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Zhang J, Pan T, Lee J, Goldberg S, King SA, Tang E, Hu Y, Chen L, Hoover A, Zhu L, Eng OS, Dekel B, Huang J, Wu X. Enabling tumor-specific drug delivery by targeting the Warburg effect of cancer. Cell Rep Med 2025; 6:101920. [PMID: 39809265 PMCID: PMC11866520 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101920] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is an emerging hallmark of cancer. Among all the changes in cancer metabolism, increased glucose uptake and the accumulation of lactate under normoxic conditions (the "Warburg effect") is a common feature of cancer cells. In this study, we develop a lactate-responsive drug delivery platform by targeting the Warburg effect. We design and test a gold/mesoporous silica Janus nanoparticle system as a gated drug carrier, in which the gold particles are functionalized with lactate oxidase and the silica particles are capped with α-cyclodextrin through surface arylboronate modification. In the presence of lactate, the lactate oxidase generates hydrogen peroxide, which induces the self-immolation reaction of arylboronate, leading to uncapping and drug release. Our results demonstrate greatly improved drug delivery specificity and therapeutic efficacy with this platform for the treatment of different cancers. Our findings present an effective approach for drug delivery by metabolic targeting of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA; Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tony Pan
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jimmy Lee
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sanja Goldberg
- Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarah Ann King
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Erting Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yifei Hu
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lifeng Chen
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Alex Hoover
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Linyong Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Oliver S Eng
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Benjamin Dekel
- Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hasomer, Sago Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jun Huang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Xiaoyang Wu
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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Mandell JD, Diviti S, Xu M, Townsend JP. Rare Drivers at Low Prevalence with High Cancer Effects in T-Cell and B-Cell Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6589. [PMID: 38928295 PMCID: PMC11203805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126589] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The genomic analyses of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtypes, particularly T-cell and B-cell lineages, have been pivotal in identifying potential therapeutic targets. Typical genomic analyses have directed attention toward the most commonly mutated genes. However, assessing the contribution of mutations to cancer phenotypes is crucial. Therefore, we estimated the cancer effects (scaled selection coefficients) for somatic substitutions in T-cell and B-cell cohorts, revealing key insights into mutation contributions. Cancer effects for well-known, frequently mutated genes like NRAS and KRAS in B-ALL were high, which underscores their importance as therapeutic targets. However, less frequently mutated genes IL7R, XBP1, and TOX also demonstrated high cancer effects, suggesting pivotal roles in the development of leukemia when present. In T-ALL, KRAS and NRAS are less frequently mutated than in B-ALL. However, their cancer effects when present are high in both subtypes. Mutations in PIK3R1 and RPL10 were not at high prevalence, yet exhibited some of the highest cancer effects in individual T-cell ALL patients. Even CDKN2A, with a low prevalence and relatively modest cancer effect, is potentially highly relevant for the epistatic effects that its mutated form exerts on other mutations. Prioritizing investigation into these moderately frequent but potentially high-impact targets not only presents novel personalized therapeutic opportunities but also enhances the understanding of disease mechanisms and advances precision therapeutics for pediatric ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D. Mandell
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
| | | | - Mina Xu
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
- Program in Genetics, Genomics, and Epigenetics, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
- Program in Genetics, Genomics, and Epigenetics, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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3
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Xiang M, Li H, Zhan Y, Ma D, Gao Q, Fang Y. Functional CRISPR screens in T cells reveal new opportunities for cancer immunotherapies. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:73. [PMID: 38581063 PMCID: PMC10996278 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01987-z] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells are fundamental components in tumour immunity and cancer immunotherapies, which have made immense strides and revolutionized cancer treatment paradigm. However, recent studies delineate the predicament of T cell dysregulation in tumour microenvironment and the compromised efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. CRISPR screens enable unbiased interrogation of gene function in T cells and have revealed functional determinators, genetic regulatory networks, and intercellular interactions in T cell life cycle, thereby providing opportunities to revamp cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we briefly described the central roles of T cells in successful cancer immunotherapies, comprehensively summarised the studies of CRISPR screens in T cells, elaborated resultant master genes that control T cell activation, proliferation, fate determination, effector function, and exhaustion, and highlighted genes (BATF, PRDM1, and TOX) and signalling cascades (JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways) that extensively engage in multiple branches of T cell responses. In conclusion, this review bridged the gap between discovering element genes to a specific process of T cell activities and apprehending these genes in the global T cell life cycle, deepened the understanding of T cell biology in tumour immunity, and outlined CRISPR screens resources that might facilitate the development and implementation of cancer immunotherapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Xiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huayi Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhan
