1
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Chapman NM, Chi H. Metabolic rewiring and communication in cancer immunity. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:862-883. [PMID: 38428418 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.02.001] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The immune system shapes tumor development and progression. Although immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, its overall efficacy remains limited, underscoring the need to uncover mechanisms to improve therapeutic effects. Metabolism-associated processes, including intracellular metabolic reprogramming and intercellular metabolic crosstalk, are emerging as instructive signals for anti-tumor immunity. Here, we first summarize the roles of intracellular metabolic pathways in controlling immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment. How intercellular metabolic communication regulates anti-tumor immunity, and the impact of metabolites or nutrients on signaling events, are also discussed. We then describe how targeting metabolic pathways in tumor cells or intratumoral immune cells or via nutrient-based interventions may boost cancer immunotherapies. Finally, we conclude with discussions on profiling and functional perturbation methods of metabolic activity in intratumoral immune cells, and perspectives on future directions. Uncovering the mechanisms for metabolic rewiring and communication in the tumor microenvironment may enable development of novel cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Chapman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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2
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Shi H, Chen S, Chi H. Immunometabolism of CD8 + T cell differentiation in cancer. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00059-1. [PMID: 38693002 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are central mediators of tumor immunity and immunotherapies. Upon tumor antigen recognition, CTLs differentiate from naive/memory-like toward terminally exhausted populations with more limited function against tumors. Such differentiation is regulated by both immune signals, including T cell receptors (TCRs), co-stimulation, and cytokines, and metabolism-associated processes. These immune signals shape the metabolic landscape via signaling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, while metabolic processes in turn exert spatiotemporal effects to modulate the strength and duration of immune signaling. Here, we review the bidirectional regulation between immune signals and metabolic processes, including nutrient uptake and intracellular metabolic pathways, in shaping CTL differentiation and exhaustion. We also discuss the mechanisms underlying how specific nutrient sources and metabolite-mediated signaling events orchestrate CTL biology. Understanding how metabolic programs and their interplay with immune signals instruct CTL differentiation and exhaustion is crucial to uncover tumor-immune interactions and design novel immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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3
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Wang H, Huang Y, Wang R. Tonic-ing emissions and compatibility to turbocharge CAR-T. Nat Metab 2024:10.1038/s42255-024-01022-x. [PMID: 38658804 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01022-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Haopeng Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuwei Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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4
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Tripathi A, Dasgupta D, Pant A, Bugbee A, Yellapu NK, Choi BHY, Giri S, Pyaram K. Nrf2 regulates the activation-driven expansion of CD4 + T-cells by differentially modulating glucose and glutamine metabolism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.18.590146. [PMID: 38712097 PMCID: PMC11071319 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.18.590146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Upon antigenic stimulation, CD4 + T-cells undergo clonal expansion, elevating their bioenergetic demands and utilization of nutrients like glucose and glutamine. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known regulator of oxidative stress, but its involvement in modulating the metabolism of CD4 + T-cells remains unexplored. Here, we elucidate the role of Nrf2 beyond the traditional antioxidation, in modulating activation-driven expansion of CD4 + T-cells by influencing their nutrient metabolism. T-cell-specific activation of Nrf2 enhances early activation and IL-2 secretion, upregulates TCR-signaling, and increases activation-driven proliferation of CD4 + T-cells. Mechanistically, high Nrf2 inhibits glucose metabolism through glycolysis but promotes glutamine metabolism via glutaminolysis to support increased T-cell proliferation. Further, Nrf2 expression is temporally regulated in activated CD4 + T-cells with elevated expression during the early activation, but decreased expression thereafter. Overall, our findings uncover a novel role of Nrf2 as a metabolic modulator of CD4 + T-cells, thus providing a framework for improving Nrf2-targeting therapies and T-cell immunotherapies.
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5
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Dang Q, Li B, Jin B, Ye Z, Lou X, Wang T, Wang Y, Pan X, Hu Q, Li Z, Ji S, Zhou C, Yu X, Qin Y, Xu X. Cancer immunometabolism: advent, challenges, and perspective. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:72. [PMID: 38581001 PMCID: PMC10996263 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01981-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
For decades, great strides have been made in the field of immunometabolism. A plethora of evidence ranging from basic mechanisms to clinical transformation has gradually embarked on immunometabolism to the center stage of innate and adaptive immunomodulation. Given this, we focus on changes in immunometabolism, a converging series of biochemical events that alters immune cell function, propose the immune roles played by diversified metabolic derivatives and enzymes, emphasize the key metabolism-related checkpoints in distinct immune cell types, and discuss the ongoing and upcoming realities of clinical treatment. It is expected that future research will reduce the current limitations of immunotherapy and provide a positive hand in immune responses to exert a broader therapeutic role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Dang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Borui Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Jin
- School of Clinical Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zeng Ye
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Lou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Yijishan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Qiangsheng Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunrong Ji
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenjie Zhou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaowu Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Yuan Q, Yin L, He J, Zeng Q, Liang Y, Shen Y, Zu X. Metabolism of asparagine in the physiological state and cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:163. [PMID: 38448969 PMCID: PMC10916255 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Asparagine, an important amino acid in mammals, is produced in several organs and is widely used for the production of other nutrients such as glucose, proteins, lipids, and nucleotides. Asparagine has also been reported to play a vital role in the development of cancer cells. Although several types of cancer cells can synthesise asparagine alone, their synthesis levels are insufficient to meet their requirements. These cells must rely on the supply of exogenous asparagine, which is why asparagine is considered a semi-essential amino acid. Therefore, nutritional inhibition by targeting asparagine is often considered as an anti-cancer strategy and has shown success in the treatment of leukaemia. However, asparagine limitation alone does not achieve an ideal therapeutic effect because of stress responses that upregulate asparagine synthase (ASNS) to meet the requirements for asparagine in cancer cells. Various cancer cells initiate different reprogramming processes in response to the deficiency of asparagine. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively understand the asparagine metabolism in cancers. This review primarily discusses the physiological role of asparagine and the current progress in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Yuan
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Liyang Yin
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Jun He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Qiting Zeng
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Yuxin Liang
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Yingying Shen
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.
| | - Xuyu Zu
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.
