1
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Wang Y, Liu Q, Deng L, Ma X, Gong Y, Wang Y, Zhou F. The roles of epigenetic regulation in graft-versus-host disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116652. [PMID: 38692061 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116652] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is utilized as a potential curative treatment for various hematologic malignancies. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) post-aHSCT is a severe complication that significantly impacts patients' quality of life and overall survival, becoming a major cause of non-relapse mortality. In recent years, the association between epigenetics and GVHD has garnered increasing attention. Epigenetics focuses on studying mechanisms that affect gene expression without altering DNA sequences, primarily including DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulation, and RNA modifications. This review summarizes the role of epigenetic regulation in the pathogenesis of GVHD, with a focus on DNA methylation, histone modifications, ncRNA, RNA modifications and their involvement and applications in the occurrence and development of GVHD. It also highlights advancements in relevant diagnostic markers and drugs, aiming to provide new insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of GVHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Qi Liu
- The First Clinical Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Deng
- Department of Hematology, the 960th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, China
| | - Xiting Ma
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuling Gong
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
| | - Fang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, the 960th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, China.
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2
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Kabelitz D, Cierna L, Juraske C, Zarobkiewicz M, Schamel WW, Peters C. Empowering γδ T-cell functionality with vitamin C. Eur J Immunol 2024:e2451028. [PMID: 38616772 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202451028] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for various enzymes including histone demethylases and methylcytosine dioxygenases. Vitamin C also exerts direct cytotoxicity toward selected tumor cells including colorectal carcinoma. Moreover, vitamin C has been shown to impact immune cell differentiation at various levels including maturation and/or functionality of T cells and their progenitors, dendritic cells, B cells, and NK cells. γδ T cells have recently attracted great interest as effector cells for cell-based cancer immunotherapy, due to their HLA-independent recognition of a large variety of tumor cells. While γδ T cells can thus be also applied as an allogeneic off-the-shelf product, it is obvious that the effector function of γδ T cells needs to be optimized to ensure the best possible clinical efficacy. Here we review the immunomodulatory mechanisms of vitamin C with a special focus on how vitamin C enhances the effector function of γδ T cells. We also discuss future directions of how vitamin C can be used in the clinical setting to boost the efficacy of adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Kabelitz
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lea Cierna
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Claudia Juraske
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, and Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michal Zarobkiewicz
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Schamel
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, and Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Centre Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Peters
- Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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3
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Harris R, Karimi M. Dissecting the regulatory network of transcription factors in T cell phenotype/functioning during GVHD and GVT. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1194984. [PMID: 37441063 PMCID: PMC10333690 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1194984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors play a major role in regulation and orchestration of immune responses. The immunological context of the response can alter the regulatory networks required for proper functioning. While these networks have been well-studied in canonical immune contexts like infection, the transcription factor landscape during alloactivation remains unclear. This review addresses how transcription factors contribute to the functioning of mature alloactivated T cells. This review will also examine how these factors form a regulatory network to control alloresponses, with a focus specifically on those factors expressed by and controlling activity of T cells of the various subsets involved in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-tumor (GVT) responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Harris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Mobin Karimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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4
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Premnath N, Chung SS, Weinberg OK, Ikpefan R, Pandey M, Kaur G, Geethakumari PR, Afrough A, Awan FT, Anderson LD, Vusirikala M, Collins RH, Chen W, Agathocleous M, Madanat YF. Clinical and molecular characteristics associated with Vitamin C deficiency in myeloid malignancies; real world data from a prospective cohort. Leuk Res 2023; 125:107001. [PMID: 36566538 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2022.107001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that acts as a co-factor for many enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation in humans. Low vitamin C levels in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) promote self-renewal and vitamin C supplementation retards leukaemogenesis in vitamin C-deficient mouse models. Studies on vitamin C levels in patients with myeloid malignancies are limited. We thus conducted a retrospective analysis on a prospective cohort of patients with myeloid malignancies on whom plasma vitamin C levels were measured serially at diagnosis and during treatment. Baseline characteristics including hematological indices, cytogenetics, and molecular mutations are described in this cohort. Among 64 patients included in our study, 11 patients (17%) had low vitamin C levels. We noted a younger age at diagnosis for patients with myeloid malignancies who had low plasma vitamin C levels. Patients with low plasma vitamin C levels were more likely to have acute myeloid leukemia compared to other myeloid malignancies. Low vitamin C levels were associated with ASXL1 mutations. Our study calls for further multi-institutional studies to understand the relevance of low plasma vitamin C level in myeloid neoplasms, the role of vitamin C deficiency in leukemogenesis, and the potential benefit of vitamin C supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Premnath