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yong Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Burg MML, Visser L, Diepstra A. TOX as a new diagnostic marker for T cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia. Histopathology 2024; 84:697-701. [PMID: 38087646 DOI: 10.1111/his.15114] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
AIMS T cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia (T-LGLL) is a rare disorder that may underlie otherwise unexplained cytopenias. The identification of T-LGLL cells in bone marrow biopsies can be a challenge, because a robust immunohistochemistry marker is lacking. The markers currently in use (granzyme B, TIA-1 and CD8) are difficult to interpret or lack specificity. Therefore, we investigated whether immunohistochemistry for thymocyte selection-associated high-mobility group box (TOX), a transcription factor that associates with chronic T cell stimulation, could be a reliable tool for the identification of T-LGLL cells. METHODS AND RESULTS In this retrospective study, expression of TOX in CD8+ cells in bone marrow biopsies of T-LGLL patients (n = 38) was investigated and compared to bone marrow of controls with reactive T cell lymphocytosis (n = 10). All biopsies were evaluated for TOX staining within the CD8-positive T cell population. The controls were essentially negative for TOX, whereas all T-LGLL cases were positive (median = 80%, range = 10-100%), even when bone marrow involvement was subtle. CONCLUSION TOX is a highly sensitive marker for the neoplastic cells of T-LGLL and we recommend its use, especially in the diagnostic work-up of patients with unexplained cytopenias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manske M L Burg
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lydia Visser
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan Diepstra
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Yoshitomi H. Peripheral helper T cells, mavericks of peripheral immune responses. Int Immunol 2024; 36:9-16. [PMID: 37788648 PMCID: PMC10823579 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxad041] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral helper T (Tph) cells have been established, through intensive efforts to elucidate local immune responses in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as a CD4 subset intimately involved in acquired immunity in peripheral tissues. Initially, Tph cells were noted as a CD4 population that produces high levels of CXCL13 in RA synovial tissues, followed by a demonstration of their ability to help B cells. In contrast to follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, Tph cells do not express the transcription factor BCL6 but express molecules such as CXCL13, interleukin (IL)-21, and inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) to help B cells in peripheral tissues. Subsequent studies showed that Tph cells are associated with various diseases, including autoimmune diseases, infections, and malignancies, and with the development of early life immunity. This review summarizes the phenotype and function of Tph cells in RA and discusses their differentiation and diversity in various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Yoshitomi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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Niu H, Yan L, Yang L, Zhang M, Liu M, Ren J, Shao Z, Fu R, Xing L, Wang H. High TOX expression on CD8 + T cells in pure red cell aplasia. Ann Hematol 2023; 102:1247-1255. [PMID: 36933041 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05174-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Thymocyte selection-associated high-mobility group box protein (TOX) is an important molecule regulating the development and exhaustion of T lymphocytes. Our aim is to investigate the role of TOX in the immune pathogenesis of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). TOX expression of CD8+ lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with PRCA was detected by flow cytometry. Additionally, the expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD1 and LAG3 and cytotoxic molecules perforin and granzyme B of CD8+ lymphocytes was measured. The quantity of CD4+CD25+CD127low T cells was analyzed. TOX expression on CD8+ T lymphocytes in PRCA patients was significantly increased (40.73 [Formula: see text] 16.03 vs. 28.38 [Formula: see text] 12.20). The expression levels of PD1 and LAG3 on CD8+ T lymphocytes in PCRA patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (34.18 [Formula: see text] 13.26 vs. 21.76 [Formula: see text] 9.22 and 14.17 [Formula: see text] 13.74 vs. 7.24 [Formula: see text] 5.44, respectively). The levels of perforin and granzyme in CD8+ T lymphocytes of PRCA patients were 48.60 [Formula: see text] 19.02 and 46.66 [Formula: see text] 25.49, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (31.46 [Formula: see text] 7.82 and 16.17 [Formula: see text] 4.84, respectively). The number of CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells in PRCA patients was significantly decreased (4.30 [Formula: see text] 1.27 vs. 1.75 [Formula: see text] 1.22). In PRCA patients, CD8+ T cells were activated and exhibited overexpression of TOX, PD1, LAG3, perforin, and granzyme B, while regulatory T cells decreased. These findings suggest that T cell abnormality plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyue Niu
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Li Yan
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Mengying Zhang
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Mengyuan Liu
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Zonghong Shao
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Rong Fu
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Limin Xing
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Huaquan Wang
- Department of Hematology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.
