approach, allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell infusion was administered. Following the NK cell infusion, the patient regained consciousness, and laboratory analyses showed reduced infection-related markers, suppressed serum inflammatory cytokines, and elevated anti-tumor cytokines. However, the therapeutic effect only lasted 2-3 days. In vitro investigations demonstrated that the allogeneic NK cell product reduced interleukin-6 levels in the patient's serum. Moreover, subsequent co-cultivation of the NK cell product with the patient's serum resulted in a decrease in the proportion of cytotoxic subpopulations of NK cells and a downregulation of the expression of NK-mediated killing molecules. In conclusion, adoptive transfusion of allogeneic NK cells may improve sepsis symptoms in patients with tumor-related sepsis. In vitro co-culture tests hold promise in providing predictive biomarkers for treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingling Tang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Lulu Xie
- The Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Honglin Liu
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Liyun Wu
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- Cancer Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Hang Du
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xinjun Wang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 28 Guiyi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, China
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12
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Cai Y, Chen X, Lu T, Yu Z, Hu S, Liu J, Zhou X, Wang X. Single-cell transcriptome analysis profiles the expression features of TMEM173 in BM cells of high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:372. [PMID: 37095455 PMCID: PMC10123968 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10830-5] [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: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an essential regulator of type I interferon (IFN) response, TMEM173 participates in immune regulation and cell death induction. In recent studies, activation of TMEM173 has been regarded as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, transcriptomic features of TMEM173 in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) remain elusive. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) were applied to determine the mRNA and protein levels of TMEM173 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). TMEM173 mutation status was assessed by Sanger sequencing. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to explore the expression of TMEM173 in different types of bone marrow (BM) cells. RESULTS The mRNA and protein levels of TMEM173 were increased in PBMCs from B-ALL patients. Besides, frameshift mutation was presented in TMEM173 sequences of 2 B-ALL patients. ScRNA-seq analysis identified the specific transcriptome profiles of TMEM173 in the BM of high-risk B-ALL patients. Specifically, expression levels of TMEM173 in granulocytes, progenitor cells, mast cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were higher than that in B cells, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). Subset analysis further revealed that TMEM173 and pyroptosis effector gasdermin D (GSDMD) restrained in precursor-B (pre-B) cells with proliferative features, which expressed nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), CD19, and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) during the progression of B-ALL. In addition, TMEM173 was associated with the functional activation of NK cells and DCs in B-ALL. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide insights into the transcriptomic features of TMEM173 in the BM of high-risk B-ALL patients. Targeted activation of TMEM173 in specific cells might provide new therapeutic strategies for B-ALL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Cai
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Xiaomin Chen
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Tiange Lu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Zhuoya Yu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Shunfeng Hu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Jiarui Liu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
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13
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Arianfar E, Khandoozi SR, Mohammadi S, Memarian A. Suppression of CD56 bright NK cells in breast cancer patients is associated with the PD-1 and TGF-βRII expression. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:841-851. [PMID: 36414921 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02997-3] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells, as professional cytotoxic cells, play a key role against cancer in the early and metastatic stages. Their functional defects are highly associated with the initiation or progression of breast cancer (BC). Here, we investigated the phenotypic characterization of NK cells in 26 newly diagnosed BC patients in comparison to 12 healthy counterparts. METHODS Expression of CXCR3 and PD-1, and also NKG2D, and TGF-βRII were studied on CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells from fresh peripheral blood (PB) samples using flow cytometry. The plasma levels of IFN-γ and soluble MIC-A levels were also assessed by ELISA. RESULTS Both CD56dim and CD56bright NK subtypes showed lower CXCR3 and NKG2D expression in BC patients than healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients' CD56bright NK cells significantly showed higher expression levels of TGF-βRII and PD-1. Interestingly, increased concentration of MIC-A level in plasma of BC patients was associated with the higher TGF-βRII and PD-1 expression in all NK cells, while the plasma level of IFN-γ was associated with the lower TGF-βRII expression on CD56bright NK cells in these patients. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated phenotypically suppressed-NK cells, especially in the CD56bright subset of BC patients. It specifies their potential incompetence and outlines decrement of their anti-tumor activity, which could be interrelated with the tumor pathogenesis, TME immunosuppression, and so disease progression. The induction of compensatory mechanisms revives NK cells function and could be used in combination with the conventional treatments as a putative therapeutic approach for targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Arianfar
- Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | - Saeed Mohammadi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Ali Memarian
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. .,Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
