1
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Ma Y, Lv H, Xing F, Xiang W, Wu Z, Feng Q, Wang H, Yang W. Cancer stem cell-immune cell crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment for liver cancer progression. Front Med 2024:10.1007/s11684-023-1049-z. [PMID: 38600350 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1049-z] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Crosstalk between cancer cells and the immune microenvironment is determinant for liver cancer progression. A tumor subpopulation called liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) significantly accounts for the initiation, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence of liver cancer. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the interaction between liver CSCs and immune cells plays a crucial role in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment and determining immunotherapy responses. This review sheds light on the bidirectional crosstalk between liver CSCs and immune cells for liver cancer progression, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms after presenting an overview of liver CSCs characteristic and their microenvironment. Finally, we discuss the potential application of liver CSCs-targeted immunotherapy for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ma
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongwei Lv
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Fuxue Xing
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Zixin Wu
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Qiyu Feng
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Wen Yang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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2
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Poniatowski ŁA, Woźnica M, Wojdasiewicz P, Mela-Kalicka A, Romanowska-Próchnicka K, Purrahman D, Żurek G, Krawczyk M, Nameh Goshay Fard N, Furtak-Niczyporuk M, Jaroszyński J, Mahmoudian-Sani MR, Joniec-Maciejak I. The Role of Progranulin (PGRN) in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma Multiforme. Cells 2024; 13:124. [PMID: 38247816 PMCID: PMC10814625 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020124] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive malignant form of brain tumour in adults and is characterized by an extremely poor prognosis with dismal survival rates. Currently, expanding concepts concerning the pathophysiology of GBM are inextricably linked with neuroinflammatory phenomena. On account of this fact, the identification of novel pathomechanisms targeting neuroinflammation seems to be crucial in terms of yielding successful individual therapeutic strategies. In recent years, the pleiotropic growth factor progranulin (PGRN) has attracted significant attention in the neuroscience and oncological community regarding its neuroimmunomodulatory and oncogenic functions. This review of the literature summarizes and updates contemporary knowledge about PGRN, its associated receptors and signalling pathway involvement in GBM pathogenesis, indicating possible cellular and molecular mechanisms with potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in order to yield successful individual therapeutic strategies. After a review of the literature, we found that there are possible PGRN-targeted therapeutic approaches for implementation in GBM treatment algorithms both in preclinical and future clinical studies. Furthermore, PGRN-targeted therapies exerted their highest efficacy in combination with other established chemotherapeutic agents, such as temozolomide. The results of the analysis suggested that the possible implementation of routine determinations of PGRN and its associated receptors in tumour tissue and biofluids could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of GBM. Furthermore, promising preclinical applications of PGRN-related findings should be investigated in clinical studies in order to create new diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz A. Poniatowski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Salvador-Allende-Straße 30, 17036 Neubrandenburg, Germany
| | - Michał Woźnica
- Department of Spine Surgery, 7th Navy Hospital, Polanki 117, 80-305 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Piotr Wojdasiewicz
- Department of Biophysics, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland (K.R.-P.)
| | - Aneta Mela-Kalicka
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Romanowska-Próchnicka
- Department of Biophysics, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland (K.R.-P.)
- Department of Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases, Eleonora Reicher National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daryush Purrahman
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; (D.P.)
| | - Grzegorz Żurek
- Department of Biostructure, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, I. J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Maciej Krawczyk
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Najmeh Nameh Goshay Fard
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; (D.P.)
| | - Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Janusz Jaroszyński
- Department of Administrative Proceedings, Faculty of Law and Administration, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University of Lublin, Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
| | - Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-Sani
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; (D.P.)
| | - Ilona Joniec-Maciejak
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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3
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De Re V, Tornesello ML, Racanelli V, Prete M, Steffan A. Non-Classical HLA Class 1b and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1672. [PMID: 37371767 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of studies are underway to gain a better understanding of the role of immunity in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to identify subgroups of individuals who may benefit the most from systemic therapy according to the etiology of their tumor. Human leukocyte antigens play a key role in antigen presentation to T cells. This is fundamental to the host's defense against pathogens and tumor cells. In addition, HLA-specific interactions with innate lymphoid cell receptors, such those present on natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cell type 2, have been shown to be important activators of immune function in the context of several liver diseases. More recent studies have highlighted the key role of members of the non-classical HLA-Ib and the transcript adjacent to the HLA-F locus, FAT10, in hepatocarcinoma. The present review analyzes the major contribution of these molecules to hepatic viral infection and hepatocellular prognosis. Particular attention has been paid to the association of natural killer and Vδ2 T-cell activation, mediated by specific HLA class Ib molecules, with risk assessment and novel treatment strategies to improve immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valli De Re
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, School of Medicine, 'Aldo Moro' University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcella Prete
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, School of Medicine, 'Aldo Moro' University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 33081 Aviano, Italy
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4
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Ventura E, Ducci G, Benot Dominguez R, Ruggiero V, Belfiore A, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Iozzo RV, Giordano A, Morrione A. Progranulin Oncogenic Network in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061706. [PMID: 36980592 PMCID: PMC10046331 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Progranulin is a pleiotropic growth factor with important physiological roles in embryogenesis and maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. While-progranulin deficiency is associated with a broad range of pathological conditions affecting the brain, such as frontotemporal dementia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, progranulin upregulation characterizes many tumors, including brain tumors, multiple myeloma, leiomyosarcoma, mesothelioma and epithelial cancers such as ovarian, liver, breast, bladder, adrenal, prostate and kidney carcinomas. The increase of progranulin levels in tumors might have diagnostic and prognostic significance. In cancer, progranulin has a pro-tumorigenic role by promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, anchorage-independent growth and resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, progranulin regulates the tumor microenvironment, affects the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and modulates tumor immune surveillance. However, the molecular mechanisms of progranulin oncogenic function are not fully elucidated. In bladder cancer, progranulin action relies on the activation of its functional signaling receptor EphA2. Notably, more recent data suggest that progranulin can also modulate a functional crosstalk between multiple receptor-tyrosine kinases, demonstrating a more complex and context-dependent role of progranulin in cancer. Here, we will review what is currently known about the function of progranulin in tumors, with a focus on its molecular mechanisms of action and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
