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Sanz-Ortega L, Leijonhufvud C, Schoutens L, Lambert M, Levy E, Andersson A, Wahlin BE, Carlsten M. Redirecting NK cells to the lymph nodes to augment their lymphoma-targeting capacity. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:108. [PMID: 38769377 PMCID: PMC11106342 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00595-w] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR-NK cells can induce remission in lymphoma patients. We speculate that the full potential of adoptive NK cell immunotherapy against lymphoma is restricted by their poor lymph node (LN) homing capacity. Here, we have utilized a clinically approved transfection method with the aim of redirecting NK cells to LNs. Electroporation of ex vivo expanded NK cells with mRNAs coding for CCR7, CXCR5, and CD62L resulted in increased in vitro migration towards chemokines and mouse LN-derived supernatant. Following infusion into SCID/Beige mice, modified NK cells showed enhanced LN homing. Importantly, lymphoma patient-derived NK cells were equally well expanded and engineered as healthy donor NK cells, highlighting their translational potential. Additionally, the introduction of high-affinity CD16, together with the homing molecules, also augmented their ADCC capacity against autologous lymphoma cells. Hence, genetic engineering can be utilized to enhance NK cell LN homing. The homing concept may synergize with CAR- or monoclonal/bi-/tri-specific antibody-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanz-Ortega
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Leijonhufvud
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisanne Schoutens
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mélanie Lambert
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Emily Levy
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn E Wahlin
- Unit of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Cell Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Page A, Chuvin N, Valladeau-Guilemond J, Depil S. Development of NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies through receptor engineering. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:315-331. [PMID: 38443448 PMCID: PMC10978891 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01145-x] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies are attracting increasing interest in the field of cancer treatment. Early clinical trials have shown promising outcomes, alongside satisfactory product efficacy and safety. Recent developments have greatly increased the therapeutic potential of NK cells by endowing them with enhanced recognition and cytotoxic capacities. This review focuses on surface receptor engineering in NK cell therapy and discusses its impact, challenges, and future directions.Most approaches are based on engineering with chimeric antigen receptors to allow NK cells to target specific tumor antigens independent of human leukocyte antigen restriction. This approach has increased the precision and potency of NK-mediated recognition and elimination of cancer cells. In addition, engineering NK cells with T-cell receptors also mediates the recognition of intracellular epitopes, which broadens the range of target peptides. Indirect tumor peptide recognition by NK cells has also been improved by optimizing immunoglobulin constant fragment receptor expression and signaling. Indeed, engineered NK cells have an improved ability to recognize and destroy target cells coated with specific antibodies, thereby increasing their antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The ability of NK cell receptor engineering to promote the expansion, persistence, and infiltration of transferred cells in the tumor microenvironment has also been explored. Receptor-based strategies for sustained NK cell functionality within the tumor environment have also been discussed, and these strategies providing perspectives to counteract tumor-induced immunosuppression.Overall, receptor engineering has led to significant advances in NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies. As technical challenges are addressed, these innovative treatments will likely reshape cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Page
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, UMR INSERM U1052 CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
| | | | - Jenny Valladeau-Guilemond
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, UMR INSERM U1052 CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Depil
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, UMR INSERM U1052 CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
- ErVimmune, Lyon, France.
- Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
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3
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Edri A, Ben-Haim N, Hailu A, Brycman N, Berhani-Zipori O, Rifman J, Cohen S, Yackoubov D, Rosenberg M, Simantov R, Teru H, Kurata K, Anderson KC, Hendel A, Pato A, Geffen Y. Nicotinamide-Expanded Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells with CD38 Deletion, Expressing an Enhanced CD38 Chimeric Antigen Receptor, Target Multiple Myeloma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17231. [PMID: 38139060 PMCID: PMC10743602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417231] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a vital component of cancer immune surveillance. They provide a rapid and potent immune response, including direct cytotoxicity and mobilization of the immune system, without the need for antigen processing and presentation. NK cells may also be better tolerated than T cell therapy approaches and are susceptible to various gene manipulations. Therefore, NK cells have become the focus of extensive translational research. Gamida Cell's nicotinamide (NAM) platform for cultured NK cells provides an opportunity to enhance the therapeutic potential of NK cells. CD38 is an ectoenzyme ubiquitously expressed on the surface of various hematologic cells, including multiple myeloma (MM). It has been selected as a lead target for numerous monoclonal therapeutic antibodies against MM. Monoclonal antibodies target CD38, resulting in the lysis of MM plasma cells through various antibody-mediated mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, significantly improving the outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory MM. However, this therapeutic strategy has inherent limitations, such as the anti-CD38-induced depletion of CD38-expressing NK cells, thus hindering ADCC. We have developed genetically engineered NK cells tailored to treat MM, in which CD38 was knocked-out using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and an enhanced chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD38 was introduced using mRNA electroporation. This combined genetic approach allows for an improved cytotoxic activity directed against CD38-expressing MM cells without self-inflicted NK-cell-mediated fratricide. Preliminary results show near-complete abolition of fratricide with a 24-fold reduction in self-lysis from 19% in mock-transfected and untreated NK cells to 0.8% of self-lysis in CD38 knock-out CAR NK cells. Furthermore, we have observed significant enhancements in CD38-mediated activity in vitro, resulting in increased lysis of MM target cell lines. CD38 knock-out CAR NK cells also demonstrated significantly higher levels of NK activation markers in co-cultures with both untreated and αCD38-treated MM cell lines. These NAM-cultured NK cells with the combined genetic approach of CD38 knockout and addition of CD38 CAR represent a promising immunotherapeutic tool to target MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishay Edri
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Nimrod Ben-Haim
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (N.B.-H.); (M.R.)
| | - Astar Hailu
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Nurit Brycman
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Orit Berhani-Zipori
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Julia Rifman
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Sherri Cohen
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Dima Yackoubov
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Michael Rosenberg
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (N.B.-H.); (M.R.)
| | | | - Hideshima Teru
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (H.T.); (K.K.); (K.C.A.)
| | - Keiji Kurata
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (H.T.); (K.K.); (K.C.A.)
| | - Kenneth Carl Anderson
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (H.T.); (K.K.); (K.C.A.)
| | - Ayal Hendel
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (N.B.-H.); (M.R.)
| | - Aviad Pato
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
| | - Yona Geffen
- Gamida-Cell, Jerusalem 34670, Israel; (A.E.); (A.H.); (N.B.); (O.B.-Z.); (J.R.); (S.C.); (D.Y.); (A.P.)