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14
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Wong JKM, Dolcetti R, Rhee H, Simpson F, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:111-121. [PMID: 36379852 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Enhancing natural killer (NK) cell-based innate immunity has become a promising strategy for immunotherapy against hard-to-cure solid cancers. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has been used to activate NK-cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) towards solid cancers. Cancer cells, however, can subvert immunosurveillance using multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms, which may hamper NK cell ADCC. Mechanisms to safely enhance ADCC by NK cells, such as utilizing temporary inhibition of receptor endocytosis to increase antibody presentation from target to effector cells can now be used to enhance NK-cell-mediated ADCC against solid tumors. This review summarizes and discusses the recent advances in the field and highlights current and potential future use of immunotherapies to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of innate anticancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua K M Wong
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Handoo Rhee
- Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; The School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Fiona Simpson
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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15
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Schirrmacher V, van Gool S, Stuecker W. Counteracting Immunosuppression in the Tumor Microenvironment by Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus and Cellular Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13050. [PMID: 36361831 PMCID: PMC9655431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
An apparent paradox exists between the evidence for spontaneous systemic T cell- mediated anti-tumor immune responses in cancer patients, observed particularly in their bone marrow, and local tumor growth in the periphery. This phenomenon, known as "concomitant immunity" suggests that the local tumor and its tumor microenvironment (TME) prevent systemic antitumor immunity to become effective. Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an agent with inherent anti-neoplastic and immune stimulatory properties, is capable of breaking therapy resistance and immunosuppression. This review updates latest information about immunosuppression by the TME and discusses mechanisms of how oncolytic viruses, in particular NDV, and cellular immunotherapy can counteract the immunosuppressive effect of the TME. With regard to cellular immunotherapy, the review presents pre-clinical studies of post-operative active-specific immunotherapy and of adoptive T cell-mediated therapy in immunocompetent mice. Memory T cell (MTC) transfer in tumor challenged T cell-deficient nu/nu mice demonstrates longevity and functionality of these cells. Graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) studies in mice demonstrate complete remission of late-stage disease including metastases and cachexia. T cell based immunotherapy studies with human cells in human tumor xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice demonstrate superiority of bone marrow-derived as compared to blood-derived MTCs. Results from clinical studies presented include vaccination studies using two different types of NDV-modified cancer vaccine and a pilot adoptive T-cell mediated therapy study using re-activated bone marrow-derived cancer-reactive MTCs. As an example for what can be expected from clinical immunotherapy against tumors with an immunosuppressive TME, results from vaccination studies are presented from the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme. The last decades of basic research in virology, oncology and immunology can be considered as a success story. Based on discoveries of these research areas, translational research and clinical studies have changed the way of treatment of cancer by introducing and including immunotherapy.
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16
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Zahid KR, Raza U, Tumbath S, Jiang L, Xu W, Huang X. Neutrophils: Musketeers against immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:975981. [PMID: 36091114 PMCID: PMC9453237 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.975981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils, the most copious leukocytes in human blood, play a critical role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and immune suppression. Recently, neutrophils have attracted the attention of researchers, immunologists, and oncologists because of their potential role in orchestrating immune evasion in human diseases including cancer, which has led to a hot debate redefining the contribution of neutrophils in tumor progression and immunity. To make this debate fruitful, this review seeks to provide a recent update about the contribution of neutrophils in immune suppression and tumor progression. Here, we first described the molecular pathways through which neutrophils aid in cancer progression and orchestrate immune suppression/evasion. Later, we summarized the underlying molecular mechanisms of neutrophil-mediated therapy resistance and highlighted various approaches through which neutrophil antagonism may heighten the efficacy of the immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Finally, we have highlighted several unsolved questions and hope that answering these questions will provide a new avenue toward immunotherapy revolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashif Rafiq Zahid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Umar Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Soumya Tumbath
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Lingxiang Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Wenjuan Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Xiumei Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- *Correspondence: Xiumei Huang,
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17
