1
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Forbes C, Nierkens S, Cornel AM. Thymic NK-Cells and Their Potential in Cancer Immunotherapy. Immunotargets Ther 2024; 13:183-194. [PMID: 38558927 PMCID: PMC10979679 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s441639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK)-cells are innate immune cells with potent anti-tumor capacity, capable of recognizing target cells without prior exposure. For this reason, NK-cells are recognized as a useful source of cell therapy. Although most NK-cells are derived from the bone marrow (BM), a separate developmental pathway in the thymus also exists, producing so-called thymic NK-cells. Unlike conventional NK-cells, thymic NK (tNK)-cells have a combined capacity for cytokine production and a natural ability to kill tumor cells in the presence of NK-cell receptor stimulatory ligands. Furthermore, tNK-cells are reported to express CD3 subunits intracellularly, without the presence of a rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR). This unique feature may enable harnessing of these cells with a TCR to combine NK- and T-cell effector properties in one cell type. The development, phenotype, and function of tNK-cells, and potential as a cell therapy is, however, poorly explored. In this review, we provide an overview of current literature on both murine and human tNK-cells in comparison to conventional BM-derived NK-cells, and discuss the potential applications of this cellular subset in the context of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn Forbes
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Nierkens
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annelisa M Cornel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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2
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Zhang Y, Zhou W, Yang J, Yang J, Wang W. Chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells for cancer therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:70. [PMID: 37563648 PMCID: PMC10413722 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, a unique component of the innate immune system, are inherent killers of stressed and transformed cells. Based on their potent capacity to kill cancer cells and good tolerance of healthy cells, NK cells have been successfully employed in adoptive cell therapy to treat cancer patients. In recent years, the clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has proven the vast potential of gene-manipulated immune cells as the main force to fight cancer. Following the lessons learned from mature gene-transfer technologies and advanced strategies in CAR-T therapy, NK cells have been rapidly explored as a promising candidate for CAR-based therapy. An exponentially growing number of studies have employed multiple sources of CAR-NK cells to target a wide range of cancer-related antigens, showing remarkable outcomes and encouraging safety profiles. Clinical trials of CAR-NK cells have also shown their impressive therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors, but CAR-NK cell therapy for solid tumors is still in the initial stages. In this review, we present the favorable profile of NK cells as a potential platform for CAR-based engineering and then summarize the outcomes and strategies of CAR-NK therapies in up-to-date preclinical and clinical investigations. Finally, we evaluate the challenges remaining in CAR-NK therapy and describe existing strategies that can assist us in devising future prospective solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangping Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Hematology Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Ghaedrahmati F, Esmaeil N, Abbaspour M. Targeting immune checkpoints: how to use natural killer cells for fighting against solid tumors. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 43:177-213. [PMID: 36585761 PMCID: PMC9926962 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are unique innate immune cells that mediate anti-viral and anti-tumor responses. Thus, they might hold great potential for cancer immunotherapy. NK cell adoptive immunotherapy in humans has shown modest efficacy. In particular, it has failed to demonstrate therapeutic efficiency in the treatment of solid tumors, possibly due in part to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which reduces NK cell immunotherapy's efficiencies. It is known that immune checkpoints play a prominent role in creating an immunosuppressive TME, leading to NK cell exhaustion and tumor immune escape. Therefore, NK cells must be reversed from their dysfunctional status and increased in their effector roles in order to improve the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy. Blockade of immune checkpoints can not only rescue NK cells from exhaustion but also augment their robust anti-tumor activity. In this review, we discussed immune checkpoint blockade strategies with a focus on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells to redirect NK cells to cancer cells in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhoodeh Ghaedrahmati
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Department of ImmunologySchool of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran,Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non‐Communicable DiseaseIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Maryam Abbaspour
- Department of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyFaculty of PharmacyIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
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4
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The Race of CAR Therapies: CAR-NK Cells for Fighting B-Cell Hematological Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215418. [PMID: 34771581 PMCID: PMC8582420 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Over the last few years, CAR-T cells have arisen as one of the most promising immunotherapies against relapsed or refractory hematological cancers. Despite their good results in clinical trials, there are some limitations to overcome, such as undesirable side-effects or the restraints of an autologous treatment. Therefore, CAR-NK cells have emerged as a good alternative for these kinds of treatments. This review discusses the advantages of CAR-NK cells compared to CAR-T cells, as well as the different sources and strategies in order to obtain these CAR-NK cells. Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are the most common leukemias in children and elderly people, respectively. Standard therapies, such as chemotherapy, are only effective in 40% of ALL adult patients with a five-year survival rate and therefore new alternatives need to be used, such as immunotherapy targeting specific receptors of malignant cells. Among all the options, CAR (Chimeric antigen receptor)-based therapy has arisen as a new opportunity for refractory or relapsed hematological cancer patients. CARs were designed to be used along with T lymphocytes, creating CAR-T cells, but they are presenting such encouraging results that they are already in use as drugs. Nonetheless, their side-effects and the fact that it is not possible to infuse an allogenic CAR-T product without causing graft-versus-host-disease, have meant using a different cell source to solve these problems, such as Natural Killer (NK) cells. Although CAR-based treatment is a high-speed race led by CAR-T cells, CAR-NK cells are slowly (but surely) consolidating their position; their demonstrated efficacy and the lack of undesirable side-effects is opening a new door for CAR-based treatments. CAR-NKs are now in the field to stay.