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Niu H, Wang H. TOX regulates T lymphocytes differentiation and its function in tumor. Front Immunol 2023; 14:990419. [PMID: 36969216 PMCID: PMC10035881 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.990419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box protein (TOX) is expressed differently at all T lymphocytes development stages. Owing to more advanced scientific and technological means, including single-cell sequencing technology, heterogeneity of T lymphocytes and TOX has gradually been revealed. Further exploration of such heterogeneity will help us comprehend the developmental stage and functional characteristics of T lymphocytes in greater detail. Emerging evidence supports its regulation not only in exhausting, but also in activating T lymphocytes, thereby verifying TOX heterogeneity. TOX can be used not only as a latent intervention target for tumor diseases and chronic infections, and a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases, but also as a critical factor predicting the drug response and overall survival of patients with malignant tumors.
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Tumor immune contexture is a determinant of anti-CD19 CAR T cell efficacy in large B cell lymphoma. Nat Med 2022; 28:1872-1882. [PMID: 36038629 PMCID: PMC9499856 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01916-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) and has treatment with similar efficacy across conventional LBCL subtypes. Toward patient stratification, we assessed whether tumor immune contexture influenced clinical outcomes after axi-cel. We evaluated the tumor microenvironment (TME) of 135 pre-treatment and post-treatment tumor biopsies taken from 51 patients in the ZUMA-1 phase 2 trial. We uncovered dynamic patterns that occurred within 2 weeks after axi-cel. The biological associations among Immunoscore (quantification of tumor-infiltrating T cell density), Immunosign 21 (expression of pre-defined immune gene panel) and cell subsets were validated in three independent LBCL datasets. In the ZUMA-1 trial samples, clinical response and overall survival were associated with pre-treatment immune contexture as characterized by Immunoscore and Immunosign 21. Circulating CAR T cell levels were associated with post-treatment TME T cell exhaustion. TME enriched for chemokines (CCL5 and CCL22), γ-chain receptor cytokines (IL-15, IL-7 and IL-21) and interferon-regulated molecules were associated with T cell infiltration and markers of activity. Finally, high density of regulatory T cells in pre-treatment TME associated with reduced axi-cel–related neurologic toxicity. These findings advance the understanding of LBCL TME characteristics associated with clinical responses to anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy and could foster biomarker development and treatment optimization for patients with LBCL. Analysis of tumor biopsies from the pivotal phase 1/2 ZUMA-1 trial identifies pre-treatment T cell–related characteristics that are associated with clinical response and neurologic toxicity after anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in patients with large B cell lymphoma.