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4
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Ijima S, Saito Y, Yamamoto S, Nagaoka K, Iwamoto T, Kita A, Miyajima M, Sato T, Miyazaki A, Chikenji TS. Senescence-associated secretory phenotypes in mesenchymal cells contribute to cytotoxic immune response in oral lichen planus. Immun Ageing 2023; 20:72. [PMID: 38053160 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00400-5] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition that adversely affects the oral mucosa; however, its etiology remains elusive. Consequently, therapeutic interventions for oral lichen planus are limited to symptomatic management. This study provides evidence of the accumulation of senescent mesenchymal cells, CD8 + T cells, and natural killer cells in patients with oral lichen planus. We profiled the patients' tissues using the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus database and found that senescence-related genes were upregulated in these tissues by gene set enrichment analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased senescent mesenchymal cells in the subepithelial layer of patients with oral lichen planus. Single-cell RNA-seq data retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database of patients with oral lichen planus revealed that mesenchymal cells were marked by the upregulation of senescence-related genes. Cell-cell communication analysis using CellChat showed that senescent mesenchymal cells significantly influenced CD8 + T cells and natural killer cells via CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling, which is known to activate and recruit CD8 + T cells and NK cells. Finally, in vitro assays demonstrated that the secretion of senescence-associated factors from mesenchymal cells stimulated the activation of T cells and natural killer cells and promoted epithelial cell senescence and cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that the accumulation of mesenchymal cells with senescence-associated secretory phenotype may be a key driver of oral lichen planus pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Ijima
- Department of Oral Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Yuki Saito
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan.
| | - Sena Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Kentaro Nagaoka
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Taiki Iwamoto
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Arisa Kita
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Maki Miyajima
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sato
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Akihiro Miyazaki
- Department of Oral Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Takako S Chikenji
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
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5
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Hinnekens C, De Smedt SC, Fraire JC, Braeckmans K. Non-viral engineering of NK cells. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108212. [PMID: 37454745 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108212] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has witnessed great progress in the field of adoptive cell therapies, with the authorization of Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) in 2017 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a crucial stepstone. Since then, five more CAR-T therapies have been approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies. While this is a great step forward to treating several types of blood cancers, CAR-T cell therapies are still associated with severe side-effects such as Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD), cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Because of this, there has been continued interest in Natural Killer cells which avoid these side-effects while offering the possibility to generate allogeneic cell therapies. Similar to T-cells, NK cells can be genetically modified to improve their therapeutic efficacy in a variety of ways. In contrast to T cells, viral transduction of NK cells remains inefficient and induces cytotoxic effects. Viral vectors also require a lengthy and expensive product development process and are accompanied by certain risks such as insertional mutagenesis. Therefore, non-viral transfection technologies are avidly being developed aimed at addressing these shortcomings of viral vectors. In this review we will present an overview of the potential of NK cells in cancer immunotherapies and the non-viral transfection technologies that have been explored to engineer them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Hinnekens
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juan C Fraire
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Kevin Braeckmans
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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6
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Segerberg F, Lambert M, Sanz-Ortega L, Andersson A, Childs RW, Carlsten M. Improved Leukemia Clearance After Adoptive Transfer of NK Cells Expressing the Bone Marrow Homing Receptor CXCR4 R334X. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e974. [PMID: 37936677 PMCID: PMC10627636 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Filip Segerberg
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mélanie Lambert
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Laura Sanz-Ortega
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard W. Childs
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mattias Carlsten
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Cell Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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7
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Merino A, Maakaron J, Bachanova V. Advances in NK cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: NK source, persistence and tumor targeting. Blood Rev 2023; 60:101073. [PMID: 36959057 PMCID: PMC10979648 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells yield promise in therapy of hematologic malignancies. The clinical experience with adoptively transferred allogeneic NK cells over past two decades has revealed safety and minimal risk of CRS or ICANS. Unlike T cells which have to be genetically altered to avoid graft vs host disease (GVHD), HLA mismatched NK cells can be infused without GVHD risk. This makes them ideal for the development of off-the-shelf products. In this review we focus on NK biology relevant to the cancer therapy, the trajectory of NK therapeutics for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma; and advantages of the NK cell platform. We will also discuss novel methods to enhance NK cell targeting, persistence, and function in the tumor microenvironment. The future of NK cell therapy depends on novel strategies to realize these qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Merino
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Joseph Maakaron
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Veronika Bachanova
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
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8
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Biondi M, Tettamanti S, Galimberti S, Cerina B, Tomasoni C, Piazza R, Donsante S, Bido S, Perriello VM, Broccoli V, Doni A, Dazzi F, Mantovani A, Dotti G, Biondi A, Pievani A, Serafini M. Selective homing of CAR-CIK cells to the bone marrow niche enhances control of the acute myeloid leukemia burden. Blood 2023; 141:2587-2598. [PMID: 36787509 PMCID: PMC10646802 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022018330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy derived from neoplastic myeloid progenitor cells characterized by abnormal clonal proliferation and differentiation. Although novel therapeutic strategies have recently been introduced, the prognosis of AML is still unsatisfactory. So far, the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy in AML has been hampered by several factors, including the poor accumulation of the blood-injected cells in the leukemia bone marrow (BM) niche in which chemotherapy-resistant leukemic stem cells reside. Thus, we hypothesized that overexpression of CXCR4, whose ligand CXCL12 is highly expressed by BM stromal cells within this niche, could improve T-cell homing to the BM and consequently enhance their intimate contact with BM-resident AML cells, facilitating disease eradication. Specifically, we engineered conventional CD33.CAR-cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) with the wild-type (wt) CXCR4 and the variant CXCR4R334X, responsible for leukocyte sequestration in the BM of patients with warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, immunodeficiency, and myelokathexis syndrome. Overexpression of both CXCR4wt and CXCR4mut in CD33.CAR-CIKs resulted in significant improvement of chemotaxis toward recombinant CXCL12 or BM stromal cell-conditioned medium, with no observed impairment of cytotoxic potential in vitro. Moreover, CXCR4-overexpressing CD33.CAR-CIKs showed enhanced in vivo BM homing, associated with a prolonged retention for the CXCR4R334X variant. However, only CD33.CAR-CIKs coexpressing CXCR4wt but not CXCR4mut exerted a more sustained in vivo antileukemic activity and extended animal survival, suggesting a noncanonical role for CXCR4 in modulating CAR-CIK functions independent of BM homing. Taken together, these data suggest that arming CAR-CIKs with CXCR4 may represent a promising strategy for increasing their therapeutic potential for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Biondi
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sarah Tettamanti
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Stefania Galimberti
- Bicocca Bioinformatics Biostatistics and Bioimaging B4 Center, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Beatrice Cerina
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Tomasoni
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Rocco Piazza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Simone Bido
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Doni
- Unit of Advanced Optical Microscopy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Dazzi
- School of Cardiovascular Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Mantovani
- Unit of Advanced Optical Microscopy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Pediatrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Pievani
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Marta Serafini
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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9
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Sun Y, Khan MAAK, Mangiola S, Barrow AD. IL17RB and IL17REL Expression Are Associated with Improved Prognosis in HPV-Infected Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040572. [PMID: 37111458 PMCID: PMC10143491 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040572] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in the cellular secretome are implicated in virus infection, malignancy, and anti-tumor immunity. We analyzed the association between transcriptional signatures (TS) from 24 different immune and stromal cell types on the prognosis of HPV-infected and HPV-free head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. We found that HPV-positive HNSCC patients have tumors with elevated immune cell TS and improved prognosis, which was specifically associated with an increased tumor abundance of memory B and activated natural killer (NK) cell TS, compared to HPV-free HNSCC patients. HPV-infected patients upregulated many transcripts encoding secreted factors, such as growth factors, hormones, chemokines and cytokines, and their cognate receptors. Analysis of secretome transcripts and cognate receptors revealed that tumor expression of IL17RB and IL17REL are associated with a higher viral load and memory B and activated NK cell TS, as well as improved prognosis in HPV-infected HNSCC patients. The transcriptional parameters that we describe may be optimized to improve prognosis and risk stratification in the clinic and provide insights into gene and cellular targets that may potentially enhance anti-tumor immunity mediated by NK cells and memory B cells in HPV-infected HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Md Abdullah Al Kamran Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Stefano Mangiola
- Division of Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Alexander David Barrow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
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10
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Efficient Redirection of NK Cells by Genetic Modification with Chemokine Receptors CCR4 and CCR2B. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043129. [PMID: 36834542 PMCID: PMC9967507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that offer great potential for cancer immunotherapy due to their natural anti-tumor activity and the possibility to safely transplant cells from healthy donors to patients in a clinical setting. However, the efficacy of cell-based immunotherapies using both T and NK cells is often limited by a poor infiltration of immune cells into solid tumors. Importantly, regulatory immune cell subsets are frequently recruited to tumor sites. In this study, we overexpressed two chemokine receptors, CCR4 and CCR2B, that are naturally found on T regulatory cells and tumor-resident monocytes, respectively, on NK cells. Using the NK cell line NK-92 as well as primary NK cells from peripheral blood, we show that genetically engineered NK cells can be efficiently redirected using chemokine receptors from different immune cell lineages and migrate towards chemokines such as CCL22 or CCL2, without impairing the natural effector functions. This approach has the potential to enhance the therapeutic effect of immunotherapies in solid tumors by directing genetically engineered donor NK cells to tumor sites. As a future therapeutic option, the natural anti-tumor activity of NK cells at the tumor sites can be increased by co-expression of chemokine receptors with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) or T cell receptors (TCR) on NK cells can be performed in the future.