| | - Giacomo Ducci
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Reyes Benot Dominguez
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Valentina Ruggiero
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Master Program in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Elena Sacco
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Renato V. Iozzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Morrione
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
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5
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Immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2023; 555:216038. [PMID: 36529238 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.216038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has markedly enhanced the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and HCC patients who respond to ICIs have shown prolonged survival. However, only a subset of HCC patients benefit from ICIs, and those who initially respond to ICIs may develop resistance. ICI resistance is likely related to various factors, including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), the absence of antigen expression and impaired antigen presentation, tumor heterogeneity, and gut microbiota. Therefore, exploring the possible mechanisms of ICI resistance is crucial to improve the clinical benefit of ICIs further. Various combination therapies for HCC immunotherapy have prevented and reversed ICI resistance to a certain extent. In addition, many new combination therapies that can overcome resistance are being explored. This review seeks to characterize the complex TME in HCC, explore the possible mechanisms of immune resistance to ICIs in different resistance categories, and review the combination therapies currently being applied and those under investigation for immunotherapy.
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6
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Wang J, Liu X, Jin T, Cao Y, Tian Y, Xu F. NK cell immunometabolism as target for liver cancer therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 112:109193. [PMID: 36087507 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are being used effectively as a potential candidate in tumor immunotherapy. However, the migration and transport of NK cells to solid tumors is inadequate. NK cell dysfunction, tumor invasiveness, and metastasis are associated with altered metabolism of NK cells in the liver cancer microenvironment. However, in liver cancers, metabolic impairment of NK cells is still not understood fully. Evidence from various sources has shown that the interaction of NK cell's immune checkpoints with its metabolic checkpoints is responsible for the regulation of the development and function of these cells. How immune checkpoints contribute to metabolic programming is still not fully understood, and how this can be beneficial needs a better understanding, but they are emerging to be incredibly compelling to rebuilding the function of NK cells in the tumor. It is expected to represent a potential aim that focuses on improving the efficacy of therapies based on NK cells for treating liver cancer. Here, the recent advancements made to understand the NK cell's metabolic reprogramming in liver cancer have been summarized, along with the possible interplay between the immune and the metabolic checkpoints in NK cell function. Finally, an overview of some potential metabolic-related targets that can be used for liver cancer therapy treatment has been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Xiaolin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Yuqing Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
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7
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Cheung PF, Yang J, Fang R, Borgers A, Krengel K, Stoffel A, Althoff K, Yip CW, Siu EHL, Ng LWC, Lang KS, Cham LB, Engel DR, Soun C, Cima I, Scheffler B, Striefler JK, Sinn M, Bahra M, Pelzer U, Oettle H, Markus P, Smeets EMM, Aarntzen EHJG, Savvatakis K, Liffers ST, Lueong SS, Neander C, Bazarna A, Zhang X, Paschen A, Crawford HC, Chan AWH, Cheung ST, Siveke JT. Progranulin mediates immune evasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through regulation of MHCI expression. Nat Commun 2022; 13:156. [PMID: 35013174 PMCID: PMC8748938 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27088-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is indispensable for cancer initiation and progression, although its underlying mechanisms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not fully known. Here, we characterize the function of tumor-derived PGRN in promoting immune evasion in primary PDAC. Tumor- but not macrophage-derived PGRN is associated with poor overall survival in PDAC. Multiplex immunohistochemistry shows low MHC class I (MHCI) expression and lack of CD8+ T cell infiltration in PGRN-high tumors. Inhibition of PGRN abrogates autophagy-dependent MHCI degradation and restores MHCI expression on PDAC cells. Antibody-based blockade of PGRN in a PDAC mouse model remarkably decelerates tumor initiation and progression. Notably, tumors expressing LCMV-gp33 as a model antigen are sensitized to gp33-TCR transgenic T cell-mediated cytotoxicity upon PGRN blockade. Overall, our study shows a crucial function of tumor-derived PGRN in regulating immunogenicity of primary PDAC. Immune responses to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma can be inhibited by cancer cells. Here the authors show that high levels of progranulin in PDAC inhibits immune responses by reducing MHC class I antigen presentation through enhanced degradation of MHC class I via autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Cheung
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - JiaJin Yang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rui Fang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianna Borgers
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Krengel
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Stoffel
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina Althoff
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Elaine H L Siu
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karl S Lang
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lamin B Cham
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel R Engel
- Department of Immunodynamics, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Camille Soun
- Department of Immunodynamics, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Igor Cima
- DKFZ-Division Translational Neurooncology at the WTZ, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen/Düsseldorf), Essen, Germany
| | - Björn Scheffler
- DKFZ-Division Translational Neurooncology at the WTZ, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen/Düsseldorf), Essen, Germany
| | - Jana K Striefler
- Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, CONKO Study Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Haematology and Tumorimmunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marianne Sinn
- Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, CONKO Study Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Haematology and Tumorimmunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Bahra
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Krankenhaus Waldfriede, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Pelzer
- Medical Department, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Peter Markus
- Department of General, Visceral and Trauma Surgery, Elisabeth Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Esther M M Smeets
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud university medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik H J G Aarntzen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud university medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Savvatakis
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven-Thorsten Liffers
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Smiths S Lueong
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Neander
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Bazarna
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xin Zhang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annette Paschen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Howard C Crawford
- Rogel Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anthony W H Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Jens T Siveke
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. .,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.