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Moreno Tellez C, Leyfman Y, D'Angelo SP, Wilky BA, Dufresne A. Immunotherapy in Sarcoma: Where Do Things Stand? Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2022; 31:381-397. [PMID: 35715140 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Early experiences with modern immunotherapy have been disappointing in trials of unselected sarcoma subtypes. However, remarkable efficacy has been observed with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in a subset of patients, with the most promising outcomes to date in alveolar soft part sarcoma, cutaneous angiosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (dLPS). Adoptive cellular therapies targeting cancer testis antigens have shown promising activity, but only synovial sarcoma (SS) and myxoid/round cell liposarcomas reliably express these targets. The majority of sarcomas are immunologically "cold" with sparse immune infiltration, which may explain the poor response to immunotherapy. Current immunotherapy trials for sarcomas explore combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors to overcome immune evasion and novel targets in adoptive cellular therapies. The role of tertiary lymphoid structures, PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and tumor lymphocytes as biomarkers for response are areas of active investigation. In this review, we highlight prior and ongoing clinical efforts to improve outcomes with immunotherapy and discuss the current state of understanding for biomarkers to select patients most likely to benefit from this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiam Moreno Tellez
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Mailstop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yan Leyfman
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sandra P D'Angelo
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, 300 East 66th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Breelyn A Wilky
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Mailstop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Armelle Dufresne
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Leon Berard, 28 rue Laennec, Lyon 69008, France
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18
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Ran GH, Lin YQ, Tian L, Zhang T, Yan DM, Yu JH, Deng YC. Natural killer cell homing and trafficking in tissues and tumors: from biology to application. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:205. [PMID: 35768424 PMCID: PMC9243142 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01058-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, a subgroup of innate lymphoid cells, act as the first line of defense against cancer. Although some evidence shows that NK cells can develop in secondary lymphoid tissues, NK cells develop mainly in the bone marrow (BM) and egress into the blood circulation when they mature. They then migrate to and settle down in peripheral tissues, though some special subsets home back into the BM or secondary lymphoid organs. Owing to its success in allogeneic adoptive transfer for cancer treatment and its "off-the-shelf" potential, NK cell-based immunotherapy is attracting increasing attention in the treatment of various cancers. However, insufficient infiltration of adoptively transferred NK cells limits clinical utility, especially for solid tumors. Expansion of NK cells or engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells ex vivo prior to adoptive transfer by using various cytokines alters the profiles of chemokine receptors, which affects the infiltration of transferred NK cells into tumor tissue. Several factors control NK cell trafficking and homing, including cell-intrinsic factors (e.g., transcriptional factors), cell-extrinsic factors (e.g., integrins, selectins, chemokines and their corresponding receptors, signals induced by cytokines, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), etc.), and the cellular microenvironment. Here, we summarize the profiles and mechanisms of NK cell homing and trafficking at steady state and during tumor development, aiming to improve NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang He Ran
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Qing Lin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Tian
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China.
| | - Dong Mei Yan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China.
| | - Jian Hua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
| | - You Cai Deng
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China.
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Vaněk O, Kalousková B, Abreu C, Nejadebrahim S, Skořepa O. Natural killer cell-based strategies for immunotherapy of cancer. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 129:91-133. [PMID: 35305726 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a family of lymphocytes with a natural ability to kill infected, harmed, or malignantly transformed cells. As these cells are part of the innate immunity, the cytotoxic mechanisms are activated upon recognizing specific patterns without prior antigen sensitization. This recognition is crucial for NK cell function in the maintenance of homeostasis and immunosurveillance. NK cells not only act directly toward malignant cells but also participate in the complex immune response by producing cytokines or cross-talk with other immune cells. Cancer may be seen as a break of all immune defenses when malignant cells escape the immunity and invade surrounding tissues creating a microenvironment supporting tumor progression. This process may be reverted by intervening immune response with immunotherapy, which may restore immune recognition. NK cells are important effector cells for immunotherapy. They may be used for adoptive cell transfer, genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors, or triggered with appropriate antibodies and other antibody-fragment-based recombinant therapeutic proteins tailored specifically for NK cell engagement. NK cell receptors, responsible for target recognition and activation of cytotoxic response, could also be targeted in immunotherapy, for example, by various bi-, tri-, or multi-specific fusion proteins designed to bridge the gap between tumor markers present on target cells and activation receptors expressed on NK cells. However, this kind of immunoactive therapeutics may be developed only with a deep functional and structural knowledge of NK cell receptor: ligand interactions. This review describes the recent developments in the fascinating protein-engineering field of NK cell immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Vaněk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Kalousková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Celeste Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Shiva Nejadebrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Skořepa
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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20
