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Su ZY, Siak PY, Leong CO, Cheah SC. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Microenvironment: Past, Current, and Future Perspectives. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840467. [PMID: 35311066 PMCID: PMC8924466 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy that raises public health concerns in endemic countries. Despite breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies, late diagnosis and drug resistance often lead to unsatisfactory clinical outcomes in NPC patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex niche consisting of tumor-associated cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, leukocytes, that influences tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Cells in the TME communicate through various mechanisms, of note, exosomes, ligand-receptor interactions, cytokines and chemokines are active players in the construction of TME, characterized by an abundance of immune infiltrates with suppressed immune activities. The NPC microenvironment serves as a target-rich niche for the discovery of potential promising predictive or diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies. Thus, huge efforts have been made to exploit the role of the NPC microenvironment. The whole picture of the NPC microenvironment remains to be portrayed to understand the mechanisms underlying tumor biology and implement research into clinical practice. The current review discusses the recent insights into the role of TME in the development and progression of NPC which results in different clinical outcomes of patients. Clinical interventions with the use of TME components as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets, their challenges, and future perspectives will be introduced. This review anticipates to provide insights to the researchers for future preclinical, translational and clinical research on the NPC microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yi Su
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pui Yan Siak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- Centre of Cancer and Stem Cells Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shiau-Chuen Cheah
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Yang L, Liu G, Li Y, Pan Y. The emergence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Predictive value and immunotherapy implications. Genes Dis 2021; 9:1208-1219. [PMID: 35873027 PMCID: PMC9293699 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) often reveals a large number of lymphocytes infiltrating the primary tumor site. As an important part of the tumor microenvironment, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) do not exist alone but as a complex multicellular population with high heterogeneity. TILs play an extremely significant role in the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of NPC. The latest research shows that they participate in tumorigenesis and treatment, and the composition, quantity, functional status and distribution of TILs subsets have good predictive value for the prognosis of NPC patients. TILs are an independent prognostic factor for TNM stage and significantly correlated with better prognosis. Additionally, adoptive immunotherapy using anti-tumor TILs has achieved good results in a variety of solid tumors including NPC. This review evaluates recent clinical and preclinical studies of NPC, summarizes the role of TILs in promoting and inhibiting tumor growth, evaluates the predictive value of TILs, and explores the potential benefits of TILs-based immunotherapy in the treatment of NPC.
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Zhang X, Song X, Lai Y, Zhu B, Luo J, Yu H, Yu Y. Identification of key pseudogenes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on RNA-Seq analysis. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:483. [PMID: 33931030 PMCID: PMC8088053 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08211-x] [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: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant head and neck tumor, and more than 70% of new cases are in East and Southeast Asia. However, association between NPC and pseudogenes playing important roles in genesis of multiple tumor types is still not clear and needs to be investigated. METHODS Using RNA-Sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, we analyzed pseudogene expression in 13 primary NPC and 6 recurrent NPC samples as well as their paracancerous counterparts. Quantitative PCR was used to validate the differentially expressed pseudogenes. RESULTS We found 251 differentially expressed pseudogenes including 73 up-regulated and 178 down-regulated ones between primary NPC and paracancerous tissues. Enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were conducted to filter out the key pseudogenes. We reported that pseudogenes from cytochrome P450 (CYP) family, such as CYP2F2P, CYP2G1P, CYP4F24P, CYP2B7P and CYP2G2P were significantly down-regulated in NPC compared to paracancerous tissues, while IGHV1OR15-2, IGHV3-11, FCGR1CP and IGHV3-69-1 belonging to Fc gamma receptors were significantly up-regulated. CYP2B7P, CYP2F2P and CYP4F26P were enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism pathway. The qRT-PCR analysis validated the lower expression of pseudogenes CYP2F2P and CYP2B7P in NPC tissues and cell lines compared to paracancerous tissues and normal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line. CYP2B7P overexpression weakened migratory and invasive capacity of NPC cell line. Moreover, the expression pattern of those pseudogenes in recurrent NPC tissues was different from the primary NPC. CONCLUSION This study suggested the role of pseudogenes in tumorigenesis and progression, potentially functioning as therapeutic targets to NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiaole Song
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yuting Lai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Bijun Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jiqin Luo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Hongmeng Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China. .,Research Units of New Technologies of Endoscopic Surgery in Skull Base Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yiqun Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology, Fudan University, 83 Fen Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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Abstract