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8
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Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma - from origin to clinical implications. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:26-44. [PMID: 34504325 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00508-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with a poor clinical outcome. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model states that tumour growth is powered by a subset of tumour stem cells within cancers. This model explains several clinical observations in HCC (as well as in other cancers), including the almost inevitable recurrence of tumours after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, as well as the phenomena of tumour dormancy and treatment resistance. The past two decades have seen a marked increase in research on the identification and characterization of liver CSCs, which has encouraged the design of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for HCC. These studies revealed novel aspects of liver CSCs, including their heterogeneity and unique immunobiology, which are suggestive of opportunities for new research directions and potential therapies. In this Review, we summarize the present knowledge of liver CSC markers and the regulators of stemness in HCC. We also comprehensively describe developments in the liver CSC field with emphasis on experiments utilizing single-cell transcriptomics to understand liver CSC heterogeneity, lineage-tracing and cell-ablation studies of liver CSCs, and the influence of the CSC niche and tumour microenvironment on liver cancer stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system. We also discuss the potential application of liver CSC-based therapies for treatment of HCC.
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9
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Schoenberg MB, Li X, Li X, Han Y, Börner N, Koch D, Guba MO, Werner J, Bazhin AV. The interactions between major immune effector cells and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic review. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108220. [PMID: 34673334 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108220] [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: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver neoplasm with high morbidity and mortality. Tumor immunotherapy might be promising adjuvant therapy for HCC after surgery. To better develop HCC immunotherapy, comprehensive understanding of cell-cell interactions between immune effector cells and HCC cells remains crucial. AIM To review the existing studies to summarize the cell-cell interactions between major immune effector cells and HCC cells providing new data for HCC immunotherapy. METHODS A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed database covering all papers published in recent five years up to January 2020. The guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews were firmly followed. RESULTS There are 9 studies researching the interactions between CD8+ T lymphocytes and HCC cells and 22 studies researching that between natural killer (NK) cells and HCC cells. Among the 9 studies, 6 studies reported that CD8+ T lymphocytes showed cytotoxicity towards HCC cells while 3 studies found CD8+ T lymphocytes were impaired by HCC cells. Among the 22 studies, 20 studies presented that NK cells could inhibit HCC cells. Two studies were found to report NK cell dysfunction in HCC. CONCLUSION Based on the systematic analysis, we concluded that CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells can inhibit HCC cells. While in turn, HCC cells can also result in the dysfunction of those effector cells through various mechanisms. Organoids and direct contact cell co-culture with primary HCC cells and TILs should be the most innovative way to investigate the interactions and develop novel immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Bo Schoenberg
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaokang Li
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongsheng Han
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Börner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Koch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Otto Guba
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Transplantation Center Munich, Hospital of the LMU, Campus Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Werner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandr V Bazhin
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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10
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Ishida H, Takemura M, Suetsugu A, Naiki T, Tanaka T, Eiichi T, Serrero G, Matsunami H, Yamamoto Y, Saito K. Serum GP88 as a predictive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral hepatitis C after direct-acting antiviral agents. Ann Clin Biochem 2021; 58:605-613. [PMID: 34284614 DOI: 10.1177/00045632211036723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progranulin (GP88) is an 88-kDa glycoprotein growth factor with important biological effects in tumorigenesis and tumour survival. We investigated the usefulness of measuring serum GP88 concentrations as a predictive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral hepatitis C after treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents. METHODS We measured the serum GP88 concentrations by using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay from 67 healthy control subjects and 29 patients (20 patients who did not develop hepatocellular carcinoma and 9 patients who developed hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment) with viral hepatitis C after treatment with asunaprevir and daclatasvir. RESULTS The serum GP88 concentrations of patients with chronic hepatitis C prior to antiviral treatment were significantly higher than those of healthy control subjects. After antiviral treatment, the serum GP88 concentrations of patients who eventually developed hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those who did not develop hepatocellular carcinoma. The changes in the serum GP88 concentrations before and after treatment in patients who developed hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly lower than those in patients who did not develop hepatocellular carcinoma. The cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher in either patients with high serum GP88 concentrations after treatment or those with small changes of serum GP88 concentrations pre- and post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS Sustained high concentrations of serum GP88 in patients treated with direct-acting antiviral agents are correlated with the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekazu Ishida
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Japan.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujita Health University Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masao Takemura
- Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Atsushi Suetsugu
- Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takafumi Naiki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takuji Tanaka
- Department of Pathological Diagnosis, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | | | - Ginette Serrero
- R&D and Precision Antibody Divisions, A&G Pharmaceutical Inc., Columbia, MD, USA
| | | | - Yasuko Yamamoto
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Japan.,Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Saito