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11
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Xiao J, Zhang T, Gao F, Zhou Z, Shu G, Zou Y, Yin G. Natural Killer Cells: A Promising Kit in the Adoptive Cell Therapy Toolbox. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225657. [PMID: 36428748 PMCID: PMC9688567 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important component of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells have gained increasing attention in adoptive cell therapy for their safety and efficacious tumor-killing effect. Unlike T cells which rely on the interaction between TCRs and specific peptide-MHC complexes, NK cells are more prone to be served as "off-the-shelf" cell therapy products due to their rapid recognition and killing of tumor cells without MHC restriction. In recent years, constantly emerging sources of therapeutic NK cells have provided flexible options for cancer immunotherapy. Advanced genetic engineering techniques, especially chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modification, have yielded exciting effectiveness in enhancing NK cell specificity and cytotoxicity, improving in vivo persistence, and overcoming immunosuppressive factors derived from tumors. In this review, we highlight current advances in NK-based adoptive cell therapy, including alternative sources of NK cells for adoptive infusion, various CAR modifications that confer different targeting specificity to NK cells, multiple genetic engineering strategies to enhance NK cell function, as well as the latest clinical research on adoptive NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Xiao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guang Shu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
| | - Gang Yin
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
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12
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Hintzen G, Dulat HJ, Rajkovic E. Engaging innate immunity for targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor: Therapeutic options leveraging innate immunity versus adaptive immunity versus inhibition of signaling. Front Oncol 2022; 12:892212. [PMID: 36185288 PMCID: PMC9518002 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.892212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key player in the normal tissue physiology and the pathology of cancer. Therapeutic approaches have now been developed to target oncogenic genetic aberrations of EGFR, found in a subset of tumors, and to take advantage of overexpression of EGFR in tumors. The development of small-molecule inhibitors and anti-EGFR antibodies targeting EGFR activation have resulted in effective but limited treatment options for patients with mutated or wild-type EGFR-expressing cancers, while therapeutic approaches that deploy effectors of the adaptive or innate immune system are still undergoing development. This review discusses EGFR-targeting therapies acting through distinct molecular mechanisms to destroy EGFR-expressing cancer cells. The focus is on the successes and limitations of therapies targeting the activation of EGFR versus those that exploit the cytotoxic T cells and innate immune cells to target EGFR-expressing cancer cells. Moreover, we discuss alternative approaches that may have the potential to overcome limitations of current therapies; in particular the innate cell engagers are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential to combine innate cell engagers with immunotherapies, to maximize their effectiveness, or with unspecific cell therapies, to convert them into tumor-specific agents.
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13
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Valeri A, García-Ortiz A, Castellano E, Córdoba L, Maroto-Martín E, Encinas J, Leivas A, Río P, Martínez-López J. Overcoming tumor resistance mechanisms in CAR-NK cell therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:953849. [PMID: 35990652 PMCID: PMC9381932 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the impressive results of autologous CAR-T cell therapy in refractory B lymphoproliferative diseases, CAR-NK immunotherapy emerges as a safer, faster, and cost-effective approach with no signs of severe toxicities as described for CAR-T cells. Permanently scrutinized for its efficacy, recent promising data in CAR-NK clinical trials point out the achievement of deep, high-quality responses, thus confirming its potential clinical use. Although CAR-NK cell therapy is not significantly affected by the loss or downregulation of its CAR tumor target, as in the case of CAR-T cell, a plethora of common additional tumor intrinsic or extrinsic mechanisms that could also disable NK cell function have been described. Therefore, considering lessons learned from CAR-T cell therapy, the emergence of CAR-NK cell therapy resistance can also be envisioned. In this review we highlight the processes that could be involved in its development, focusing on cytokine addiction and potential fratricide during manufacturing, poor tumor trafficking, exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and NK cell short in vivo persistence on account of the limited expansion, replicative senescence, and rejection by patient’s immune system after lymphodepletion recovery. Finally, we outline new actively explored alternatives to overcome these resistance mechanisms, with a special emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genetic engineering approaches, a promising platform to optimize CAR-NK cell function to eradicate refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Valeri
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena García-Ortiz
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Castellano
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Córdoba
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Maroto-Martín
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jessica Encinas
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Leivas
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Río
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Martínez-López
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (H12O-CNIO) Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Joaquín Martínez-López,
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Janowski M, Andrzejewska A. The legacy of mRNA engineering: A lineup of pioneers for the Nobel Prize. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:272-284. [PMID: 35855896 PMCID: PMC9278038 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
mRNA is like Hermes, delivering the genetic code to cellular construction sites, so it has long been of interest, but only to a small group of scientists, and only demonstrating its remarkable efficacy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines allowed it to go out into the open. Therefore, now is the right timing to delve into the stepping stones that underpin this success and pay tribute to the underlying scientists. From this perspective, advances in mRNA engineering have proven crucial to the rapidly growing role of this molecule in healthcare. Development of consecutive generations of cap analogs, including anti-reverse cap analogs (ARCAs), has significantly boosted translation efficacy and maintained an enthusiasm for mRNA research. Nucleotide modification to protect mRNA molecules from the host's immune system, followed by finding appropriate purification and packaging methods, were other links in the chain enabling medical breakthroughs. Currently, vaccines are the central area of mRNA research, but it will reach far beyond COVID-19. Supplementation of missing or abnormal proteins is another large field of mRNA research. Ex vivo cell engineering and genome editing have been expanding recently. Thus, it is time to recognize mRNA pioneers while building upon their legacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslaw Janowski
- Program in Image Guided Neurointerventions, Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA,Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Anna Andrzejewska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, PAS, 5 Pawinskiego Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland,Corresponding author Anna Andrzejewska, NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawinskiego Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
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15
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Ran GH, Lin YQ, Tian L, Zhang T, Yan DM, Yu JH, Deng YC. Natural killer cell homing and trafficking in tissues and tumors: from biology to application. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:205. [PMID: 35768424 PMCID: PMC9243142 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01058-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, a subgroup of innate lymphoid cells, act as the first line of defense against cancer. Although some evidence shows that NK cells can develop in secondary lymphoid tissues, NK cells develop mainly in the bone marrow (BM) and egress into the blood circulation when they mature. They then migrate to and settle down in peripheral tissues, though some special subsets home back into the BM or secondary lymphoid organs. Owing to its success in allogeneic adoptive transfer for cancer treatment and its "off-the-shelf" potential, NK cell-based immunotherapy is attracting increasing attention in the treatment of various cancers. However, insufficient infiltration of adoptively transferred NK cells limits clinical utility, especially for solid tumors. Expansion of NK cells or engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells ex vivo prior to adoptive transfer by using various cytokines alters the profiles of chemokine receptors, which affects the infiltration of transferred NK cells into tumor tissue. Several factors control NK cell trafficking and homing, including cell-intrinsic factors (e.g., transcriptional factors), cell-extrinsic factors (e.g., integrins, selectins, chemokines and their corresponding receptors, signals induced by cytokines, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), etc.), and the cellular microenvironment. Here, we summarize the profiles and mechanisms of NK cell homing and trafficking at steady state and during tumor development, aiming to improve NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang He Ran
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Qing Lin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Tian
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China.
| | - Dong Mei Yan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, 154007, Jiamusi, China.
| | - Jian Hua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
| | - You Cai Deng
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, China.