Glycoprotein B (gB) is an essential fusion protein for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of both B cells and epithelial cells and is thus a promising target antigen for a prophylactic vaccine to prevent or reduce EBV-associated disease. T cell responses play key roles in the control of persistent EBV infection and in the efficacy of a vaccine. However, to date, T cell responses to gB have been characterized for only a limited number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Here, we screened gB T cell epitopes in 23 healthy EBV carriers and ten patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) using a peptide library spanning the entire gB sequence. We identified twelve novel epitopes in the context of seven new HLA restrictions that are common in Asian populations. Two epitopes, gB214-223 and gB840-849, restricted by HLA-B*58:01 and B*38:02, respectively, elicited specific CD8+ T cell responses to inhibit EBV-driven B cell transformation. Interestingly, gB-specific CD8+ T cells were more frequent in healthy viral carriers with EBV reactivation than in those without EBV reactivation, indicating that EBV reactivation in vivo stimulates both humoral (VCA-gp125-IgA) and cellular responses to gB. We further found that most gB epitopes are conserved among different EBV strains. Our study broadens the diversity and HLA restrictions of gB epitopes and suggests that gB is a common target of T cell responses in healthy viral carriers with EBV reactivation. In particular, the precisely mapped and conserved gB epitopes provide valuable information for prophylactic vaccine development.ImportanceT cells are crucial for the control of persistent EBV infection and the development of EBV-associated diseases. The EBV gB protein is essential for virus entry into B cells and epithelial cells and is thus a target antigen for vaccine development. Understanding T cell responses to gB is important for subunit vaccine design. Herein, we comprehensively characterized T cell responses to full-length gB. Our results expand the available gB epitopes and HLA restrictions, particularly those common in Asian populations. Furthermore, we showed that gB-specific CD8+ T cells inhibit B cell transformation ex vivo and that gB-specific CD8+ T cell responses in vivo may be associated with intermittent EBV reactivation in asymptomatic viral carriers. These gB epitopes are highly conserved among geographically separated EBV strains. Precisely mapped and conserved T cell epitopes may contribute to immune monitoring and to the development of a gB subunit vaccine.
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Campion NJ, Ally M, Jank BJ, Ahmed J, Alusi G. The molecular march of primary and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oncogene 2021; 40:1757-1774. [PMID: 33479496 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01631-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) results from the aberrant and uncontrolled growth of the nasopharyngeal epithelium. It is highly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus, especially in regions where it is endemic. In the last decade, significant advances in genetic sequencing techniques have allowed the discovery of many new abnormal molecular processes that undoubtedly contribute to the establishment, growth and spread of this deadly disease. In this review, we consider NPC as EBV induced. We summarise the recent discoveries and how they add to our understanding of the pathophysiology of NPC in the context of genomics first in primary and then in recurrent disease. Overall, we find key early events lead to p16 inactivation and cyclin D1 expression, allowing latent viral infection. Host and viral factors work together to affect a variety of molecular pathways, the most fundamental being activation of NF-κB. Nonetheless, much still yearns to be discovered, especially in recurrent NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Campion
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK. .,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Munira Ally
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK
| | - Bernhard J Jank
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jahangir Ahmed
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK
| | - Ghassan Alusi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK
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Volk V, Theobald SJ, Danisch S, Khailaie S, Kalbarczyk M, Schneider A, Bialek-Waldmann J, Krönke N, Deng Y, Eiz-Vesper B, Dragon AC, von Kaisenberg C, Lienenklaus S, Bleich A, Keck J, Meyer-Hermann M, Klawonn F, Hammerschmidt W, Delecluse HJ, Münz C, Feuerhake F, Stripecke R. PD-1 Blockade Aggravates Epstein-Barr Virus + Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Humanized Mice Resulting in Central Nervous System Involvement and CD4 + T Cell Dysregulations. Front Oncol 2021; 10:614876. [PMID: 33511078 PMCID: PMC7837057 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.614876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is one of the most common malignancies after solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Most PTLD cases are B cell neoplasias carrying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A therapeutic approach is reduction of immunosuppression to allow T cells to develop and combat EBV. If this is not effective, approaches include immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies targeting CD20 and adoptive T cells. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) to treat EBV+ PTLD was not established clinically due to the risks of organ rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Previously, blockade of the programmed death receptor (PD)-1 by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) during ex vivo infection of mononuclear cells with the EBV/M81+ strain showed lower xenografted lymphoma development in mice. Subsequently, fully humanized mice infected with the EBV/B95-8 strain and treated in vivo with a PD-1 blocking mAb showed aggravation of PTLD and lymphoma development. Here, we evaluated vis-a-vis in fully humanized mice after EBV/B95-8 or EBV/M81 infections the effects of a clinically used PD-1 blocker. Fifteen to 17 weeks after human CD34+ stem cell transplantation, Nod.Rag.Gamma mice were infected with two types of EBV laboratory strains expressing firefly luciferase. Dynamic optical imaging analyses showed systemic EBV infections and this triggered vigorous human CD8+ T cell expansion. Pembrolizumab administered from 2 to 5 weeks post-infections significantly aggravated EBV systemic spread and, for the M81 model, significantly increased the mortality of mice. ICI promoted Ki67+CD30+CD20+EBER+PD-L1+ PTLD with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, mirroring EBV+ CNS PTLD in humans. PD-1 blockade was associated with lower frequencies of circulating T cells in blood and with a profound collapse of CD4+ T cells in lymphatic tissues. Mice treated with pembrolizumab showed an escalation of exhausted T cells expressing TIM-3, and LAG-3 in tissues, higher levels of several human cytokines in plasma and high densities of FoxP3+ regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. We conclude that PD-1 blockade during acute EBV infections driving strong CD8+ T cell priming decompensates T cell development towards immunosuppression. Given the variety of preclinical models available, our models conferred a cautionary note indicating that PD-1 blockade aggravated the progression of EBV+ PTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery Volk
