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Fan C, Xing X, Murphy SJH, Poursine-Laurent J, Schmidt H, Parikh BA, Yoon J, Choudhary MNK, Saligrama N, Piersma SJ, Yokoyama WM, Wang T. Cis-regulatory evolution of the recently expanded Ly49 gene family. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4839. [PMID: 38844462 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48990-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics has revealed the rapid expansion of multiple gene families involved in immunity. Members within each gene family often evolved distinct roles in immunity. However, less is known about the evolution of their epigenome and cis-regulation. Here we systematically profile the epigenome of the recently expanded murine Ly49 gene family that mainly encode either inhibitory or activating surface receptors on natural killer cells. We identify a set of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for activating Ly49 genes. In addition, we show that in mice, inhibitory and activating Ly49 genes are regulated by two separate sets of proximal CREs, likely resulting from lineage-specific losses of CRE activity. Furthermore, we find that some Ly49 genes are cross-regulated by the CREs of other Ly49 genes, suggesting that the Ly49 family has begun to evolve a concerted cis-regulatory mechanism. Collectively, we demonstrate the different modes of cis-regulatory evolution for a rapidly expanding gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxu Fan
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Samuel J H Murphy
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer Poursine-Laurent
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Heather Schmidt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Bijal A Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Mayank N K Choudhary
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Naresha Saligrama
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Wayne M Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
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2
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Aghakhani A, Pezeshki PS, Rezaei N. The role of extracellular vesicles in immune cell exhaustion and resistance to immunotherapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38795060 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2360209] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound nanoparticles for intercellular communication. Subtypes of EVs, namely exosomes and microvesicles transfer diverse, bioactive cargo to their target cells and eventually interfere with immune responses. Despite being a promising approach, cancer immunotherapy currently faces several challenges including immune resistance. EVs secreted from various sources in the tumor microenvironment provoke immune cell exhaustion and lower the efficacy of immunological treatments, such as CAR T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors. AREAS COVERED This article goes through the mechanisms of action of various types of EVs in inhibiting immune response and immunotherapies, and provides a comprehensive review of EV-based treatments. EXPERT OPINION By making use of the distinctive features of EVs, natural or modified EVs are innovatively utilized as novel cancer therapeutics. They are occasionally coupled with currently established treatments to overcome their inadequacies. Investigating the properties and interactions of EVs and EV-based treatments is crucial for determining future steps in cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Aghakhani
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- International Hematology/Oncology of Pediatrics Experts (IHOPE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Parmida Sadat Pezeshki
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- International Hematology/Oncology of Pediatrics Experts (IHOPE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Yang K, Lu R, Mei J, Cao K, Zeng T, Hua Y, Huang X, Li W, Yin Y. The war between the immune system and the tumor - using immune biomarkers as tracers. Biomark Res 2024; 12:51. [PMID: 38816871 PMCID: PMC11137916 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00599-5] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, immunotherapy is one of the most promising anti-tumor therapeutic strategy. Specifically, immune-related targets can be used to predict the efficacy and side effects of immunotherapy and monitor the tumor immune response. In the past few decades, increasing numbers of novel immune biomarkers have been found to participate in certain links of the tumor immunity to contribute to the formation of immunosuppression and have entered clinical trials. Here, we systematically reviewed the oncogenesis and progression of cancer in the view of anti-tumor immunity, particularly in terms of tumor antigen expression (related to tumor immunogenicity) and tumor innate immunity to complement the cancer-immune cycle. From the perspective of integrated management of chronic cancer, we also appraised emerging factors affecting tumor immunity (including metabolic, microbial, and exercise-related markers). We finally summarized the clinical studies and applications based on immune biomarkers. Overall, immune biomarkers participate in promoting the development of more precise and individualized immunotherapy by predicting, monitoring, and regulating tumor immune response. Therefore, targeting immune biomarkers may lead to the development of innovative clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Rongrong Lu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Kai Cao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Tianyu Zeng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Yijia Hua
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Huang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
| | - Yongmei Yin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
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Roe K. Immunoregulatory natural killer cells. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 558:117896. [PMID: 38583553 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
This review discusses a broader scope of functional roles for NK cells. Despite the well-known cytolytic and inflammatory roles of NK cells against tumors and pathogenic diseases, extensive evidence demonstrates certain subsets of NK cells have defacto immunoregulatory effects and have a role in inducing anergy or lysis of antigen-activated T cells and regulating several autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests certain subsets of immunoregulatory NK cells can cause anergy or lysis of antigen-activated T cells to regulate hyperinflammatory diseases, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Several pathogens induce T cell and NK cell exhaustion and/or suppression, which impair the immune system's control of the replication speed of virulent pathogens and tumors and result in extensive antigens and antigen-antibody immune complexes, potentially inducing to some extent a Type III hypersensitivity immune reaction. The Type III hypersensitivity immune reaction induces immune cell secretion of proteinases, which can cleave specific proteins to create autoantigens which activate T cells to initiate autoimmune and/or hyperinflammatory diseases. Furthermore, pathogen induced NK cell exhaustion and/or suppression will inhibit NK cells which would have induced the anergy or lysis of activated T cells to regulate autoimmune and hyperinflammatory diseases. Autoimmune and hyperinflammatory diseases can be consequences of the dual lymphocyte exhaustion and/or suppression effects during infections, by creating autoimmune and/or hyperinflammatory diseases, while also impairing immunoregulatory lymphocytes which otherwise would have regulated these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Roe
- Retired USPTO, San Jose, CA, United States of America.