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16
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Rahnama R, Christodoulou I, Bonifant CL. Gene-Based Natural Killer Cell Therapies for the Treatment of Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2022; 36:745-768. [PMID: 35773048 PMCID: PMC10158845 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric blood cancers are among the most common malignancies that afflict children. Intensive chemotherapy is not curative in many cases, and novel therapies are urgently needed. NK cells hold promise for use as immunotherapeutic effectors due to their favorable safety profile, intrinsic cytotoxic properties, and potential for genetic modification that can enhance specificity and killing potential. NK cells can be engineered to express CARs targeting tumor-specific antigens, to downregulate inhibitory and regulatory signals, to secrete cytokine, and to optimize interaction with small molecule engagers. Understanding NK cell biology is key to designing immunotherapy for clinical translation.
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17
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Dunai C, Ames E, Ochoa MC, Fernandez-Sendin M, Melero I, Simonetta F, Baker J, Alvarez M. Killers on the loose: Immunotherapeutic strategies to improve NK cell-based therapy for cancer treatment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 370:65-122. [PMID: 35798507 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that control tumor progression by not only directly killing cancer cells, but also by regulating other immune cells, helping to orchestrate a coordinated anti-tumor response. However, despite the tremendous potential that this cell type has, the clinical results obtained from diverse NK cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies have been, until recent years, rather modest. The intrinsic regulatory mechanisms that are involved in the control of their activation as well as the multiple mechanisms that tumor cells have developed to escape NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity likely account for the unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. The current approaches to improve long-term NK cell function are centered on modulating different molecules involved in both the activation and inhibition of NK cells, and the latest data seems to advocate for combining strategies that target multiple aspects of NK cell regulation. In this review, we summarize the different strategies (such as engineered NK cells, CAR-NK, NK cell immune engagers) that are currently being used to take advantage of this potent and complex immune cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Dunai
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Ames
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maria C Ochoa
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Myriam Fernandez-Sendin
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Translational Research Centre in Onco-Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maite Alvarez
- Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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18
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CXCR4 and anti-BCMA CAR co-modified natural killer cells suppress multiple myeloma progression in a xenograft mouse model. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:475-483. [PMID: 34471234 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00365-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The highly restricted expression of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on plasma cells makes it an ideal target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immune cell therapy against multiple myeloma (MM), a bone marrow cancer. To improve the infiltration of ex vivo expanded human natural killer (NK) cells into the bone marrow, we electroporated these cells with mRNA encoding the chemokine receptor CXCR4. The CXCR4-modified NK cells displayed increased in vitro migration toward the bone marrow niche-expressing chemokine CXCL12/SDF-1α and augmented infiltration into the bone marrow compartments in mice. We further modified the CXCR4-NK cells by electroporation of mRNA encoding a CAR targeting BCMA. After the intravenous injection of the double-modified NK cells into a xenograft mouse model of MM, we observed significantly reduced tumor burden in the femur region of the living mice and the extended survival of the tumor-bearing mice. Collectively, this study provides the experimental evidence that the co-expression of CXCR4 and anti-BCMA CAR on NK cells is a possible effective way to control MM progression.
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19
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Mylod E, Lysaght J, Conroy MJ. Natural killer cell therapy: A new frontier for obesity-associated cancer. Cancer Lett 2022; 535:215620. [PMID: 35283210 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell infiltration of solid tumours is associated with better outcomes, placing augmentation of NK cell abundance in tumours as an attractive immunotherapeutic approach. The unique ability of NK cells to target cancer cells without antigen specificity increases their versatility and applicability as an immunotherapeutic tool. However, successful utilisation of NK cell-based therapies in solid tumours is still at an early stage. Obesity has become a global health epidemic, and the prevalence of obesity-associated cancers has significantly increased. Obesity-associated malignancies provide a unique challenge for the successful application of cell-based immunotherapies including NK cell-based therapies because significant numbers of NK and T cells are recruited to the visceral adipose tissue at the expense of successful tumour infiltration and eradication. As such, immunotherapy efficacy has been disappointing for obesity-associated malignancies such as oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma. Therefore, immunotherapies for obesity-associated cancers warrant our further attention. Indeed, it is becoming ever more obvious that more innovative approaches are needed to re-invigorate anti-tumour immunity and overcome immune exclusion in such tumours. In this review, we briefly summarise the dysfunctionality of NK cells in obesity-associated cancer. We outline the NK cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches which hold promise as effective treatments in this disease space, including CAR-NK cells. Furthermore, we suggest future avenues which possess the potential to transform immunotherapy and specifically NK cell therapy efficacy for obesity-associated cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eimear Mylod
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 8, Ireland
| | - Joanne Lysaght
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 8, Ireland
| | - Melissa J Conroy
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 8, Ireland; Cancer Immunology Research Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 2, Ireland.