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany.,Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Theobald
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Simon Danisch
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sahamoddin Khailaie
- Department of Systems Immunology, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maja Kalbarczyk
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Schneider
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia Bialek-Waldmann
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Krönke
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yun Deng
- Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Christina Dragon
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Constantin von Kaisenberg
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Lienenklaus
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andre Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - James Keck
- The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Michael Meyer-Hermann
- Department of Systems Immunology, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Frank Klawonn
- Biostatistics Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.,Institute for Information Engineering, Ostfalia University, Wolfenbuettel, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hammerschmidt
- Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Henri-Jacques Delecluse
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Münz
- Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Friedrich Feuerhake
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Institute for Neuropathology, University Clinic Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Renata Stripecke
- Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, REBIRTH - Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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7
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Wang J, Luo Y, Bi P, Lu J, Wang F, Liu X, Zhang B, Li X. Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 favor Tregs accumulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer Med 2020; 9:5598-5608. [PMID: 32573058 PMCID: PMC7402843 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Documented reports proved that Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection increased infiltration of Tregs in malignancy. However, the mechanism of EBV recruitment Tregs into nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues has not been detailed discussion. Methods Expression of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and Foxp3 in NPC tissue samples was detected by immunohistochemistry. EBNA1+ NPC cell lines were used to coculture with PBMC, naïve T cells, Tregs, and monocytes. Percent of Treg was detected by flow cytometry. Results EBNA1 protein was overexpressed in NPC tissues, and was associated with a number of infiltrated Tregs. EBNA1+ NPC cells converted naïve T cells into Tregs by up‐regulated TGF‐β1. Enhanced CCL20 production in EBNA1‐expressed tumor cells increased Tregs migration. Polarized‐M2 macrophages by EBNA1 expression cells converted naïve T cells into Tregs. Conclusions EBNA1 favors accumulation of Tregs in NPC through: (a) upregulated TGF‐β1 converted naïve T cell into Treg; (b) upregulated CCL20 increased Treg migration; and (c) polarized‐M2 macrophage converted naïve T cell into Treg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunfan Luo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei Bi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juan Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bao Zhang
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangping Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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8
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Intracellular Pathogens: Host Immunity and Microbial Persistence Strategies. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:1356540. [PMID: 31111075 PMCID: PMC6487120 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1356540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide by the World Health Organization. Despite tremendous improvements in global public health since 1950, a number of challenges remain to either prevent or eradicate infectious diseases. Many pathogens can cause acute infections that are effectively cleared by the host immunity, but a subcategory of these pathogens called "intracellular pathogens" can establish persistent and sometimes lifelong infections. Several of these intracellular pathogens manage to evade the host immune monitoring and cause disease by replicating inside the host cells. These pathogens have evolved diverse immune escape strategies and overcome immune responses by residing and multiplying inside host immune cells, primarily macrophages. While these intracellular pathogens that cause persistent infections are phylogenetically diverse and engage in diverse immune evasion and persistence strategies, they share common pathogen type-specific mechanisms during host-pathogen interaction inside host cells. Likewise, the host immune system is also equipped with a diverse range of effector functions to fight against the establishment of pathogen persistence and subsequent host damage. This article provides an overview of the immune effector functions used by the host to counter pathogens and various persistence strategies used by intracellular pathogens to counter host immunity, which enables their extended period of colonization in the host. The improved understanding of persistent intracellular pathogen-derived infections will contribute to develop improved disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and prophylactics.
