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Uong TNT, Yoon M, Chung IJ, Nam TK, Ahn SJ, Jeong JU, Song JY, Kim YH, Nguyen HPQ, Cho D, Chu TH, Dang GC, Nguyen NPNM. Direct Tumor Irradiation Potentiates Adoptive NK Cell Targeting Against Parental and Stemlike Cancer in Human Liver Cancer Models. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 119:234-250. [PMID: 37981041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Radiation therapy (RT) has been shown to effectively induce the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which is recognized by lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. However, the potential synergistic antitumor immune response of tumor irradiation and administered NK cells has not been explored in intractable human liver cancers. Furthermore, NK cell targeting against both parental and cancer stemness has never been investigated. METHODS AND MATERIALS Highly activated ex vivo NK cells were administered into the human liver tumor-bearing mice. Tumor direct RT was optimized according to tumor bearing site. HepG2 and Hep3B ICAM-1 knockout cells were generated using CRISPR/CAS9. Stemness tumor spheres were generated. NK cell cytolysis against parental and tumor sphere was evaluated using flow cytometry and real-time cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS A combination of adoptive NK cell therapy with RT significantly improved therapeutic efficacy over monotherapies against subcutaneous, orthotopic, and metastatic human liver tumor models. Direct tumor irradiation potentiated NK cell recognition and conjugation against liver cancer through the LFA-1/ICAM-1 axis. Suppression of immune synapse formation on NK cells using high-affinity LFA-1 inhibitors or ICAM-1 knockout liver cancer induced "outside-in" signal blocking in NK cells, resulting in failure to eliminate liver tumor despite the combination therapy. NK cells effectively recognized and targeted triple-high epithelial cell adhesion molecule+CD133+CD24+ liver cancer expressing upregulated ICAM-1 in the irradiated tumor microenvironment, which led to prevention of the initiation of metastasis, improving survival in a metastatic model. In addition, the LFA-1/ICAM-1 axis interruption between NK cells and stemness liver tumor spheres significantly diminished NK cell cytolysis. Consistent with our preclinical data, the LFA-1/ICAM-1 axis correlated with survival outcomes in patients with metastatic cancer from the The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. CONCLUSIONS NK cells in combination with tumor irradiation can provide synergistic therapeutic effects for NK cell recognition and elimination against both parental and stemlike liver cancer through LFA-1/ICAM-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tung Nguyen Thanh Uong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Meesun Yoon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ik-Joo Chung
- Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Taek-Keun Nam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ja Ahn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Uk Jeong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Young Song
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hyub Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Huy Phuoc Quang Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Duck Cho
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tan-Huy Chu
- Department of Hematology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam
| | - Giang Chau Dang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology and Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy Research Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Nhat Phuoc Nguong Minh Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Nie Y, Wang L, Liu S, Dai C, Cui T, Lei Y, You X, Wang X, Wu J, Zheng Z. Natural ursolic acid based self-therapeutic polymer as nanocarrier to deliver natural resveratrol for natural therapy of acute kidney injury. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:484. [PMID: 38105186 PMCID: PMC10726514 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02254-x] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common kidney disease associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unfortunately, due to the low kidney targeting and undesired side effects, the existing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs are unavailable for AKI management in clinic. Therefore, it's essential to develop effective nanodrugs with high renal targeting and biocompatibility for AKI treatment. Herein, we reported a novel nanodrug for AKI treatment, utilizing poly(ursolic acid) (PUA) as a bioactive nanocarrier and resveratrol (RES) as a model drug. The PUA polymer was synthesized form ursolic acid with intrinsic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and successfully encapsulated RES through a nanoprecipitation method. Subsequently, we systemically investigated the therapeutic potential of RES-loaded PUA nanoparticles (PUA NPs@RES) against AKI. In vitro results demonstrated that PUA NPs@RES effectively scavenged ROS and provided substantial protection against H2O2-induced cellular damage. In vivo studies revealed that PUA NPs significantly improved drug accumulation in the kidneys and exhibited favorable biocompatibility. Furthermore, PUA NPs alone exhibited additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, synergistically enhancing therapeutic efficacy in AKI mouse models when combined with RES. Overall, our study successfully developed an effective nanodrug using self-therapeutic nanocarriers, presenting a promising option for the treatment of AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanpeng Nie
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Liying Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Shengbo Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Chunlei Dai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Tianjiao Cui
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Yan Lei
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xinru You
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
- Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, 511400, China.