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20
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Doria M, Moscato GMF, Di Cesare S, Di Matteo G, Sgrulletti M, Bachelerie F, Marin-Esteban V, Moschese V. Case Report: Altered NK Cell Compartment and Reduced CXCR4 Chemotactic Response of B Lymphocytes in an Immunodeficient Patient With HPV-Related Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:799564. [PMID: 35154113 PMCID: PMC8825485 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.799564] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) provides unique opportunities to elucidate the microbiome and pathogenic mechanisms related to severe viral infection. Several immunological and genetic anomalies may contribute to the susceptibility to develop Human Papillomavirus (HPV) pathogenesis. They include different acquired immunodeficiencies, EVER1-2 or CIB1 mutations underlying epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) syndrome and multiple IEI. Whereas EV syndrome patients are specifically unable to control infections with beta HPV, individuals with IEI show broader infectious and immune phenotypes. The WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infection, and myelokathexis) syndrome caused by gain-of-CXCR4-function mutation manifests by HPV-induced extensive cutaneous warts but also anogenital lesions that eventually progress to dysplasia. Here we report alterations of B and NK cells in a female patient suffering from cutaneous and mucosal HPV-induced lesions due to an as-yet unidentified genetic defect. Despite no detected mutations in CXCR4, B but not NK cells displayed a defective CXCR4-dependent chemotactic response toward CXCL12. In addition, NK cells showed an abnormal distribution with an expanded CD56bright cell subset and defective cytotoxicity of CD56dim cells. Our observations extend the clinical and immunological spectrum of IEI associated with selective susceptibility toward HPV pathogenesis, thus providing new insight on the immune control of HPV infection and potential host susceptibility factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Doria
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiency, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giusella M F Moscato
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Cesare
- Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiency, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gigliola Di Matteo
- Department of Medicine of Systems, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mayla Sgrulletti
- Pediatric Immunopathology and Allergology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.,PhD Program in Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Françoise Bachelerie
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | - Viviana Marin-Esteban
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | - Viviana Moschese
- Pediatric Immunopathology and Allergology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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21
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Clara JA, Levy ER, Reger R, Barisic S, Chen L, Cherkasova E, Chakraborty M, Allan DSJ, Childs R. High-affinity CD16 integration into a CRISPR/Cas9-edited CD38 locus augments CD38-directed antitumor activity of primary human natural killer cells. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003804. [PMID: 35135865 PMCID: PMC8830298 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells with augmented antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) capabilities and resistance to CD38 targeting has the potential to enhance the clinical anti-myeloma activity of daratumumab (DARA). Therefore, we sought to develop an efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing platform to disrupt CD38 expression (CD38 knockout (KO)) in ex vivo expanded NK cells and simultaneously arm CD38KO NK cells with a high-affinity CD16 (CD16-158V) receptor. Methods CD38KO human NK cells were generated using Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes. The platform was expanded by incorporating messenger RNA (mRNA) transfection of CD38KO NK cells and targeted gene insertion at the CD38 locus to mediate gene knockin (KI). The capacity of these gene-edited NK cells to persist and mediate ADCC in the presence of DARA was tested in vitro and in a MM.1S xenograft mouse model. Results Highly efficient CD38 gene disruption was achieved in ex vivo expanded NK cells without affecting their proliferative or functional capacity. CD38 KO conferred resistance to DARA-induced NK cell fratricide, enabling persistence and augmented ADCC against myeloma cell lines in the presence of DARA in vitro and in a MM.1S xenograft mouse model. CD38KO NK cells could be further modified by transfection with mRNA encoding a CD16-158V receptor, resulting in augmented DARA-mediated ADCC. Finally, we observed that a homology-directed repair template targeted to the CD38 locus facilitated an efficient 2-in-1 CD38 KO coupled with KI of a truncated CD34 reporter and CD16-158V receptor, with CD38KO/CD16KI NK cells demonstrating a further enhancement of DARA-mediated ADCC both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Adoptive immunotherapy using ex vivo expanded CD38KO/CD16KI NK cells has the potential to boost the clinical efficacy of DARA. By incorporating complementary genetic engineering strategies into a CD38 KO manufacturing platform, we generated NK cells with substantially augmented CD38-directed antitumor activity, establishing a strong rationale for exploring this immunotherapy strategy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Andrew Clara
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Emily R Levy
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Biologics Process Research and Development, Merck & Co Inc, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Reger
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stefan Barisic
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Long Chen
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elena Cherkasova
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mala Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David S J Allan
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard Childs
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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22
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Nakanishi H, Itaka K. Synthetic mRNA for ex vivo therapeutic applications. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2022; 44:100447. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dmpk.2022.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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23
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Clara JA, Childs RW. Harnessing natural killer cells for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Semin Oncol 2022; 49:69-85. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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24
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Kohli K, Pillarisetty VG, Kim TS. Key chemokines direct migration of immune cells in solid tumors. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:10-21. [PMID: 33603130 PMCID: PMC8761573 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00303-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Immune cell infiltration into solid tumors, their movement within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and interaction with other immune cells are controlled by their directed migration towards gradients of chemokines. Dysregulated chemokine signaling in TME favors the growth of tumors, exclusion of effector immune cells, and abundance of immunosuppressive cells. Key chemokines directing the migration of immune cells into tumor tissue have been identified. In this review, we discuss well-studied chemokine receptors that regulate migration of effector and immunosuppressive immune cells in the context of cancer immunology. We discuss preclinical models that have described the role of respective chemokine receptors in immune cell migration into TME and review preclinical and clinical studies that target chemokine signaling as standalone or combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Kohli
- grid.34477.330000000122986657University of Washington, Department of Surgery, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Venu G. Pillarisetty
- grid.34477.330000000122986657University of Washington, Department of Surgery, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Teresa S. Kim
- grid.34477.330000000122986657University of Washington, Department of Surgery, Seattle, WA USA
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25
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Luo J, De Pascali F, Richmond GW, Khojah AM, Benovic JL. Characterization of a new WHIM syndrome mutant reveals mechanistic differences in regulation of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101551. [PMID: 34973340 PMCID: PMC8802859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101551] [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: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
WHIM syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency disorder that is characterized by warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis. While several gain-of-function mutations that lead to C-terminal truncations, frame shifts and point mutations in the chemokine receptor CXCR4 have been identified in WHIM syndrome patients, the functional effect of these mutations are not fully understood. Here, we report on a new WHIM syndrome mutation that results in a frame shift within the codon for Ser339 (S339fs5) and compare the properties of S339fs5 with wild-type CXCR4 and a previously identified WHIM syndrome mutant, R334X. The S339fs5 and R334X mutants exhibited significantly increased signaling compared to wild-type CXCR4 including agonist-promoted calcium flux and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase activation. This increase is at least partially due to a significant decrease in agonist-promoted phosphorylation, β-arrestin binding, and endocytosis of S339fs5 and R334X compared with wild-type CXCR4. Interestingly, there were also significant differences in receptor degradation, with S339fs5 having a very high basal level of degradation compared with that of R334X and wild-type CXCR4. In contrast to wild-type CXCR4, both R334X and S339fs5 were largely insensitive to CXCL12-promoted degradation. Moreover, while basal and agonist-promoted degradation of wild-type CXCR4 was effectively inhibited by the CXCR4 antagonist TE-14016, this had no effect on the degradation of the WHIM mutants. Taken together, these studies identify a new WHIM syndrome mutant, CXCR4-S339fs5, which promotes enhanced signaling, reduced phosphorylation, β-arrestin binding and endocytosis, and a very high basal rate of degradation that is not protected by antagonist treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiansong Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 S. 10(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Francesco De Pascali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 S. 10(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - G Wendell Richmond
- Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W. Harrison St. Chicago, IL. 60612
| | - Amer M Khojah
- Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago, IL. 60611
| | - Jeffrey L Benovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 S. 10(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
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26
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Maiti A, Daver NG. Lowering mTORC1 Drives CAR T-Cells Home in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:5739-5741. [PMID: 34470774 PMCID: PMC8563411 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-2574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cellular therapies have demonstrated limited efficacy thus far in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A recent study shows that mTOR complex 1 activation downregulated CXCR4 reducing marrow infiltration of EpCAM-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells in AML. Abrogating mTOR signaling by cotreatment with mTOR inhibitors during IL2-mediated ex vivo expansion upregulated CXCR4 and bolstered bone marrow migration and AML elimination by CAR T-cells.See related article by Nian et al., p. 6026.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Maiti
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Naval G Daver
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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27
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Improved Activity against Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK-92 Cells Designed to Target CD123. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071365. [PMID: 34372571 PMCID: PMC8310147 DOI: 10.3390/v13071365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-cancer activity can be improved by engineering immune cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that recognize tumor-associated antigens. Retroviral vector gene transfer strategies allow stable and durable transgene expression. Here, we used alpharetroviral vectors to modify NK-92 cells, a natural killer cell line, with a third-generation CAR designed to target the IL-3 receptor subunit alpha (CD123), which is strongly expressed on the surface of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Alpharetroviral vectors also contained a transgene cassette to allow constitutive expression of human IL-15 for increased NK cell persistence in vivo. The anti-AML activity of CAR-NK-92 cells was tested via in vitro cytotoxicity assays with the CD123+ AML cell line KG-1a and in vivo in a patient-derived xenotransplantation CD123+ AML model. Unmodified NK-92 cells or NK-92 cells modified with a truncated version of the CAR that lacked the signaling domain served as controls. Alpharetroviral vector-modified NK-92 cells stably expressed the transgenes and secreted IL-15. Anti-CD123-CAR-NK-92 cells exhibited enhanced anti-AML activity in vitro and in vivo as compared to control NK-92 cells. Our data (1) shows the importance of IL-15 expression for in vivo persistence of NK-92 cells, (2) supports continued investigation of anti-CD123-CAR-NK cells to target AML, and (3) points towards potential strategies to further improve CAR-NK anti-AML activity.