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Vanichapol T, Chiangjong W, Panachan J, Anurathapan U, Chutipongtanate S, Hongeng S. Secretory High-Mobility Group Box 1 Protein Affects Regulatory T Cell Differentiation in Neuroblastoma Microenvironment In Vitro. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2018; 2018:7946021. [PMID: 30643519 PMCID: PMC6311239 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7946021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial tumor of childhood with poor prognosis in a high-risk group. An obstacle in the development of treatment for solid tumors is the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent a T cell subset with specialized function in immune suppression and maintaining self-tolerance. Tregs resident within the tumor milieu is believed to play an important role in immune escape mechanisms. The role of the NB microenvironment in promoting Treg phenotype has never been elucidated. Herein, we demonstrated that the NB microenvironment promoted T cell activation and one NB cell line, SK-N-SH, manifested an ability to induce Treg differentiation. We identified tumor-derived HMGB1 as a potential protein responsible for Treg phenotype induction. By neutralizing HMGB1, Treg differentiation was abolished. Finally, we adopted a dataset of 498 pediatric NB via the NCBI GEO database, accession GSE49711, to validate clinical relevance of HMGB1 overexpression. Up to 11% of patients had HMGB1-overexpressed tumors. Moreover, this patient subpopulation showed higher risks of tumor progression, relapse, or death. Our findings emphasize the importance of immunological signature of tumor cells for appropriate therapeutic approach. Upregulation of secretory HMGB1 may contribute to suppression of antitumor immunity through induction of Tregs in the NB microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitinee Vanichapol
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Wararat Chiangjong
- Pediatric Translational Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jirawan Panachan
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Usanarat Anurathapan
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- Pediatric Translational Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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10
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Fernandes Q, Merhi M, Raza A, Inchakalody VP, Abdelouahab N, Zar Gul AR, Uddin S, Dermime S. Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Cancers and Its Potential as an Immunotherapeutic Target. Front Oncol 2018; 8:257. [PMID: 30035101 PMCID: PMC6043647 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the development and progression of tumor cells has been described in various cancers. Etiologically, EBV is a causative agent in certain variants of head and neck cancers such as nasopharyngeal cancer. Proteins expressed by the EVB genome are involved in invoking and perpetuating the oncogenic properties of the virus. However, these protein products were also identified as important targets for therapeutic research in the past decades, particularly within the context of immunotherapy. The adoptive transfer of EBV-targeted T-cells as well as the development of EBV vaccines has opened newer lines of research to conceptualize novel therapeutic approaches toward the disease. This review addresses the most important aspects of the association of EBV with head and neck cancers from an immunological perspective. It also aims to highlight the current and future prospects of enhanced EBV-targeted immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Queenie Fernandes
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Afsheen Raza
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Philipose Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nassima Abdelouahab
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Rehman Zar Gul
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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11
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Xu Y, Zhou R, Huang C, Zhang M, Li J, Zong J, Qiu S, Lin S, Chen H, Ye Y, Pan J. Analysis of the Expression of Surface Receptors on NK Cells and NKG2D on Immunocytes in Peripheral Blood of Patients
with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018; 19:661-665. [PMID: 29580037 PMCID: PMC5980838 DOI: 10.22034/apjcp.2018.19.3.661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The aberrant expression of surface receptors on immunocytes may represent potential markers of tumor escape for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of representative receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and NK group 2, member D (NKG2D) on immunocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with NPC. Methods: Patients (n = 64) with NPC prior to initiation of treatment were defined as the study group. Healthy volunteers (n = 31) served as the control group. The expression of NK cells and NKT cells; the triggering receptors NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46 on NK cells; the activating receptor NKG2D on NK cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells; and the inhibitory receptors CD158b and CD159a on NK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry in the two groups. Results: Here, our study showed that no differences were observed in terms of the numbers of NK cells or NKT cells, or the expression of CD158b and CD159a on the surface of NK cells between the