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5
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Kiekens L, Van Loocke W, Taveirne S, Wahlen S, Persyn E, Van Ammel E, De Vos Z, Matthys P, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Taghon T, Van Vlierberghe P, Vandekerckhove B, Leclercq G. T-BET and EOMES Accelerate and Enhance Functional Differentiation of Human Natural Killer Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:732511. [PMID: 34630413 PMCID: PMC8497824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.732511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
T-bet and Eomes are transcription factors that are known to be important in maturation and function of murine natural killer (NK) cells. Reduced T-BET and EOMES expression results in dysfunctional NK cells and failure to control tumor growth. In contrast to mice, the current knowledge on the role of T-BET and EOMES in human NK cells is rudimentary. Here, we ectopically expressed either T-BET or EOMES in human hematopoietic progenitor cells. Combined transcriptome, chromatin accessibility and protein expression analyses revealed that T-BET or EOMES epigenetically represses hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and non-NK lineage differentiation genes, while activating an NK cell-specific transcriptome and thereby drastically accelerating NK cell differentiation. In this model, the effects of T-BET and EOMES are largely overlapping, yet EOMES shows a superior role in early NK cell maturation and induces faster NK receptor and enhanced CD16 expression. T-BET particularly controls transcription of terminal maturation markers and epigenetically controls strong induction of KIR expression. Finally, NK cells generated upon T-BET or EOMES overexpression display improved functionality, including increased IFN-γ production and killing, and especially EOMES overexpression NK cells have enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Our findings reveal novel insights on the regulatory role of T-BET and EOMES in human NK cell maturation and function, which is essential to further understand human NK cell biology and to optimize adoptive NK cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kiekens
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Taveirne
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Wahlen
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Persyn
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Van Ammel
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zenzi De Vos
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Matthys
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Taghon
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Vandekerckhove
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Georges Leclercq
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
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6
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Stem cells-derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy: current protocols, feasibility, and benefits of ex vivo generated natural killer cells in treatment of advanced solid tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 70:3369-3395. [PMID: 34218295 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02975-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy provides a practical therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced solid tumors (STs). This approach is adaptively conducted by the autologous and identical NK cells after in vitro expansion and overnight activation. However, the NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy has been faced with some fundamental and technical limitations. Moreover, the desirable outcomes of the NK cell therapy may not be achieved due to the complex tumor microenvironment by inhibition of intra-tumoral polarization and cytotoxicity of implanted NK cells. Currently, stem cells (SCs) technology provides a powerful opportunity to generate more effective and universal sources of the NK cells. Till now, several strategies have been developed to differentiate types of the pluripotent and adult SCs into the mature NK cells, with both feeder layer-dependent and/or feeder laye-free strategies. Higher cytokine production and intra-tumoral polarization capabilities as well as stronger anti-tumor properties are the main features of these SCs-derived NK cells. The present review article focuses on the principal barriers through the conventional NK cell immunotherapies for patients with advanced STs. It also provides a comprehensive resource of protocols regarding the generation of SCs-derived NK cells in an ex vivo condition.
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7
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Daher M, Melo Garcia L, Li Y, Rezvani K. CAR-NK cells: the next wave of cellular therapy for cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1274. [PMID: 33959279 PMCID: PMC8080297 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have revolutionised the field of cellular therapy for cancer. Despite its success, this strategy has some recognised limitations and toxicities. Hence, there is growing interest in developing novel cellular therapies based on non-αβ T-cell immune effector cells, including NK cells that offer clear advantages in cancer immunotherapy. As a result, NK cells are being explored as an alternative platform for CAR engineering and are becoming recognised as important players in the next generation of cellular therapies targeting cancer. In this review, we highlight preclinical and clinical studies of CAR-NK cells derived from different sources and discuss strategies under investigation to enhance the antitumor activity of these engineered innate immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Daher
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
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8
