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DeVito NC, Nguyen YV, Sturdivant M, Plebanek MP, Howell K, Yarla N, Jain V, Aksu M, Beasley G, Theivanthiran B, Hanks BA. Gli2 Facilitates Tumor Immune Evasion and Immunotherapeutic Resistance by Coordinating Wnt Ligand and Prostaglandin Signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.31.587500. [PMID: 38617347 PMCID: PMC11014473 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.31.587500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint blockade has been commonly linked to the process of mesenchymal transformation (MT) and remains a prevalent obstacle across many cancer types. An improved mechanistic understanding for MT-mediated immune evasion promises to lead to more effective combination therapeutic regimens. Herein, we identify the Hedgehog transcription factor, Gli2, as a key node of tumor-mediated immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance during MT. Mechanistic studies reveal that Gli2 generates an immunotolerant tumor microenvironment through the upregulation of Wnt ligand production and increased prostaglandin synthesis. This pathway drives the recruitment, viability, and function of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) while also impairing type I conventional dendritic cell, CD8 + T cell, and NK cell functionality. Pharmacologic EP2/EP4 prostaglandin receptor inhibition and Wnt ligand inhibition each reverses a subset of these effects, while preventing primary and adaptive resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, respectively. A transcriptional Gli2 signature correlates with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in stage IV melanoma patients, providing a translational roadmap to direct combination immunotherapeutics in the clinic. SIGNIFICANCE Gli2-induced EMT promotes immune evasion and immunotherapeutic resistance via coordinated prostaglandin and Wnt signaling.
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Fowler EA, Amorim CF, Mostacada K, Yan A, Sacramento LA, Stanco RA, Hales EDS, Varkey A, Zong W, Wu GD, de Oliveira CI, Collins PL, Novais FO. Pathogenic CD8 T cell responses are driven by neutrophil-mediated hypoxia in cutaneous leishmaniasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.18.562926. [PMID: 37904953 PMCID: PMC10614852 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.562926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania parasites exhibits a wide range of clinical manifestations. Although parasites influence disease severity, cytolytic CD8 T cell responses mediate disease. While these responses originate in the lymph node, we find that expression of the cytolytic effector molecule granzyme B is restricted to lesional CD8 T cells in Leishmania - infected mice, suggesting that local cues within inflamed skin induce cytolytic function. Expression of Blimp-1 ( Prdm1 ), a transcription factor necessary for cytolytic CD8 T cell differentiation, is driven by hypoxia within the inflamed skin. Hypoxia is further enhanced by the recruitment of neutrophils that consume oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species, ultimately increasing granzyme B expression in CD8 T cells. Importantly, lesions from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients exhibit hypoxia transcription signatures that correlate with the presence of neutrophils. Thus, targeting hypoxia-driven signals that support local differentiation of cytolytic CD8 T cells may improve the prognosis for patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, as well as other inflammatory skin diseases where cytolytic CD8 T cells contribute to pathogenesis.
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Qu J, Jin J, Zhang M, Ng LG. Neutrophil diversity and plasticity: Implications for organ transplantation. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:993-1001. [PMID: 37386174 PMCID: PMC10468536 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01058-1] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils, as the first defenders against external microbes and stimuli, are highly active and finely regulated innate immune cells. Emerging evidence has challenged the conventional dogma that neutrophils are a homogeneous population with a short lifespan that promotes tissue damage. Recent findings on neutrophil diversity and plasticity in homeostatic and disease states have centered on neutrophils in the circulation. In contrast, a comprehensive understanding of tissue-specialized neutrophils in health and disease is still lacking. This article will first discuss how multiomics advances have contributed to our understanding of neutrophil heterogeneity and diversification in resting and pathological settings. This discussion will be followed by a focus on the heterogeneity and role of neutrophils in solid organ transplantation and how neutrophils may contribute to transplant-related complications. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the research on the involvement of neutrophils in transplantation, with the aim that this may draw attention to an underappreciated area of neutrophil research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Qu
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jingsi Jin
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Lai Guan Ng
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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Warde KM, Smith LJ, Liu L, Stubben CJ, Lohman BK, Willett PW, Ammer JL, Castaneda-Hernandez G, Imodoye SO, Zhang C, Jones KD, Converso-Baran K, Ekiz HA, Barry M, Clay MR, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Giordano TJ, Hammer GD, Basham KJ. Senescence-induced immune remodeling facilitates metastatic adrenal cancer in a sex-dimorphic manner. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:846-865. [PMID: 37231196 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00420-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging markedly increases cancer risk, yet our mechanistic understanding of how aging influences cancer initiation is limited. Here we demonstrate that the loss of ZNRF3, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling that is frequently mutated in adrenocortical carcinoma, leads to the induction of cellular senescence that remodels the tissue microenvironment and ultimately permits metastatic adrenal cancer in old animals. The effects are sexually dimorphic, with males exhibiting earlier senescence activation and a greater innate immune response, driven in part by androgens, resulting in high myeloid cell accumulation and lower incidence of malignancy. Conversely, females present a dampened immune response and increased susceptibility to metastatic cancer. Senescence-recruited myeloid cells become depleted as tumors progress, which is recapitulated in patients in whom a low myeloid signature is associated with worse outcomes. Our study uncovers a role for myeloid cells in restraining adrenal cancer with substantial prognostic value and provides a model for interrogating pleiotropic effects of cellular senescence in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Warde