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Huang S, Liang C, Zhao Y, Deng T, Tan J, Zha X, Li Y, Chen S. Increased TOX expression concurrent with PD-1, Tim-3, and CD244 expression in T cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. CYTOMETRY. PART B, CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2022; 102:143-152. [PMID: 34913594 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.22049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cell dysregulation is a common event in leukemia. Recent findings have indicated that aberrant expression of immune checkpoint proteins may be associated with disease relapse and progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). TOX, a transcription factor in the HMG-box protein superfamily, was found to be a potential target for immunotherapy not only in solid tumors but also in hematological malignancies. However, little is known about TOX expression and co-expression with immune checkpoint proteins or the exhausted phenotype in the T cell subsets in AML. Thus, in this study, we analyzed TOX expression and co-expression with PD-1, Tim-3, and CD244 in T cells. METHODS TOX expression and co-expression with PD-1, Tim-3, and CD244 in CD3+, CD4+, regulatory T (Treg), and CD8+ T cells were analyzed by multi-color fluorescent flow cytometry in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples from patients with de novo AML and AML in complete remission (CR) and healthy individuals (HIs). RESULTS A significantly increased percentage of TOX+CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells was found in PB from patients with de novo AML in comparison with HIs. Double-positive TOX+CD244+, TOX+PD-1+, and TOX+Tim-3+ T cells markedly increased in the CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell populations in de novo AML patients compared with HIs, and similar trends were demonstrated for TOX+Tim-3+CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ T cells in de novo AML compared with AML-CR patients. In addition, the number of TOX+, TOX+PD-1+, and TOX+Tim-3+Treg cells significantly increased in de novo AML patients compared with HIs, and TOX+PD-1+Treg cells were higher in de novo AML compared with AML-CR patients. Moreover, TOX positively correlated with Tim-3 expression in CD8+ and Treg cells, and a positive correlation between the expression of TOX+ CD4+ and CD244+CD4+ T cells was found. Furthermore, an increased percentage of TOX+Tim-3+ T cells in BM was also found in de novo AML patients compared with HIs. CONCLUSIONS Increased TOX concurrent with PD-1, Tim-3, and CD244 in T cells may contribute to T cell exhaustion and impair their function in AML. Such exhausted T cells may be partially revised when AML patients achieve CR after chemotherapy. TOX may be considered a potential target for reversing T cell exhaustion and improving T cell function in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Huang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaofeng Liang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujie Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tairan Deng
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxiong Tan
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianfeng Zha
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Veldman J, Rodrigues Plaça J, Chong L, Terpstra MM, Mastik M, van Kempen LC, Kok K, Aoki T, Steidl C, van den Berg A, Visser L, Diepstra A. CD4+ T cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma express exhaustion associated transcription factors TOX and TOX2. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2033433. [PMID: 35111387 PMCID: PMC8803106 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2033433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), the highly abundant CD4+ T cells in the vicinity of tumor cells are considered essential for tumor cell survival, but are ill-defined. Although they are activated, they consistently lack expression of activation marker CD26. In this study, we compared sorted CD4+CD26- and CD4+CD26+ T cells from cHL lymph node cell suspensions by RNA sequencing and T cell receptor variable gene segment usage analysis. This revealed that although CD4+CD26- T cells are antigen experienced, they have not clonally expanded. This may well be explained by the expression of exhaustion associated transcription factors TOX and TOX2, immune checkpoints PDCD1 and CD200, and chemokine CXCL13, which were amongst the 100 significantly enriched genes in comparison with the CD4+CD26+ T cells. Findings were validated in single-cell RNA sequencing data from an independent cohort. Interestingly, immunohistochemistry revealed predominant and high frequency of staining for TOX and TOX2 in the T cells attached to the tumor cells. In conclusion, the dominant CD4+CD26- T cell population in cHL is antigen experienced, polyclonal, and exhausted. This population is likely a main contributor to the very high response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Veldman
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica Rodrigues Plaça
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy (INCT/CNPq) and Center for Cell-Based Therapy, CEPID/FAPESP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lauren Chong
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Miente Martijn Terpstra
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Mastik
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Léon C. van Kempen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Kok
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tomohiro Aoki
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christian Steidl
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anke van den Berg
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lydia Visser
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Diepstra
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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11
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Aladily TN, Abushunar T, Alhesa A, Alrawi R, Almaani N, Abdaljaleel M. Immunohistochemical Expression Patterns of CD45RO, p105/p50, JAK3, TOX, and IL-17 in Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12010220. [PMID: 35054387 PMCID: PMC8774984 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12010220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphologic changes in early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) might overlap with benign inflammatory dermatitis (BID). Previous studies have described altered expression patterns of several proteins in MF, but their diagnostic significance is uncertain. This study aims at examining the frequency of expression of CD45RO, NFkB-p105/p50, JAK3, TOX, and IL-17 proteins by immunohistochemistry. The cohorts included 21 patients of early-stage MF and 19 with benign BID as a control group. CD45RO was positive in all patients of MF and BID. NFkB-p105/p50 showed normal cytoplasmic staining, indicating an inactive status in all patients of both groups. JAK3 was positive in 3 (14%) MF and in 17 (89%) BID patients (p = 0.003). TOX was expressed in 19 (90%) and 13 (68%) patients of MF and BID, respectively (p = 0.120). IL-17 was detected in 13 (62%) MF and in 7 (37%) BID patients (p = 0.056). Co-expression of TOX and IL-17 was seen in 11 (52%) MF patients but in only 3 (16%) BID patients, which was statistically significant (p = 0.021). We conclude that a double expression of TOX and IL-17 may support the diagnosis of MF in the right clinicopathologic setting, while none of the immunohistochemical stains alone provided a significant discrimination between MF and BID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq N. Aladily
- Department of Pathology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (T.A.); (A.A.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tasnim Abushunar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (T.A.); (A.A.); (M.A.)