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Japan.,Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
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11
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Chung KPS, Leung RWH, Lee TKW. Hampering Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Strategy to Destem Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3191. [PMID: 34202411 PMCID: PMC8268361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor bulk play crucial roles in tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. In addition to intrinsic regulation, a growing body of evidence suggests that the phenotypes of CSCs are also regulated extrinsically by stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the interplay between stromal cells and cancer cells with a special focus on how stromal cells drive the stemness of cancer cells and immune evasive mechanisms of CSCs. Knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and stromal cells will provide a mechanistic basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Po Sin Chung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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12
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Granulin: An Invasive and Survival-Determining Marker in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126436. [PMID: 34208547 PMCID: PMC8235441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Granulin is a secreted, glycosylated peptide—originated by cleavage from a precursor protein—which is involved in cell growth, tumor invasion and angiogenesis. However, the specific prognostic impact of granulin in human colorectal cancer has only been studied to a limited extent. Thus, we wanted to assess the expression of granulin in colorectal cancer patients to evaluate its potential as a prognostic biomarker. Methods: Expressional differences of granulin in colorectal carcinoma tissue (n = 94) and corresponding healthy colon mucosa were assessed using qRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed in colorectal cancer specimens (n = 97), corresponding healthy mucosa (n = 47) and colorectal adenomas (n = 19). Subsequently, the results were correlated with histopathological and clinical patients’ data. HCT-116 cells were transfected with siRNA for invasion and migration assays. Results: Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR revealed tumoral over expression of granulin in colorectal cancer specimens compared to corresponding healthy colon mucosa and adenomas. Tumoral overexpression of granulin was associated with a significantly impaired overall survival. Moreover, downregulation of granulin by siRNA significantly diminished the invasive capacities of HCT-116 cells in vitro. Conclusion: Expression of granulin differs in colorectal cancer tissue, adenomas and healthy colon mucosa. Furthermore, granulin features invasive and migrative capabilities and overexpression of granulin correlates with a dismal prognosis. This reveals its potential as a prognostic biomarker and granulin could be a worthwhile molecular target for individualized anticancer therapy.
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13
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Abstract
Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse correlation between cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, and increasing evidence shows that similar genes and pathways are dysregulated in both diseases but in a contrasting manner. Given the genetic convergence of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), a family of rare neurodegenerative disorders commonly known as Batten disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases, we sought to explore the relationship between cancer and the NCLs. In this review, we survey data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and available literature on the roles of NCL genes in different oncogenic processes to reveal links between all the NCL genes and cancer-related processes. We also discuss the potential contributions of NCL genes to cancer immunology. Based on our findings, we propose that further research on the relationship between cancer and the NCLs may help shed light on the roles of NCL genes in both diseases and possibly guide therapy development.
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14
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Dai X, Guo Y, Hu Y, Bao X, Zhu X, Fu Q, Zhang H, Tong Z, Liu L, Zheng Y, Zhao P, Fang W. Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2021; 11:3489-3501. [PMID: 33537099 PMCID: PMC7847682 DOI: 10.7150/thno.54648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid development and remarkable success of checkpoint inhibitors have provided significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, only 15-20% of HCC patients can benefit from checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for recurrence, metastasis, and local and systemic therapy resistance in HCC. Accumulating evidence has suggested that HCC CSCs can create an immunosuppressive microenvironment through certain intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, resulting in immune evasion. Intrinsic evasion mechanisms mainly include activation of immune-related CSC signaling pathways, low-level expression of antigen presenting molecules, and high-level expression of immunosuppressive molecules. External evasion mechanisms are mainly related to HBV/HCV infection, alcoholic/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hypoxia stimulation, abnormal angiogenesis, and crosstalk between CSCs and immune cells. A better understanding of the complex mechanisms of CSCs involved in immune evasion will contribute to therapies for HCC. Here we will outline the detailed mechanisms of immune evasion for CSCs, and provide an overview of the current immunotherapies targeting CSCs in HCC.
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15
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Serrero G. Progranulin/GP88, A Complex and Multifaceted Player of Tumor Growth by Direct Action and via the Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1329:475-498. [PMID: 34664252 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-73119-9_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of the role of progranulin/GP88 on the proliferation and survival of a wide variety of cells has been steadily increasing. Several human diseases stem from progranulin dysregulation either through its overexpression in cancer or its absence as in the case of null mutations in some form of frontotemporal dementia. The present review focuses on the role of progranulin/GP88 in cancer development, progression, and drug resistance. Various aspects of progranulin identification, biology, and signaling pathways will be described. Information will be provided about its direct role as an autocrine growth and survival factor and its paracrine effect as a systemic factor as well as via interaction with extracellular matrix proteins and with components of the tumor microenvironment to influence drug resistance, migration, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune modulation. This chapter will also describe studies examining progranulin/GP88 tumor tissue expression as well as circulating level as a prognostic factor for several cancers. Due to the wealth of publications in progranulin, this review does not attempt to be exhaustive but rather provide a thread to lead the readers toward more in-depth exploration of this fascinating and unique protein.