two groups. Nevertheless, the expression levels of NKp30 and NKp46 on NK cells in the NPC patients were significantly lower than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05). No differences existed in the expression of NKG2D on NK cells, but NKG2D on CD8+ T cells showed a markedly lower expression in the study group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings may reflect a possible mechanism of immune evasion for NPC. The enhancement of immunotherapy concerning NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D may be an innovative treatment strategy for patients with NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospita, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Provincial Clinical MedicineFujian Medical University Cancer Hospita, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospita, Fuzhou, Fujian, China. , zjyunbin@189
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12
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A novel Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein-1-specific T-cell receptor for TCR gene therapy. Br J Cancer 2018; 118:534-545. [PMID: 29360818 PMCID: PMC5830600 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adoptive transfer of genetically engineered T-cells to express antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) is a feasible and effective therapeutic approach for numerous types of cancers, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies. Here, we describe a TCR gene transfer regimen to rapidly and reliably generate T-cells specific to EBV-encoded latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1), which is a potential target for T-cell-based immunotherapy. METHODS A novel TCR specific to LMP1 (LMP1-TCR) was isolated from HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice that were immunised with the minimal epitope LMP1166 (TLLVDLLWL), and LMP1-TCR-transduced peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated for functional specificities. RESULTS Both human CD8 and CD4 T-cells expressing the LMP1-TCR provoked high levels of cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity towards peptide-pulsed and LMP1-expressing tumour cells. Notably, recognition of these T-cells to peptide-pulsed cells was maintained at low concentration of peptide, implying that the LMP1-TCR has high avidity. Infusion of these engineered T-cells revealed remarkable therapeutic effects and inhibition of tumour growth in a preclinical xenogeneic model. We observed explosive ex vivo proliferation of functional TCR-transduced T-cells with artificial antigen-presenting cells that express co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and 4-1BBL. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the novel TCR-targeting LMP1 might allow the potential design of T-cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies against EBV-positive malignancies.
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13
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Yi M, Cai J, Li J, Chen S, Zeng Z, Peng Q, Ban Y, Zhou Y, Li X, Xiong W, Li G, Xiang B. Rediscovery of NF-κB signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: How genetic defects of NF-κB pathway interplay with EBV in driving oncogenesis? J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5537-5549. [PMID: 29266238 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique EBV-associated subtype of head and neck cancer, which has the highest incidence in Southern China and eastern South Asia. The interaction between genetic risk factors and environmental challenge, have been considered to contribute to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis. Constitutive activation of NF-κB signaling has been seen in NPC tissues and is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Recently, several whole exome sequencing study consistently revealed that high frequency mutations of NF-κB pathway negative regulators is common in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which reinforce the importance of NF-κB driving oncogenesis. This review focuses on the current state of research in role of NF-κB in NPC carcinogenesis. We summarized the newly identified loss of function (LOF) mutations on NF-κB negative regulators leading to it's activation bypass LMP-1 stimulation. We discussed the critical role of NF-κB activation in immortalization and transformation of nasopharygeal epithelium. We also depicted how NF-κB signaling mediated chronic inflammation contribute to persistent EBV infection, immune evasion of EBV infected cells, metabolic reprogramming, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) formation in NPC. Lastly, we discussed the clinical resonance of targeting NF-κB for NPC precise therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yi
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Junjun Li
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shengnan Chen
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Peng
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ban
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guiyuan Li
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bo Xiang
- Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
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14