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Lee BJ, Hegewisch Solloa E, Shannon MJ, Mace EM. Generation of cell-derived matrices that support human NK cell migration and differentiation. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 108:1369-1378. [PMID: 32392635 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.1ma0420-635r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human NK cells are effectors of the innate immune system that originate from hematopoietic precursors in the bone marrow. While stromal cell lines that support NK cell development from hematopoietic precursors are often used to generate mature NK cells from lymphoid precursors in vitro, the nature of contributing factors of these stromal cells to the generation of functionally mature NK cells has been poorly described. Previous studies have shown that developing NK cells adhere to, and migrate on, developmentally supportive stroma. Here, we describe the generation of cell-derived matrices (CDMs) from a commonly used murine fetal liver stromal cell line. These CDMs are derived directly from the same EL08.1D2 stromal cell line known to support NK cell differentiation and contain ECM structural components fibronectin and collagen. We demonstrate that CDMs support NK cell adhesion and migration with similar properties as intact cells. Further, we show that CDMs support NK cell maturation from lymphoid precursors in vitro, albeit with reduced cell survival compared to intact cell-based differentiation. Together, these results describe a cell-free system that supports NK cell development and that can serve as a useful model for studying the nature of the biochemical interactions between NK cell developmental intermediates and developmentally supportive substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barclay J Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Everardo Hegewisch Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael J Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Herrera L, Salcedo JM, Santos S, Vesga MÁ, Borrego F, Eguizabal C. OP9 Feeder Cells Are Superior to M2-10B4 Cells for the Generation of Mature and Functional Natural Killer Cells from Umbilical Cord Hematopoietic Progenitors. Front Immunol 2017; 8:755. [PMID: 28713379 PMCID: PMC5491543 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive natural killer (NK) cell therapy relies on the acquisition of large numbers of mature and functional NK cells. An option for future immunotherapy treatments is to use large amounts of NK cells derived and differentiated from umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), mainly because UCB is one of the most accessible HSC sources. In our study, we compared the potential of two stromal cell lines, OP9 and M2-10B4, for in vitro generation of mature and functional CD56+ NK cells from UCB CD34+ HSC. We generated higher number of CD56+ NK cells in the presence of the OP9 cell line than when they were generated in the presence of M2-10B4 cells. Furthermore, higher frequency of CD56+ NK cells was achieved earlier when cultures were performed with the OP9 cells than with the M2-10B4 cells. Additionally, we studied in detail the maturation stages of CD56+ NK cells during the in vitro differentiation process. Our data show that by using both stromal cell lines, CD34+ HSC in vitro differentiated into the terminal stages 4–5 of maturation resembled the in vivo differentiation pattern of human NK cells. Higher frequencies of more mature NK cells were reached earlier by using OP9 cell line than M2-10B4 cells. Alternatively, we observed that our in vitro NK cells expressed similar levels of granzyme B and perforin, and there were no significant differences between cultures performed in the presence of OP9 cell line or M2-10B4 cell line. Likewise, degranulation and cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells were very similar in both culture conditions. The results presented here provide an optimal strategy to generate high numbers of mature and functional NK cells in vitro, and point toward the use of the OP9 stromal cell line to accelerate the culture procedure to obtain them. Furthermore, this method could establish the basis for the generation of mature NK cells ready for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Herrera
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Salcedo
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Silvia Santos
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Vesga
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Francisco Borrego
- Research Unit, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain.,Immunopathology Group, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
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10
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Veluchamy JP, Kok N, van der Vliet HJ, Verheul HMW, de Gruijl TD, Spanholtz J. The Rise of Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells As a Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy: Recent Innovations and Future Developments. Front Immunol 2017; 8:631. [PMID: 28620386 PMCID: PMC5450018 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical immune effector cells in the fight against cancer. As NK cells in cancer patients are highly dysfunctional and reduced in number, adoptive transfer of large numbers of cytolytic NK cells and their potential to induce relevant antitumor responses are widely explored in cancer immunotherapy. Early studies from autologous NK cells have failed to demonstrate significant clinical benefit. In this review, the clinical benefits of adoptively transferred allogeneic NK cells in a transplant and non-transplant setting are compared and discussed in the context of relevant NK cell platforms that are being developed and optimized by various biotech industries with a special focus on augmenting NK cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Veluchamy
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Glycostem Therapeutics, Oss, Netherlands
| | - Nina Kok
- Glycostem Therapeutics, Oss, Netherlands
| | - Hans J van der Vliet
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henk M W Verheul
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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11
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Post M, Cuapio A, Osl M, Lehmann D, Resch U, Davies DM, Bilban M, Schlechta B, Eppel W, Nathwani A, Stoiber D, Spanholtz J, Casanova E, Hofer E. The Transcription Factor ZNF683/HOBIT Regulates Human NK-Cell Development. Front Immunol 2017; 8:535. [PMID: 28555134 PMCID: PMC5430038 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We identified ZNF683/HOBIT as the most highly upregulated transcription factor gene during ex vivo differentiation of human CD34+ cord blood progenitor cells to CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells. ZNF683/HOBIT mRNA was preferentially expressed in NK cells compared to other human peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes. During ex vivo differentiation, ZNF683/HOBIT mRNA started to increase shortly after addition of IL-15 and further accumulated in parallel to the generation of CD56+ NK cells. shRNA-mediated knockdown of ZNF683/HOBIT resulted in a substantial reduction of CD56−CD14− NK-cell progenitors and the following generation of CD56+ NK cells was largely abrogated. The few CD56+ NK cells, which escaped the developmental inhibition in the ZNF683/HOBIT knockdown cultures, displayed normal levels of NKG2A and KIR receptors. Functional analyses of these cells showed no differences in degranulation capacity from control cultures. However, the proportion of IFN-γ-producing cells appeared to be increased upon ZNF683/HOBIT knockdown. These results indicate a key role of ZNF683/HOBIT for the differentiation of the human NK-cell lineage and further suggest a potential negative control on IFN-γ production in more mature human NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirte Post