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16
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Voshtani R, Song M, Wang H, Li X, Zhang W, Tavallaie MS, Yan W, Sun J, Wei F, Ma X. Progranulin promotes melanoma progression by inhibiting natural killer cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Lett 2019; 465:24-35. [PMID: 31491449 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN) is a growth factor with significant biological effects in different types of cancer. However, its role in melanoma progression has not been explored. In this study, we first analyze clinical datasets and show that high PGRN expression levels are correlated with poor prognosis of melanoma patients. Further, we demonstrate in a transplanted murine melanoma model in which the endogenous Grn gene encoding PGRN has been deleted that tumor-derived, not host-derived PGRN, promotes melanoma growth and metastasis. Immunological analyses reveal an enhanced infiltration of natural killer cells, but not T lymphocytes, into PGRN-deficient tumors compared to the wild type control. Antibody-mediated depletion confirms the critical role of NK cells in controlling B16 tumor growth. RNA-seq analysis reveals that several chemokines including CCL5 are strongly upregulated in PGRN-deficient tumor. Silencing CCL5 expression in PGRN-deficient tumor reduces NK cell recruitment and restores tumor growth to the control level. Lastly, we show that PGRN inhibits Ccl5 gene expression at the transcriptional level. This study highlights a novel and critical role of PGRN in melanoma growth and metastasis and suggests that it may represent a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramouna Voshtani
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Song
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mojdeh S Tavallaie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Wenjun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Joseph Sun
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Fang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA.
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17
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Cariani E, Missale G. Immune landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment: Implications for prognosis and therapeutic applications. Liver Int 2019; 39:1608-1621. [PMID: 31314948 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of immunotherapy for solid tumours has boosted interest in the contexture of tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). Several lines of evidence indicate that the interplay between tumour cells and TIME components is a key factor for the evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for the likelihood of response to immunotherapeutics. The availability of high-resolution methods will be instrumental for a better definition of the complexity and diversity of TIME with the aim of predicting disease outcome, treatment response and possibly new therapeutic targets. Here, we review current knowledge about the immunological mechanisms involved in shaping the clinical course of HCC. Effector cells, regulatory cells and soluble mediators are discussed for their role defining TIME and as targets for immune modulation, together with possible immune signatures for optimization of immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Cariani
- Toxicology and Advanced Diagnostics, Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Missale
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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18
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Covalent conjugates of granulin-epithelial precursor-siRNA with arginine-rich peptide for improved stability and intracellular delivery in hepatoma cells. Mol Cell Toxicol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-019-0028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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19
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Juengpanich S, Shi L, Iranmanesh Y, Chen J, Cheng Z, Khoo AKJ, Pan L, Wang Y, Cai X. The role of natural killer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma development and treatment: A narrative review. Transl Oncol 2019; 12:1092-1107. [PMID: 31176993 PMCID: PMC6558093 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A major obstacle for treatment of HCC is the inadequate efficacy and limitation of the available therapeutic options. Despite the recent advances in developing novel treatment options, HCC still remains one of the major causes of cancer morbidity and mortality around the world. Achieving effective treatment and eradication of HCC is a challenging task, however recent studies have shown that targeting Natural Killer cells, as major regulators of immune system, can help with the complete treatment of HCC, restoration of normal liver function and subsequently higher survival rate of HCC patients. Studies have shown that decrease in the frequency of NK cells, their dysfunction due to several factors such as dysregulation of receptors and their ligands, and imbalance of different types of inhibitory and stimulating microRNA expression is associated with higher rate of HCC progression and development, and poor survival outcome. Here in our review, we mainly focused on the importance of NK cells in HCC development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarun Juengpanich
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China; School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Liang Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China.
| | | | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Zhenzhe Cheng
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Aaron Kah-Jin Khoo
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4027, Australia.
| | - Long Pan
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China; School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Yifan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China.
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, Province, China.
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20
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Natural killer cells involved in tumour immune escape of hepatocellular carcinomar. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 73:10-16. [PMID: 31078921 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.04.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer cells are the first line of host immune surveillance and play major roles in the defence against infection and tumours. Hepatic NK cells exhibit unique phenotypic and functional characteristics compared to circulating and spleen NK cells, such as higher levels of cytolytic activity and cytotoxicity mediators against tumour cells. However, the activities of NK cells may be reversed during tumour progression. Recent studies demonstrated that hepatic NK cells were exhausted in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and exhibited impaired cytolytic activity and decreased production of effector cytokines. The present review discusses current knowledge on the role of exhausted NK cells in promoting HCC development and the mechanisms contributing to tumour immune escape, including an imbalance of activating and inhibitory receptors on NK cells, abnormal receptor-ligand interaction, and cross-talk with immune cells and other stromal cells in the tumour environment. We provide a fundamental basis for further study of innate immunity in tumour progression and serve the purpose of exploring new HCC treatment strategies.