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Huang J, Fogg M, Wirth LJ, Daley H, Ritz J, Posner MR, Wang FC, Lorch JH. Epstein-Barr virus-specific adoptive immunotherapy for recurrent, metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer 2017; 123:2642-2650. [PMID: 28222215 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-stage and intermediate-stage nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) generally carry a good prognosis, but for patients with recurrent, metastatic disease, options are limited. In the current study, the authors present a phase 1/2 study to evaluate the efficacy of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-stimulated cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (EBV-CTL) immunotherapy in this patient population. METHODS Screening for patients with active, recurrent, metastatic EBV-associated NPC began in February 2007, and the study was closed to accrual in January 2012. After informed consent was obtained, patients had their blood drawn to initiate manufacturing of the EBV-CTL product. During product manufacturing, patients were placed on interim standard-of-care chemotherapy, and only after disease progression on the interim chemotherapy did patients receive investigational immunotherapy. Patients were restaged every 2 months until disease progression and then followed for survival. RESULTS A total of 28 patients were enrolled, and 21 patients were treated. There was 1 complete response achieved, and at the time of last follow-up, the patient had been in remission for >8 years since treatment. The median progression-free survival was 2.2 months, and the median overall survival was 16.7 months. Two other patients, after failing EBV-CTL immunotherapy, unexpectedly demonstrated strong responses to the chemotherapy regimens they had previously failed. Patient EBV viral load and EBV-CTL specificity for tumor-associated viral antigens did not appear to correlate with clinical response. CONCLUSIONS A durable response was observed with EBV-CTL immunotherapy, but the overall response rate for patients with recurrent, metastatic NPC was low. Further research is necessary to increase the efficacy of EBV-specific immunotherapy in patients with incurable NPC, and to characterize mechanisms for refacilitation to chemotherapy. Cancer 2017;123:2642-50. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark Fogg
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lori J Wirth
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heather Daley
- Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jerome Ritz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marshall R Posner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Fred C Wang
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jochen H Lorch
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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15
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Regulatory T Cells in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma Patients Are Associated with Poor Outcomes: A Prospective, Longitudinal Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167841. [PMID: 28033393 PMCID: PMC5199096 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiencies in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cell immunosurveillance appear to precede the development of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), a malaria-associated pediatric cancer common in sub-Saharan Africa. However, T cell contributions to eBL disease progression and survival have not been characterized. Our objective was to investigate regulatory and inflammatory T cell responses in eBL patients associated with clinical outcomes. By multi-parameter flow cytometry, we examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 38 eBL patients enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Kisumu, Kenya from 2008–2010, and 14 healthy age-matched Kenyan controls. Children diagnosed with eBL were prospectively followed and outcomes categorized as 2-year event-free survivors, cases of relapses, or those who died. At the time of diagnosis, eBL children with higher CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell frequencies were less likely to survive than patients with lower Treg frequencies (p = 0·0194). Non-survivors also had higher absolute counts of CD45RA+Foxp3lo naïve and CD45RA-Foxp3hi effector Treg subsets compared to survivors and healthy controls. Once patients went into clinical remission, Treg frequencies remained low in event-free survivors. Patients who relapsed, however, showed elevated Treg frequencies months prior to their adverse event. Neither concurrent peripheral blood EBV load nor malaria infection could explain higher Treg cell frequencies. CD8+ T cell PD-1 expression was elevated in all eBL patients at time of diagnosis, but relapse patients tended to have persistently high PD-1 expression compared to long-term survivors. Non-survivors produced more CD4+ T-cell IL-10 in response to both Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA-1) (p = 0·026) and the malaria antigen Plasmodium falciparum Schizont Egress Antigen-1 (p = 0·0158) compared to survivors, and were concurrently deficient in (EBNA-1)-specific CD8+ T-cell derived IFN-γ production (p = 0·002). In addition, we identified the presence of Foxp3-IL10+ regulatory Type 1 cells responding to EBNA-1 in contrast to the malaria antigen tested. These novel findings suggest that poor outcomes in eBL patients are associated with a predominantly immuno-regulatory environment. Therefore, Treg frequencies could be a predictive biomarker of disease progression and manipulation of Treg activity has potential as a therapeutic target to improve eBL survival.