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Serafini B, Benincasa L, Rosicarelli B, Aloisi F. EBV infected cells in the multiple sclerosis brain express PD-L1: How the virus and its niche may escape immune surveillance. J Neuroimmunol 2024; 389:578314. [PMID: 38422689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The presence of EBV infected B cells in postmortem multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue suggests immune evasion strategies. Using immunohistochemical techniques we analysed the expression of the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 and its receptor PD-1 in MS brains containing B cell-enriched perivascular infiltrates and meningeal follicles, a major EBV reservoir. PD-1 and PD-L1 immunoreactivities were restricted to CNS-infiltrating immune cells. PD-L1 was expressed on B cells, including EBV infected B cells, while PD-1 was expressed on many CD8+ T cells, including EBV-specific CD8+ T-cells, and fewer CD4+ T cells. PD-L1+ cells and EBV infected cells were in close contact with PD-1+ T cells. PD-L1 expressed by EBV infected B cells could favour local immune evasion leading to EBV persistence and immunopathology in the MS brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lucia Benincasa
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Barbara Rosicarelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Aloisi
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Zhang J, Ren Z, Hu Y, Shang S, Wang R, Ma J, Zhang Z, Wu M, Wang F, Yu J, Chen D. High HPK1 +PD-1 +TIM-3 +CD8 + T cells infiltration predicts poor prognosis to immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 127:111363. [PMID: 38101218 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
At present the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains limited. The lack of responsiveness in certain patients may be attributed to CD8+ T cell exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) has been identified as a mediator of T cell dysfunction, leading to our hypothesis that HPK1 positive exhausted CD8+ T cells could serve as a predictor for ICIs' efficacy in NSCLC patients, and potentially indicate key cellular subset causing ICIs resistance. Here, we retrospectively collected tumor tissue samples from 36 NSCLC patients who underwent first-line immunotherapy. Using multiplex immunohistochemistry, we visualized various PD-1+CD8+ T cell subsets and explore biomarkers for response. The analysis endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), correlating them with levels of cell infiltration or effective density. We found that the proportion of PD-1+CD8+ T cell subsets did not align with predictions for ORR, PFS, and OS. Conversely, a high infiltration of HPK1+PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ T cells was identified as an independent risk factor for both PFS (P = 0.019) and OS (P = 0.03). These cells were found to express the highest levels of Granzyme B, and the secretion of Granzyme B in CD8+ T cell subsets was related to TCF-1. In conclusion, these data suggest that a high infiltration of HPK1+PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ T cells correlates with poor clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy. These cells may represent terminally exhausted T cells that fail to respond to ICIs, thereby laying the groundwork for the potential integration of HPK1 inhibitors with immunotherapy to enhance treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxin Zhang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ziyuan Ren
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yun Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shijie Shang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ruiyang Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiachun Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zengfu Zhang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Dawei Chen
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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7
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Barshidi A, Ardeshiri K, Ebrahimi F, Alian F, Shekarchi AA, Hojjat-Farsangi M, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The role of exhausted natural killer cells in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of leukemia. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:59. [PMID: 38254135 PMCID: PMC10802000 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01428-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune responses to cancer cells involve both innate and acquired immune cells. In the meantime, the most attention has been drawn to the adaptive immune cells, especially T cells, while, it is now well known that the innate immune cells, especially natural killer (NK) cells, play a vital role in defending against malignancies. While the immune cells are trying to eliminate malignant cells, cancer cells try to prevent the function of these cells and suppress immune responses. The suppression of NK cells in various cancers can lead to the induction of an exhausted phenotype in NK cells, which will impair their function. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence of this phenotype in various types of leukemic malignancies can affect the prognosis of the disease, and targeting these cells may be considered a new immunotherapy method in the treatment of leukemia. Therefore, a detailed study of exhausted NK cells in leukemic diseases can help both to understand the mechanisms of leukemia progression and to design new treatment methods by creating a deeper understanding of these cells. Here, we will comprehensively review the immunobiology of exhausted NK cells and their role in various leukemic malignancies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asal Barshidi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Keivan Ardeshiri
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farbod Ebrahimi
- Nanoparticle Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Alian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shekarchi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Motallebnejad P, Kantardjieff A, Cichocki F, Azarin SM, Hu WS. Process engineering of natural killer cell-based immunotherapy. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1314-1326. [PMID: 37142447 PMCID: PMC10523923 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy offers the potential for curative treatment of cancers. Although T cells have been the predominantly used cell type, natural killer (NK) cells have attracted great attention owing to their ability to kill cancer cells and because they are naturally suitable for allogeneic applications. Upon stimulation by cytokines or activation by a target cell, NK cells proliferate and expand their population. These cytotoxic NK cells can be cryopreserved and used as an off-the-shelf medicine. The production process for NK cells thus differs from that of autologous cell therapies. We briefly outline key biological features of NK cells, review the manufacturing technologies for protein biologics, and discuss their adaptation for developing robust NK cell biomanufacturing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Motallebnejad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Samira M Azarin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Wei-Shou Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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Zhang Z, Deng C, Zhu P, Yao D, Shi J, Zeng T, Huang W, Huang Z, Wu Z, Li J, Xiao M, Fu L. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals a microenvironment and an exhaustion state of T/NK cells in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3873-3883. [PMID: 37591615 PMCID: PMC10551605 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous blood cancer. Effective immunotherapies for AML are hindered by a lack of understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we retrieved published single-cell RNA sequencing data for 128,688 cells derived from 29 bone marrow aspirates, including 21 AML patients and eight healthy donors. We established a global tumor ecosystem including nine main cell types. Myeloid, T, and NK cells were further re-clustered and annotated. Developmental trajectory analysis indicated that exhausted CD8+ T cells might develop via tissue residual memory T cells (TRM) in the AML TME. Significantly higher expression levels of exhaustion molecules in AML TRM cells suggested that these cells were influenced by the TME and entered an exhausted state. Meanwhile, the upregulation of checkpoint molecules and downregulation of granzyme were also observed in AML NK cells, suggesting an exhaustion state. In conclusion, our comprehensive profiling of T/NK subpopulations provides deeper insights into the AML immunosuppressive ecosystem, which is critical for immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Zhang
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Cong Deng
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Pei Zhu
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Danlin Yao