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21
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Yip CW, Cheung PFY, Wong NCL, Fung SW, Cheung ST. Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies Against Progranulin (PGRN/GEP) as Therapeutics in Preclinical Cancer Models. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1806:131-144. [PMID: 29956274 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8559-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) has become a unique means of targeted therapy for human cancers. mAb-based therapies have shown survival benefits by applying alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Being a humanized biomolecule with exquisite target specificity, mAb demonstrated effects in a relatively lower dose range with limited off-target harm to the patients. Nowadays, novel targets involved in tumorigenic mechanisms and biomarkers expressed exclusively on cancer cell surface are being constantly discovered. The potential effects of their specific mAb could be investigated in the preclinical cancer model. In this chapter, we outlined our experimental procedures in determining the feasibility of novel mAb in the preclinical cancer model, with an example of progranulin (PGRN/GEP) mAb against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor in mouse model. This chapter included the establishment of subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC tumor in mouse model, the injection of the mouse monoclonal antibody in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, the assessment of tumor development, and the analyses of the molecular changes of the tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicholas C L Wong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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22
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Cui Y, Hettinghouse A, Liu CJ. Progranulin: A conductor of receptors orchestra, a chaperone of lysosomal enzymes and a therapeutic target for multiple diseases. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 45:53-64. [PMID: 30733059 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN), a widely expressed glycoprotein with pleiotropic function, has been linked to a host of physiological processes and diverse pathological states. A series of contemporary preclinical disease models and clinical trials have evaluated various therapeutic strategies targeting PGRN, highlighting PGRN as a promising therapeutic target. Herein we summarize available knowledge of PGRN targeting in various kinds of diseases, including common neurological diseases, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, cancer, tissue repair, and rare lysosomal storage diseases, with a focus on the functional domain-oriented drug development strategies. In particular, we emphasize the role of extracellular PGRN as a non-conventional, extracellular matrix bound, growth factor-like conductor orchestrating multiple membrane receptors and intracellular PGRN as a chaperone/co-chaperone that mediates the folding and traffic of its various binding partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhou Cui
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA; Shandong Medical Biotechnological Center, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250062, China
| | - Aubryanna Hettinghouse
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Chuan-Ju Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA; Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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23
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Zaghi E, Calvi M, Marcenaro E, Mavilio D, Di Vito C. Targeting NKG2A to elucidate natural killer cell ontogenesis and to develop novel immune-therapeutic strategies in cancer therapy. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 105:1243-1251. [PMID: 30645023 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.mr0718-300r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with a primary role in the immune surveillance against non-self-cells. NK cell recognition of "self" relies on the surface expression on autologous cells of MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules. Either the absence or the down-modulation of MHC-I on target cells "license" NK cells to kill threatening tumor-transformed or virally infected cells. This phenomenon is controlled by a limited repertoire of activating and inhibitory NK receptors (aNKRs and iNKRs) that tunes NK cell activation and effector functions. Hence, the calibration of NK cell alloreactivity depends on the ability of iNKRs to bind MHC-I complex and these interactions are key in regulating both NK cell differentiation and effector functions. Indeed, the presence of iNKRs specific for self-MHC haplotypes (i) plays a role in the "licensing/education" process that controls the responsiveness of mature NK cells and prevents their activation against the "self" and (ii) is exploited by tumor cells to escape from NK cell cytotoxicity. Herein, we review our current knowledge on function and clinical application of NKG2A, a C-type lectin iNKR that binds specific haplotypes of human leukocyte antigens early during the NK cell maturation process, thus contributing to modulate the terminal maturation of NK cells as potent effectors against cancers cells. These NKG2A-mediated mechanisms are currently being exploited for developing promising immune-therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of solid and blood tumors and to ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat high-risk hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Zaghi
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Calvi
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Marcenaro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale (DI.ME.S.) and Centro di Eccellenza per le Ricerche Biomediche (CEBR), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Domenico Mavilio
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine (BioMeTra), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Di Vito
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
The purpose of this brief overview of the progranulin protein is to provide a sense of the range and extent of the roles of progranulin in normal physiology and pathology. Progranulin has received attention due to its role in neurodegeneration, where mutation of a single copy of GRN, the gene encoding progranulin, results in frontotemporal dementia, whereas viral delivery of progranulin to the brains of mice exhibiting Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease phenotypes inhibits the progression of the neurodegenerative phenotypes. Of equal importance, progranulin protects tissues against the harmful effects of poorly controlled inflammation and promotes tissue regeneration after injury at a multitude of sites throughout the body. Progranulin is overexpressed by many types of cancer and contributes to their progression. Given suitable analytical methods and model systems, progranulin offers a wealth of research possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Bateman
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Program in Metabolic Diseases and Their Complications, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hugh P J Bennett
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Program in Metabolic Diseases and Their Complications, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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25
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Cheung PFY, Cheung TT, Yip CW, Ng LWC, Fung SW, Lo CM, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Hepatic cancer stem cell marker granulin-epithelin precursor and β-catenin expression associate with recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 7:21644-57. [PMID: 26942873 PMCID: PMC5008312 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) has been demonstrated to confer enhanced cancer stem-like cell properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line models in our previous studies. Here, we aimed to examine the GEP-expressing cells in relation to the stem cell related molecules and stem-like cell properties in the prospective HCC clinical cohort. GEP protein levels were significantly higher in HCCs than the paralleled non-tumor liver tissues, and associated with venous infiltration. GEPhigh cells isolated from clinical HCC samples exhibited higher levels of stem cell marker CD133, pluripotency-associated signaling molecules β-catenin, Oct4, SOX2, Nanog, and chemodrug transporter ABCB5. In addition, GEPhigh cells possessed preferential ability to form colonies and spheroids, and enhanced in vivo tumor-initiating ability while their xenografts were able to be serially subpassaged into secondary mouse recipients. Expression levels of GEP and pluripotency-associated genes were further examined in the retrospective HCC cohort and demonstrated significant correlation of GEP with β-catenin. Notably, HCC patients with high GEP and β-catenin levels demonstrated poor recurrence-free survival. In summary, GEP-positive HCC cells directly isolated from clinical specimens showed β-catenin elevation and cancer stem-like cell properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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26
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Abstract
Cancer cells have defects in regulatory mechanisms that usually control cell proliferation and homeostasis. Different cancer cells share crucial alterations in cell physiology, which lead to malignant growth. Tumorigenesis or tumor growth requires a series of events that include constant cell proliferation, promotion of metastasis and invasion, stimulation of angiogenesis, evasion of tumor suppressor factors, and avoidance of cell death pathways. All these events in tumor progression may be regulated by growth factors produced by normal or malignant cells. The growth factor progranulin has significant biological effects in different types of cancer. This protein is a regulator of tumorigenesis because it stimulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, malignant transformation, resistance to anticancer drugs, and immune evasion. This review focuses on the biological effects of progranulin in several cancer models and provides evidence that this growth factor should be considered as a potential biomarker and target in cancer treatment.