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Liu X, Wills CA, Chen L, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Zhou M, Sundstrom JM, Schell T, Spiegelman VS, Young MM, Wang HG. Small extracellular vesicles induce resistance to anti-GD2 immunotherapy unveiling tipifarnib as an adjunct to neuroblastoma immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004399. [PMID: 35483745 PMCID: PMC9052051 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy has significantly improved the overall survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma patients. However, 40% of patients fail to respond or develop resistance to treatment, and the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs remain poorly understood. Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as critical regulators in modulating the response to immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the role of neuroblastoma-derived sEVs in promoting resistance to the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody dinutuximab. Moreover, to determine whether pharmacologic inhibition of sEV secretion sensitizes tumors to dinutuximab treatment, we combined dinutuximab with tipifarnib, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor that inhibits sEV secretion. Methods We investigated the role of neuroblastoma-derived sEVs in modulating the response to dinutuximab by utilizing the syngeneic 9464D-GD2 mouse model. The effect of neuroblastoma-derived sEVs in modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and host immune system were evaluated by RNA-sequencing and flow cytometry. Importantly, we used this mouse model to investigate the efficacy of tipifarnib in sensitizing neuroblastoma tumors to dinutuximab. The effect of tipifarnib on both the TME and host immune system were assessed by flow cytometry. Results We demonstrated that neuroblastoma-derived sEVs significantly attenuated the efficacy of dinutuximab in vivo and modulated tumor immune cell infiltration upon dinutuximab treatment to create an immunosuppressive TME that contains more tumor-associated macrophages and fewer tumor-infiltrating NK cells. In addition, we demonstrated that neuroblastoma-derived sEVs suppress splenic NK cell maturation in vivo and dinutuximab-induced NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in vitro. Importantly, tipifarnib drastically enhanced the efficacy of dinutuximab-mediated inhibition of tumor growth and prevented the immunosuppressive effects of neuroblastoma-derived sEVs in vivo. Conclusions These preclinical findings uncover a novel mechanism by which neuroblastoma-derived sEVs modulate the immune system to promote resistance to dinutuximab and suggest that tipifarnib-mediated inhibition of sEV secretion may serve as a viable treatment strategy to enhance the antitumor efficacy of anti-GD2 immunotherapy in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carson A Wills
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Longgui Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuanjun Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Sundstrom
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Todd Schell
- Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vladimir S Spiegelman
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Megan M Young
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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21
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Wang Y, Fang Y, Zhao F, Gu J, Lv X, Xu R, Zhang B, Fang Z, Li Y. Identification of GGT5 as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Gastric Cancer and its Correlation With Immune Cell Infiltration. Front Genet 2022; 13:810292. [PMID: 35368661 PMCID: PMC8971189 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.810292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. Recent studies revealed that high gamma-glutamyl-transferase 5 (GGT5) expression was associated with a poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. In the present study, we aimed to confirm the expression and prognostic value of GGT5 and its correlation with immune cell infiltration in gastric cancer. First, we compared the differential expression of GGT5 between gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and GEO NCBI databases using the most widely available data. Then, the Kaplan-Meier method, Cox regression, and univariate logistic regression were applied to explore the relationships between GGT5 and clinical characteristics. We also investigated the correlation of GGT5 with immune cell infiltration, immune-related genes, and immune checkpoint genes. Finally, we estimated enrichment of gene ontologies categories and relevant signaling pathways using GO annotations, KEGG, and GSEA pathway data. The results showed that GGT5 was upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. High GGT5 expression was significantly associated with T stage, histological type, and histologic grade (p < 0.05). Moreover, gastric cancer patients with high GGT5 expression showed worse 10-years overall survival (p = 0.008) and progression-free intervals (p = 0.006) than those with low GGT5 expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that high expression of GGT5 was an independent risk factor related to the worse overall survival of gastric cancer patients. A nomogram model for predicting the overall survival of GC was constructed and computationally validated. GGT5 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells but negatively correlated with Th17 infiltration. Additionally, we found that GGT5 was positively co-expressed with immune-related genes and immune checkpoint genes. Functional analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes relative to GGT5 were mainly involved in the biological processes of immune and inflammatory responses. In conclusion, GGT5 may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential immunological therapeutic target for GC, since it is associated with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Wang
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanchen Zhao
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiefei Gu
- Information Center, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Lv
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongzhong Xu
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhihong Fang
- Department of Oncology II, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Zhihong Fang, ; Yan Li,
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Oncology I, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Zhihong Fang, ; Yan Li,
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22
