1
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Castiello L, Santodonato L, Napolitano M, Carlei D, Montefiore E, Monque DM, D’Agostino G, Aricò E. Chimeric Antigen Receptor Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors: Choosing the Right Ingredients for the Perfect Recipe. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5351. [PMID: 36358770 PMCID: PMC9655484 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies are revolutionizing the clinical practice of hematological tumors, whereas minimal progresses have been achieved in the solid tumor arena. Multiple reasons have been ascribed to this slower pace: The higher heterogeneity, the hurdles of defining reliable tumor antigens to target, and the broad repertoire of immune escape strategies developed by solid tumors are considered among the major ones. Currently, several CAR therapies are being investigated in preclinical and early clinical trials against solid tumors differing in the type of construct, the cells that are engineered, and the additional signals included with the CAR constructs to overcome solid tumor barriers. Additionally, novel approaches in development aim at overcoming some of the limitations that emerged with the approved therapies, such as large-scale manufacturing, duration of manufacturing, and logistical issues. In this review, we analyze the advantages and challenges of the different approaches under development, balancing the scientific evidences supporting specific choices with the manufacturing and regulatory issues that are essential for their further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Santodonato
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Napolitano
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Carlei
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Montefiore
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica Maria Monque
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina D’Agostino
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
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2
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Musella M, Guarracino A, Manduca N, Galassi C, Ruggiero E, Potenza A, Maccafeo E, Manic G, Mattiello L, Soliman Abdel Rehim S, Signore M, Pietrosanto M, Helmer-Citterich M, Pallocca M, Fanciulli M, Bruno T, De Nicola F, Corleone G, Di Benedetto A, Ercolani C, Pescarmona E, Pizzuti L, Guidi F, Sperati F, Vitale S, Macchia D, Spada M, Schiavoni G, Mattei F, De Ninno A, Businaro L, Lucarini V, Bracci L, Aricò E, Ziccheddu G, Facchiano F, Rossi S, Sanchez M, Boe A, Biffoni M, De Maria R, Vitale I, Sistigu A. Type I IFNs promote cancer cell stemness by triggering the epigenetic regulator KDM1B. Nat Immunol 2022; 23:1379-1392. [PMID: 36002648 PMCID: PMC9477743 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-022-01290-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells endowed with high tumorigenic, chemoresistant and metastatic potential. Nongenetic mechanisms of acquired resistance are increasingly being discovered, but molecular insights into the evolutionary process of CSCs are limited. Here, we show that type I interferons (IFNs-I) function as molecular hubs of resistance during immunogenic chemotherapy, triggering the epigenetic regulator demethylase 1B (KDM1B) to promote an adaptive, yet reversible, transcriptional rewiring of cancer cells towards stemness and immune escape. Accordingly, KDM1B inhibition prevents the appearance of IFN-I-induced CSCs, both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, IFN-I-induced CSCs are heterogeneous in terms of multidrug resistance, plasticity, invasiveness and immunogenicity. Moreover, in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy, KDM1B positively correlated with CSC signatures. Our study identifies an IFN-I → KDM1B axis as a potent engine of cancer cell reprogramming, supporting KDM1B targeting as an attractive adjunctive to immunogenic drugs to prevent CSC expansion and increase the long-term benefit of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Musella
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Guarracino
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.,Genomics Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Manduca
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Galassi
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Potenza
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ester Maccafeo
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gwenola Manic
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Luca Mattiello
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Sara Soliman Abdel Rehim
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.,Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo, Italy
| | - Michele Signore
- RPPA Unit, Proteomics Area, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pietrosanto
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Pallocca
- UOSD Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Bruno
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Corleone
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Di Benedetto
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Ercolani
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pescarmona
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pizzuti
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Guidi
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A. Gemelli' - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sperati
- UOSD Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Vitale
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Center of Animal Research and Welfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Center of Animal Research and Welfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele De Ninno
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Businaro
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucarini
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Ziccheddu
- Oncogenomics and Epigenetics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facchiano
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Rossi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Sanchez
- Cytometry Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boe
- Cytometry Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. .,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A. Gemelli' - IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo, Italy. .,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.