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jinlong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Tiansheng Zeng
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Huang
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Zeyong Huang
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Zhihua Wu
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Junyi Li
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Min Xiao
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Lin Fu
- Department of HematologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated HospitalGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
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10
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Sanchez MB, Vasconcelos Cordoba B, Pavlovsky C, Moiraghi B, Varela A, Custidiano R, Fernandez I, Freitas MJ, Ventriglia MV, Bendek G, Mariano R, Mela Osorio MJ, Pavlovsky MA, García de Labanca A, Foncuberta C, Giere I, Vera M, Juni M, Mordoh J, Sanchez Avalos JC, Levy EM, Bianchini M. In-depth characterization of NK cell markers from CML patients who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1241600. [PMID: 37818372 PMCID: PMC10561287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1241600] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Treatment-free remission (TFR) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase is considered a safe option if suitable molecular monitoring is available. However, the question arises as to which factors can contribute to the maintenance of TFR, and immunologic surveillance of the remaining leukemic cells is believed to be one of them. Argentina Stop Trial is an open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial assessing TFR after tyrosine kinase inhibitors interruption, that after more than 4 years showed a successful TFR rate of 63%. Methods In this context, we set up an immunological study by flow cytometry in order to analyze specific NK cell subsets from peripheral blood patient samples both at the time of discontinuation as well as during the subsequent months. Results At the time of discontinuation, patients show a mature NK cell phenotype, probably associated to TKI treatment. However, 3 months after discontinuation, significant changes in several NK cell receptors occurred. Patients with a higher proportion of CD56dim NK and PD-1+ NK cells showed better chances of survival. More interestingly, non-relapsing patients also presented a subpopulation of NK cells with features associated with the expansion after cytomegalovirus infection (expression of CD57+NKG2C+), and higher proportion of NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors, which resulted in greater degranulation and associated with better survival (p<0.0001). Discussion This NK cell subset could have a protective role in patients who do not relapse, thus further characterization could be useful for patients in sustained deep molecular response.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bianca Vasconcelos Cordoba
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Pavlovsky
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Moiraghi
- Hematology Department, Hospital José María Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Varela
- Hematology Department, Hospital José María Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosario Custidiano
- Hematology Department, Instituto Alexander Fleming, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isolda Fernandez
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Georgina Bendek
- Hematology Department, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Mariano
- Hematology Department, Hospital San Martín, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - María José Mela Osorio
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miguel Arturo Pavlovsky
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Cecilia Foncuberta
- Hematology Department, Instituto Alexander Fleming, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabel Giere
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Masiel Vera
- Hematology Department, Instituto Alexander Fleming, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Juni
- Hematology Department, Fundación para combatir la leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Mordoh
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Estrella Mariel Levy
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Michele Bianchini
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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11
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Kent A, Crump LS, Davila E. Beyond αβ T cells: NK, iNKT, and γδT cell biology in leukemic patients and potential for off-the-shelf adoptive cell therapies for AML. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1202950. [PMID: 37654497 PMCID: PMC10465706 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1202950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains an elusive disease to treat, let alone cure, even after highly intensive therapies such as stem cell transplants. Adoptive cell therapeutic strategies based on conventional alpha beta (αβ)T cells are an active area of research in myeloid neoplasms given their remarkable success in other hematologic malignancies, particularly B-cell-derived acute lymphoid leukemia, myeloma, and lymphomas. Several limitations have hindered clinical application of adoptive cell therapies in AML including lack of leukemia-specific antigens, on-target-off-leukemic toxicity, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and leukemic stem cell populations elusive to immune recognition and destruction. While there are promising T cell-based therapies including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T designs under development, other cytotoxic lymphocyte cell subsets have unique phenotypes and capabilities that might be of additional benefit in AML treatment. Of particular interest are the natural killer (NK) and unconventional T cells known as invariant natural killer T (iNKT) and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. NK, iNKT, and γδT cells exhibit intrinsic anti-malignant properties, potential for alloreactivity, and human leukocyte-antigen (HLA)-independent function. Here we review the biology of each of these unconventional cytotoxic lymphocyte cell types and compare and contrast their strengths and limitations as the basis for adoptive cell therapies for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kent
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | - Eduardo Davila
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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12
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Shang QN, Yu XX, Xu ZL, Chen YH, Han TT, Zhang YY, Lv M, Sun YQ, Wang Y, Xu LP, Zhang XH, Zhao XY, Huang XJ. Expanded clinical-grade NK cells exhibit stronger effects than primary NK cells against HCMV infection. Cell Mol Immunol 2023:10.1038/s41423-023-01046-5. [PMID: 37291236 PMCID: PMC10387476 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a common complication and leads to high mortality in patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Early natural killer (NK) cell reconstitution may protect against the development of human CMV (HCMV) infection post-HSCT. Our previous data showed that ex vivo mbIL21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cells exhibited high cytotoxicity against leukemia cells. Nevertheless, whether expanded NK cells have stronger anti-HCMV function is unknown. Herein, we compared the anti-HCMV functions of ex vivo expanded NK cells and primary NK cells. Expanded NK cells showed higher expression of activating receptors, chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules; stronger cytotoxicity against HCMV-infected fibroblasts; and better inhibition of HCMV propagation in vitro than primary NK cells. In HCMV-infected humanized mice, expanded NK cell infusion resulted in higher NK cell persistence and more effective tissue HCMV elimination than primary NK cell infusion. A clinical cohort of 20 post-HSCT patients who underwent adoptive NK cell infusion had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of HCMV infection (HR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.32-0.93, p = 0.042) and refractory HCMV infection (HR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18-0.65, p = 0.009) than controls and better NK cell reconstitution on day 30 post NK cell infusion. In conclusion, expanded NK cells exhibit stronger effects than primary NK cells against HCMV infection both in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Nan Shang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xing-Xing Yu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng-Li Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ting-Ting Han
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Lv
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Qian Sun
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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13
