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Sartain F, Viecelli AK, Veitch M, Franklin ME, Dymock BW, Wells JW, Campbell SB. Predicting Tacrolimus Concentrations in the Skin of Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Feasibility Study. Transpl Int 2024; 37:12019. [PMID: 38323070 PMCID: PMC10844510 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Solid organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk of developing skin cancers due to chronic immunosuppression, particularly with calcineurin inhibitors. Tacrolimus is the most prescribed calcineurin inhibitor in this patient cohort, and understanding tacrolimus concentrations in the skin will facilitate the development of anti-cancer preventive and therapeutic strategies. Here, we show that in mice, tacrolimus blood levels peaked rapidly ∼1 h post last oral dose while skin levels rose more slowly and remained high for at least 6 h. Subsequently, tacrolimus skin and blood concentrations were assessed in 15 kidney transplant recipients. The mean age was 61 years, the average time post-transplant was 7 years (range 0-21 years) and 87% were male. The average skin sampling time post tacrolimus dosing was 6 h 32 min. Skin tacrolimus concentrations ranged from 7.1 ng/g to 71.2 ng/g and correlated with blood concentrations (r = 0.6). Mouse and human mean skin concentrations were in a similar range. Our data suggests that tacrolimus measurements in the blood may be used to approximate tacrolimus concentrations in the skin of kidney transplant recipients, and further exploited for the delivery of anti-cancer therapies designed to antagonize the immunosuppressive effects of tacrolimus in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea K. Viecelli
- Department of Kidney and Transplant Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Margaret Veitch
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael E. Franklin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brian W. Dymock
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James W. Wells
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Dermatology Research Centre, Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott B. Campbell
- Department of Kidney and Transplant Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Veitch M, Beaumont K, Pouwer R, Chew HY, Frazer IH, Soyer HP, Campbell S, Dymock BW, Harvey A, Cock TA, Wells JW. Local blockade of tacrolimus promotes T-cell-mediated tumor regression in systemically immunosuppressed hosts. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006783. [PMID: 37678918 PMCID: PMC10496666 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppressive drugs such as tacrolimus have revolutionized our ability to transplant organs between individuals. Tacrolimus acts systemically to suppress the activity of T-cells within and around transplanted organs. However, tacrolimus also suppresses T-cell function in the skin, contributing to a high incidence of skin cancer and associated mortality and morbidity in solid organ transplant recipients. Here, we aimed to identify a compound capable of re-establishing antitumor T-cell control in the skin despite the presence of tacrolimus. METHODS In this study, we performed time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer to identify molecules capable of antagonizing the interaction between tacrolimus and FKBP12. The capacity of these molecules to rescue mouse and human T-cell function in the presence of tacrolimus was determined in vitro, and the antitumor effect of the lead compound, Q-2361, was assessed in "regressor" models of skin cancer in immunosuppressed mice. Systemic CD8 T-cell depletion and analyses of intratumoral T-cell activation markers and effector molecule production were performed to determine the mechanism of tumor rejection. Pharmacokinetic studies of topically applied Q-2361 were performed to assess skin and systemic drug exposure. RESULTS Q-2361 potently blocked the interaction between tacrolimus and FKBP12 and reversed the inhibition of the nuclear factor of activated T cells activation by tacrolimus following T-cell receptor engagement in human Jurkat cells. Q-2361 rescued T-cell function in the presence of tacrolimus, rapamycin, and everolimus. Intratumoral injection of Q-2361-induced tumor regression in mice systemically immune suppressed with tacrolimus. Mechanistically, Q-2361 treatment permitted T-cell activation, proliferation, and effector function within tumors. When CD8 T cells were depleted, Q-2361 could not induce tumor regression. A simple solution-based Q-2361 topical formulation achieved high and sustained residence in the skin with negligible drug in the blood. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that the local application of Q-2361 permits T-cells to become activated driving tumor rejection in the presence of tacrolimus. The data presented here suggests that topically applied Q-2361 has great potential for the reactivation of T-cells in the skin but not systemically, and therefore represents a promising strategy to prevent or treat skin malignancies in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Veitch
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kimberly Beaumont
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rebecca Pouwer
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hui Yi Chew
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ian H Frazer
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - H Peter Soyer
- Frazer Institute, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott Campbell