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lorenzo J Smith
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lihua Liu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chris J Stubben
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Brian K Lohman
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Parker W Willett
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Julia L Ammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Sikiru O Imodoye
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chenge Zhang
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kara D Jones
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kimber Converso-Baran
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center Physiology and Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - H Atakan Ekiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Urla Izmir, Turkey
| | - Marc Barry
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Michael R Clay
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katja Kiseljak-Vassiliades
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Thomas J Giordano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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Ismail MMF, El-Awady RR, Farrag AM, Mahmoud SH, Abo Shama NM, Mostafa A, Ali MA, Rashed MH, Ibrahim IH. Potential role of PIM1 inhibition in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:65. [PMID: 37211584 PMCID: PMC10200336 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00520-x] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 infection involves disturbing multiple molecular pathways related to immunity and cellular functions. PIM1 is a serine/threonine-protein kinase found to be involved in the pathogenesis of several viral infections. One PIM1 substrate, Myc, was reported to interact with TMPRSS2, which is crucial for SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. PIM1 inhibitors were reported to have antiviral activity through multiple mechanisms related to immunity and proliferation. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral activity of 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 and its potential role in hindering the progression of COVID-19. It also aimed to assess PIM1 inhibitor's effect on the expression of several genes of Notch signaling and Wnt pathways. In vitro study was conducted on Vero-E6 cells infected by SARS-CoV-2 "NRC-03-nhCoV" virus. Protein-protein interaction of the study genes was assessed to evaluate their relation to cell proliferation and immunity. The effect of 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor treatment on viral load and mRNA expression of target genes was assessed at three time points. RESULTS Treatment with 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor showed potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (IC50 of 37.255 µg/ml), significantly lowering the viral load. Functional enrichments of the studied genes include negative regulation of growth rate, several biological processes involved in cell proliferation, and Interleukin-4 production, with interleukin-6 as a predicted functional partner. These results suggest an interplay between study genes with relation to cell proliferation and immunity. Following in vitro SARS-CoV-2 infection, Notch pathway genes, CTNNB1, SUMO1, and TDG, were found to be overexpressed compared to uninfected cells. Treatment with 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor significantly lowers the expression levels of study genes, restoring Notch1 and BCL9 to the control level while decreasing Notch2 and CTNNB1 below control levels. CONCLUSION 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor could hinder cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and modulate several pathways implicated in immunity, suggesting a potential benefit in the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda M. F. Ismail
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rehab R. El-Awady
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, 11884 Cairo Egypt
| | - Amal M. Farrag
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sara H. Mahmoud
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Noura M. Abo Shama
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohammed H. Rashed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Iman H. Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, 11884 Cairo Egypt
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6
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Topchyan P, Zander R, Kasmani MY, Nguyen C, Brown A, Lin S, Burns R, Cui W. Spatial transcriptomics demonstrates the role of CD4 T cells in effector CD8 T cell differentiation during chronic viral infection. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111736. [PMID: 36450262 PMCID: PMC9792173 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4 T cell help is critical to sustain effector CD8 T cell responses during chronic infection, notably via T follicular helper (Tfh)-derived interleukin-21 (IL-21). Conversely, CD4 depletion results in severe CD8 T cell dysfunction and lifelong viremia despite CD4 T cell reemergence following transient depletion. These observations suggest that repopulating CD4 subsets are functionally or numerically insufficient to orchestrate a robust CD8 response. We utilize spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate CD4 T cell heterogeneity under CD4-replete and -deplete conditions and explore cellular interactions during chronic infection. Although IL-21-producing Tfh cells repopulate following transient CD4 depletion, they are outnumbered by immunomodulatory CD4 T cells. Moreover, the splenic architecture appears perturbed, with decreases in white pulp regions, coinciding with germinal center losses. These disruptions in splenic architecture are associated with diminished Tfh and progenitor CD8 T cell colocalization, providing a potential mechanism for impaired progenitor-to-effector CD8 T cell differentiation during "un-helped" conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paytsar Topchyan
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Ryan Zander
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA
| | - Moujtaba Y Kasmani
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Christine Nguyen