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7
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Raynor JL, Chi H. Nutrients: Signal 4 in T cell immunity. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20221839. [PMID: 38411744 PMCID: PMC10899091 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells are integral in mediating adaptive immunity to infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Upon immune challenge, T cells exit from a quiescent state, followed by clonal expansion and effector differentiation. These processes are shaped by three established immune signals, namely antigen stimulation (Signal 1), costimulation (Signal 2), and cytokines (Signal 3). Emerging findings reveal that nutrients, including glucose, amino acids, and lipids, are crucial regulators of T cell responses and interplay with Signals 1-3, highlighting nutrients as Signal 4 to license T cell immunity. Here, we first summarize the functional importance of Signal 4 and the underlying mechanisms of nutrient transport, sensing, and signaling in orchestrating T cell activation and quiescence exit. We also discuss the roles of nutrients in programming T cell differentiation and functional fitness and how nutrients can be targeted to improve disease therapy. Understanding how T cells respond to Signal 4 nutrients in microenvironments will provide insights into context-dependent functions of adaptive immunity and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana L Raynor
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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8
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Han C, Ge M, Xing P, Xia T, Zhang C, Ma K, Ma Y, Li S, Li W, Liu X, Zhang B, Zhang L, Zhang L. Cystine deprivation triggers CD36-mediated ferroptosis and dysfunction of tumor infiltrating CD8 + T cells. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:145. [PMID: 38360744 PMCID: PMC10869360 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06503-1] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells develop multiple strategies to evade T cell-mediated killing. On one hand, cancer cells may preferentially rely on certain amino acids for rapid growth and metastasis. On the other hand, sufficient nutrient availability and uptake are necessary for mounting an effective T cell anti-tumor response in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we demonstrate that tumor cells outcompete T cells for cystine uptake due to high Slc7a11 expression. This competition induces T-cell exhaustion and ferroptosis, characterized by diminished memory formation and cytokine secretion, increased PD-1 and TIM-3 expression, as well as intracellular oxidative stress and lipid-peroxide accumulation. Importantly, either Slc7a11 deletion in tumor cells or intratumoral cystine supplementation improves T cell anti-tumor immunity. Mechanistically, cystine deprivation in T cells disrupts glutathione synthesis, but promotes CD36 mediated lipid uptake due to dysregulated cystine/glutamate exchange. Moreover, enforced expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) promotes glutathione synthesis and prevents CD36 upregulation, thus boosting T cell anti-tumor immunity. Our findings reveal cystine as an intracellular metabolic checkpoint that orchestrates T-cell survival and differentiation, and highlight Gclc as a potential therapeutic target for enhancing T cell anti-tumor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenfeng Han
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Minmin Ge
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Pengfei Xing
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Center for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Laboratory for Combined Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy of Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tian Xia
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences (IBMS), Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Cangang Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kaili Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yifu Ma
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Center for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Laboratory for Combined Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy of Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shicheng Li
- Center for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Center for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Laboratory for Combined Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy of Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Lianjun Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
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9
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Huang M, Yu X, Wang Q, Jiang Z, Li X, Chen W, Song C. The immune checkpoint TIGIT/CD155 promotes the exhaustion of CD8 + T cells in TNBC through glucose metabolic reprogramming mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:35. [PMID: 38216949 PMCID: PMC10785424 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01455-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The CD155/TIGIT axis has attracted considerable interest as an emerging immune checkpoint with potential applications in cancer immunotherapy. Our research focused on investigating the role of CD155/TIGIT checkpoints in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS We evaluated CD155 and TIGIT expression in TNBC tissues using both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene expression profiling. Our experiments, both in vivo and in vitro, provided evidence that inhibiting the CD155/TIGIT pathway reinstates the ability of CD8 + T cells to generate cytokines. To assess the impact of CD155/TIGIT signaling blockade, we utilized Glucose Assay Kits and Lactate Assay Kits to measure alterations in glucose and lactate levels within CD8 + T cells. We employed western blotting (WB) to investigate alterations in glycolytic-related proteins within the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways following the inhibition of CD155/TIGIT signaling. RESULTS CD155 exhibits heightened expression within TNBC tissues and exhibits a negative correlation with the extent of infiltrating CD8 + T cells. Furthermore, patients with TNBC demonstrate elevated levels of TIGIT expression. Our findings indicate that the interaction between CD155 and TIGIT disrupts the glucose metabolism of CD8 + T cells by suppressing the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, ultimately leading to the reduced production of cytokines by CD8 + T cells. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have conclusively demonstrated that the inhibition of CD155/TIGIT interaction reinstates the capacity of CD8 + T cells to generate cytokines. Moreover, in vivo administration of the blocking antibody against TIGIT not only inhibits tumor growth but also augments the functionality of CD8 + T lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our research findings strongly suggest that CD155/TIGIT represents a promising therapeutic target for treating TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyao Huang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, 350011, China
| | - Xiaoqin Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, 350011, China
| | - Zirong Jiang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, 350011, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Oncology Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Chuangui Song
- Department of Breast Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, 350011, China.
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
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