| | - Antonella Sistigu
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. .,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A. Gemelli' - IRCCS, Rome, Italy. .,Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Aricò E, Bracci L, Castiello L, Urbani F, Casanova JL, Belardelli F. Exploiting natural antiviral immunity for the control of pandemics: Lessons from Covid-19. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 63:23-33. [PMID: 34955389 PMCID: PMC8675148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the disruptive global consequences in terms of mortality and social and economic crises, have taught lessons that may help define strategies to better face future pandemics. Innate and intrinsic immunity form the front-line natural antiviral defense. They involve both tissue-resident and circulating cells, which can produce anti-viral molecules shortly after viral infection. Prototypes of these factors are type I interferons (IFN), antiviral cytokines with a long record of clinical use. During the last two years, there has been an impressive progress in understanding the mechanisms of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and the cellular and soluble antiviral responses occurring early after viral exposure. However, this information was not sufficiently translated into therapeutic approaches. Insufficient type I IFN activity probably accounts for disease progression in many patients. This results from both the multiple interfering mechanisms developed by SARS-CoV-2 to decrease type I IFN response and various pre-existing human deficits of type I IFN activity, inherited or auto-immune. Emerging data suggest that IFN-I-mediated boosting of patients' immunity, achieved directly through the exogenous administration of IFN-β early post viral infection, or indirectly following inoculation of heterologous vaccines (e.g., Bacillus Calmette Guerin), might play a role against SARS-CoV-2. We review how recent insights on the viral and human determinants of critical COVID-19 pneumonia can foster clinical studies of IFN therapy. We also discuss how early therapeutic use of IFN-β and prophylactic campaigns with live attenuated vaccines might prevent a first wave of new pandemic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy,Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine PhD School, II University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy
| | - Jean-Laurent Casanova
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM U1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France,University of Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris, France,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
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4
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Aricò E, Castiello L, Bracci L, Urbani F, Lombardo F, Bacigalupo I, Ancidoni A, Vanacore N, Falcione A, Reggiani C, Dutti GM, Maglie MG, Papa O, Bartoletti PL, Ozzella G, Bevilacqua N, Nicastri E, Belardelli F, Sconocchia G. Antiviral and immunomodulatory interferon-beta in high-risk COVID-19 patients: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22:584. [PMID: 34479601 PMCID: PMC8413691 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05367-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the efficacy of low-dose IFN-β in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 recently infected elderly patients to progress towards severe COVID-19 versus control group within 28 days. Secondary objectives are: 1) To assess the reduction in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission in patients treated with IFN-β versus control group within 28 days of randomization 2) To assess the reduction in number of deaths in IFN- β compared to control group (day 28) 3) To evaluate the increase in proportion of participants returning to negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in IFN-β -treated versus control group at Day 14 and Day 28 4) To assess the increase in SARS-CoV-2-specific binding antibody titers in IFN-β compared to control group (day 28) 5) To assess the safety of IFN-β -treated patients versus control group TRIAL DESIGN: Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled, Superiority Phase II Study. Patients, who satisfy all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria, will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups in a ratio 2:1 (IFN-treated versus control patients). Randomization will be stratified by gender. Stratified randomization will balance the presence of male and female in both study arms. PARTICIPANTS Male and female adults aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild COVID-19 symptoms are eligible for the study. The trial is being conducted in Rome. Participants will be either hospitalized or home isolated. A group of physicians belonging to the Special Unit for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), specifically trained for the study and under the supervision of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", will