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Ashley Brown
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Siying Lin
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Robert Burns
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA
| | - Weiguo Cui
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, 8727 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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7
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Pim1 promotes IFN-β production by interacting with IRF3. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:2092-2103. [PMID: 36446848 PMCID: PMC9722908 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00893-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pim (proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus) proteins compose a serine threonine kinase family whose members regulate cell proliferation, migration and cell survival. However, whether Pim kinases participate in innate immune responses is unclear. Here, we show for the first time that Pim1 plays an essential role in the production of interferon (IFN)-β by macrophages after their Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway is activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Specifically, Pim1 was quickly upregulated in an NF-κB-dependent manner after TLR stimulation with PAMPs. Pim1 deficiency reduced TLR3- or TLR4-stimulated IFN-β and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expression but not proinflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages. Mechanistically, Pim1 specifically upregulates IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. However, this role is not dependent on Pim1 kinase activity. Rather, Pim1 appears to promote IRF3 phosphorylation by enhancing the formation of IFN-β signaling complexes composed of TRIF, TRAF3, TBK1, and IRF3. Poly (I:C)-treated Pim1-/- mice produced less serum IFN-β and were less likely to survive than wild-type mice. These findings show for the first time that Pim1 participates in TLR-mediated IFN-β production, thus revealing a novel target for controlling antiviral innate immune responses.
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8
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Peng S, Stojkov D, Gao J, Oberson K, Latzin P, Casaulta C, Yousefi S, Simon HU. Nascent RHOH acts as a molecular brake on actomyosin-mediated effector functions of inflammatory neutrophils. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001794. [PMID: 36108062 PMCID: PMC9514642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to molecular changes associated with increased inflammatory responses, little is known about intracellular counter-regulatory mechanisms that control signaling cascades associated with functional responses of neutrophils. Active RHO GTPases are typically considered as effector proteins that elicit cellular responses. Strikingly, we show here that RHOH, although being constitutively GTP-bound, limits neutrophil degranulation and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Mechanistically, RHOH is induced under inflammatory conditions and binds to non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC IIA) in activated neutrophils in order to inhibit the transport of mitochondria and granules along actin filaments, which is partially reverted upon disruption of the interaction with NMHC IIA by introducing a mutation in RhoH at lysine 34 (RhoHK34A). In parallel, RHOH inhibits actin polymerization presumably by modulating RAC1 activity. In vivo studies using Rhoh-/- mice, demonstrate an increased antibacterial defense capability against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Collectively, our data reveal a previously undefined role of RHOH as a molecular brake for actomyosin-mediated neutrophil effector functions, which represents an intracellular regulatory axis involved in controlling the strength of an antibacterial inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Peng
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Darko Stojkov
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jian Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kevin Oberson
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Latzin
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital of Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Casaulta
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital of Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Shida Yousefi
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Uwe Simon
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
- Institute of Biochemistry, Brandenburg Medical School, Neuruppin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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9
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Pham TX, Lee J, Guan J, Caporarello N, Meridew JA, Jones DL, Tan Q, Huang SK, Tschumperlin DJ, Ligresti G. Transcriptional analysis of lung fibroblasts identifies PIM1 signaling as a driver of aging-associated persistent fibrosis. JCI Insight 2022; 7:153672. [PMID: 35167499 PMCID: PMC8986080 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.153672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aging-associated disease characterized by myofibroblast accumulation and progressive lung scarring. To identify transcriptional gene programs driving persistent lung fibrosis in aging, we performed RNA-Seq on lung fibroblasts isolated from young and aged mice during the early resolution phase after bleomycin injury. We discovered that, relative to injured young fibroblasts, injured aged fibroblasts exhibited a profibrotic state characterized by elevated expression of genes implicated in inflammation, matrix remodeling, and cell survival. We identified the proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus 1 (PIM1) and its target nuclear factor of activated T cells-1 (NFATc1) as putative drivers of the sustained profibrotic gene signatures in injured aged fibroblasts. PIM1 and NFATc1 transcripts were enriched in a pathogenic fibroblast population recently discovered in IPF lungs, and their protein expression was abundant in fibroblastic foci. Overexpression of PIM1 in normal human lung fibroblasts potentiated their fibrogenic activation, and this effect was attenuated by NFATc1 inhibition. Pharmacological inhibition of PIM1 attenuated IPF fibroblast activation and sensitized them to apoptotic stimuli. Interruption of PIM1 signaling in IPF lung explants ex vivo inhibited prosurvival gene expression and collagen secretion, suggesting that targeting this pathway may represent a therapeutic strategy to block IPF progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tho X. Pham