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
| | - Stephen S Chung
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; Children's Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Olga K Weinberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Ruth Ikpefan
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Mohak Pandey
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Gurbakhash Kaur
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | | | - Aimaz Afrough
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Farrukh T Awan
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Larry D Anderson
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Madhuri Vusirikala
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Robert H Collins
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Weina Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Michalis Agathocleous
- Children's Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Yazan F Madanat
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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5
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Morante-Palacios O, Godoy-Tena G, Calafell-Segura J, Ciudad L, Martínez-Cáceres EM, Sardina JL, Ballestar E. Vitamin C enhances NF-κB-driven epigenomic reprogramming and boosts the immunogenic properties of dendritic cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10981-10994. [PMID: 36305821 PMCID: PMC9638940 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, are necessary for effective activation of naïve T cells. DCs’ immunological properties are modulated in response to various stimuli. Active DNA demethylation is crucial for DC differentiation and function. Vitamin C, a known cofactor of ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, drives active demethylation. Vitamin C has recently emerged as a promising adjuvant for several types of cancer; however, its effects on human immune cells are poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the epigenomic and transcriptomic reprogramming orchestrated by vitamin C in monocyte-derived DC differentiation and maturation. Vitamin C triggers extensive demethylation at NF-κB/p65 binding sites, together with concordant upregulation of antigen-presentation and immune response-related genes during DC maturation. p65 interacts with TET2 and mediates the aforementioned vitamin C-mediated changes, as demonstrated by pharmacological inhibition. Moreover, vitamin C increases TNFβ production in DCs through NF-κB, in concordance with the upregulation of its coding gene and the demethylation of adjacent CpGs. Finally, vitamin C enhances DC’s ability to stimulate the proliferation of autologous antigen-specific T cells. We propose that vitamin C could potentially improve monocyte-derived DC-based cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Morante-Palacios
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gerard Godoy-Tena
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Calafell-Segura
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva M Martínez-Cáceres
- Division of Immunology, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, LCMN, Germans Trias iPujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, Immunology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Sardina
- Epigenetic Control of Haematopoiesis Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +34 935572800; Fax: +34 934651472;
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6
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Phadke I, Pouzolles M, Machado A, Moraly J, Gonzalez-Menendez P, Zimmermann VS, Kinet S, Levine M, Violet PC, Taylor N. Vitamin C deficiency reveals developmental differences between neonatal and adult hematopoiesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:898827. [PMID: 36248829 PMCID: PMC9562198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.898827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis, a process that results in the differentiation of all blood lineages, is essential throughout life. The production of 1x1012 blood cells per day, including 200x109 erythrocytes, is highly dependent on nutrient consumption. Notably though, the relative requirements for micronutrients during the perinatal period, a critical developmental window for immune cell and erythrocyte differentiation, have not been extensively studied. More specifically, the impact of the vitamin C/ascorbate micronutrient on perinatal as compared to adult hematopoiesis has been difficult to assess in animal models. Even though humans cannot synthesize ascorbate, due to a pseudogenization of the L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase (GULO) gene, its generation from glucose is an ancestral mammalian trait. Taking advantage of a Gulo-/- mouse model, we show that ascorbic acid deficiency profoundly impacts perinatal hematopoiesis, resulting in a hypocellular bone marrow (BM) with a significant reduction in hematopoietic stem cells, multipotent progenitors, and hematopoietic progenitors. Furthermore, myeloid progenitors exhibited differential sensitivity to vitamin C levels; common myeloid progenitors and megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors were markedly reduced in Gulo-/- pups following vitamin C depletion in the dams, whereas granulocyte-myeloid progenitors were spared, and their frequency was even augmented. Notably, hematopoietic cell subsets were rescued by vitamin C repletion. Consistent with these data, peripheral myeloid cells were maintained in ascorbate-deficient Gulo-/- pups while other lineage-committed hematopoietic cells were decreased. A reduction in B cell numbers was associated with a significantly reduced humoral immune response in ascorbate-depleted Gulo-/- pups but not adult mice. Erythropoiesis was particularly sensitive to vitamin C deprivation during both the perinatal and adult periods, with ascorbate-deficient Gulo-/- pups as well as adult mice exhibiting compensatory splenic differentiation. Furthermore, in the pathological context of hemolytic anemia, vitamin C-deficient adult Gulo-/- mice were not able to sufficiently increase their erythropoietic activity, resulting in a sustained anemia. Thus, vitamin C plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors during the neonatal period and is required throughout life to sustain erythroid differentiation under stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira Phadke
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Marie Pouzolles
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alice Machado
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Josquin Moraly
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Menendez
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Valérie S. Zimmermann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Sandrina Kinet
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Mark Levine
- Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Mark Levine, ; Pierre-Christian Violet, ; Naomi Taylor,