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Hojjatipour T, Maali A, Azad M. Natural killer cell epigenetic reprogramming in tumors and potential for cancer immunotherapy. Epigenomics 2023; 15:249-266. [PMID: 37125432 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical members of the innate lymphoid cell population and have a pivotal role in cancer eradication. NK cell maturation, development and function are tightly regulated by epigenetic modifications, which can also be recruited for cancer propagation and immune escape. NK cells have the potential to be activated against tumors through several epigenetic regulators. Given that epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible, focusing on aberrant epigenetic regulations recruited by tumor cells provides a tremendous opportunity for cancer treatment. This review presents a comprehensive picture of NK cell normal epigenetic regulation and cancer-driven epigenetic modifications. From our perspective, a better understanding of epigenetic regulators that can edit and revise NK cells' activity is a promising avenue for NK cell-based therapy in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology & Blood Transfusion, Students Research Center, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehdi Azad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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14
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Berrien-Elliott MM, Jacobs MT, Fehniger TA. Allogeneic natural killer cell therapy. Blood 2023; 141:856-868. [PMID: 36416736 PMCID: PMC10023727 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in adoptive cell therapy for treating cancer is exploding owing to early clinical successes of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocyte therapy. However, limitations using T cells and autologous cell products are apparent as they (1) take weeks to generate, (2) utilize a 1:1 donor-to-patient model, (3) are expensive, and (4) are prone to heterogeneity and manufacturing failures. CAR T cells are also associated with significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and prolonged cytopenias. To overcome these issues, natural killer (NK) cells are being explored as an alternative cell source for allogeneic cell therapies. NK cells have an inherent ability to recognize cancers, mediate immune functions of killing and communication, and do not induce graft-versus-host disease, cytokine release syndrome, or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. NK cells can be obtained from blood or cord blood or be derived from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, and can be expanded and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf availability. The first wave of point-of-care NK cell therapies led to the current allogeneic NK cell products being investigated in clinical trials with promising preliminary results. Basic advances in NK cell biology and cellular engineering have led to new translational strategies to block inhibition, enhance and broaden target cell recognition, optimize functional persistence, and provide stealth from patients' immunity. This review details NK cell biology, as well as NK cell product manufacturing, engineering, and combination therapies explored in the clinic leading to the next generation of potent, off-the-shelf cellular therapies for blood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam T. Jacobs
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Todd A. Fehniger
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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15
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Secchiari F, Nuñez SY, Sierra JM, Ziblat A, Regge MV, Raffo Iraolagoitia XL, Rovegno A, Ameri C, Secin FP, Richards N, Ríos Pita H, Vitagliano G, Rico L, Mieggi M, Frascheri F, Bonanno N, Blas L, Trotta A, Friedrich AD, Fuertes MB, Domaica CI, Zwirner NW. The MICA-NKG2D axis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma bolsters MICA as target in immuno-oncology. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2104991. [PMID: 35936986 PMCID: PMC9354769 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2104991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
NKG2D is a major natural killer (NK) cell-activating receptor that recognizes eight ligands (NKG2DLs), including MICA, and whose engagement triggers NK cell effector functions. As NKG2DLs are upregulated on tumor cells but tumors can subvert the NKG2D-NKG2DL axis, NKG2DLs constitute attractive targets for antibody (Ab)-based immuno-oncology therapies. However, such approaches require a deep characterization of NKG2DLs and NKG2D cell surface expression on primary tumor and immune cells. Here, using a bioinformatic analysis, we observed that MICA is overexpressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and we also detected an association between the NKG2D-MICA axis and a diminished overall survival of RCC patients. Also, by flow cytometry (FC), we observed that MICA was the only NKG2DL over-expressed on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumor cells, including cancer stem cells (CSC) that also coexpressed NKG2D. Moreover, tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TIL), but not peripheral blood lymphoid cells (PBL) from ccRCC patients, over-expressed MICA, ULBP3 and ULBP4. In addition, NKG2D was downregulated on peripheral blood NK cells (PBNK) from ccRCC patients but upregulated on tumor-infiltrating NK cells (TINK). These TINK exhibited impaired degranulation that negatively correlated with NKG2D expression, diminished IFN-γ production, upregulation of TIM-3, and an impaired glucose intake upon stimulation with cytokines, indicating that they are dysfunctional, display features of exhaustion and an altered metabolic fitness. We conclude that ccRCC patients exhibit a distorted MICA-NKG2D axis, and MICA emerges as the forefront NKG2DL for the development of targeted therapies in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Secchiari
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Sol Yanel Nuñez
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Jessica Mariel Sierra
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Andrea Ziblat
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - María Victoria Regge
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Ximena Lucía Raffo Iraolagoitia
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Agustín Rovegno
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | - Carlos Ameri
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Pablo Secin
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | - Nicolás Richards
- Servicio de Urología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC)
| | | | | | - Luis Rico
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Mieggi
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Nicolás Bonanno
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Blas
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aldana Trotta
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Adrián David Friedrich
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Mercedes Beatriz Fuertes
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Carolina Inés Domaica
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Norberto Walter Zwirner
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Leveraging Natural Killer Cell Innate Immunity against Hematologic Malignancies: From Stem Cell Transplant to Adoptive Transfer and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010204. [PMID: 36613644 PMCID: PMC9820370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous recent advancements in T-cell based immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies. In the race towards the first approved allogeneic cellular therapy product, there is growing interest in utilizing natural killer (NK) cells as a platform for off-the-shelf cellular therapies due to their scalable manufacturing potential, potent anti-tumor efficacy, and superior safety profile. Allogeneic NK cell therapies are now being actively explored in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and adoptive transfer. Increasingly sophisticated gene editing techniques have permitted the engineering of chimeric antigen receptors, ectopic cytokine expression, and tumor recognition signals to improve the overall cytotoxicity of NK cell therapies. Furthermore, the enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity has been achieved through the use of NK cell engagers and combination regimens with monoclonal antibodies that act synergistically with CD16-expressing NK cells. Finally, a greater understanding of NK cell biology and the mechanisms of resistance have allowed the preclinical development of NK checkpoint blockade and methods to modulate the tumor microenvironment, which have been evaluated in early phase trials. This review will discuss the recent clinical advancements in NK cell therapies in hematologic malignancies as well as promising avenues of future research.