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16
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Zergoun AA, Zebboudj A, Sellam SL, Kariche N, Djennaoui D, Ouraghi S, Kerboua E, Amir-Tidadini ZC, Chilla D, Asselah F, Touil-Boukoffa C, Merghoub T, Bourouba M. IL-6/NOS2 inflammatory signals regulate MMP-9 and MMP-2 activity and disease outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:3505-14. [PMID: 26453114 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4186-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of nitric oxide (NO)(·) in the development of the metastatic properties of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not fully understood. Previous studies proposed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) would act as regulator of matrix metalloprotease activation in NPC. Recently, we showed that (NO)(·) was a critical mediator of tumor growth in patients. The aim of this study was to determine the implication of IL-6 in the progression of NPC pathology via metalloprotease (MMP) activation and their possible correlation with (NO)(·) production. We observed a significant increase in IL-6 and nitrite (NO2 (-)) synthesis in patients (n = 17) as well as a strong expression of IL-6 and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) in the analyzed tumors (n = 8). In patients' plasma, a negative correlation associated IL-6 with circulating nitrites (r = -0.33). A negative correlation associated the H-scores of these signals in the tumors (r = -0.47). In patients' plasma, nitrite synthesis was positively associated with MMP-9 activation (r = 0.45), pro-MMP-2 expression (r = 0.37), and negatively correlated with MMP-2 activation (r = -0.51). High nitrite levels was associated with better recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.02). Overall, our results suggest that the IL-6/NOS2 inflammatory signals are involved in the regulation of MMP-9- and MMP-2-dependent metastatic activity and that high circulating nitrite levels in NPC patients may constitute a prognostic predictor for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed-Amine Zergoun
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Abderezak Zebboudj
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Sarah Leila Sellam
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Nora Kariche
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Djamel Djennaoui
- Oto-rhyno-laryngology Department, Mustapha Pacha Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Samir Ouraghi
- Oto-rhyno-laryngology Department, Mustapha Pacha Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Esma Kerboua
- Oncology Department, Centre Pierre et Marie Curie, Algiers, Algeria
| | | | - Dalia Chilla
- Central Laboratory for Anatomopathology, Mustapha Pacha Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Fatima Asselah
- Central Laboratory for Anatomopathology, Mustapha Pacha Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Chafia Touil-Boukoffa
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Mehdi Bourouba
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Team Cytokines and Nitric oxide synthases. Faculty of Biology, University Houari Boumediene USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria.
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17
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Zhang YX, Kang SY, Chen G, Fang WF, Wu X, You HJ, He DC, Cao YL, Liang WH, Zhang L. ABO blood group, Epstein-Barr virus infection and prognosis of patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015; 15:7459-65. [PMID: 25227859 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.17.7459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A prior study showed blood type A/AB to be associated with an increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) compared to subjects with blood type O. However, the relationship between ABO blood groups and prognosis of NPC patients is still questionable. In addition, whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with prognosis of NPC patients with different ABO blood groups is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses based on a consecutive cohort of 1,601 patients to investigate the above issues. RESULTS There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between different ABO blood groups (p=0.629), neither between A vs. non-A blood groups (p=0.895) nor AB vs. non-AB blood group (p=0.309) in univariate analyses and after adjusting for other factors. Interaction tests revealed that high immunoglobulin A against Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen (VcA-IgA) level was associated with a favorable prognosis in male patients with UICC stage II disease who had an A blood type (p=0.008), compared with those with non-A blood type. In addition, male patients with an A blood group with a high blood lymphocyte level showed a tendency towards better survival in UICC stage III (p=0.096). CONCLUSIONS ABO blood group status is not associated with the prognosis of patients with NPC. Additionally, blood group A male NPC patients with high VcA-IgA level or high blood lymphocyte counts might be correlated with a favorable prognosis in UICC stage II or III, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Xiong Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China E-mail : ;
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18
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19
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Shen Y, Zhang S, Sun R, Wu T, Qian J. Understanding the interplay between host immunity and Epstein-Barr virus in NPC patients. Emerg Microbes Infect 2015; 4:e20. [PMID: 26038769 PMCID: PMC4395660 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2015.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been used as a paradigm for studying host-virus interactions, not only because of its importance as a human oncogenic virus associated with several malignancies including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) but also owing to its sophisticated strategies to subvert the host antiviral responses. An understanding of the interplay between EBV and NPC is critical for the development of EBV-targeted immunotherapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the host immune responses and EBV immune evasion mechanisms in the context of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Shen