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelica Cuapio
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Osl
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dorit Lehmann
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Resch
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David M Davies
- Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Martin Bilban
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Schlechta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Eppel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Amit Nathwani
- Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Pharmacology, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Emilio Casanova
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Physiology, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Erhard Hofer
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Veluchamy JP, Lopez-Lastra S, Spanholtz J, Bohme F, Kok N, Heideman DAM, Verheul HMW, Di Santo JP, de Gruijl TD, van der Vliet HJ. In Vivo Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell-Derived NK Cells in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2017; 8:87. [PMID: 28220124 PMCID: PMC5292674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) act by inhibiting EGFR downstream signaling and by eliciting a natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumor response. The IgG1 mAb cetuximab has been used for treatment of RASwt metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, showing limited efficacy. In the present study, we address the potential of adoptive NK cell therapy to overcome these limitations investigating two allogeneic NK cell products, i.e., allogeneic activated peripheral blood NK cells (A-PBNK) and umbilical cord blood stem cell-derived NK cells (UCB-NK). While cetuximab monotherapy was not effective against EGFR− RASwt, EGFR+ RASmut, and EGFR+ BRAFmut cells, A-PBNK were able to initiate lysis of EGFR+ colon cancer cells irrespective of RAS or BRAF status. Cytotoxic effects of A-PBNK (but not UCB-NK) were further potentiated significantly by coating EGFR+ colon cancer cells with cetuximab. Of note, a significantly higher cytotoxicity was induced by UCB-NK in EGFR−RASwt (42 ± 8 versus 67 ± 7%), EGFR+ RASmut (20 ± 2 versus 37 ± 6%), and EGFR+ BRAFmut (23 ± 3 versus 43 ± 7%) colon cancer cells compared to A-PBNK and equaled the cytotoxic efficacy of the combination of A-PBNK and cetuximab. The antitumor efficacy of UCB-NK cells against cetuximab-resistant human EGFR+ RASmut colon cancer cells was further confirmed in an in vivo preclinical mouse model where UCB-NK showed enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity against colon cancer independent of EGFR and RAS status. As UCB-NK have been proven safe in a recently conducted phase I clinical trial in acute myeloid leukemia, a fast translation into clinical proof of concept for mCRC could be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Veluchamy
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Glycostem Therapeutics, Oss, Netherlands
| | - Silvia Lopez-Lastra
- Innate Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1223, Paris, France; Université Paris-Sud (Paris-Saclay), Paris, France
| | | | | | - Nina Kok
- Glycostem Therapeutics , Oss , Netherlands
| | | | - Henk M W Verheul
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands
| | - James P Di Santo
- Innate Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1223, Paris, France
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands
| | - Hans J van der Vliet
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands
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13
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Bone marrow produces sufficient alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells in vivo to cure mice from subcutaneously and intravascularly injected 4T1 breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2016; 161:421-433. [PMID: 27915436 PMCID: PMC5241334 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-016-4067-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Administration of 5 million alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells after low-dose chemo-irradiation cured mice of 4T1 breast cancer, supposedly dose dependent. We now explored the efficacy of bone marrow as alternative in vivo source of NK cells for anti-breast cancer treatment, as methods for in vitro clinical scale NK cell expansion are still in developmental phases. Methods Progression-free survival (PFS) after treatment with different doses of spleen-derived alloreactive NK cells to 4T1-bearing Balb/c mice was measured to determine a dose–response relation. The potential of bone marrow as source of alloreactive NK cells was explored using MHC-mismatched mice as recipients of 4T1. Chemo-irradiation consisted of 2× 2 Gy total body irradiation and 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. Antibody-mediated in vivo NK cell depletion was applied to demonstrate the NK cell’s role. Results Administration of 2.5 instead of 5 million alloreactive NK cells significantly reduced PFS, evidencing dose responsiveness. Compared to MHC-matched receivers of subcutaneous 4T1, fewer MHC-mismatched mice developed tumors, which was due to NK cell alloreactivity because in vivo NK cell depletion facilitated tumor growth. Application of low-dose chemo-irradiation increased plasma levels of NK cell-activating cytokines, NK cell activity and enhanced NK cell-dependent elimination of subcutaneous tumors. Intravenously injected 4T1 was eliminated by alloreactive NK cells in MHC-mismatched recipients without the need for chemo-irradiation. Conclusions Bone marrow is a suitable source of sufficient alloreactive NK cells for the cure of 4T1 breast cancer. These results prompt clinical exploration of bone marrow transplantation from NK-alloreactive MHC-mismatched donors in patients with metastasized breast cancer.