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17
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Seliger B, Koehl U. Underlying mechanisms of evasion from NK cells as rational for improvement of NK cell-based immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:910595. [PMID: 36045670 PMCID: PMC9422402 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the family of innate immune cells with the capacity to recognize and kill tumor cells. Different phenotypes and functional properties of NK cells have been described in tumor patients, which could be shaped by the tumor microenvironment. The discovery of HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors controlling NK cell activity paved the way to the fundamental concept of modulating immune responses that are regulated by an array of inhibitory receptors, and emphasized the importance to explore the potential of NK cells in cancer therapy. Although a whole range of NK cell-based approaches are currently being developed, there are still major challenges that need to be overcome for improved efficacy of these therapies. These include escape of tumor cells from NK cell recognition due to their expression of inhibitory molecules, immune suppressive signals of NK cells, reduced NK cell infiltration of tumors, an immune suppressive micromilieu and limited in vivo persistence of NK cells. Therefore, this review provides an overview about the NK cell biology, alterations of NK cell activities, changes in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment contributing to immune escape or immune surveillance by NK cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms as well as the current status and novel aspects of NK cell-based therapeutic strategies including their genetic engineering and their combination with conventional treatment options to overcome tumor-mediated evasion strategies and improve therapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Barbara Seliger,
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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18
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Xu Y, Li P, Liu Y, Xin D, Lei W, Liang A, Han W, Qian W. Epi-immunotherapy for cancers: rationales of epi-drugs in combination with immunotherapy and advances in clinical trials. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 42:493-516. [PMID: 35642676 PMCID: PMC9198339 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, several epi-drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapies have received clinical approval for use in certain types of cancer. However, monotherapy with epi-drugs or ICIs has shown limited efficacy in most cancer patients. Epigenetic agents have been shown to regulate the crosstalk between the tumor and host immunity to alleviate immune evasion, suggesting that epi-drugs can potentially synergize with immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss recent insights into the rationales of incorporating epigenetic therapy into immunotherapy, called epi-immunotherapy, and focus on an update of current clinical trials in both hematological and solid malignancies. Furthermore, we outline the future challenges and strategies in the field of cancer epi-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Hematologythe Second Affiliated HospitalCollege of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of HematologyTongji Hospital of Tongji UniversityShanghai200065P. R. China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Bio‐Therapeuticthe First Medical CentreChinese PLA General HospitalBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Dijia Xin
- Department of Hematologythe Second Affiliated HospitalCollege of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Wen Lei
- Department of Hematologythe Second Affiliated HospitalCollege of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Aibin Liang
- Department of HematologyTongji Hospital of Tongji UniversityShanghai200065P. R. China
| | - Weidong Han
- Department of Bio‐Therapeuticthe First Medical CentreChinese PLA General HospitalBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Wenbin Qian
- Department of Hematologythe Second Affiliated HospitalCollege of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
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Ranti D, Bieber C, Wang YS, Sfakianos JP, Horowitz A. Natural killer cells: unlocking new treatments for bladder cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:698-710. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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20
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Luo OJ, Lei W, Zhu G, Ren Z, Xu Y, Xiao C, Zhang H, Cai J, Luo Z, Gao L, Su J, Tang L, Guo W, Su H, Zhang ZJ, Fang EF, Ruan Y, Leng SX, Ju Z, Lou H, Gao J, Peng N, Chen J, Bao Z, Liu F, Chen G. Multidimensional single-cell analysis of human peripheral blood reveals characteristic features of the immune system landscape in aging and frailty. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:348-364. [PMID: 37117750 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00198-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Frailty is an intermediate status of the human aging process, associated with decompensated homeostasis and death. The immune phenotype of frailty and its underlying cellular and molecular processes remain poorly understood. We profiled 114,467 immune cells from cord blood, young adults and healthy and frail old adults using single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing. Here we show an age-dependent accumulation of transcriptome heterogeneity and variability in immune cells. Characteristic transcription factors were identified in given cell types of specific age groups. Trajectory analysis revealed cells from non-frail and frail old adults often fall into distinct paths. Numerous TCR clonotypes were shared among T-cell subtypes in old adults, indicating differential pluripotency and resilience capabilities of aged T cells. A frailty-specific monocyte subset was identified with exclusively high expression of long noncoding RNAs NEAT1 and MALAT1. Our study discovers human frailty-specific immune cell characteristics based on the comprehensive dimensions in the immune landscape of aging and frailty.