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jisu Lee
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiazhen Guan
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nunzia Caporarello
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Meridew
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Dakota L. Jones
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Qi Tan
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Steven K. Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel J. Tschumperlin
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Giovanni Ligresti
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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Li J, Bolyard C, Xin G, Li Z. Targeting Metabolic Pathways of Myeloid Cells Improves Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:747863. [PMID: 34988072 PMCID: PMC8721007 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.747863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells are a prominent pro-tumorigenic immune cell population that limit host anti-tumor immunity and present a significant obstacle for many cancer immunotherapies. Targeting the mechanisms regulating myeloid cell function within the tumor microenvironment may overcome immunotherapy resistance in some cancers. Recent discoveries in the emerging field of immunometabolism reveal that the metabolic profiles of intratumoral myeloid cells are rewired to adapt to the nutrition-limited tumor microenvironment, and this shapes their pro-tumor phenotypes. Interestingly, metabolic modulation can shift these myeloid cells toward the immune-stimulating anti-tumor phenotype. In this review, we will highlight the roles of specific metabolic pathways in the activation and function of myeloid cells, and discuss the therapeutic value of metabolically reprogramming myeloid cells to augment and improve outcomes with cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Li
- Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Chelsea Bolyard
- Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Gang Xin
- Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Zihai Li
- Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Medical Oncology, the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
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11
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Li YC, Ma Z, Zhong HY, You HL. Clinical characteristics of children with omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in Changchun, China from march to april 2022: A retrospective study. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:990944. [PMID: 36458144 PMCID: PMC9705729 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.990944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, there was an outbreak in China of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, the corresponding clinical characteristics of Chinese children with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were then reviewed and summarized retrospectively. METHODS From March to April 2022, a total of 134 children infected with the Omicron variant were included in the study. Data such as sex, age, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, and imaging features were collected for further analyses. RESULTS Half of the children were male and the median age was 5.67 years. The most SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was identified in mild (122, 91%), and the most three frequent symptoms were as cough (108, 80.6%), fever (75, 56%), and sore throat (38, 28.4%). Among age groups, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of symptoms, and no statistical difference was found in different clinical types among sex or age groups. Laboratory examinations revealed that white blood cells, neutrophils, and hemoglobin decreased; and monocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased. Further analyses showed that neutrophils, hemoglobin, CRP, and AST exhibited significant differences among age groups. Radiological abnormalities were found in nine cases, with small patchy high-density shadows. Of the 76 cured cases discharged from the hospital, the median hospital stay was 13 days (mean, 12 days). CONCLUSIONS In China, most children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection have mild presentation. The findings of this study may help other districts improve the management of children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Chun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhen Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hua-Ying Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hai-Long You
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Bodac A, Meylan E. Neutrophil metabolism in the cancer context. Semin Immunol 2021; 57:101583. [PMID: 34963565 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2021.101583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils are critical innate immune cells for the host anti-bacterial defense. Throughout their lifecycle, neutrophils are exposed to different microenvironments and modulate their metabolism to survive and sustain their functions. Although tumor cell metabolism has been intensively investigated, how neutrophil metabolism is affected in cancer remains largely to be discovered. Neutrophils are described as mainly glycolytic cells. However, distinct tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) states may co-exist in tumors and adapt their metabolism to exert different or even opposing activities ranging from tumor cell killing to tumor support. In this review, we gather evidence about the metabolic mechanisms that underly TANs' pro- or anti-tumoral functions in cancer. We first discuss how tumor-secreted factors and the heterogenous tumor microenvironment can have a strong impact on TAN metabolism. We then describe alternative metabolic pathways used by TANs to exert their functions in cancer, from basic glycolysis to more recently-recognized but less understood metabolic shifts toward mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, lipid and amino acid metabolism and even autophagy. Last, we discuss promising strategies targeting neutrophil metabolism to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bodac
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Etienne Meylan
- Lung Cancer & Immuno-Oncology Laboratory, Bordet Cancer Research Laboratories, Institut Jules Bordet, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070, Anderlecht, Belgium; Laboratory of Immunobiology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 6041, Gosselies, Belgium; ULB Cancer Research Center (U-CRC) and ULB Center for Research in Immunology (U-CRI), Belgium.
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