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27
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Yip CW, Lam CY, Poon TCW, Cheung TT, Cheung PFY, Fung SW, Wang XQ, Leung ICY, Ng LWC, Lo CM, Tsao GSW, Cheung ST. Granulin-epithelin precursor interacts with 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:409. [PMID: 28601093 PMCID: PMC5466756 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3399-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) is a secretory growth factor, which has been demonstrated to control cancer growth, invasion, drug resistance and immune escape. Our previous studies and others also demonstrated its potential in targeted therapy. Comprehensive characterization of GEP partner on cancer cells are warranted. We have previously shown that GEP interacted with heparan sulfate on the surface of liver cancer cells and the interaction is crucial for GEP-mediated signaling transduction. This study aims to characterize GEP protein partner at the cell membrane with the co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry approach. Methods The membrane fraction from liver cancer model Hep3B was used for capturing binding partner with the specific monoclonal antibody against GEP. The precipitated proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry. After identifying the GEP binding partner, this specific interaction was validated in additional liver cancer cell line HepG2 by co-immunoprecipitation using GRP78 and GEP antibodies, respectively, as the bait. GRP78 transcript levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical samples (n = 77 pairs) were examined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. GEP and GRP78 protein expressions were investigated by immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections. Results We identified the GEP-binding protein as 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78, also named heat shock 70-kDa protein 5, HSPA5). This interaction was validated in independent HCC cell lines. Increased GRP78 mRNA levels were demonstrated in liver cancer tissues compared with the paralleled liver tissues (t-test, P = 0.002). GRP78 and GEP transcript levels were significantly correlated (Spearman’s correlation, P = 0.001), and the proteins were also detectable in the cytoplasm of liver cancer cells by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions GRP78 and GEP are interacting protein partners in liver cancer cells and may play a role in GEP-mediated cancer progression in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching Yan Lam
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Health, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiao Qi Wang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Idy C Y Leung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - George S W Tsao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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28
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Sun C, Xu J, Huang Q, Huang M, Wen H, Zhang C, Wang J, Song J, Zheng M, Sun H, Wei H, Xiao W, Sun R, Tian Z. High NKG2A expression contributes to NK cell exhaustion and predicts a poor prognosis of patients with liver cancer. Oncoimmunology 2016; 6:e1264562. [PMID: 28197391 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1264562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: As the predominant lymphocyte subset in the liver, natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to be highly associated with the outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, we reported that NKG2A, a checkpoint candidate, mediates human and murine NK cell dysfunction in CHB. However, NK cell exhaustion and, particularly, the level of NKG2A expression within liver tumors have not been reported. Methods: In this study, we analyzed NKG2A expression and the related dysfunction of NK cells located in intra- or peritumor regions of liver tissue samples from 207 HCC patients, in addition to analyzing disease outcomes. Results: The expression of NKG2A in NK cells and the NKG2A ligand, HLA-E, in intratumor HCC tissues was observed to be increased. These NK cells, and particularly CD56dim NK cells, with higher NKG2A expression showed features of functional exhaustion and were associated with a poor prognosis. The increase in NKG2A expression might be induced by IL-10, which was present at a high level in the plasma of HCC patients. Blocking IL-10 could specifically inhibit NKG2A expression in NK cells. Conclusions: These findings indicate that NKG2A expression is influenced by factors from cancer nests and contributes to NK cell exhaustion, suggesting that NKG2A blockade has the potential to restore immunity against liver tumors by reversing NK cell exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Sun
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China , Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Mei Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Hao Wen
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University , Urumqi, China
| | - Chuanshan Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University , Urumqi, China
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiaxi Song
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Meijuan Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Haoyu Sun
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Haiming Wei
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Weihua Xiao
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhigang Tian
- Institute of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease (Chinese Academy of Medical Science), School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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29
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Cheung PFY, Yip CW, Ng LWC, Lo KW, Chow C, Chan KF, Cheung TT, Cheung ST. Comprehensive characterization of the patient-derived xenograft and the paralleled primary hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Cancer Cell Int 2016; 16:41. [PMID: 27279800 PMCID: PMC4898407 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-016-0322-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. The limited clinically relevant model has impeded the development of effective HCC treatment strategy. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models retain most of the characteristics of original tumors and were shown to be highly predictive for clinical outcomes. Notably, primary cell line models allow in-depth molecular characterization and high-throughput analysis. Combined usage of the two models would provide an excellent tool for systematic study of therapeutic strategies. Here, we comprehensively characterized the novel PDX and the paralleled primary HCC cell line model. METHODS Tumor tissues were collected from HCC surgical specimens. HCC cells were sorted for in vivo PDX and in vitro cell line establishment by the expression of hepatic cancer stem cell marker to enhance cell viability and the rate of success on subsequent culture. The PDX and its matching primary cell line were authenticated and characterized in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Among the successful cases for generating PDXs and primary cells, HCC40 is capable for both PDX and primary cell line establishment, which were then further characterized. The novel HCC40-PDX and HCC40-CL exhibited consistent phenotypic characteristics as the original tumor in terms of HBV protein and AFP expressions. In common with HCC40-PDX, HCC40-CL was tumorigenic in immunocompromised mice. The migration ability in vitro and metastatic properties in vivo echoed the clinical feature of venous infiltration. Genetic profiling by short tandem repeat analysis and p53 mutation pattern consolidated that both the HCC40-PDX and HCC40-CL models were derived from the HCC40 clinical specimen. CONCLUSIONS The paralleled establishment of PDX and primary cell line would serve as useful models in comprehensive studies for HCC pathogenesis and therapeutics development for personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ; Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chit Chow