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28
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Kähkönen TE, Halleen JM, Bernoulli J. Osteoimmuno-Oncology: Therapeutic Opportunities for Targeting Immune Cells in Bone Metastasis. Cells 2021; 10:1529. [PMID: 34204474 PMCID: PMC8233913 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies provide a potential treatment option for currently incurable bone metastases. Bone marrow is an important secondary lymphoid organ with a unique immune contexture. Even at non-disease state immune cells and bone cells interact with each other, bone cells supporting the development of immune cells and immune cells regulating bone turnover. In cancer, tumor cells interfere with this homeostatic process starting from formation of pre-metastatic niche and later supporting growth of bone metastases. In this review, we introduce a novel concept osteoimmuno-oncology (OIO), which refers to interactions between bone, immune and tumor cells in bone metastatic microenvironment. We also discuss therapeutic opportunities of targeting immune cells in bone metastases, and associated efficacy and safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jenni Bernoulli
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland;
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29
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Tomaipitinca L, Russo E, Bernardini G. NK cell surveillance of hematological malignancies. Therapeutic implications and regulation by chemokine receptors. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 80:100968. [PMID: 34045078 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
NK cells are circulating innate lymphoid cells that constantly move from bloodstream into tissues, exerting several functions including tumor surveillance. For this reason, NK cells are considered attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Several strategies are employed to harness NK cell efficacy especially in hematological tumors, including adoptive transfer, genetic manipulation to overexpress chimeric antigen receptors and cytokine or immunomodulatory drug treatments of ex-vivo cultivated and expanded NK cells. Several chemokine receptors support NK cell tissue homing and are required for efficient tumor infiltration. Nevertheless, chemokine receptor expression is often insufficient, or their respective ligands may not be expressed in the tumor microenvironment, thus limiting NK cell localization at the tumor site. Therefore, strategies to implement expression or promote the function of the correct chemokine receptor/ligand axes have been employed in the last years with promising results in preclinical models. In this review, we discuss how chemokine receptors and their ligands regulate the trafficking and localization of NK cells in hematological tumors and how the chemokine function can be manipulated to improve current therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Tomaipitinca
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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30
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Gurney M, O’Dwyer M. Realizing Innate Potential: CAR-NK Cell Therapies for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1568. [PMID: 33805422 PMCID: PMC8036691 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Next-generation cellular immunotherapies seek to improve the safety and efficacy of approved CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products or apply their principles across a growing list of targets and diseases. Supported by promising early clinical experiences, CAR modified natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapies represent a complementary and potentially off-the-shelf, allogeneic solution. While acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an intuitive disease in which to investigate CAR based immunotherapies, key biological differences to B-cell malignancies have complicated progress to date. As CAR-T cell trials treating AML are growing in number, several CAR-NK cell approaches are also in development. In this review we explore why CAR-NK cell therapies may be particularly suited to the treatment of AML. First, we examine the established role NK cells play in AML biology and the existing anti-leukemic activity of NK cell adoptive transfer. Next, we appraise potential AML target antigens and consider common and unique challenges posed relative to treating B-cell malignancies. We summarize the current landscape of CAR-NK development in AML, and potential targets to augment CAR-NK cell therapies pharmacologically and through genetic engineering. Finally, we consider the broader landscape of competing immunotherapeutic approaches to AML treatment. In doing so we evaluate the innate potential, status and remaining barriers for CAR-NK based AML immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Gurney
- Apoptosis Research Center, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Michael O’Dwyer
- Apoptosis Research Center, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
- ONK Therapeutics Ltd., H91 V6KV Galway, Ireland
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31
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RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals CCR5 as a Key Target for CRISPR Gene Editing to Regulate In Vivo NK Cell Trafficking. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040872. [PMID: 33669611 PMCID: PMC7922167 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Adoptive immunotherapy utilizing ex vivo expanded natural killer (NK) cells is being explored in the clinical and preclinical settings to treat hematological tumors. Previous work has shown that a large fraction of ex vivo expanded NK cells traffic into the liver following i.v. infusion. In this manuscript, Levy et al. show that ex vivo expansion of NK cells alters the mRNA transcription and surface expression of several chemokine receptors. The observed shift in chemotactic receptor expression may compromise the homing of infused cells into sites where hematological tumors reside, such as bone marrow, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood, by promoting preferential trafficking into liver tissue. Here we demonstrate clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) gene abrogation of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) as a novel strategy that reduces the trafficking of adoptively transferred ex vivo expanded NK cells into liver tissue and increases NK cell presence in the circulation. Abstract A growing number of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy trials utilize ex vivo expansion to grow and activate allogenic and autologous NK cells prior to administration to patients with malignancies. Recent data in both murine and macaque models have shown that adoptively infused ex vivo expanded NK cells have extensive trafficking into liver tissue, with relatively low levels of homing to other sites where tumors often reside, such as the bone marrow or lymph nodes. Here, we evaluated gene and surface expression of molecules involved in cellular chemotaxis in freshly isolated human NK cells compared with NK cells expanded ex vivo using two different feeder cells lines: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) or K562 cells with membrane-bound (mb) 4-1BB ligand and interleukin (IL)-21. Expanded NK cells had altered expression in a number of genes that encode chemotactic ligands and chemotactic receptors that impact chemoattraction and chemotaxis. Most notably, we observed drastic downregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and upregulation of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) transcription and phenotypic expression. clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) gene editing of CCR5 in expanded NK cells reduced cell trafficking into liver tissue and increased NK cell presence in the circulation following infusion into immunodeficient mice. The findings reported here show that ex vivo expansion alters multiple factors that govern NK cell homing and define a novel approach using CRISPR gene editing that reduces sequestration of NK cells by the liver.