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Venglar O, Bago JR, Motais B, Hajek R, Jelinek T. Natural Killer Cells in the Malignant Niche of Multiple Myeloma. Front Immunol 2022; 12:816499. [PMID: 35087536 PMCID: PMC8787055 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.816499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells represent a subset of CD3- CD7+ CD56+/dim lymphocytes with cytotoxic and suppressor activity against virus-infected cells and cancer cells. The overall potential of NK cells has brought them to the spotlight of targeted immunotherapy in solid and hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). Nonetheless, NK cells are subjected to a variety of cancer defense mechanisms, leading to impaired maturation, chemotaxis, target recognition, and killing. This review aims to summarize the available and most current knowledge about cancer-related impairment of NK cell function occurring in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Venglar
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Hematooncology Clinic, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Julio Rodriguez Bago
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Hematooncology Clinic, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Benjamin Motais
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Roman Hajek
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Hematooncology Clinic, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Tomas Jelinek
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.,Hematooncology Clinic, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
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23
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Hong Y, Kim IS. The therapeutic potential of immune cell-derived exosomes as an alternative to adoptive cell transfer. BMB Rep 2022. [PMCID: PMC8810551 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2022.55.1.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yeonsun Hong
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - In-San Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
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24
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Li JH, O’Sullivan TE. Back to the Future: Spatiotemporal Determinants of NK Cell Antitumor Function. Front Immunol 2022; 12:816658. [PMID: 35082797 PMCID: PMC8785903 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.816658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells play a crucial role in host protection during tumorigenesis. Throughout tumor development, however, NK cells become progressively dysfunctional through a combination of dynamic tissue-specific and systemic factors. While a number of immunosuppressive mechanisms present within the tumor microenvironment have been characterized, few studies have contextualized the spatiotemporal dynamics of these mechanisms during disease progression and across anatomical sites. Understanding how NK cell immunosuppression evolves in these contexts will be necessary to optimize NK cell therapy for solid and metastatic cancers. Here, we outline the spatiotemporal determinants of antitumor NK cell regulation, including heterogeneous tumor architecture, temporal disease states, diverse cellular communities, as well as the complex changes in NK cell states produced by the sum of these higher-order elements. Understanding of the signals encountered by NK cells across time and space may reveal new therapeutic targets to harness the full potential of NK cell therapy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joey H. Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Timothy E. O’Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
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25
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Newnes HV, Armitage JD, Audsley KM, Bosco A, Waithman J. Directing the Future Breakthroughs in Immunotherapy: The Importance of a Holistic Approach to the Tumour Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235911. [PMID: 34885021 PMCID: PMC8656826 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immunotherapies have changed the way we treat cancer and, while some patients have benefitted greatly, there are still those that do not respond to therapy. Understanding why some patients respond to therapy and others do not is critical in developing new immunotherapeutic strategies. The increasing awareness of the importance of investigating the tumour in its entirety, including the surrounding tissue and role of various immune cells is helping to differentiate responders and non-responders. In addition, the resolution gained by the development of sophisticated bioinformatic technologies allows for a deeper understanding of the complex roles of individual cells in the tumour. This advancement will be critical for the development of novel therapies to treat cancer. Abstract Immunotherapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancers by exploiting the immune system to eliminate tumour cells. Despite the impressive response in a proportion of patients, clinical benefit has been limited thus far. A significant focus to date has been the identification of specific markers associated with response to immunotherapy. Unfortunately, the heterogeneity between patients and cancer types means identifying markers of response to therapy is inherently complex. There is a growing appreciation for the role of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in directing response to immunotherapy. The TME is highly heterogeneous and contains immune, stromal, vascular and tumour cells that all communicate and interact with one another to form solid tumours. This review analyses major cell populations present within the TME with a focus on their diverse and often contradictory roles in cancer and how this informs our understanding of immunotherapy. Furthermore, we discuss the role of integrated omics in providing a comprehensive view of the TME and demonstrate the potential of leveraging multi-omics to decipher the underlying mechanisms of anti-tumour immunity for the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
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26