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14
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Veluchamy JP, Heeren AM, Spanholtz J, van Eendenburg JDH, Heideman DAM, Kenter GG, Verheul HM, van der Vliet HJ, Jordanova ES, de Gruijl TD. High-efficiency lysis of cervical cancer by allogeneic NK cells derived from umbilical cord progenitors is independent of HLA status. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 66:51-61. [PMID: 27783105 PMCID: PMC5222919 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-016-1919-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Down-regulation of HLA in tumor cells, low numbers and dysfunctionality of NK cells are commonly observed in patients with end-stage cervical cancer. Adoptive transfer of high numbers of cytotoxic NK cells might be a promising treatment approach in this setting. Here, we explored the cytotoxic efficacy on ten cervical cancer cell lines of activated allogeneic NK cells from two sources, i.e., peripheral blood (PBNK) with and without cetuximab (CET), a tumor-specific monoclonal antibody directed against EGFR, or derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB-NK). Whereas CET monotherapy was ineffective against the panel of cervical cancer cell lines, irrespective of their EGFR expression levels and despite their RASwt status, it significantly enhanced the in vitro cytotoxic efficacy of activated PBNK (P = 0.002). Equally superior cytotoxicity over activated PBNK alone was achieved by UCB-NK (P < 0.001). Both PBNK- and UCB-NK-mediated cytotoxic activity was dependent on the NK-activating receptors natural killer group 2, member D receptor (NKG2D) and DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) (P < 0.05) and unrelated to expression levels of the inhibitory receptors HLA-E and/or HLA-G. Most strikingly, whereas the PBNK’s cytotoxic activity was inversely correlated with HLA-ABC levels (P = 0.036), PBNK + CET and UCB-NK cytotoxicity were entirely independent of HLA-ABC expression. In conclusion, this study provides a rationale to initiate a clinical trial for cervical cancer with adoptively transferred allogeneic NK cells, employing either UCB-NK or PBNK + CET for EGFR-expressing tumors. Adoptive transfer of UCB-NK might serve as a generally applicable treatment for cervical cancer, enabled by HLA-, histology- and HPV-independent killing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Veluchamy
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center-Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Glycostem Therapeutics, Oss, The Netherlands
| | - A Marijne Heeren
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center-Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center Gynecological Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jaap D H van Eendenburg
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle A M Heideman
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gemma G Kenter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center Gynecological Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk M Verheul
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center-Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans J van der Vliet
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center-Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina S Jordanova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center Gynecological Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center-Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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15
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Vasu S, Berg M, Davidson-Moncada J, Tian X, Cullis H, Childs RW. A novel method to expand large numbers of CD56(+) natural killer cells from a minute fraction of selectively accessed cryopreserved cord blood for immunotherapy after transplantation. Cytotherapy 2016; 17:1582-93. [PMID: 26432560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) is increasingly used to treat acute leukemias. UCB units are thawed and infused in their entirety at transplant, precluding later use as immunotherapy to prevent or treat leukemia relapse. METHODS We developed a device that selectively thaws only 1 mL of the UCB unit, leaving the remaining UCB unit cryopreserved for subsequent transplantation. We also show that large numbers of CD56(+) natural killer (NK) cells can be expanded from these 1-mL fractions of selectively accessed UCB. Immunomagnetic depletion of CD3(+) cells of the 1-mL fraction was performed, and the cells were subsequently stimulated with irradiated Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCLs) and set to culture in media containing interleukin (IL)-2. RESULTS When a 1:20 ratio of total nucleated cells to EBV-LCL feeder cells was used, day-21 and day-35 NK cell cultures initiated from 1 mL of UCB contained a median of 430 × 10(6) (range: 44-4321 × 10(6)) and 6092 × 10(6) (range: 165-20947 × 10(6)) CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells. These cells expressed high levels of CD161, LFA-1, CD69, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, NKp80 and NKp46. UCB-derived NK cells were highly cytotoxic against K562 leukemia cells, although cytotoxicity was slightly lower than in expanded PBMC-derived NK cells. CONCLUSIONS We have developed and optimized a strategy to selectively access a small fraction from cryopreserved UCB and show that large numbers of CD56(+) cells can be expanded from this selectively accessed fraction. This strategy presents a method to explore whether early adoptive transfer of NK cells expanded from the same UCB unit used for transplantation can prevent leukemic relapse and decrease graft-versus-host disease after UCBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumithira Vasu
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Maria Berg
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Xin Tian
- Office of Biostatistics Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Herb Cullis
- American Flouroseal Corporation, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard W Childs
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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16
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Pérez-Figueroa E, Sánchez-Cuaxospa M, Martínez-Soto KA, Sánchez-Zauco N, Medina-Sansón A, Jiménez-Hernández E, Torres-Nava JR, Félix-Castro JM, Gómez A, Ortega E, Maldonado-Bernal C. Strong inflammatory response and Th1-polarization profile in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia without apparent infection. Oncol Rep 2016; 35:2699-706. [PMID: 26985678 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) often present fever. Febrile states are usually associated with infectious processes that generate an inflammatory response involving various molecules, including cytokines. However, an inflammatory response may also occur in the absence of infection. We hypothesized that the levels of inflammatory cytokines are increased in children with ALL without apparent infection. The serum levels of 13 cytokines in 99 patients with ALL and 48 non-oncological patients without apparent infection were measured using multiplex analyte profiling technology (Luminex®). The concentration of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with fever was similar between patients with ALL and fever at diagnosis and those without fever. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-10 were higher in patients with ALL vs. the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the levels of the T helper 1 (interferon‑γ and IL-12) cytokines were higher in patients with ALL vs. the control group. Transforming growth factor β was lower in patients with ALL vs. the control group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, and IL-17 were similar in the two groups. Our results indicate that the circulating levels of seven of the important studied cytokines are elevated in patients with newly diagnosed ALL without apparent infection, reflecting a strong and deregulated inflammatory state in this disease, with a Th1-polarization profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pérez-Figueroa