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32
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Schmidt P, Raftery MJ, Pecher G. Engineering NK Cells for CAR Therapy-Recent Advances in Gene Transfer Methodology. Front Immunol 2021; 11:611163. [PMID: 33488617 PMCID: PMC7817882 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.611163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has introduced a new and effective strategy to guide and promote the immune response against tumors in the clinic. More recently, in an attempt to enhance its utility, this method has been expanded to novel cell types. One of the more successful variants has proven to be the expression of CARs in Natural Killer (NK) cells (CAR-NK). Gene engineering NK cells to express an exogenous CAR receptor allows the innate anti-tumor ability of NK cells to be harnessed and directed against a target tumor antigen. In addition, the biology of NK cells allows the development of an allogeneic cell therapeutic product useable with most or all patient haplotypes. NK cells cause little or no graft versus host disease (GvHD) and are therefore suitable for development of an "off the shelf" therapeutic product. Initial trials have also shown that CAR-NK cells rarely cause cytokine release syndrome. However, despite their potential NK cells have proven to be difficult to engineer, with high sensitivity to apoptosis and low levels of gene expression. The creation of optimized methods to introduce genes into NK cells will promote the widespread application of CAR-NK in research laboratories and the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriele Pecher
- Medical Clinic of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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33
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Lin CY, Gobius I, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. Natural killer cell engineering – a new hope for cancer immunotherapy. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:194-200. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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34
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Devillier R, Chrétien AS, Pagliardini T, Salem N, Blaise D, Olive D. Mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment and current clinical approaches to harness NK cell potential for immunotherapy. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 109:1071-1088. [PMID: 32991746 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5mr0920-198rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are innate immune cells with inherent capabilities in both recognizing and killing cancer cells. NK cell phenotypes and functional alterations are being described with increasing precision among patients harboring various cancer types, emphasizing the critical role that NK cells play in antitumor immune responses. In addition, advances in understanding NK cell biology have improved our knowledge of such alterations, thereby expanding the potential exploitation of NK cells' anticancer capabilities. In this review, we present an overview of (1) the various types of NK cell alterations that may contribute to immune evasion in cancer patients and (2) the various strategies to improve NK cell-based anticancer immunotherapies, including pharmacologic modulation and/or genetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raynier Devillier
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France.,Hematology Department, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Chrétien
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Thomas Pagliardini
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France.,Hematology Department, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Nassim Salem
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Blaise
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France.,Hematology Department, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Olive
- Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.,Immunomonitoring platform, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Marseille, France
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35
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Chanswangphuwana C, Allan DSJ, Chakraborty M, Reger RN, Childs RW. Augmentation of NK Cell Proliferation and Anti-tumor Immunity by Transgenic Expression of Receptors for EPO or TPO. Mol Ther 2020; 29:47-59. [PMID: 33010232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many investigational adoptive immunotherapy regimens utilizing natural killer (NK) cells require the administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) or IL-15, but these cytokines cause serious dose-dependent toxicities. To reduce or preclude the necessity for IL-2 use, we investigated whether genetic engineering of NK cells to express the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) or thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor (c-MPL) could be used as a method to improve NK cell survival and function. Viral transduction of NK-92 cells to express EPOR or c-MPL receptors conveyed signaling via appropriate pathways, protected cells from apoptosis, augmented cellular proliferation, and increased cell cytotoxic function in response to EPO or TPO ligands in vitro. In the presence of TPO, viral transduction of primary human NK cells to express c-MPL enhanced cellular proliferation and increased degranulation and cytokine production toward target cells in vitro. In contrast, transgenic expression of EPOR did not augment the proliferation of primary NK cells. In immunodeficient mice receiving TPO, in vivo persistence of primary human NK cells genetically modified to express c-MPL was higher compared with control NK cells. These data support the concept that genetic manipulation of NK cells to express hematopoietic growth factor receptors could be used as a strategy to augment NK cell proliferation and antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantiya Chanswangphuwana
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - David S J Allan
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mala Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Robert N Reger
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard W Childs
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Jamali A, Hadjati J, Madjd Z, Mirzaei HR, Thalheimer FB, Agarwal S, Bonig H, Ullrich E, Hartmann J. Highly Efficient Generation of Transgenically Augmented CAR NK Cells Overexpressing CXCR4. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2028. [PMID: 32983147 PMCID: PMC7483584 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a noteworthy lymphocyte subset in cancer adoptive cell therapy. NK cells initiate innate immune responses against infections and malignancies with natural cytotoxicity, which is independent of foreign antigen recognition. Based on these substantive features, genetically modifying NK cells is among the prime goals in immunotherapy but is currently difficult to achieve. Recently, we reported a fully human CAR19 construct (huCAR19) with remarkable function in gene-modified T-cells. Here, we show efficient and stable gene delivery of huCAR19 to primary human NK cells using lentiviral vectors with transduction efficiencies comparable to those achieved with NK cell lines. These huCAR19 NK cells display specific and potent cytotoxic activity against target cells. To improve homing of NK cells to the bone marrow, we augmented huCAR19 NK cells with the human CXCR4 gene, resulting in transgenically augmented CAR NK cells (TRACKs). Compared to conventional CAR NK cells, TRACKs exhibit enhanced migration capacity in response to recombinant SDF-1 or bone marrow stromal cells while retaining functional and cytolytic activity against target cells. Based on these promising findings, TRACKs may become a novel candidate for immunotherapeutic strategies in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Jamali
- Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.,Experimental Immunology, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Childrens Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jamshid Hadjati
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shiwani Agarwal
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Frankfurt, Germany.,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Experimental Immunology, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Childrens Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jessica Hartmann
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
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Aberrant CXCR4 Signaling at Crossroad of WHIM Syndrome and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165696. [PMID: 32784523 PMCID: PMC7460815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Given its pleiotropic functions, including its prominent role in inflammation, immune responses and cancer, the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) has gained significant attention in recent years and has become a relevant target in drug development. Although the signaling properties of CXCR4 have been extensively studied, several aspects deserve deeper investigations. Mutations in the C-term tail of the CXCR4 gene cause WHIM syndrome, a rare congenital immunodeficiency associated by chronic leukopenia. Similar mutations have also been recently identified in 30% of patients affected by Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, a B-cell neoplasia with bone marrow accumulation of malignant cells. An ample body of work has been generated to define the impact of WHIM mutations on CXCR4 signaling properties and evaluate their role on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and response to therapy, although the identity of disease-causing signaling pathways and their relevance for disease development in different genetic variants are still open questions. This review discusses the current knowledge on biochemical properties of CXCR4 mutations to identify their prototypic signaling profile potentially useful to highlighting novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Shaffer TM, Aalipour A, Schürch CM, Gambhir SS. PET Imaging of the Natural Killer Cell Activation Receptor NKp30. J Nucl Med 2020; 61:1348-1354. [PMID: 32532927 PMCID: PMC7456168 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.233163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Redirecting the immune system in cancer treatment has led to remarkable responses in a subset of patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells being explored as they engage tumor cells in different mechanisms compared with T cells, which could be exploited for treatment of nonresponders to current immunotherapies. NK cell therapies are monitored through measuring peripheral NK cell concentrations or changes in tumor volume over time. The former does not detect NK cells at the tumor site, and the latter is inaccurate for immunotherapies because of pseudoprogression. Therefore, new imaging methods are required as companion diagnostics for optimizing immunotherapies. Methods: In this study, we developed and completed preclinical in vivo validation of 2 antibody-based PET probes specific for NKp30, an activation natural cytotoxicity receptor expressed by human NK cells. Quantitative, multicolor flow cytometry during a variety of NK cell activation conditions was completed on primary human NK cells and the NK92MI cell line. Human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumors were stained for the NK cell receptors CD56, NKp30, and NKp46 to determine expression on tumor-infiltrating NK cells. An NKp30 antibody was radiolabeled with 64Cu or 89Zr and evaluated in subcutaneous xenografts and adoptive cell transfer mouse models. Results: Quantitative flow cytometry showed consistent expression of the NKp30 receptor during different activation conditions. NKp30 and NKp46 costained in RCC samples, demonstrating the expression of these receptors on tumor-infiltrating NK cells in human tumors, whereas tumor cells in one RCC sample expressed the peripheral NK marker CD56. Both PET tracers showed high stability and specificity in vitro and in vivo. Notably, 89Zr-NKp30Ab had higher on-target contrast than 64Cu-NKp30Ab at their respective terminal time points. 64Cu-NKp30Ab delineated NK cell trafficking to the liver and spleen in an adoptive cell transfer model. Conclusion: The consistent expression of NKp30 on NK cells makes it an attractive target for quantitative imaging. Immunofluorescence staining on human RCC samples demonstrated the advantages of NKp30 targeting versus CD56 for detection of tumor infiltrating NK cells. This work advances PET imaging of NK cells and supports the translation of imaging agents for immunotherapy monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis M Shaffer
