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Ibrahim ML, Zheng H, Barlow ML, Latif Y, Chen Z, Yu X, Beg AA. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Directly Modulate T Cell Gene Expression and Signaling and Promote Development of Effector-Exhausted T Cells in Murine Tumors. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:737-747. [PMID: 38169329 PMCID: PMC10872871 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of cancer, including the regulation of antitumor immunity. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications offers potential therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. In particular, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACis) have been shown to promote antitumor T cell immunity by regulating myeloid cell types, enhancing tumor Ag presentation, and increasing expression of chemokines. HDACis are currently being evaluated to determine whether they can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. Although the potential direct effect of HDACis on T cells likely impacts antitumor immunity, little is known about how HDAC inhibition alters the transcriptomic profile of T cells. In this article, we show that two clinical-stage HDACis profoundly impact gene expression and signaling networks in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Specifically, HDACis promoted T cell effector function by enhancing expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ and increasing CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity. Consistently, in a murine tumor model, HDACis led to enrichment of CD8+ T cell subsets with high expression of effector molecules (Prf1, Ifng, Gzmk, and Grmb) but also molecules associated with T cell exhaustion (Tox, Pdcd1, Lag3, and Havcr2). HDACis further generated a tumor microenvironment dominated by myeloid cells with immune suppressive signatures. These results indicate that HDACis directly and favorably augment T cell effector function but also increase their exhaustion signal in the tumor microenvironment, which may add a layer of complexity for achieving clinical benefit in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed L Ibrahim
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | | | - Yousuf Latif
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Amer A Beg
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
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Tian X, Wang T, Shen H, Wang S. Tumor microenvironment, histone modifications, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2023; 74:108-121. [PMID: 37598011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are important components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which drive the tumor immune escape by inducing immunosuppression. The expansion and function of MDSCs are tightly associated with signaling pathways induced by molecules from tumor cells, stromal cells, and activated immune cells in the TME. Although these pathways have been well-characterized, the understanding of the epigenetic regulators involved is incomplete. Since histone modifications are the most studied epigenetic changes in MDSCs, we summarize current knowledge on the role of histone modifications in MDSCs within this review. We first discuss the influence of the TME on histone modifications in MDSCs, with an emphasis on histone modifications and modifiers that direct MDSC differentiation and function. Furthermore, we highlight current epigenetic interventions that can reverse MDSC-induced immunosuppression by modulating histone modifications and discuss future research directions to fully appreciate the role of histone modifications in MDSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Tian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China; Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shengjun Wang
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
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Kawata M, McClatchy DB, Diedrich JK, Olmer M, Johnson KA, Yates JR, Lotz MK. Mocetinostat activates Krüppel-like factor 4 and protects against tissue destruction and inflammation in osteoarthritis. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e170513. [PMID: 37681413 PMCID: PMC10544226 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.170513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, and disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) represent a major need in OA management. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a central transcription factor upregulating regenerative and protective functions in joint tissues. This study was aimed to identify small molecules activating KLF4 expression and to determine functions and mechanisms of the hit compounds. High-throughput screening (HTS) with 11,948 clinical-stage compounds was performed using a reporter cell line detecting endogenous KLF4 activation. Eighteen compounds were identified through the HTS and confirmed in a secondary screen. After testing in SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells and human chondrocytes, mocetinostat - a class I selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor - had the best profile of biological activities. Mocetinostat upregulated cartilage signature genes in human chondrocytes, meniscal cells, and BM-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and it downregulated hypertrophic, inflammatory, and catabolic genes in those cells and synoviocytes. I.p. administration of mocetinostat into mice reduced severity of OA-associated changes and improved pain behaviors. Global gene expression and proteomics analyses revealed that regenerative and protective effects of mocetinostat were dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α. These findings show therapeutic and protective activities of mocetinostat against OA, qualifying it as a candidate to be used as a DMOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Kawata
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Daniel B. McClatchy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jolene K. Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Merissa Olmer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - John R. Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Martin K. Lotz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, USA
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Fotie J, Matherne CM, Wroblewski JE. Silicon switch: Carbon-silicon Bioisosteric replacement as a strategy to modulate the selectivity, physicochemical, and drug-like properties in anticancer pharmacophores. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:235-254. [PMID: 37029092 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Bioisosterism is one of the leading strategies in medicinal chemistry for the design and modification of drugs, consisting in replacing an atom or a substituent with a different atom or a group with similar chemical properties and an inherent biocompatibility. The objective of such an exercise is to produce a diversity of molecules with similar behavior while enhancing the desire biological and pharmacological properties, without inducing significant changes to the chemical framework. In drug discovery and development, the optimization of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity (ADMETox) profile is of paramount importance. Silicon appears to be the right choice as a carbon isostere because they possess very similar intrinsic properties. However, the replacement of a carbon by a silicon atom in pharmaceuticals has proven to result in improved efficacy and selectivity, while enhancing physicochemical properties and bioavailability. The current review discusses how silicon has been strategically introduced to modulate drug-like properties of anticancer agents, from a molecular design strategy, biological activity, computational modeling, and structure-activity relationships perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Fotie
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| | - Caitlyn M Matherne
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jordan E Wroblewski
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
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Zhao J, Dong Y, Zhang Y, Wang J, Wang Z. Biophysical heterogeneity of myeloid-derived microenvironment to regulate resistance to cancer immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 191:114585. [PMID: 36273512 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite the advances in immunotherapy for cancer treatment, patients still obtain limited benefits, mostly owing to unrestrained tumour self-expansion and immune evasion that exploits immunoregulatory mechanisms. Traditionally, myeloid cells have a dominantly immunosuppressive role. However, the complicated populations of the myeloid cells and their multilateral interactions with tumour/stromal/lymphoid cells and physical abnormalities in the tumour microenvironment (TME) determine their heterogeneous functions in tumour development and immune response. Tumour-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs) include monocytes, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells (DCs), and granulocytes. Single-cell profiling revealed heterogeneous TAMCs composition, sub-types, and transcriptomic signatures across 15 human cancer types. We systematically reviewed the biophysical heterogeneity of TAMC composition and pro/anti-tumoral and immuno-suppressive/stimulating properties of myeloid-derived microenvironments. We also summarised comprehensive clinical strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy from three dimensions: targeting TAMCs, reversing physical abnormalities, utilising nanomedicines, and finally, put forward futuristic perspectives for scientific and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yiting Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yundi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
| | - Zhijie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
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