- Immunology and Proteomics Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - M Sánchez-Cuaxospa
- Immunology and Proteomics Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - K A Martínez-Soto
- Immunology and Proteomics Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - N Sánchez-Zauco
- Immunology and Proteomics Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - A Medina-Sansón
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | | | - J R Torres-Nava
- Oncology Service, Children's Hospital Moctezuma, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - J M Félix-Castro
- Oncology Service, Highly Specialized Unit, General Hospital National Medical Center La Raza, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - A Gómez
- Research Unit on Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center XXI Century, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - E Ortega
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - C Maldonado-Bernal
- Immunology and Proteomics Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
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17
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Liu F, Qin J, Zhang H, Li N, Shan M, Lan L, Wang Y. IP-10 and fractalkine induce cytotoxic phenotype of murine NK cells. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-015-0961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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18
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Roeven MWH, Thordardottir S, Kohela A, Maas F, Preijers F, Jansen JH, Blijlevens NM, Cany J, Schaap N, Dolstra H. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Antagonist StemRegenin1 Improves In Vitro Generation of Highly Functional Natural Killer Cells from CD34(+) Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:2886-98. [PMID: 26414401 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early natural killer (NK)-cell repopulation after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) has been associated with reduced relapse rates without an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease, indicating that donor NK cells have specific antileukemic activity. Therefore, adoptive transfer of donor NK cells is an attractive strategy to reduce relapse rates after allo-SCT. Since NK cells of donor origin will not be rejected, multiple NK-cell infusions could be administered in this setting. However, isolation of high numbers of functional NK cells from transplant donors is challenging. Hence, we developed a cytokine-based ex vivo culture protocol to generate high numbers of functional NK cells from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized CD34(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In this study, we demonstrate that addition of aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist StemRegenin1 (SR1) to our culture protocol potently enhances expansion of CD34(+) HSPCs and induces expression of NK-cell-associated transcription factors promoting NK-cell differentiation. As a result, high numbers of NK cells with an active phenotype can be generated using this culture protocol. These SR1-generated NK cells exert efficient cytolytic activity and interferon-γ production toward acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma cells. Importantly, we observed that NK-cell proliferation and function are not inhibited by cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressive drug often used after allo-SCT. These findings demonstrate that SR1 can be exploited to generate high numbers of functional NK cells from G-CSF-mobilized CD34(+) HSPCs, providing great promise for effective NK-cell-based immunotherapy after allo-SCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke W H Roeven
- 1 Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands .,2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Soley Thordardottir
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Arwa Kohela
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Frans Maas
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Preijers
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Joop H Jansen
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nicole M Blijlevens
- 1 Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeannette Cany
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nicolaas Schaap
- 1 Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Harry Dolstra
- 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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19
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Picardi A, Mengarelli A, Marino M, Gallo E, Benevolo M, Pescarmona E, Cocco R, Fraioli R, Tremante E, Petti MC, De Fabritiis P, Giacomini P. Up-regulation of activating and inhibitory NKG2 receptors in allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell grafts. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:98. [PMID: 26361968 PMCID: PMC4567793 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0213-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is known to induce the inhibitory immune receptor NKG2A on NK cells of donor origin. This occurs in allogeneic recipients, in both the haploidentical and HLA-matched settings. Methods To gain further insight, not only NKG2A, but also the activating receptors NKG2C and NKG2D were assessed by flow cytometry. Immunophenotyping was carried out not only on CD56+ but also on CD8+ lymphocytes from leukemia and lymphoma patients, receiving both HLA-matched (n = 7) and autologous (n = 5) HSCT grafts. Moreover, cognate NKG2 ligands (HLA-E, MICA, ULBP-1, ULBP-2 and ULBP-3) were assessed by immunohistochemistry in diagnostic biopsies from three autotransplanted patients, and at relapse in one case. Results All the NKG2 receptors were simultaneously up-regulated in all the allotransplanted patients on CD8+ and/or CD56+ cells between 30 and 90 days post-transplant, coinciding with, or following, allogeneic engraftment. Up-regulation was of lesser entity and restricted to CD8+ cells in the autotransplantation setting. The phenotypic expression ratio between activating and inhibitory NKG2 receptors was remarkably similar in all the patients, except two outliers (a long survivor and a short survivor) who surprisingly displayed a similar NKG2 activation immunophenotype. Tumor expression of 2 to 3 out of the 5 tested NKG2 ligands was observed in 3/3 diagnostic biopsies, and 3 ligands were up-regulated post-transplant in a patient. Conclusions Altogether, these results are consistent with a dual (activation-inhibition) NK cell re-education mode, an innate-like T cell re-tuning, and a ligand:receptor interplay between the tumor and the immune system following HSCT including, most interestingly, the up-regulation of several activating NKG2 ligands. Turning the immune receptor balance toward activation on both T and NK cells of donor origin may complement ex vivo NK cell expansion/activation strategies in unmanipulated patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-015-0213-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Picardi
- Hematology, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Mengarelli
- Hematology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mirella Marino
- Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Benevolo
- Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Pescarmona
- Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberta Cocco
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy. .,Present address: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via Anello 66016, Guardiagrele, CH, Italy.