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21
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Ruppel KE, Fricke S, Köhl U, Schmiedel D. Taking Lessons from CAR-T Cells and Going Beyond: Tailoring Design and Signaling for CAR-NK Cells in Cancer Therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:822298. [PMID: 35371071 PMCID: PMC8971283 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.822298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies utilize the capabilities of the immune system to efficiently target malignant cells. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) equipped T cells showed promising results against B cell lymphomas. Autologous CAR-T cells require patient-specific manufacturing and thus extensive production facilities, resulting in high priced therapies. Along with potentially severe side effects, these are the major drawbacks of CAR-T cells therapies. Natural Killer (NK) cells pose an alternative for CAR equipped immune cells. Since NK cells can be safely transferred from healthy donors to cancer patients, they present a suitable platform for an allogeneic “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy. However, administration of activated NK cells in cancer therapy has until now shown poor anti-cancer responses, especially in solid tumors. Genetic modifications such as CARs promise to enhance recognition of tumor cells, thereby increasing anti-tumor effects and improving clinical efficacy. Although the cell biology of T and NK cells deviates in many aspects, the development of CAR-NK cells frequently follows within the footsteps of CAR-T cells, meaning that T cell technologies are simply adopted to NK cells. In this review, we underline the unique properties of NK cells and their potential in CAR therapies. First, we summarize the characteristics of NK cell biology with a focus on signaling, a fine-tuned interaction of activating and inhibitory receptors. We then discuss why tailored NK cell-specific CAR designs promise superior efficacy compared to designs developed for T cells. We summarize current findings and developments in the CAR-NK landscape: different CAR formats and modifications to optimize signaling, to target a broader pool of antigens or to increase in vivo persistence. Finally, we address challenges beyond NK cell engineering, including expansion and manufacturing, that need to be addressed to pave the way for CAR-NK therapies from the bench to the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Eva Ruppel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmiedel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Dominik Schmiedel,
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22
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Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) and the development of specific blockers to relieve immune effector cells from this inhibiting mechanism has changed the view of anti-cancer therapy. In addition to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death 1 (PD1), classical ICs of T lymphocytes and recently described also on a fraction of natural killer (NK) cells, several NK cell receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors (KIRs) and NGK2A, have been recognized as checkpoint members typical of the NK cell population. This offers the opportunity of a dual-checkpoint inhibition approach, targeting classical and non-classical ICs and leading to a synergistic therapeutic effect. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the most relevant candidates for this role among the variety of potential NK ICs. Beside listing and defining classical ICs expressed also by NK cells, or non-classical ICs either on T or on NK cells, we will address their role in NK cell survival, chronic stimulation or functional exhaustion, and the potential relevance of this phenomenon on anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, NK ICs will be proposed as possible new targets for the development of efficient combined immunotherapy, not forgetting the relevant concerns that may be raised on NK IC blockade. Finally, the impact of epigenetic drugs in such a complex therapeutic picture will be briefly addressed.
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23
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Roe K. NK-Cell Exhaustion, B-Cell Exhaustion and T-Cell Exhaustion - the Differences and Similarities. Immunology 2022; 166:155-168. [PMID: 35266556 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell exhaustion has been extensively researched, compared to B-cell exhaustion and NK-cell exhaustion, which have received considerably less attention; and there is less of a consensus on the precise definitions of NK-cell and B-cell exhaustion. NK-cell exhaustion, B-cell exhaustion and T-cell exhaustion are examples of lymphocyte exhaustion, and they have several differences and similarities. Lymphocyte exhaustion is also frequently confused with anergy, cellular senescence and suppression, because these conditions can have significant overlapping similarities with exhaustion. An additional source of confusion is due to the fact that lymphocyte exhaustion is not a binary state, but instead has a spectrum of severity induced by different levels and durations of continuous antigenic stimulation. Concurrent multiple types of lymphocyte exhaustion are possible, and this situation is henceforth called poly-lymphocyte exhaustion. Poly-lymphocyte exhaustion for the same cancer or pathogen would be especially dangerous. Since there are significant advantages for a pathogen by inducing poly-lymphocyte exhaustion in an immune system, there are pathogens with an evolved capability to induce poly-lymphocyte exhaustion. These pathogens may include certain manipulative viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Roe
- Retired, San Jose, California, United States of America
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24
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Sorrentino C, D'Antonio L, Fieni C, Ciummo SL, Di Carlo E. Colorectal Cancer-Associated Immune Exhaustion Involves T and B Lymphocytes and Conventional NK Cells and Correlates With a Shorter Overall Survival. Front Immunol 2022; 12:778329. [PMID: 34975867 PMCID: PMC8716410 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.778329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide, with a growing impact on public health and clinical management. Immunotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of advanced cancers, but needs to be improved for CRC, since only a limited fraction of patients is eligible for treatment, and most of them develop resistance due to progressive immune exhaustion. Here, we identify the transcriptional, molecular, and cellular traits of the immune exhaustion associated with CRC and determine their relationships with the patient's clinic-pathological profile. Bioinformatic analyses of RNA-sequencing data of 594 CRCs from TCGA PanCancer collection, revealed that, in the wide range of immune exhaustion genes, those coding for PD-L1, LAG3 and T-bet were associated (Cramér's V=0.3) with MSI/dMMR tumors and with a shorter overall survival (log-rank test: p=0.0004, p=0.0014 and p=0.0043, respectively), whereas high levels of expression of EOMES, TRAF1, PD-L1, FCRL4, BTLA and SIGLEC6 were associated with a shorter overall survival (log-rank test: p=0.0003, p=0.0188, p=0.0004, p=0.0303, p=0.0052 and p=0.0033, respectively), independently from the molecular subtype of CRC. Expression levels of PD-L1, PD-1, LAG3, EOMES, T-bet, and TIGIT were significantly correlated with each other and associated with genes coding for CD4+ and CD8+CD3+ T cell markers and NKp46+CD94+EOMES+T-bet+ cell markers, (OR >1.5, p<0.05), which identify a subset of group 1 innate lymphoid cells, namely conventional (c)NK cells. Expression of TRAF1 and BTLA co-occurred with both T cell markers, CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε, CD4, and B cell markers, CD19, CD20 and CD79a (OR >2, p<0.05). Expression of TGFβ1 was associated only with CD4 + and CD8+CD3ε+ T cell markers (odds ratio >2, p<0.05). Expression of PD-L2 and IDO1 was associated (OR >1.5, p<0.05) only with cNK cell markers, whereas expression of FCRL4, SIGLEC2 and SIGLEC6 was associated (OR >2.5; p<0.05) with CD19+CD20+CD79a+ B cell markers. Morphometric examination of immunostained CRC tissue sections, obtained from a validation cohort of 53 CRC patients, substantiated the biostatistical findings, showing that the highest percentage of immune exhaustion gene expressing cells were found in tumors from short-term survivors and that functional exhaustion is not confined to T lymphocytes, but also involves B cells, and cNK cells. This concept was strengthened by CYBERSORTx analysis, which revealed the expression of additional immune exhaustion genes, in particular FOXP1, SIRT1, BATF, NR4A1 and TOX, by subpopulations of T, B and NK cells. This study provides novel insight into the immune exhaustion landscape of CRC and emphasizes the need for a customized multi-targeted therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Sorrentino
