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Yang J, Wang L, Byrnes JR, Kirkemo LL, Driks H, Belair CD, Aguilar OA, Lanier LL, Wells JA, Fong L, Blelloch R. PVRL2 Suppresses Antitumor Immunity through PVRIG- and TIGIT-independent Pathways. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:575-591. [PMID: 38588410 PMCID: PMC11063765 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Poliovirus receptor-related 2 (PVRL2, also known as nectin-2 or CD112) is believed to act as an immune checkpoint protein in cancer; however, most insight into its role is inferred from studies on its known receptor, poliovirus receptor (PVR)-related immunoglobulin domain protein (PVRIG, also known as CD112R). Here, we study PVRL2 itself. PVRL2 levels were found to be high in tumor cells and tumor-derived exosomes. Deletion of PVRL2 in multiple syngeneic mouse models of cancer showed a dramatic reduction in tumor growth that was immune dependent. This effect was even greater than that seen with deletion of PD-L1. PVRL2 was shown to function by suppressing CD8+ T and natural killer cells in the tumor microenvironment. The loss of PVRL2 suppressed tumor growth even in the absence of PVRIG. In contrast, PVRIG loss showed no additive effect in the absence of PVRL2. T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) blockade combined with PVRL2 deletion resulted in a near complete block in tumor growth. This effect was not recapitulated by the combined deletion of PVRL2 with its paralog, PVR, which is the ligand for TIGIT. These data uncover PVRL2 as a distinct inhibitor of the antitumor immune response with functions beyond that of its known receptor PVRIG. Moreover, the data provide a strong rationale for combinatorial targeting of PVRL2 and TIGIT for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuling Yang
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - James R. Byrnes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Lisa L. Kirkemo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Hannah Driks
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Cassandra D. Belair
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Oscar A. Aguilar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California
| | - Lewis L. Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California
| | - James A. Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Robert Blelloch
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Chen Y, Yu D, Qian H, Shi Y, Tao Z. CD8 + T cell-based cancer immunotherapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:394. [PMID: 38685033 PMCID: PMC11057112 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05134-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system in humans is a defense department against both exogenous and endogenous hazards, where CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in opposing pathological threats. Various immunotherapies based on CD8+ T cells have emerged in recent decades, showing their promising results in treating intractable diseases. However, in the fight against the constantly changing and evolving cancers, the formation and function of CD8+ T cells can be challenged by tumors that might train a group of accomplices to resist the T cell killing. As cancer therapy stepped into the era of immunotherapy, understanding the physiological role of CD8+ T cells, studying the machinery of tumor immune escape, and thereby formulating different therapeutic strategies become the imperative missions for clinical and translational researchers to fulfill. After brief basics of CD8+ T cell-based biology is covered, this review delineates the mechanisms of tumor immune escape and discusses different cancer immunotherapy regimens with their own advantages and setbacks, embracing challenges and perspectives in near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Dingning Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, 312000, China
| | - Hui Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
- Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of High Technology Research on Exosomes Foundation and Transformation Application, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Yinghong Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
- Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of High Technology Research on Exosomes Foundation and Transformation Application, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
| | - Zhimin Tao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
- Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of High Technology Research on Exosomes Foundation and Transformation Application, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China.
