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Revesz IA, Joyce P, Ebert LM, Prestidge CA. Effective γδ T-cell clinical therapies: current limitations and future perspectives for cancer immunotherapy. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1492. [PMID: 38375329 PMCID: PMC10875631 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells are a unique subset of T lymphocytes, exhibiting features of both innate and adaptive immune cells and are involved with cancer immunosurveillance. They present an attractive alternative to conventional T cell-based immunotherapy due, in large part, to their lack of major histocompatibility (MHC) restriction and ability to secrete high levels of cytokines with well-known anti-tumour functions. To date, clinical trials using γδ T cell-based immunotherapy for a range of haematological and solid cancers have yielded limited success compared with in vitro studies. This inability to translate the efficacy of γδ T-cell therapies from preclinical to clinical trials is attributed to a combination of several factors, e.g. γδ T-cell agonists that are commonly used to stimulate populations of these cells have limited cellular uptake yet rely on intracellular mechanisms; administered γδ T cells display low levels of tumour-infiltration; and there is a gap in the understanding of γδ T-cell inhibitory receptors. This review explores the discrepancy between γδ T-cell clinical and preclinical performance and offers viable avenues to overcome these obstacles. Using more direct γδ T-cell agonists, encapsulating these agonists into lipid nanocarriers to improve their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and the use of combination therapies to overcome checkpoint inhibition and T-cell exhaustion are ways to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical success. Given the ability to overcome these limitations, the development of a more targeted γδ T-cell agonist-checkpoint blockade combination therapy has the potential for success in clinical trials which has to date remained elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella A Revesz
- Clinical Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Paul Joyce
- Clinical Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Lisa M Ebert
- Centre for Cancer BiologySA Pathology and University of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
- Cancer Clinical Trials UnitRoyal Adelaide HospitalAdelaideSAAustralia
- School of MedicineThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Clive A Prestidge
- Clinical Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
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γδ T Lymphocytes as a Double-Edged Sword-State of the Art in Gynecological Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314797. [PMID: 36499125 PMCID: PMC9740168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Human gamma-delta (γδ) T cells are a heterogeneous cell population that bridges the gap between innate and acquired immunity. They are involved in a variety of immunological processes, including tumor escape mechanisms. However, by being prolific cytokine producers, these lymphocytes also participate in antitumor cytotoxicity. Which one of the two possibilities takes place depends on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the subpopulation of γδ T lymphocytes. The aim of this paper is to summarize existing knowledge about the phenotype and dual role of γδ T cells in cancers, including ovarian cancer (OC). OC is the third most common gynecological cancer and the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Anticancer immunity in OC is modulated by the TME, including by immunosuppressive cells, cytokines, and soluble factors. Immune cells are exposed in the TME to many signals that determine their immunophenotype and can manipulate their functions. The significance of γδ T cells in the pathophysiology of OC is enigmatic and remains to be investigated.
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Zhang Y, Cui Q, Xu M, Liu D, Yao S, Chen M. Current Advances in PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:901772. [PMID: 35833132 PMCID: PMC9271774 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.901772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of a variety of cancers. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and the rate of advanced tumor progression or recurrence is as high as 80%. Current salvage strategies for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer are rarely curative. Recurrent ovarian cancer is a “cold tumor”, predominantly due to a lack of tumor antigens and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In trials testing programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade as a monotherapy, the response rate was only 8.0-22.2%. In this review, we illustrate the status of cold tumors in ovarian cancer and summarize the existing clinical trials investigating PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in recurrent ovarian cancer. Increasing numbers of immunotherapy combination trials have been set up to improve the response rate of EOC. The current preclinical and clinical development of immunotherapy combination therapy to convert an immune cold tumor into a hot tumor and their underlying mechanisms are also reviewed. The combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 with other immunomodulatory drugs or therapies, such as chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapies, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and oncolytic therapy, could be beneficial. Further efforts are merited to transfer these results to a broader clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuedi Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiulin Cui
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manman Xu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duo Liu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuzhong Yao
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Chen, ; Shuzhong Yao,
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Chen, ; Shuzhong Yao,
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Allegra A, Casciaro M, Lo Presti E, Musolino C, Gangemi S. Harnessing Unconventional T Cells and Innate Lymphoid Cells to Prevent and Treat Hematological Malignancies: Prospects for New Immunotherapy. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060754. [PMID: 35740879 PMCID: PMC9221132 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconventional T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) make up a heterogeneous set of cells that characteristically show prompt responses toward specific antigens. Unconventional T cells recognize non-peptide antigens, which are bound and presented by diverse non-polymorphic antigen-presenting molecules and comprise γδ T cells, MR1-restricted mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAITs), and natural killer T cells (NKTs). On the other hand, ILCs lack antigen-specific receptors and act as the innate counterpart to the T lymphocytes found in the adaptive immune response. The alteration of unconventional T cells and ILCs in frequency and functionality is correlated with the onset of several autoimmune diseases, allergy, inflammation, and tumor. However, depending on the physio-pathological framework, unconventional T cells may exhibit either protective or pathogenic activity in a range of neoplastic diseases. Nonetheless, experimental models and clinical studies have displayed that some unconventional T cells are potential therapeutic targets, as well as prognostic and diagnostic markers. In fact, cell-mediated immune response in tumors has become the focus in immunotherapy against neoplastic disease. This review concentrates on the present knowledge concerning the function of unconventional T cell sets in the antitumor immune response in hematological malignancies, such as acute and chronic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Moreover, we discuss the possibility that modulating the activity of unconventional T cells could be useful in the treatment of hematological neoplasms, in the prevention of specific conditions (such as graft versus host disease), and in the formulation of an effective anticancer vaccine therapy. The exact knowledge of the role of these cells could represent the prerequisite for the creation of a new form of immunotherapy for hematological neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Allegra
- Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, Division of Hematology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Marco Casciaro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-221-2013
| | - Elena Lo Presti
- National Research Council (CNR)—Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Caterina Musolino
- Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, Division of Hematology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
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Li J, Sun L, Chen Y, Zhu J, Shen J, Wang J, Gu Y, Zhang G, Wang M, Shi T, Chen W. Gastric cancer-derived exosomal miR-135b-5p impairs the function of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by targeting specificity protein 1. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 71:311-325. [PMID: 34159436 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02991-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that tumor-derived exosomes participate in the communication between tumor cells and their microenvironment and mediate malignant biological behaviors including immune escape. In this study, we found that gastric cancer (GC) cell-derived exosomes could be effectively uptaken by Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, decrease the cell viability of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, induce apoptosis, and reduce the production of cytotoxic cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α. Furthermore, we demonstrated that exosomal miR-135b-5p was delivered into Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Exosomal miR-135b-5p impaired the function of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by targeting specificity protein 1 (SP1). More importantly, blocking the SP1 function by Plicamycin, an SP1 inhibitor, abolished the effect of stable miR-135b-5p knockdown GC cell-derived exosomes on Vγ9Vδ2 T cell function. Collectively, our results suggest that GC cell-derived exosomes impair the function of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells via miR-135b-5p/SP1 pathway, and targeting exosomal miR-135b-5p/SP1 axis may improve the efficiency of GC immunotherapy based on Vγ9Vδ2 T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Li
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Linqing Sun
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jinghan Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin Shen
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanzheng Gu
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Guangbo Zhang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Mingyuan Wang
- Suzhou Red Cross Blood Center, 355 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Tongguo Shi
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Province, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, 215100, China.
| | - Weichang Chen
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Province, 50 Donghuan Road, Suzhou, 215100, China.
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Kabelitz D, Serrano R, Kouakanou L, Peters C, Kalyan S. Cancer immunotherapy with γδ T cells: many paths ahead of us. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:925-939. [PMID: 32699351 PMCID: PMC7609273 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0504-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells play uniquely important roles in stress surveillance and immunity for infections and carcinogenesis. Human γδ T cells recognize and kill transformed cells independently of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restriction, which is an essential feature of conventional αβ T cells. Vγ9Vδ2 γδ T cells, which prevail in the peripheral blood of healthy adults, are activated by microbial or endogenous tumor-derived pyrophosphates by a mechanism dependent on butyrophilin molecules. γδ T cells expressing other T cell receptor variable genes, notably Vδ1, are more abundant in mucosal tissue. In addition to the T cell receptor, γδ T cells usually express activating natural killer (NK) receptors, such as NKp30, NKp44, or NKG2D which binds to stress-inducible surface molecules that are absent on healthy cells but are frequently expressed on malignant cells. Therefore, γδ T cells are endowed with at least two independent recognition systems to sense tumor cells and to initiate anticancer effector mechanisms, including cytokine production and cytotoxicity. In view of their HLA-independent potent antitumor activity, there has been increasing interest in translating the unique potential of γδ T cells into innovative cellular cancer immunotherapies. Here, we discuss recent developments to enhance the efficacy of γδ T cell-based immunotherapy. This includes strategies for in vivo activation and tumor-targeting of γδ T cells, the optimization of in vitro expansion protocols, and the development of gene-modified γδ T cells. It is equally important to consider potential synergisms with other therapeutic strategies, notably checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, or the (local) activation of innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Kabelitz
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, D-24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ruben Serrano
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, D-24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Léonce Kouakanou
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, D-24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Peters
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, D-24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Shirin Kalyan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Joalland N, Scotet E. Emerging Challenges of Preclinical Models of Anti-tumor Immunotherapeutic Strategies Utilizing Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:992. [PMID: 32528477 PMCID: PMC7256197 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances, the eradication of cancers still represents a challenge which justifies the exploration of additional therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapies, including adoptive cell transfers. Human peripheral Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, which constitute a major transitional immunity lymphocyte subset, represent attractive candidates because of their broad and efficient anti-tumor functions, as well as their lack of alloreactivity and easy handling. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells act like immune cell stress sensors that can, in a tightly controlled manner but through yet incompletely understood mechanisms, detect subtle changes of levels of phosphorylated metabolites of isoprenoid synthesis pathways. Consequently, various anti-tumor immunotherapeutic strategies have been proposed to enhance their reactivity and cytotoxicity, as well as to reduce the deleterious events. In this review, we expose these advances based on different strategies and their validation in preclinical models. Importantly, we next discuss advantages and limits of each approach, by highlighting the importance of the use of relevant preclinical model for evaluation of safety and efficacy. Finally, we propose novel perspectives and strategies that should be explored using these models for therapeutic improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Joalland
- Université de Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, CRCINA, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
| | - Emmanuel Scotet
- Université de Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, CRCINA, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
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