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kui Fat Chan
- Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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30
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Cariani E, Pilli M, Barili V, Porro E, Biasini E, Olivani A, Dalla Valle R, Trenti T, Ferrari C, Missale G. Natural killer cells phenotypic characterization as an outcome predictor of HCV-linked HCC after curative treatments. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1154249. [PMID: 27622055 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1154249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
NK-cell number and function have been associated with cancer progression. A detailed analysis of phenotypic and functional characteristics of NK-cells in HCC is still lacking. NK-cell function is regulated by activating and inhibitory receptors determined by genetic factors and engagement with cognate ligands on transformed or infected cells. We evaluated phenotypic and functional characteristic of NK-cells in HCC patients undergoing curative treatment in relation to clinical outcome. NK-cells from 70 HCC patients undergoing resection or ablative treatment, 18 healthy volunteers and 12 cirrhotic patients with HCV-infection (controls) were phenotypically characterized. Unsupervised clustering based on the frequency of cells expressing different phenotypic NK-cell markers segregated HCC patients into different cohorts that were compared for outcome. NK-cell cytokine production and cytotoxicity were compared between cohorts with different overall survival (OS) and time to disease recurrence (TTR). By multivariate analysis, age, Child-Pugh class and NK-cell phenotypic clustering could independently identify patients with significantly different OS. NK-cells from patients with better outcome expressed higher levels of cytotoxic granules and CD3ζ and lower levels of natural cytotoxic receptors (NCRs) that were co-expressed with the inhibitory receptor NKG2A known to negatively regulate NCR function. Cytotoxic function and IFNγ production were significantly lower in the cohort of patients with worse outcome compared to controls (p < 0.05). Our results show a role for NK-cells in the control of HCC progression and survival providing the basis for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies to potentiate NK-cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Massimo Pilli
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | - Valeria Barili
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | - Emanuela Porro
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Biasini
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Olivani
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Trenti
- Clinical Pathology-Toxicology, Ospedale Civile , Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrari
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
| | - Gabriele Missale
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma , Parma, Italy
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31
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Carcinogenic Parasite Secretes Growth Factor That Accelerates Wound Healing and Potentially Promotes Neoplasia. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005209. [PMID: 26485648 PMCID: PMC4618121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini induces cancer of the bile ducts, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Injury from feeding activities of this parasite within the human biliary tree causes extensive lesions, wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing, and re-injury over years of chronic infection. We show that O. viverrini secreted proteins accelerated wound resolution in human cholangiocytes, an outcome that was compromised following silencing of expression of the fluke-derived gene encoding the granulin-like growth factor, Ov-GRN-1. Recombinant Ov-GRN-1 induced angiogenesis and accelerated mouse wound healing. Ov-GRN-1 was internalized by human cholangiocytes and induced gene and protein expression changes associated with wound healing and cancer pathways. Given the notable but seemingly paradoxical properties of liver fluke granulin in promoting not only wound healing but also a carcinogenic microenvironment, Ov-GRN-1 likely holds marked potential as a therapeutic wound-healing agent and as a vaccine against an infection-induced cancer of major public health significance in the developing world.
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32
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Cheung PF, Yip CW, Ng LW, Wong CK, Cheung TT, Lo CM, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Restoration of natural killer activity in hepatocellular carcinoma by treatment with antibody against granulin-epithelin precursor. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1016706. [PMID: 26140244 PMCID: PMC4485783 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1016706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairment of natural killer (NK) cell activity is an important mechanism of tumor immunoevasion. We have previously shown that expression of granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells rendered the cells resistant to NK cell immunosurveillance. Here, we examined whether targeting GEP could rescue NK activity in HCC patients. The current study demonstrated that quantities and activities of NK cells were significantly lower in HCC patients compared with healthy individuals, and were negatively correlated with GEP levels in HCC cells. NK cells demonstrated enhanced expression of the stimulatory receptors natural-killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) and CD69, increased secretion of IFN-γ and perforin, and cytotoxicity against HCC cells upon GEP suppression. Opposite phenotypes of NK cells were observed when GEP was overexpressed in HCC cells. Importantly, GEP blockage by monoclonal antibody A23 restored NK activity in HCC patients and sensitized HCC cells to NK cytotoxicity. Furthermore, A23 induced NK-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HCC. In summary, the activity of NK cells in HCC was impaired by GEP expression, which could be rescued by GEP antibody. This study provides new insight for treatments targeting GEP to boost NK activity in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Fy Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Chun Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prince of Wales Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
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