| | - Pierre-Christian Violet
- Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Mark Levine, ; Pierre-Christian Violet, ; Naomi Taylor,
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- *Correspondence: Mark Levine, ; Pierre-Christian Violet, ; Naomi Taylor,
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7
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Song Q, Nasri U, Nakamura R, Martin PJ, Zeng D. Retention of Donor T Cells in Lymphohematopoietic Tissue and Augmentation of Tissue PD-L1 Protection for Prevention of GVHD While Preserving GVL Activity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:907673. [PMID: 35677056 PMCID: PMC9168269 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.907673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (Allo-HCT) is a curative therapy for hematological malignancies (i.e., leukemia and lymphoma) due to the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity mediated by alloreactive T cells that can eliminate residual malignant cells and prevent relapse. However, the same alloreactive T cells can cause a serious side effect, known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD and GVL occur in distinct organ and tissues, with GVHD occurring in target organs (e.g., the gut, liver, lung, skin, etc.) and GVL in lympho-hematopoietic tissues where hematological cancer cells primarily reside. Currently used immunosuppressive drugs for the treatment of GVHD inhibit donor T cell activation and expansion, resulting in a decrease in both GVHD and GVL activity that is associated with cancer relapse. To prevent GVHD, it is important to allow full activation and expansion of alloreactive T cells in the lympho-hematopoietic tissues, as well as prevent donor T cells from migrating into the GVHD target tissues, and tolerize infiltrating T cells via protective mechanisms, such as PD-L1 interacting with PD-1, in the target tissues. In this review, we will summarize major approaches that prevent donor T cell migration into GVHD target tissues and approaches that augment tolerization of the infiltrating T cells in the GVHD target tissues while preserving strong GVL activity in the lympho-hematopoietic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiao Song
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, and Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
| | - Ryotaro Nakamura
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
| | - Paul J Martin
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Defu Zeng
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
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8
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Agbogan VA, Gastineau P, Tejerina E, Karray S, Zavala F. CpG-Activated Regulatory B-Cell Progenitors Alleviate Murine Graft-Versus-Host-Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:790564. [PMID: 35479094 PMCID: PMC9035844 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.790564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) represents a major impediment in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The observation that the presence of bone marrow and circulating hematogones correlated with reduced GVHD risks prompted us to evaluate whether B-cell progenitors, which provide protection in various autoimmune disease models following activation with the TLR-9 agonist CpG (CpG-proBs), could likewise reduce this allogeneic disorder. In a murine model of GVHD that recapitulates an initial phase of acute GVHD followed by a phase of chronic sclerodermatous GVHD, we found that CpG-proBs, adoptively transferred during the initial phase of disease, reduced the diarrhea score and mostly prevented cutaneous fibrosis. Progenitors migrated to the draining lymph nodes and to the skin where they mainly differentiated into follicular B cells. CpG activation and IFN-γ expression were required for the protective effect, which resulted in reduced CD4+ T-cell-derived production of critical cytokines such as TGF-β, IL-13 and IL-21. Adoptive transfer of CpG-proBs increased the T follicular regulatory to T follicular helper (Tfr/Tfh) ratio. Moreover, CpG-proBs privileged the accumulation of IL-10-positive CD8+ T cells, B cells and dendritic cells in the skin. However, CpG-proBs did not improve survival. Altogether, our findings support the notion that adoptively transferred CpG-proBs exert immunomodulating effect that alleviates symptoms of GVHD but require additional anti-inflammatory strategy to improve survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane A. Agbogan
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR8152, Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), Paris, France
| | - Pauline Gastineau
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR8152, Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Tejerina
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR8152, Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), Paris, France
| | - Saoussen Karray
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U976, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis (IRSL), Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Flora Zavala
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR8152, Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Flora Zavala, ; orcid.org/0000-0002-2338-6802
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9
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Enhancement of Antiviral T-Cell Responses by Vitamin C Suggests New Strategies to Improve Manufacturing of Virus-Specific T Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040536. [PMID: 35453735 PMCID: PMC9032103 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic and autologous transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCT) are being routinely used to treat patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Due to the required immunosuppression after stem cell transplantation, infection and reactivation by viruses are life-threatening complications. In recent years, adoptive transfer using virus-specific T cells (VSTs) has emerged as alternative to conventional therapies. Since vitamins are described to influence the immune system and its cellular components, the aim of this study was to examine whether vitamins modulate VST function and thereby enable an improvement of therapy. For that, we investigated the impact of vitamin C and D on the functionality of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells isolated from CMV-seropositive healthy donors. We were able to show that vitamin C increases the expansion and activation state of CMV-specific T cells, and an increased influence of vitamin C was observed on cells isolated from male donors and donors above 40 years of age. A higher frequency of the terminally differentiated effector memory CD8+ T-cell population in these donors indicates a connection between these cells and the enhanced response to vitamin C. Thus, here we provide insights into the impact of vitamin C on cytotoxic T cells as well as possible additional selection criteria and strategies to improve VST functionality.