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Amin Aalipour
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, California; and
| | - Sanjiv S Gambhir
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California .,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.,Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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39
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Ben-Shmuel A, Biber G, Barda-Saad M. Unleashing Natural Killer Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment-The Next Generation of Immunotherapy? Front Immunol 2020; 11:275. [PMID: 32153582 PMCID: PMC7046808 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of immunotherapy for cancer treatment bears considerable clinical promise. Nevertheless, many patients remain unresponsive, acquire resistance, or suffer dose-limiting toxicities. Immune-editing of tumors assists their escape from the immune system, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) induces immune suppression through multiple mechanisms. Immunotherapy aims to bolster the activity of immune cells against cancer by targeting these suppressive immunomodulatory processes. Natural Killer (NK) cells are a heterogeneous subset of immune cells, which express a diverse array of activating and inhibitory germline-encoded receptors, and are thus capable of directly targeting and killing cancer cells without the need for MHC specificity. Furthermore, they play a critical role in triggering the adaptive immune response. Enhancing the function of NK cells in the context of cancer is therefore a promising avenue for immunotherapy. Different NK-based therapies have been evaluated in clinical trials, and some have demonstrated clinical benefits, especially in the context of hematological malignancies. Solid tumors remain much more difficult to treat, and the time point and means of intervention of current NK-based treatments still require optimization to achieve long term effects. Here, we review recently described mechanisms of cancer evasion from NK cell immune surveillance, and the therapeutic approaches that aim to potentiate NK function. Specific focus is placed on the use of specialized monoclonal antibodies against moieties on the cancer cell, or on both the tumor and the NK cell. In addition, we highlight newly identified mechanisms that inhibit NK cell activity in the TME, and describe how biochemical modifications of the TME can synergize with current treatments and increase susceptibility to NK cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviad Ben-Shmuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Guy Biber
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mira Barda-Saad
- Laboratory of Molecular and Applied Immunology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Sato N, Stringaris K, Davidson-Moncada JK, Reger R, Adler SS, Dunbar C, Choyke PL, Childs RW. In Vivo Tracking of Adoptively Transferred Natural Killer Cells in Rhesus Macaques Using 89Zirconium-Oxine Cell Labeling and PET Imaging. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2573-2581. [PMID: 32034075 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Trials of adoptive natural killer (NK)-cell immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies have thus far shown only marginal effects, despite the potent in vitro antitumor activity of these cells. Homing of infused cells to tumor microenvironments is critical for efficacy, but has not been well characterized. We established a novel method to track and quantify the distribution of adoptively transferred NK cells using rhesus macaques (RM) as a clinically relevant preclinical model. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RM NK cells were expanded ex vivo for 14-21 days, labeled with 89Zr-oxine complex, and assessed for phenotype, function, and survival. Trafficking of 89Zr-labeled ex vivo-expanded NK cells infused into RMs was monitored and quantitated by serial positron emission tomography (PET)/CT (n = 3, 2.05 ± 0.72 MBq, 23.5 ± 2.0 × 106 NK cells/kg) and compared with that of 89Zr-labeled nonexpanded NK cells, apoptotic NK cells, and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC). RESULTS NK cells retained sufficient levels of 89Zr for accurate in vivo tracking for 7 days. 89Zr labeling did not alter cellular phenotype, viability, or function. PET/CT showed NK cells initially localized in the lungs, followed by their migration to the liver, spleen, and, at low levels, bone marrow. One day following transfer, only 3.4% of infused NK cells localized to the BM versus 22.1% of HSPCs. No clinical side effects were observed, and dosimetry analysis indicated low organ radioexposures of 6.24 mSv/MBq (spleen) or lower. CONCLUSIONS These data support translation of this technique to humans to track the distribution of adoptively infused cells and to develop novel techniques to improve immune cell homing to tumor microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Sato
- Molecular Imaging Program, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Kate Stringaris
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jan K Davidson-Moncada
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Center for Human Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Robert Reger
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Stephen S Adler
- Clinical Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the NCI, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Cynthia Dunbar
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Richard W Childs
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
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The CD38 low natural killer cell line KHYG1 transiently expressing CD16 F158V in combination with daratumumab targets multiple myeloma cells with minimal effector NK cell fratricide. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:421-434. [PMID: 31919623 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02477-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell malignancy typically associated with the high and uniform expression of the CD38 transmembrane glycoprotein. Daratumumab is a humanized IgG1κ CD38 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) which has demonstrated impressive single agent activity even in relapsed refractory MM patients as well as strong synergy with other anti-MM drugs. Natural Killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic immune effector cells that mediate in vivo tumour immunosurveillance. NK cells also play an important role during MoAb therapy by inducing antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) via their FcγRIII (CD16) receptor. Furthermore, 15% of the population express a naturally occurring variant of CD16 harbouring a single-point polymorphism (F158V). However, the contribution of NK cells to the efficacy of daratumumab remains debatable as clinical data clearly indicate the rapid depletion of CD38high peripheral blood NK cells in patients upon daratumumab administration. In contrast, CD38low peripheral blood NK cells have been shown to survive daratumumab mediated fratricide in vivo, while still retaining their potent anti-MM cytolytic effector functions ex vivo. Therefore, we hypothesize that transiently expressing the CD16F158V receptor using a "safe" mRNA electroporation-based approach on CD38low NK cells in combination with daratumumab could represent a novel therapeutic option for treatment of MM. In the present study, we investigate a NK cell line (KHYG-1), derived from a patient with aggressive NK cell leukemia, as a platform for generating CD38low NK cells expressing CD16F158V which can be administered as an "off-the-shelf" therapy to target both CD38high and CD38low tumour clones in patients receiving daratumumab.
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CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene Engineering of Human Natural Killer Cells: Protocols for Knockout and Readouts to Evaluate Their Efficacy. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2121:213-239. [PMID: 32147798 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0338-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes of our immune system with the ability to identify and kill certain virally infected and tumor-transformed cells. During the past 15 years, it has become increasingly clear that NK cells are involved in tumor immune surveillance and that they can be utilized to treat cancer patients. However, their ability to induce durable responses in settings of adoptive cell therapy needs to be further improved. One possible approach is to genetically engineer NK cells to augment their cytotoxicity per se, but also their ability to persist in vivo and home to the tumor-bearing tissue. In recent years, investigators have explored the potential of viral transduction and mRNA electroporation to modify NK cells. Although these methods have generated promising data, they are associated with certain limitations. With the increasing advances in the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, investigators have now turned their attention toward using this technology with NK cells as an alternative method. In this book chapter, we introduce NK cells and provide an historical overview of techniques to genetically engineer lymphocytes. Further, we elucidate protocols for inducing double-strand breaks in NK cells via CRISPR/Cas9 together with readouts to address its efficacy and functional outcome. We also discuss the pros and cons of the described readouts. The overall aim of this book chapter is to help introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to the broader audience of NK cell researchers.
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