| | - Rocco Fraioli
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisa Tremante
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Concetta Petti
- Hematology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paolo De Fabritiis
- Hematology, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Patrizio Giacomini
- Laboratory of Immunology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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20
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Sarkar S, van Gelder M, Noort W, Xu Y, Rouschop KMA, Groen R, Schouten HC, Tilanus MGJ, Germeraad WTV, Martens ACM, Bos GMJ, Wieten L. Optimal selection of natural killer cells to kill myeloma: the role of HLA-E and NKG2A. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:951-63. [PMID: 25920521 PMCID: PMC4506464 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1694-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy with allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells offers therapeutic perspectives for multiple myeloma patients. Here, we aimed to refine NK cell therapy by evaluation of the relevance of HLA-class I and HLA-E for NK anti-myeloma reactivity. We show that HLA-class I was strongly expressed on the surface of patient-derived myeloma cells and on myeloma cell lines. HLA-E was highly expressed by primary myeloma cells but only marginally by cell lines. HLA-E(low) expression on U266 cells observed in vitro was strongly upregulated after in vivo (bone marrow) growth in RAG-2(-/-) γc(-/-) mice, suggesting that in vitro HLA-E levels poorly predict the in vivo situation. Concurrent analysis of inhibitory receptors (KIR2DL1, KIR2DL2/3, KIR3DL1 and NKG2A) and NK cell degranulation upon co-culture with myeloma cells revealed that KIR-ligand-mismatched NK cells degranulate more than matched subsets and that HLA-E abrogates degranulation of NKG2A+ subsets. Inhibition by HLA-class I and HLA-E was also observed with IL-2-activated NK cells and at low oxygen levels (0.6 %) mimicking hypoxic bone marrow niches where myeloma cells preferentially reside. Our study demonstrates that NKG2A-negative, KIR-ligand-mismatched NK cells are the most potent subset for clinical application. We envision that infusion of high numbers of this subclass will enhance clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashis Sarkar
- />Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michel van Gelder
- />Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Willy Noort
- />Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- />Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yunping Xu
- />Department of Transplantation Immunology, Tissue Typing Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center+, PO box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kasper M. A. Rouschop
- />Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Lab), GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Groen
- />Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- />Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harry C. Schouten
- />Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel G. J. Tilanus
- />Department of Transplantation Immunology, Tissue Typing Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center+, PO box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Wilfred T. V. Germeraad
- />Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Anton C. M. Martens
- />Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- />Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- />Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard M. J. Bos
- />Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte Wieten
- />Department of Transplantation Immunology, Tissue Typing Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center+, PO box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
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21
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Lehmann D, Spanholtz J, Sturtzel C, Tordoir M, Schlechta B, Groenewegen D, Hofer E. IL-12 directs further maturation of ex vivo differentiated NK cells with improved therapeutic potential. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87131. [PMID: 24498025 PMCID: PMC3909052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The possibility to modulate ex vivo human NK cell differentiation towards specific phenotypes will contribute to a better understanding of NK cell differentiation and facilitate tailored production of NK cells for immunotherapy. In this study, we show that addition of a specific low dose of IL-12 to an ex vivo NK cell differentiation system from cord blood CD34(+) stem cells will result in significantly increased proportions of cells with expression of CD62L as well as KIRs and CD16 which are preferentially expressed on mature CD56(dim) peripheral blood NK cells. In addition, the cells displayed decreased expression of receptors such as CCR6 and CXCR3, which are typically expressed to a lower extent by CD56(dim) than CD56(bright) peripheral blood NK cells. The increased number of CD62L and KIR positive cells prevailed in a population of CD33(+)NKG2A(+) NK cells, supporting that maturation occurs via this subtype. Among a series of transcription factors tested we found Gata3 and TOX to be significantly downregulated, whereas ID3 was upregulated in the IL-12-modulated ex vivo NK cells, implicating these factors in the observed changes. Importantly, the cells differentiated in the presence of IL-12 showed enhanced cytokine production and cytolytic activity against MHC class I negative and positive targets. Moreover, in line with the enhanced CD16 expression, these cells exhibited improved antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity for B-cell leukemia target cells in the presence of the clinically applied antibody rituximab. Altogether, these data provide evidence that IL-12 directs human ex vivo NK cell differentiation towards more mature NK cells with improved properties for potential cancer therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/pharmacology
- Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity/drug effects
- Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity/immunology
- Antigens, CD34/immunology
- Antigens, CD34/metabolism
- Antineoplastic Agents/immunology
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Differentiation/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Fetal Blood/cytology
- Fetal Blood/immunology
- Fetal Blood/metabolism
- Flow Cytometry
- GATA3 Transcription Factor/genetics
- GATA3 Transcription Factor/immunology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/immunology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism
- High Mobility Group Proteins/genetics
- High Mobility Group Proteins/immunology
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins/genetics
- Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins/immunology
- Interleukin-2/immunology
- Interleukin-2/pharmacology
- K562 Cells
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- L-Selectin/immunology