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10
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Wang W, Hong T, Wang X, Wang R, Du Y, Gao Q, Yang S, Zhang X. Newly Found Peacekeeper: Potential of CD8+ Tregs for Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Front Immunol 2021; 12:764786. [PMID: 34899714 PMCID: PMC8652293 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.764786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the most effective and potentially curative treatment for a variety of hematologic malignancies. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle that limits wide application of allo-HSCT, despite the development of prophylactic strategies. Owing to experimental and clinical advances in the field, GVHD is characterized by disruption of the balance between effector and regulatory immune cells, resulting in higher inflammatory cytokine levels. A reduction in regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been associated with limiting recalibration of inflammatory overaction and maintaining immune tolerance. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that immunoregulation may be useful for preventing GVHD. As opposed to CD4+ Tregs, the CD8+ Tregs population, which constitutes an important proportion of all Tregs, efficiently attenuates GVHD while sparing graft-versus-leukemic (GVL) effects. CD8+ Tregs may provide another form of cellular therapy for preventing GVHD and preserving GVL effects, and understanding the underlying mechanisms that different from those of CD4+ Tregs is significant. In this review, we summarize preclinical experiments that have demonstrated the role of CD8+ Tregs during GVHD and attempted to obtain optimized CD8+ Tregs. Notably, although optimized CD8+ Tregs have obvious advantages, more exploration is needed to determine how to apply them in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihao Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Hong
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuxuan Du
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Qiangguo Gao
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shijie Yang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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11
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Böttger F, Vallés-Martí A, Cahn L, Jimenez CR. High-dose intravenous vitamin C, a promising multi-targeting agent in the treatment of cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:343. [PMID: 34717701 PMCID: PMC8557029 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02134-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that vitamin C has the potential to be a potent anti-cancer agent when administered intravenously and in high doses (high-dose IVC). Early phase clinical trials have confirmed safety and indicated efficacy of IVC in eradicating tumour cells of various cancer types. In recent years, the multi-targeting effects of vitamin C were unravelled, demonstrating a role as cancer-specific, pro-oxidative cytotoxic agent, anti-cancer epigenetic regulator and immune modulator, reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, inhibiting hypoxia and oncogenic kinase signalling and boosting immune response. Moreover, high-dose IVC is powerful as an adjuvant treatment for cancer, acting synergistically with many standard (chemo-) therapies, as well as a method for mitigating the toxic side-effects of chemotherapy. Despite the rationale and ample evidence, strong clinical data and phase III studies are lacking. Therefore, there is a need for more extensive awareness of the use of this highly promising, non-toxic cancer treatment in the clinical setting. In this review, we provide an elaborate overview of pre-clinical and clinical studies using high-dose IVC as anti-cancer agent, as well as a detailed evaluation of the main known molecular mechanisms involved. A special focus is put on global molecular profiling studies in this respect. In addition, an outlook on future implications of high-dose vitamin C in cancer treatment is presented and recommendations for further research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Böttger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Vallés-Martí
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Loraine Cahn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Connie R Jimenez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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12
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Hefazi M, Bolivar-Wagers S, Blazar BR. Regulatory T Cell Therapy of Graft-versus-Host Disease: Advances and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9676. [PMID: 34575843 PMCID: PMC8469916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Immunomodulation using regulatory T cells (Tregs) offers an exciting option to prevent and/or treat GVHD as these cells naturally function to maintain immune homeostasis, can induce tolerance following HSCT, and have a tissue reparative function. Studies to date have established a clinical safety profile for polyclonal Tregs. Functional enhancement through genetic engineering offers the possibility of improved potency, specificity, and persistence. In this review, we provide the most up to date preclinical and clinical data on Treg cell therapy with a particular focus on GVHD. We discuss the different Treg subtypes and highlight the pharmacological and genetic approaches under investigation to enhance the application of Tregs in allo-HSCT. Lastly, we discuss the remaining challenges for optimal clinical translation and provide insights as to future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hefazi
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
| | - Sara Bolivar-Wagers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA;
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA;