be responsible for the screening, enrolment, treatment and clinical monitoring of patients, thus acting as a bridge between clinical centers and territorial health management. Inclusion criteria are as follows: ≥ 65 years of age at time of enrolment; Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by PCR, in any specimen < 72 hours prior to randomization; Subject (or legally authorized representative) provides written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures; Understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures; Agrees to the collection of nasopharyngeal swabs and venous blood samples per protocol; Being symptomatic for less than 7 days before starting therapy; NEWS2 score ≤2. Exclusion criteria are as follows: Hospitalized patients with illness of any duration, and at least one of the following: Clinical assessment (evidence of rales/crackles on exam) and SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air at rest or after walking test, OR Acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and/or supplemental oxygen; Patients currently using IFN-β (e.g., multiple sclerosis patients); Patients undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments; Patients with chronic kidney diseases; Known allergy or hypersensitivity to IFN (including asthma); Any autoimmune disease (resulting from patient anamnesis); Patients with signs of dementia or neurocognitive disorders; Patients with current severe depression and/or suicidal ideations; Being concurrently involved in another clinical trial; HIV infection (based on the anamnesis); Use of any antiretroviral medication; Impaired renal function (eGFR calculated by CKD-EPI Creatinine equation < 30 ml/min); Presence of other severe diseases impairing life expectancy (e.g. patients are not expected to survive 28 days given their pre-existing medical condition); Any physical or psychological impediment in a patient that could let the investigator to suspect his/her poor compliance; Lack or withdrawal of informed consent INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Control arm: No specific antiviral treatment besides standard of care. Treatment arm: 11μg (3MIU) of IFN-β1a will be injected subcutaneously at day 1, 3, 7, and 10 in addition to standard of care. The drug solution, contained in a pre-filled cartridge, will be injected by means of the RebiSmart® electronic injection device. Interferon β1a (Rebif®, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) is a disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The dose selected for this study is expected to exploit the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of the cytokine without causing relevant toxicity or inducing refractoriness phenomena sometimes observed after high-dose and/or chronic IFNβ treatments. MAIN OUTCOMES Primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients experiencing a disease progression, during at least 5 days, according to the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). The NEWS2 score is a standardized approach aimed at promptly detecting signs of clinical deterioration in acutely ill patients and establishing the potential need for higher level of care. It is based on the evaluation of vital signs, including respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, blood pressure, pulse/heart rate, AVPU response. The resulting observations, compared to a normal range, are combined in a single composite "alarm" score. Any other clinical sign clearly indicating a disease worsening will be considered as disease progression. RANDOMIZATION Sixty patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive IFN-β1a plus the standard of care or the standard of care only. Eligible patients will be randomized (no later than 36 h after enrolment) by means of a computerized central randomization system. All patients will receive a unique patient identification number at enrolling visit when signing the informed consent and before any study procedure is performed. This number remains constant throughout the entire study. The randomization of patients will be closed when 60 patients have been enrolled. The randomization will be stratified by sex; for each stratum a sequence of treatments randomly permuted in blocks of variable length (3 or 6) will be generated. BLINDING (MASKING) This is an open-label study. After the randomization, patients will be notified whether they will be in the experimental arm or in the control arm. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE) The study plans to enrol 60 patients: 40 in the IFN-β1a arm, 20 in the control arm, according to a 2:1 - treated: untreated ratio. TRIAL STATUS Protocol Version: 3.0 Version Date: 18/03/2021 The study is open for recruitment since 16/04/2021.Recruitment is expected to l be completed before 15/08/2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT N°: 2020-003872-42, registration date: 19/10/2020. FULL PROTOCOL The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol."