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Chimeric antigen receptor- and natural killer cell receptor-engineered innate killer cells in cancer immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:2083-2100. [PMID: 34267335 PMCID: PMC8429625 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00732-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has demonstrated impressive therapeutic efficacy against hematological malignancies, but multiple challenges have hindered its application, particularly for the eradication of solid tumors. Innate killer cells (IKCs), particularly NK cells, NKT cells, and γδ T cells, employ specific antigen-independent innate tumor recognition and cytotoxic mechanisms that simultaneously display high antitumor efficacy and prevent tumor escape caused by antigen loss or modulation. IKCs are associated with a low risk of developing GVHD, thus offering new opportunities for allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cellular therapeutic products. The unique innate features, wide tumor recognition range, and potent antitumor functions of IKCs make them potentially excellent candidates for cancer immunotherapy, particularly serving as platforms for CAR development. In this review, we first provide a brief summary of the challenges hampering CAR-T-cell therapy applications and then discuss the latest CAR-NK-cell research, covering the advantages, applications, and clinical translation of CAR- and NK-cell receptor (NKR)-engineered IKCs. Advances in synthetic biology and the development of novel genetic engineering techniques, such as gene-editing and cellular reprogramming, will enable the further optimization of IKC-based anticancer therapies.
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27
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Abstract
Although most patients recover from acute COVID-19, some experience postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC). One subgroup of PASC is a syndrome called "long COVID-19," reminiscent of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is a debilitating condition, often triggered by viral and bacterial infections, leading to years-long debilitating symptoms including profound fatigue, postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive deficits, and orthostatic intolerance. Some are skeptical that either ME/CFS or long COVID-19 involves underlying biological abnormalities. However, in this review, we summarize the evidence that people with acute COVID-19 and with ME/CFS have biological abnormalities including redox imbalance, systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, an impaired ability to generate adenosine triphosphate, and a general hypometabolic state. These phenomena have not yet been well studied in people with long COVID-19, and each of them has been reported in other diseases as well, particularly neurological diseases. We also examine the bidirectional relationship between redox imbalance, inflammation, energy metabolic deficits, and a hypometabolic state. We speculate as to what may be causing these abnormalities. Thus, understanding the molecular underpinnings of both PASC and ME/CFS may lead to the development of novel therapeutics.
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28
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Lisiecka U, Brodzki P, Śmiech A, Kocki J, Czop M, Adaszek Ł, Winiarczyk S. Comparative Expression Analysis of Innate Immune Markers and Phagocytic Activity in Peripheral Blood of Dogs with Mammary Tumors. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082398. [PMID: 34438855 PMCID: PMC8388714 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The presented study aimed to find out the differences between peripheral blood immune cell markers from healthy bitches and bitches with mammary tumors. Due to the fact that the role of canine innate immune cells in cancer remains poorly understood, the markers of innate cells were chosen for this research. Blood samples from female dogs with mammary tumors of epithelial and mesenchymal origin were investigated by flow cytometry. CD5 and CD11b markers of innate immune cells, phagocytic activity, and cellular killing were assessed. The number of CD11b lymphocytes was increased in tumors with epithelial origin. No significant differences were found between the percentages of phagocytic cells. However, the phagocytes of canine patients with tumors of epithelial origin showed increased phagocytosis compared to the control group. In oxidative burst test, a statistically significant difference between the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced was demonstrated only between the group of bitches with epithelial tumors and the control group. These results may suggest that there are subpopulations of innate immune cells that may be involved in anti-tumor immune mechanisms and have a potential to be supportive diagnostic markers in canine mammary tumors. Abstract Canine innate immune system role in cancer prevention and progression remains poorly understood. It has been revealed that innate immune cells could play a dual role in cancer immunology promoting or inhibiting tumor development and growth. Current immunotherapies target mainly the adaptive anti-tumor response and that may be a reason why they remain ineffective in a majority of patients. It is important to acquire detailed knowledge about innate immune mechanisms to broaden the diagnostic and therapeutic options and employ innate immune cells in anti-cancer therapies. In the present study, 21 female dogs of different breeds and types of spontaneous mammary tumors were investigated. The study aimed to find simple and cheap markers that can be used for preliminary diagnosis, prior to the surgical resection of the tumor. The differences in innate immune cell quantity and function were investigated between female dogs with malignant mammary tumors of epithelial and mesenchymal origin. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the percentages of CD5+ lymphocytes including CD5low lymphocytes, CD11b integrin expression on leukocytes, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst. The number of CD11b lymphocytes was increased in tumors with epithelial origin compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between the percentages of phagocytic cells neither for granulocytes nor for monocytes. However, the phagocytes of canine patients with tumors of epithelial origin showed increased phagocytosis compared to the control group. The percentages of granulocytes that produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to E.coli and PMA were not altered in patients with malignant tumors compared to control. A statistically significant difference between the number of ROS produced by the single granulocyte was demonstrated only between the group of bitches with epithelial tumors and the control group in case of E. coli stimulation. The obtained results suggest that some innate immune cells may be involved in anti-tumor immune mechanisms and have the potential to be supportive diagnostic markers in canine mammary tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Lisiecka
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland; (Ł.A.); (S.W.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Piotr Brodzki
- Department and Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Anna Śmiech
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Janusz Kocki
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Chair of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.C.)