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13
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Niederlova V, Tsyklauri O, Chadimova T, Stepanek O. CD8 + Tregs revisited: A heterogeneous population with different phenotypes and properties. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:512-530. [PMID: 33501647 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the peripheral self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. While classical CD4+ Foxp3+ Tregs are well established, their CD8+ counterparts are still controversial in many aspects including their phenotypic identity and their mechanisms of suppression. Because of these controversies and because of only a limited number of studies documenting the immunoregulatory function of CD8+ Tregs in vivo, the concept of CD8+ Tregs is still not unanimously accepted. We propose that any T-cell subset considered as true regulatory must be distinguishable from other cell types and must suppress in vivo immune responses via a known mechanism. In this article, we revisit the concept of CD8+ Tregs by focusing on the characterization of individual CD8+ T-cell subsets with proposed regulatory capacity separately. Therefore, we review the phenotype and function of CD8+ FOXP3+ T cells, CD8+ CD122+ T cells, CD8+ CD28low/- T cells, CD8+ CD45RClow T cells, T cells expressing CD8αα homodimer and Qa-1-restricted CD8+ T cells to show whether there is sufficient evidence to establish these subsets as bona fide Tregs. Based on the intrinsic ability of CD8+ Treg subsets to promote immune tolerance in animal models, we elaborate on their potential use in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Niederlova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Oksana Tsyklauri
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Chadimova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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14
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New promising developments for potential therapeutic applications of high-dose ascorbate as an anticancer drug. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2020; 14:179-191. [PMID: 33278349 DOI: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C (ascorbate) is an essential dietary requirement, with fundamental redox, anti-oxidant functions at physiologic concentrations. Vitamin C is a cofactor for Fe2+ and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases, englobing large families of enzymes, including also epigenetic regulators of DNA and histone methylation. Importantly, vitamin C is involved in the control of the activity of TET (ten-eleven translocation) enzymes, key epigenetic regulators. For this spectrum of activities, often involving pathways deregulated in cancer cells, vitamin C possesses some pharmacologic activities that can be exploited in anticancer therapy. In particular, the capacity of pharmacological doses of vitamin C to target redox imbalance and to rescue deregulated epigenetic program observed in some cancer cells represents a consistent therapeutic potentiality. Several recent studies have identified some cancer subsets that could benefit from the pharmacological activities of vitamin C. The identification of these potentially responsive patients will help to carefully define controlled clinical trials aiming to evaluate the anticancer activity of Vitamin C.
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15
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Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapies aiming to enhance T cell responses have revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. However, although a small fraction of patients develops durable anti-tumor responses, the majority of patients display only transient responses, underlying the need for finding auxiliary approaches. Tumor microenvironment poses a major metabolic barrier to efficient anti-tumor T cell activity. As it is now well accepted that metabolism regulates T cell fate and function, harnessing metabolism may be a new strategy to potentiate T cell-based immunotherapies.
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16
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Dissecting the biology of allogeneic HSCT to enhance the GvT effect whilst minimizing GvHD. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2020; 17:475-492. [PMID: 32313224 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-020-0356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) was the first successful therapy for patients with haematological malignancies, predominantly owing to graft-versus-tumour (GvT) effects. Dramatic methodological changes, designed to expand eligibility for allo-HSCT to older patients and/or those with comorbidities, have led to the use of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, in parallel with more aggressive immunosuppression to better control graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Consequently, disease relapse has become the major cause of death following allo-HSCT. Hence, the prevention and treatment of relapse has come to the forefront and remains an unmet medical need. Despite >60 years of preclinical and clinical studies, the immunological requirements necessary to achieve GvT effects without promoting GvHD have not been fully established. Herein, we review learnings from preclinical modelling and clinical studies relating to the GvT effect, focusing on mechanisms of relapse and on immunomodulatory strategies that are being developed to overcome disease recurrence after both allo-HSCT and autologous HSCT. Emphasis is placed on discussing current knowledge and approaches predicated on the use of cell therapies, cytokines to augment immune responses and dual-purpose antibody therapies or other pharmacological agents that can control GvHD whilst simultaneously targeting cancer cells.
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