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China ; ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Suzhan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China ; ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ren Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China ; ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China ; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Tingting Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China ; ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China ; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Jing Qian
- ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China ; Research Center of Infection and Immunity, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
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Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a range of malignancies involving B cells, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, epithelial cells, and smooth muscle. All of these are associated with the latent life cycles of EBV, but the pattern of latency-associated viral antigens expressed in tumor cells depends on the type of tumor. EBV-specific T cells (EBVSTs) have been explored as prophylaxis and therapy for EBV-associated malignancies for more than two decades. EBVSTs have been most successful as prophylaxis and therapy for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) , which expresses the full array of latent EBV antigens (type 3 latency), in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. While less effective, clinical studies have also demonstrated their therapeutic potential for PTLD post-solid organ transplant and for EBV-associated malignancies such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that express a limited array of latent EBV antigens (type 2 latency). Several approaches are actively being pursued to improve the antitumor activity of EBVSTs including activation and expansion of T cells specific for the EBV antigens expressed in type 2 latency, genetic approaches to render EBVSTs resistant to the immunosuppressive tumor environment, and combination approaches with other immune-modulating modalities. Given the recent advances and renewed interest in cell therapy, we hope that EBVSTs will become an integral part of our treatment armamentarium against EBV-positive malignancies in the near-future.
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21
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Prognostic significance of circulating CD19+ B lymphocytes in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Med Oncol 2014; 31:198. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-014-0198-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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22
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Rickinson AB. Co-infections, inflammation and oncogenesis: future directions for EBV research. Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 26:99-115. [PMID: 24751797 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is aetiologically linked to a wide range of human tumours. Some arise as accidents of the virus' lifestyle in its natural niche, the B lymphoid system; these include B-lymphoproliferative disease of the immunocompromised, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Burkitt Lymphoma and particular forms of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Interestingly, HIV infection increases the incidence of each of these B cell malignancies, though by different degrees and for different reasons. Other EBV-associated tumours arise through rare viral entry into unnatural target tissues; these include all cases of nasal T/NK cell lymphoma and of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma plus a small but significant subset of gastric carcinomas, a tumour type more generally associated with chronic Helicobacter pylori infection. Understanding EBV's involvement in the pathogenesis of these different malignancies is an important long-term goal. This article focuses on two overlapping, but relatively neglected, areas of research that could contribute to that goal. The first addresses the mechanisms whereby coincident infections with other pathogens increase the risk of EBV-positive malignancies, and takes as its paradigm the actions of holoendemic malaria and HIV infections as co-factors in Burkitt lymphomagenesis. The second widens the argument to include both infectious and non-infectious sources of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of EBV-positive tumours such as T/NK cell lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Rickinson
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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23
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Raghupathy R, Hui EP, Chan ATC. Epstein-Barr virus as a paradigm in nasopharyngeal cancer: from lab to clinic. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2014:149-153. [PMID: 24857071 DOI: 10.14694/edbook_am.2014.34.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of the undifferentiated subtype remains endemic in southern China, with a peak incidence in this region approaching 30 cases per 100,000 population per year. Despite advances in chemotherapy and radiation delivery techniques in localized disease, distant metastasis is still common and NPC remains the seventh leading cause of cancer death in the region. There is great need for early diagnosis, developing novel therapies, and identifying patients with localized disease at higher risk of future recurrence or metastasis to appropriately tailor their treatment and improve outcomes. Knowledge of the integral involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the pathogenesis of undifferentiated NPC has been of seminal importance in developing strategies to optimize disease management. The close association with EBV is being evaluated in multiple settings including screening of at-risk populations, disease prognostication, development of targeted therapies, optimizing adjuvant treatment, and early recurrence detection. These translational studies are likely to have an enormous effect on management of undifferentiated NPC and significantly improve the landscape of the disease in years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Raghupathy
- From the Partner State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sir Y K Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute and Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Edwin Pun Hui
- From the Partner State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sir Y K Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute and Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Anthony Tak Cheung Chan
- From the Partner State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sir Y K Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute and Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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