| | - Marcin Czop
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Chair of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.C.)
| | - Łukasz Adaszek
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland; (Ł.A.); (S.W.)
| | - Stanisław Winiarczyk
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland; (Ł.A.); (S.W.)
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29
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Liang Y, Li H, Gan Y, Tu H. Shedding Light on the Role of Neurotransmitters in the Microenvironment of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:688953. [PMID: 34395421 PMCID: PMC8363299 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.688953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. The fate of PC is determined not only by the malignant behavior of the cancer cells, but also by the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), consisting of various cellular (cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, and neurons) and non-cellular (cytokines, neurotransmitters, and extracellular matrix) components. The pancreatic TME has the unique characteristic of exhibiting increased neural density and altered microenvironmental concentration of neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters, produced by both neuron and non-neuronal cells, can directly regulate the biological behavior of PC cells via binding to their corresponding receptors on tumor cells and activating the intracellular downstream signals. On the other hand, the neurotransmitters can also communicate with other cellular components such as the immune cells in the TME to promote cancer growth. In this review, we will summarize the pleiotropic effects of neurotransmitters on the initiation and progression of PC, and particularly discuss the emerging mechanisms of how neurotransmitters influence the innate and adaptive immune responses in the TME in an autocrine or paracrine manner. A better understanding of the interplay between neurotransmitters and the immune cells in the TME might facilitate the development of new effective therapies for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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30
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Fuertes MB, Domaica CI, Zwirner NW. Leveraging NKG2D Ligands in Immuno-Oncology. Front Immunol 2021; 12:713158. [PMID: 34394116 PMCID: PMC8358801 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.713158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) revolutionized the field of immuno-oncology and opened new avenues towards the development of novel assets to achieve durable immune control of cancer. Yet, the presence of tumor immune evasion mechanisms represents a challenge for the development of efficient treatment options. Therefore, combination therapies are taking the center of the stage in immuno-oncology. Such combination therapies should boost anti-tumor immune responses and/or target tumor immune escape mechanisms, especially those created by major players in the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). Natural killer (NK) cells were recently positioned at the forefront of many immunotherapy strategies, and several new approaches are being designed to fully exploit NK cell antitumor potential. One of the most relevant NK cell-activating receptors is NKG2D, a receptor that recognizes 8 different NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL), including MICA and MICB. MICA and MICB are poorly expressed on normal cells but become upregulated on the surface of damaged, transformed or infected cells as a result of post-transcriptional or post-translational mechanisms and intracellular pathways. Their engagement of NKG2D triggers NK cell effector functions. Also, MICA/B are polymorphic and such polymorphism affects functional responses through regulation of their cell-surface expression, intracellular trafficking, shedding of soluble immunosuppressive isoforms, or the affinity of NKG2D interaction. Although immunotherapeutic approaches that target the NKG2D-NKG2DL axis are under investigation, several tumor immune escape mechanisms account for reduced cell surface expression of NKG2DL and contribute to tumor immune escape. Also, NKG2DL polymorphism determines functional NKG2D-dependent responses, thus representing an additional challenge for leveraging NKG2DL in immuno-oncology. In this review, we discuss strategies to boost MICA/B expression and/or inhibit their shedding and propose that combination strategies that target MICA/B with antibodies and strategies aimed at promoting their upregulation on tumor cells or at reprograming TAM into pro-inflammatory macrophages and remodeling of the TME, emerge as frontrunners in immuno-oncology because they may unleash the antitumor effector functions of NK cells and cytotoxic CD8 T cells (CTL). Pursuing several of these pipelines might lead to innovative modalities of immunotherapy for the treatment of a wide range of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Beatriz Fuertes
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Inés Domaica