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luigi D'Antonio
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristiano Fieni
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefania Livia Ciummo
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Emma Di Carlo
- Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology and Immuno-Oncology Unit, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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25
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Michel T, Ollert M, Zimmer J. A Hot Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy and Natural Killer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020797. [PMID: 35054985 PMCID: PMC8776043 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in recent years, the therapeutic approach of the multiple different forms of human cancer often remains a challenge. Besides the well-established cancer surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapeutic strategies gain more and more attention, and some of them have already been successfully introduced into the clinic. Among these, immunotherapy based on natural killer (NK) cells is considered as one of the most promising options. In the present review, we will expose the different possibilities NK cells offer in this context, compare data about the theoretical background and mechanism(s) of action, report some results of clinical trials and identify several very recent trends. The pharmaceutical industry is quite interested in NK cell immunotherapy, which will benefit the speed of progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Michel
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (T.M.); (M.O.)
| | - Markus Ollert
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (T.M.); (M.O.)
- Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis (ORCA), Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Jacques Zimmer
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (T.M.); (M.O.)
- Correspondence:
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26
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Reevaluation of NOD/SCID Mice as NK Cell-Deficient Models. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:8851986. [PMID: 34805408 PMCID: PMC8598338 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8851986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective Natural killer (NK) cell-deficient mice are useful models in biomedical research. NOD/SCID mice have been used as a model of this type in research. However, the actual status of NK cells in NOD/SCID mice and CB17/SCID mice in comparison with that in BALB/c mice has not been sufficiently evaluated. Methods Splenocytes from naïve or poly(I:C)-treated mice were isolated for phenotyping and analysis of cytotoxicity-related molecules and inhibitory receptors; for cytotoxicity assay, purified NK cells were also used. Results The proportion of splenic NK cells did not differ significantly between NOD/SCID and CB17/SCID mice. The perforin levels in NK cells were similar between the poly(I:C)-treated CB17/SCID and NOD/SCID mice, while the granzyme B and NKG2A/C/E levels in NK cells from NOD/SCID mice were significantly lower than those from CB17/SCID mice. Moreover, the NKG2D and Ly49A levels in NK cells from NOD/SCID mice were higher than those from CB17/SCID. The splenocytes from CB17/SCID mice showed higher cytotoxicity than those from NOD/SCID mice, while the cytotoxicity of purified NK cells basically did not differ between the two strains. After in vitro stimulation with cytokines, the splenocytes from CB17/SCID mice showed higher IFN-γ production than those from NOD/SCID mice; however, NK cells did not. Conclusion There was no significant difference in the proportion of splenic NK cells between CB17/SCID and NOD/SCID mice, and the function of NK cells was only partially compromised in NOD/SCID mice. Caution should be taken when considering the use of NOD/SCID mice as an NK-deficient model.
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27
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Barnes SA, Trew I, de Jong E, Foley B. Making a Killer: Selecting the Optimal Natural Killer Cells for Improved Immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:765705. [PMID: 34777383 PMCID: PMC8578927 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.765705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 20 years natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies have emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia. Unlike T cell-based therapies, NK cells harbor an innate capacity to eliminate malignant cells without prior sensitization and can be adoptively transferred between individuals without the need for extensive HLA matching. A wide variety of therapeutic NK cell sources are currently being investigated clinically, including allogeneic donor-derived NK cells, stem cell-derived NK cells and NK cell lines. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that not all NK cells are endowed with the same antitumor potential. Despite advances in techniques to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity and persistence, the initial identification and utilization of highly functional NK cells remains essential to ensure the future success of adoptive NK cell therapies. Indeed, little consideration has been given to the identification and selection of donors who harbor NK cells with potent antitumor activity. In this regard, there is currently no standard donor selection criteria for adoptive NK cell therapy. Here, we review our current understanding of the factors which govern NK cell functional fate, and propose a paradigm shift away from traditional phenotypic characterization of NK cell subsets towards a functional profile based on molecular and metabolic characteristics. We also discuss previous selection models for NK cell-based immunotherapies and highlight important considerations for the selection of optimal NK cell donors for future adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha A Barnes
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Isabella Trew
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Emma de Jong
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Bree Foley
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
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28
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Janakiram M, Arora N, Bachanova V, Miller JS. Novel Cell and Immune Engagers in Optimizing Tumor- Specific Immunity Post-Autologous Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma. Transplant Cell Ther 2021; 28:61-69. [PMID: 34634499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an important component of treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). The post-ASCT setting offers a unique opportunity to increase myeloma specific immunity through enhancement of T and NK cell responses. The vast array of therapeutics being developed for MM, including cell-based therapies, dendritic vaccines, bispecific antibodies, and IL-15 agonists, provide the opportunity to increase tumor-specific immunity. Maintenance therapies, including immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and daratumumab, exhibit a significant anti-myeloma response by modulating the immune system. Lenalidomide promotes an antitumoral immune microenvironment, whereas daratumumab can potentially cause NK cell fratricide. Thus, understanding the effects of commonly used maintenance drugs on the immune system is important. In this review, we look at current and emerging therapeutics and their integration post-ASCT in the context of immune reconstitution to improve clinical responses in patients with MM. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali Janakiram