- L-Selectin/metabolism
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Receptors, CCR6/immunology
- Receptors, CCR6/metabolism
- Receptors, CXCR3/immunology
- Receptors, CXCR3/metabolism
- Receptors, IgG/immunology
- Receptors, IgG/metabolism
- Receptors, KIR/immunology
- Receptors, KIR/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rituximab
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Lehmann
- Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Spanholtz
- Glycostem Therapeutics, s-Hertogenbosch, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Caterina Sturtzel
- Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marleen Tordoir
- Glycostem Therapeutics, s-Hertogenbosch, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Schlechta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dirk Groenewegen
- Glycostem Therapeutics, s-Hertogenbosch, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erhard Hofer
- Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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22
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Luevano M, Domogala A, Blundell M, Jackson N, Pedroza-Pacheco I, Derniame S, Escobedo-Cousin M, Querol S, Thrasher A, Madrigal A, Saudemont A. Frozen cord blood hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into higher numbers of functional natural killer cells in vitro than mobilized hematopoietic stem cells or freshly isolated cord blood hematopoietic stem cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87086. [PMID: 24489840 PMCID: PMC3906137 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive natural killer (NK) cell therapy relies on the acquisition of large numbers of NK cells that are cytotoxic but not exhausted. NK cell differentiation from hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) has become an alluring option for NK cell therapy, with umbilical cord blood (UCB) and mobilized peripheral blood (PBCD34+) being the most accessible HSC sources as collection procedures are less invasive. In this study we compared the capacity of frozen or freshly isolated UCB hematopoietic stem cells (CBCD34+) and frozen PBCD34+ to generate NK cells in vitro. By modifying a previously published protocol, we showed that frozen CBCD34+ cultures generated higher NK cell numbers without loss of function compared to fresh CBCD34+ cultures. NK cells generated from CBCD34+ and PBCD34+ expressed low levels of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors but high levels of activating receptors and of the myeloid marker CD33. However, blocking studies showed that CD33 expression did not impact on the functions of the generated cells. CBCD34+-NK cells exhibited increased capacity to secrete IFN-γ and kill K562 in vitro and in vivo as compared to PBCD34+-NK cells. Moreover, K562 killing by the generated NK cells could be further enhanced by IL-12 stimulation. Our data indicate that the use of frozen CBCD34+ for the production of NK cells in vitro results in higher cell numbers than PBCD34+, without jeopardizing their functionality, rendering them suitable for NK cell immunotherapy. The results presented here provide an optimal strategy to generate NK cells in vitro for immunotherapy that exhibit enhanced effector function when compared to alternate sources of HSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Luevano
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Domogala
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Blundell
- Centre for Immunodeficiency, Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Jackson
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabela Pedroza-Pacheco
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Derniame
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Escobedo-Cousin
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Querol
- Programa Concordia Banc de Sang i Teixits, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrian Thrasher
- Centre for Immunodeficiency, Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Madrigal
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aurore Saudemont
- University College London, Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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23
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Cany J, van der Waart AB, Tordoir M, Franssen GM, Hangalapura BN, de Vries J, Boerman O, Schaap N, van der Voort R, Spanholtz J, Dolstra H. Natural killer cells generated from cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells efficiently target bone marrow-residing human leukemia cells in NOD/SCID/IL2Rg(null) mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64384. [PMID: 23755121 PMCID: PMC3673996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-based adoptive immunotherapy is an attractive adjuvant treatment option for patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Recently, we reported a clinical-grade, cytokine-based culture method for the generation of NK cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells with high yield, purity and in vitro functionality. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo anti-leukemic potential of UCB-NK cells generated with our GMP-compliant culture system in terms of biodistribution, survival and cytolytic activity following adoptive transfer in immunodeficient NOD/SCID/IL2Rgnull mice. Using single photon emission computed tomography, we first demonstrated active migration of UCB-NK cells to bone marrow, spleen and liver within 24 h after infusion. Analysis of the chemokine receptor expression profile of UCB-NK cells matched in vivo findings. Particularly, a firm proportion of UCB-NK cells functionally expressed CXCR4, what could trigger BM homing in response to its ligand CXCL12. In addition, high expression of CXCR3 and CCR6 supported the capacity of UCB-NK cells to migrate to inflamed tissues via the CXCR3/CXCL10-11 and CCR6/CCL20 axis. Thereafter, we showed that low dose IL-15 mediates efficient survival, expansion and maturation of UCB-NK cells in vivo. Most importantly, we demonstrate that a single UCB-NK cell infusion combined with supportive IL-15 administration efficiently inhibited growth of human leukemia cells implanted in the femur of mice, resulting in significant prolongation of mice survival. These preclinical studies strongly support the therapeutic potential of ex vivo-generated UCB-NK cells in the treatment of myeloid leukemia after immunosuppressive chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Cany
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre-RUNMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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24
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Momburg F, Watzl C, Cerwenka A. NK cells--versatile tools for viral defense and cancer treatment. Eur J Immunol 2013; 43:860-3. [PMID: 23592381 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201370044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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