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brian W Dymock
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Harvey
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Terrie-Anne Cock
- Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, UniQuest, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James W Wells
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Frazer Institute, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Cangemi M, Montico B, Faè DA, Steffan A, Dolcetti R. Dissecting the Multiplicity of Immune Effects of Immunosuppressive Drugs to Better Predict the Risk of de novo Malignancies in Solid Organ Transplant Patients. Front Oncol 2019; 9:160. [PMID: 30972289 PMCID: PMC6445870 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo malignancies constitute an emerging cause of morbidity after solid organ transplant (SOT), significantly affecting the long-term survival of transplant recipients. Pharmacologic immunosuppression may functionally impair the immunosurveillance in these patients, thereby increasing the risk of cancer development. Nevertheless, the multiplicity and heterogeneity of the immune effects induced by immunosuppressive drugs limit the current possibilities to reliably predict the risk of de novo malignancy in SOT patients. Therefore, there is the pressing need to better characterize the immune dysfunctions induced by the different immunosuppressive regimens administered to prevent allograft rejection to tailor more precisely the therapeutic schedule and decrease the risk of de novo malignancies. We herein highlight the impact exerted by different classes of immunosuppressants on the most relevant immune cells, with a particular focus on the effects on dendritic cells (DCs), the main regulators of the balance between immunosurveillance and tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Cangemi
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Translational Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Barbara Montico
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Translational Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Damiana A Faè
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Translational Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Translational Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Jung JW, Veitch M, Bridge JA, Overgaard NH, Cruz JL, Linedale R, Franklin ME, Saunders NA, Simpson F, Frazer IH, Steptoe RJ, Wells JW. Clinically-Relevant Rapamycin Treatment Regimens Enhance CD8 + Effector Memory T Cell Function In The Skin and Allow their Infiltration into Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1479627. [PMID: 30228949 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1479627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection exhibit a greatly increased risk of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, not all immunosuppressive drugs confer the same risk. Randomised, controlled trials demonstrate that switching renal transplant recipients receiving calcineurin inhibitor-based therapies to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors results in a reduced incidence of de novo SSC formation, and can even result in the regression of pre-existing premalignant lesions. However, the contribution played by residual immune function in this setting is unclear. We examined the hypotheses that mTOR inhibitors promote the enhanced differentiation and function of CD8+ memory T cells in the skin. Here, we demonstrate that the long-term oral administration of rapamycin to achieve clinically-relevant whole blood drug target thresholds, creates a "low rapamycin dose" environment in the skin. While both rapamycin and the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus elongated the survival of OVA-expressing skin grafts, and inhibited short-term antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, rapamycin but not tacrolimus permitted the statistically significant infiltration of CD8+ effector memory T cells into UV-induced SCC lesions. Furthermore, rapamycin uniquely enhanced the number and function of CD8+ effector and central memory T cells in a model of long-term contact hypersensitivity provided that rapamycin was present during the antigen sensitization phase. Thus, our findings suggest that patients switched to mTOR inhibitor regimens likely experience enhanced CD8+ memory T cell function to new antigen-challenges in their skin, which could contribute to their lower risk of de novo SSC formation and regression of pre-existing premalignant lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Won Jung
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Margaret Veitch
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Jennifer A Bridge
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Nana H Overgaard
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia.,Division of Immunology & Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jazmina L Cruz
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Richard Linedale
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Michael E Franklin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Saunders
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Fiona Simpson
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Ian H Frazer
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Raymond J Steptoe
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - James W Wells
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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