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norberto Walter Zwirner
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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31
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Tonetti CR, de Souza-Araújo CN, Yoshida A, da Silva RF, Alves PCM, Mazzola TN, Derchain S, Fernandes LGR, Guimarães F. Ovarian Cancer-Associated Ascites Have High Proportions of Cytokine-Responsive CD56bright NK Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071702. [PMID: 34359872 PMCID: PMC8306021 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with serous histotype as the most prevalent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Peritoneal ascites is a frequent comorbidity in advanced EOC. EOC-associated ascites provide a reliable sampling source for studying lymphocytes directly from tumor environment. Herein, we carried out flow cytometry-based analysis to readdress issues on NK and T lymphocyte subsets in women with advanced EOC, additionally evaluating phenotypic modulation of their intracellular pathways involved in interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-15 signaling. Results depicted ascites as an inflammatory and immunosuppressive environment, presenting significantly (p < 0.0001) higher amounts of IL-6 and IL-10 than in the patients' blood, as well as significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of checkpoint inhibitory receptors (programmed death protein-1, PD-1) and ectonucleotidase (CD39) on T lymphocytes. However, NK lymphocytes from EOC-associated ascites showed higher (p < 0.05) pS6 phosphorylation compared with NK from blood. Additionally, in vitro treatment of lymphocytes with IL-2 or IL-15 elicited significantly (p < 0.001) phosphorylation of the STAT5 protein in NK, CD3 and CD8 lymphocytes, both from blood and ascites. EOC-associated ascites had a significantly (p < 0.0001) higher proportion of NK CD56bright lymphocytes than blood, which, in addition, were more responsive (p < 0.05) to stimulation by IL-2 than CD56dim NK. EOC-associated ascites allow studies on lymphocyte phenotype modulation in the tumor environment, where inflammatory profile contrasts with the presence of immunosuppressive elements and development of cellular self-regulating mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Rodrigues Tonetti
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Caroline Natânia de Souza-Araújo
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Adriana Yoshida
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
| | - Rodrigo Fernandes da Silva
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Paulo César Martins Alves
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (P.C.M.A.); (T.N.M.)
| | - Taís Nitsch Mazzola
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (P.C.M.A.); (T.N.M.)
| | - Sophie Derchain
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
| | - Luís Gustavo Romani Fernandes
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Fernando Guimarães
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-(19)-35219462
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32
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Angiogenic Properties of NK Cells in Cancer and Other Angiogenesis-Dependent Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071621. [PMID: 34209508 PMCID: PMC8303392 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of many serious diseases, including cancer, is closely related to disturbances in the angiogenesis process. Angiogenesis is essential for the progression of tumor growth and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has immunosuppressive properties, which contribute to tumor expansion and angiogenesis. Similarly, the uterine microenvironment (UME) exerts a tolerogenic (immunosuppressive) and proangiogenic effect on its cells, promoting implantation and development of the embryo and placenta. In the TME and UME natural killer (NK) cells, which otherwise are capable of killing target cells autonomously, enter a state of reduced cytotoxicity or anergy. Both TME and UME are rich with factors (e.g., TGF-β, glycodelin, hypoxia), which support a conversion of NK cells to the low/non-cytotoxic, proangiogenic CD56brightCD16low phenotype. It is plausible that the phenomenon of acquiring proangiogenic and low cytotoxic features by NK cells is not only limited to cancer but is a common feature of different angiogenesis-dependent diseases (ADDs). In this review, we will discuss the role of NK cells in angiogenesis disturbances associated with cancer and other selected ADDs. Expanding the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis and its disorders contributes to a better understanding of ADDs and may have therapeutic implications.
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Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes F. New horizons for natural killer cell research in cancer, infection and inflammation. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1275. [PMID: 33959280 PMCID: PMC8080282 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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