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Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs) have existed for decades. From the initial infusion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the subsequent specific enhanced T cell receptor (TCR)-T and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies, many novel strategies for cancer treatment have been developed. Owing to its promising outcomes, CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the field of ACTs, particularly for hematologic malignancies. Despite these advances, CAR-T cell therapy still has limitations in both autologous and allogeneic settings, including practicality and toxicity issues. To overcome these challenges, researchers have focused on the application of CAR engineering technology to other types of immune cell engineering. Consequently, several new cell therapies based on CAR technology have been developed, including CAR-NK, CAR-macrophage, CAR-γδT, and CAR-NKT. In this review, we describe the development, advantages, and possible challenges of the aforementioned ACTs and discuss current strategies aimed at maximizing the therapeutic potential of ACTs. We also provide an overview of the various gene transduction strategies employed in immunotherapy given their importance in immune cell engineering. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that strategies capable of creating a positive feedback immune circuit, as healthy immune systems do, could address the flaw of a single type of ACT, and thus serve as key players in future cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Guizhong Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
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Chen Z, Han F, Du Y, Shi H, Zhou W. Hypoxic microenvironment in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:70. [PMID: 36797231 PMCID: PMC9935926 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01332-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Having a hypoxic microenvironment is a common and salient feature of most solid tumors. Hypoxia has a profound effect on the biological behavior and malignant phenotype of cancer cells, mediates the effects of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy through complex mechanisms, and is closely associated with poor prognosis in various cancer patients. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that through normalization of the tumor vasculature, nanoparticle carriers and biocarriers can effectively increase the oxygen concentration in the tumor microenvironment, improve drug delivery and the efficacy of radiotherapy. They also increase infiltration of innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune cells to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, drugs targeting key genes associated with hypoxia, including hypoxia tracers, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, and drugs targeting hypoxia-inducible factors and downstream targets, can be used for visualization and quantitative analysis of tumor hypoxia and antitumor activity. However, the relationship between hypoxia and cancer is an area of research that requires further exploration. Here, we investigated the potential factors in the development of hypoxia in cancer, changes in signaling pathways that occur in cancer cells to adapt to hypoxic environments, the mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cancer immune tolerance, chemotherapeutic tolerance, and enhanced radiation tolerance, as well as the insights and applications of hypoxia in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fangfang Han
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yan Du
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Huaqing Shi
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Wence Zhou
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. .,Lanzhou University Sencond Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
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Claiborne MD. Manipulation of metabolic pathways to promote stem-like and memory T cell phenotypes for immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1061411. [PMID: 36741362 PMCID: PMC9889361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1061411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Utilizing the immune system's capacity to recognize and kill tumor cells has revolutionized cancer therapy in recent decades. Phenotypic study of antitumor T cells supports the principle that superior tumor control is achieved by cells with more long-lived memory or stem-like properties as compared to terminally differentiated effector cells. In this Mini-Review, we explore recent advances in profiling the different metabolic programs that both generate and define subsets of memory T cells. We additionally discuss new experimental approaches that aim to maximize the durability and sustained antitumor response associated with memory T cells within the unique immunosuppressive conditions of the tumor microenvironment, such as engineered attempts to overcome hypoxia-induced changes in mitochondrial function, the inhibitory effects of tumor metabolites, and exploitation of more recently-defined metabolic pathways controlling T cell memory fate such as glycogen metabolism.
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Zhang JJ, Shao C, Yin YX, Sun Q, Li YN, Zha YW, Li MY, Hu BL. Hypoxia-Related Signature Is a Prognostic Biomarker of Pancreatic Cancer. Dis Markers 2022; 2022:6449997. [PMID: 35789607 PMCID: PMC9250441 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6449997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Hypoxia plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, but the effect of hypoxia-related genes in pancreatic cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify hypoxia-related genes related to pancreatic cancer and construct a prognostic signature. Methods Pancreatic cancer datasets were retrieved from TCGA database. Cox regression analyses were used to identify hypoxia-related genes and construct a prognostic signature. Datasets from International Cancer Genome Consortium and GEO databases were used as validated cohorts. The CIBERSORT method was applied to estimate the fractions of immune cell types. DNA methylation and protein levels of the genes in pancreatic cancer were examined. Results Three hypoxia-related genes (TES, LDHA, and ANXA2) were identified as associated with patient survival and selected to construct a prognostic signature. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the signature. Those in the high-risk group showed worse survival than those in the low-risk group. The signature was shown to be involved in the HIF-1 signaling pathway. The time-dependent ROC analyses of three independent validated cohorts further revealed that this signature had a better prognostic value in the prediction of the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Immune cells analysis for three datasets demonstrated that high-risk signature was significantly associated with macrophages and T cells. DNA methylation and protein levels of the three genes validated their aberrant expression in pancreatic cancer. Conclusions Our research provided a novel and reliable prognostic signature that composes of three hypoxia-related genes to estimate the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-jing Zhang
- Cancer Institute of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Chao Shao
- Cancer Institute of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Yi-xin Yin
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi, China
| | - Qiang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Ya-ni Li
- Cancer Institute of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Ya-wen Zha
- Cancer Institute of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Min-ying Li
- Cancer Institute of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403 Guangdong, China
| | - Bang-li Hu
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi, China
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