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Zhihua Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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Nguyen HPQ, Bae WK, Park MS, Chung IJ, Nam TK, Jeong JU, Uong TNT, Cho D, Kim SK, Yoon M. Intensified NK cell therapy in combination with low-dose chemoradiotherapy against human colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:4089-4102. [PMID: 37801126 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03545-w] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of adoptive natural Killer (NK) cells immunotherapy in combination with chemoradiotherapy, the main treatment modality for colorectal cancer (CRC), has not yet been explored. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of NK cells to potentiate primary tumor control and improve survival outcomes, especially in combination with low-dose chemoradiotherapy. Ex vivo activated NK cells (> 90% purity) from healthy donors were obtained. NK cells were administered intravenously to the CRC-bearing mice and intensified in vivo in combination with low-dose 5-fluorouracil (0.5 mg/kg or 1 mg/Kg) and irradiated tumors with low doses (2 Gy or 4 Gy). Real-time NK cell cytotoxicity demonstrated a synergistic killing effect of a combination of low-dose chemoradiotherapy, mainly through NKp30 and NKG2D, showing a decrease in NK cell degranulation after blocking NKG2D and NKp30. In vivo tumor characteristics after combination treatment showed decreased CD112, CD155, MICA, and MICB expression. Under the combination strategy, 70% of the mice had free lung metastasis and 90% without secondary gross tumors, indicating suppressed distant metastasis to lung and axillary regions. This combination therapy resulted in significantly synergistic antitumor activity against primary solid tumors compared to chemoradiotherapy only. Furthermore, the intensified NK cell administration showed significantly better primary tumor control and survival outcomes than the non-intensified NK cell administration in a human colorectal HT-29 model treated with low-dose chemoradiotherapy. Optimized NK cell therapy combined with low-dose chemoradiotherapy can provide effective therapeutic potential for intractable cold human colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Phuoc Quang Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Kyun Bae
- Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| | - Myong Suk Park
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Ik-Joo Chung
- Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Taek-Keun Nam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Uk Jeong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Tung Nguyen Thanh Uong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Duck Cho
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Ki Kim
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Republic of Korea
| | - Meesun Yoon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
- Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
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Portillo AL, Monteiro JK, Rojas EA, Ritchie TM, Gillgrass A, Ashkar AA. Charting a killer course to the solid tumor: strategies to recruit and activate NK cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1286750. [PMID: 38022679 PMCID: PMC10663242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1286750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to expand and activate natural Killer (NK) cells ex vivo has dramatically changed the landscape in the development of novel adoptive cell therapies for treating cancer over the last decade. NK cells have become a key player for cancer immunotherapy due to their innate ability to kill malignant cells while not harming healthy cells, allowing their potential use as an "off-the-shelf" product. Furthermore, recent advancements in NK cell genetic engineering methods have enabled the efficient generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing NK cells that can exert both CAR-dependent and antigen-independent killing. Clinically, CAR-NK cells have shown promising efficacy and safety for treating CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies. While the number of pre-clinical studies using CAR-NK cells continues to expand, it is evident that solid tumors pose a unique challenge to NK cell-based adoptive cell therapies. Major barriers for efficacy include low NK cell trafficking and infiltration into solid tumor sites, low persistence, and immunosuppression by the harsh solid tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review we discuss the barriers posed by the solid tumor that prevent immune cell trafficking and NK cell effector functions. We then discuss promising strategies to enhance NK cell infiltration into solid tumor sites and activation within the TME. This includes NK cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms such as NK cell engineering to resist TME-mediated inhibition and use of tumor-targeted agents such as oncolytic viruses expressing chemoattracting and activating payloads. We then discuss opportunities and challenges for using combination therapies to extend NK cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Portillo
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan K. Monteiro
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Eduardo A. Rojas
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tyrah M. Ritchie
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Gillgrass
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ali A. Ashkar
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Yoon JS, Lee CW. Protein phosphatases regulate the liver microenvironment in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:1799-1813. [PMID: 36380016 PMCID: PMC9722691 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00883-0] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a complicated heterogeneous organ composed of different cells. Parenchymal cells called hepatocytes and various nonparenchymal cells, including immune cells and stromal cells, are distributed in liver lobules with hepatic architecture. They interact with each other to compose the liver microenvironment and determine its characteristics. Although the liver microenvironment maintains liver homeostasis and function under healthy conditions, it also shows proinflammatory and profibrogenic characteristics that can induce the progression of hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis, eventually changing to a protumoral microenvironment that contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to recent studies, phosphatases are involved in liver diseases and HCC development by regulating protein phosphorylation in intracellular signaling pathways and changing the activities and characteristics of liver cells. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the importance of protein phosphatases in HCC development and in the regulation of the cellular components in the liver microenvironment and to show their significance as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Sup Yoon
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Molecular Cell Biology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Woo Lee
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Molecular Cell Biology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419 Republic of Korea ,grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
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