| | - Ahmad Alhesa
- Department of Pathology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (T.A.); (A.A.); (M.A.)
| | - Raneen Alrawi
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (R.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Noor Almaani
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (R.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Maram Abdaljaleel
- Department of Pathology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (T.A.); (A.A.); (M.A.)
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Liang C, Huang S, Zhao Y, Chen S, Li Y. TOX as a potential target for immunotherapy in lymphocytic malignancies. Biomark Res 2021; 9:20. [PMID: 33743809 PMCID: PMC7981945 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00275-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
TOX (thymocyte selection-associated HMG BOX) is a member of a family of transcriptional factors that contain the highly conserved high mobility group box (HMG-box) region. Increasing studies have shown that TOX is involved in maintaining tumors and promoting T cell exhaustion. In this review, we summarized the biological functions of TOX and its contribution as related to lymphocytic malignancies. We also discussed the potential role of TOX as an immune biomarker and target in immunotherapy for hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Liang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.,Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Shuxin Huang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yujie Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education; Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Saleh R, Sasidharan Nair V, Toor SM, Taha RZ, Murshed K, Al-Dhaheri M, Khawar M, Petkar MA, Abu Nada M, Al-Ejeh F, Elkord E. Differential gene expression of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells in advanced versus early-stage colorectal cancer and identification of a gene signature of poor prognosis. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001294. [PMID: 32948653 PMCID: PMC7511623 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytotoxic CD8+ T cell-mediated response is the most important arm of adaptive immunity, which dictates the capacity of the host immune response in eradicating tumor cells. Due to tumor intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors, the density and function of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) could be compromised, leading to poor prognosis and survival. Methods Using RNA-Seq, transcriptomes of sorted CD3+CD8+ TILs from treatment-naïve colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at advanced stages (III and IV) were compared with those from patients with early stages (I and II). A signature referred to as ‘poor prognosis CD8 gene signature (ppCD8sig)’ was identified and analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas CRC dataset. Scores for the ppCD8sig were calculated and classified as high, intermediate and low, and its prognostic significance was assessed using multivariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard model. Densities of CD3+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumors from patients with high and low ppCD8sig scores were assessed by flow cytometry and immunostaining. Results Genes related to epigenetic regulation and response to hypoxia were upregulated in CD8+ TILs from patients with advanced stages, while genes related to T cell activation, cell proliferation and cell cycle were downregulated. Patients with high ppCD8sig score had poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) and shorter progression-free interval (PFI). The ppCD8sig was an independent prognostic indicator for DSS (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.38, p<0.0001) and PFI (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.93, p=0.026). Additionally, patients with high ppCD8sig score were more likely to have advanced stages (χ2 p<0.0001) and residual disease after primary therapy (χ2 p=0.046). Patients with high ppCD8sig score had reduced levels of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs and low Immunoscores (IS), compared to patients with low ppCD8sig score. Conclusions Our data provided insights into the altered regulation of biological mechanisms and signaling pathways in CD8+ TILs during CRC progression, and revealed a gene signature as an independent prognostic indicator. Patients with high ppCD8sig score had lower levels of TILs and low IS. These data further confirm the prognostic value of the identified ppCD8sig and potentially highlight its clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Saleh
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Varun Sasidharan Nair
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Salman M Toor
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Rowaida Z Taha
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Khaled Murshed
- Department of Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Mahwish Khawar
- Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Fares Al-Ejeh
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Eyad Elkord
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
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