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Nivedita Arora
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Veronika Bachanova
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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29
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Zhang C, Röder J, Scherer A, Bodden M, Pfeifer Serrahima J, Bhatti A, Waldmann A, Müller N, Oberoi P, Wels WS. Bispecific antibody-mediated redirection of NKG2D-CAR natural killer cells facilitates dual targeting and enhances antitumor activity. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002980. [PMID: 34599028 PMCID: PMC8488744 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) is an activating receptor of natural killer (NK) cells and other lymphocytes that mediates lysis of malignant cells through recognition of stress-induced ligands such as MICA and MICB. Such ligands are broadly expressed by cancer cells of various origins and serve as targets for adoptive immunotherapy with effector cells endogenously expressing NKG2D or carrying an NKG2D-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). However, shedding or downregulation of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) can prevent NKG2D activation, resulting in escape of cancer cells from NKG2D-dependent immune surveillance. METHODS To enable tumor-specific targeting of NKG2D-expressing effector cells independent of membrane-anchored NKG2DLs, we generated a homodimeric recombinant antibody which harbors an N-terminal single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody domain for binding to NKG2D, linked via a human IgG4 Fc region to a second C-terminal scFv antibody domain for recognition of the tumor-associated antigen ErbB2 (HER2). The ability of this molecule, termed NKAB-ErbB2, to redirect NKG2D-expressing effector cells to ErbB2-positive tumor cells of different origins was investigated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells, ex vivo expanded NK cells, and NK and T cells engineered with an NKG2D-based chimeric receptor. RESULTS On its own, bispecific NKAB-ErbB2 increased lysis of ErbB2-positive breast carcinoma cells by peripheral blood-derived NK cells endogenously expressing NKG2D more effectively than an ErbB2-specific IgG1 mini-antibody able to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity via activation of CD16. Furthermore, NKAB-ErbB2 synergized with NK-92 cells or primary T cells engineered to express an NKG2D-CD3ζ chimeric antigen receptor (NKAR), leading to targeted cell killing and greatly enhanced antitumor activity, which remained unaffected by soluble MICA known as an inhibitor of NKG2D-mediated natural cytotoxicity. In an immunocompetent mouse glioblastoma model mimicking low or absent NKG2DL expression, the combination of NKAR-NK-92 cells and NKAB-ErbB2 effectively suppressed outgrowth of ErbB2-positive tumors, resulting in treatment-induced endogenous antitumor immunity and cures in the majority of animals. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that combining an NKAB antibody with effector cells expressing an activating NKAR receptor represents a powerful and versatile approach to simultaneously enhance tumor antigen-specific as well as NKG2D-CAR and natural NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity, which may be particularly useful to target tumors with heterogeneous target antigen expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhang
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jasmin Röder
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anne Scherer
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Malena Bodden
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Anita Bhatti
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anja Waldmann
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina Müller
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Pranav Oberoi
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt, Germany .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
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30
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Lee EHC, Wong DCP, Ding JL. NK Cells in a Tug-of-War With Cancer: The Roles of Transcription Factors and Cytoskeleton. Front Immunol 2021; 12:734551. [PMID: 34594338 PMCID: PMC8476995 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.734551] [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: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells which play a key role in shaping the immune response against cancer. Initially hailed for their potential to recognise and eliminate tumour cells, their application has been greatly hindered by the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) which suppresses NK functions (e.g., cytotoxicity). This dysfunctional state that is accompanied by phenotypic changes such as upregulation of inhibitory receptors and downregulation of activating receptors, forms the basis of what many researchers have referred to as ‘exhausted’ NK cells. However, there is no consensus on whether these phenotypes are sufficient to define an exhausted state of the NK cell. While recent advances in checkpoint inhibition appear to show promise in early-stage pre-clinical studies, much remains to be fully explored and understood in the context of the TME. The TME is where the NK cells are subjected to interaction with various cell types and soluble factors, which could exert an inhibitory effect on NK cytotoxicity. In this review, we provide an overview of the general markers of NK cell exhaustion viz, the surface activating and inhibitory receptors. We also highlight the potential role of T-box transcription factors in characterising such a dysfunctional state and discuss the often-overlooked mechanism of cell cytoskeletal dynamics in regulating NK cell function. These aspects may further contribute to NK exhaustion or NK revival in cancer and may open new avenues to explore cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hui Clarissa Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Darren Chen Pei Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeak Ling Ding
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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31
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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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Xia M, Wang B, Wang Z, Zhang X, Wang X. Epigenetic Regulation of NK Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672328. [PMID: 34017344 PMCID: PMC8129532 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical innate lymphocytes that can directly kill target cells without prior immunization. NK cell activation is controlled by the balance of multiple germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. NK cells are a heterogeneous and plastic population displaying a broad spectrum of functional states (resting, activating, memory, repressed, and exhausted). In this review, we present an overview of the epigenetic regulation of NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity, including DNA methylation, histone modification, transcription factor changes, and microRNA expression. NK cell-based immunotherapy has been recognized as a promising strategy to treat cancer. Since epigenetic alterations are reversible and druggable, these studies will help identify new ways to enhance NK cell-mediated antitumor cytotoxicity by targeting intrinsic epigenetic regulators alone or in combination with other strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaoran Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingbing Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xulong Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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