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine PhD School, II University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Lombardo
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bacigalupo
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Ancidoni
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Vanacore
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Reggiani
- Special Units for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Ombretta Papa
- Special Units for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Ozzella
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Nazario Bevilacqua
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Sconocchia
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
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5
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Berry A, Collacchi B, Capoccia S, D'Urso MT, Cecchetti S, Raggi C, Sestili P, Aricò E, Pontecorvi G, Puglisi R, Ortona E, Cirulli F. Chronic Isolation Stress Affects Central Neuroendocrine Signaling Leading to a Metabolically Active Microenvironment in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:660738. [PMID: 34305544 PMCID: PMC8298821 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.660738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Social isolation is a powerful stressor capable of affecting brain plasticity and function. In the case of breast cancer, previous data indicate that stressful experiences may contribute to a worse prognosis, activating neuroendocrine and metabolism pathways, although the mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic isolation stress (IS) may boost hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, leading to changes in the hypothalamic expression of genes modulating both mood and metabolism in an animal model of breast cancer. This centrally activated signaling cascade would, in turn, affect the mammary gland microenvironment specifically targeting fat metabolism, leading to accelerated tumor onset. MMTVNeuTg female mice (a model of breast cancer developing mammary hyperplasia at 5 months of age) were either group-housed (GH) or subjected to IS from weaning until 5 months of age. At this time, half of these subjects underwent acute restraint stress to assess corticosterone (CORT) levels, while the remaining subjects were characterized for their emotional profile in the forced swimming and saccharin preference tests. At the end of the procedures, all the mice were sacrificed to assess hypothalamic expression levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), Neuropeptide Y (NpY), Agouti-Related Peptide (AgRP), and Serum/Glucocorticoid-Regulated Protein Kinase 1 (SgK1). Leptin and adiponectin expression levels, as well as the presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT), were assessed in mammary fat pads. The IS mice showed higher CORT levels following acute stress and decreased expression of NpY, AgRP, and SgK1, associated with greater behavioral despair in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, they were characterized by increased consumption of saccharin in a preference test, suggesting an enhanced hedonic profile. The IS mice also showed an earlier onset of breast lumps (assessed by palpation) accompanied by elevated levels of adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) and BAT in the mammary fat pads. Overall, these data point to IS as a pervasive stressor that is able to specifically target neuronal circuits, mastered by the hypothalamus, modulating mood, stress reactivity and energy homeostasis. The activation of such IS-driven machinery may hold main implications for the onset and maintenance of pro-tumorigenic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Berry
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Collacchi
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Capoccia
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- Animal Research and Welfare Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Cecchetti
- Microscopy Area, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Raggi
- National Centre for the Control and the Evaluation of Medicines, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- National Centre for the Control and the Evaluation of Medicines, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Pontecorvi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Puglisi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Ortona
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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6
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Ciccolella M, Andreone S, Mancini J, Sestili P, Negri D, Pacca AM, D’Urso MT, Macchia D, Canese R, Pang K, SaiYing Ko T, Decadt Y, Schiavoni G, Mattei F, Belardelli F, Aricò E, Bracci L. Anticancer Effects of Sublingual Type I IFN in Combination with Chemotherapy in Implantable and Spontaneous Tumor Models. Cells 2021; 10:845. [PMID: 33917958 PMCID: PMC8068355 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms representing less than 10% of all head and neck tumors. Among salivary gland tumors, salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare, but highly aggressive malignant tumor resembling ductal breast carcinoma. Sublingual treatments are promising for SDC due to the induction of both local and systemic biological effects and to reduced systemic toxicity compared to other administration routes. In the present study, we first established that the sublingual administration of type I IFN (IFN-I) is safe and feasible, and exerts antitumor effects both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in transplantable tumor models, i.e., B16-OVA melanoma and EG.7-OVA lymphoma. Subsequently, we proved that sublingual IFN-I in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) induces a long-lasting reduction of tumor mass in NeuT transgenic mice that spontaneously develop SDC. Most importantly, tumor shrinkage in NeuT transgenic micewas accompanied by the emergence of tumor-specific cellular immune responses both in the blood and in the tumor tissue. Altogether, these results provide evidence that sublingual IFN holds promise in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ciccolella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Sara Andreone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Jacopo Mancini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Paola Sestili
- National Center for the Control and Evaluation of Medicines, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Donatella Negri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Maria Teresa D’Urso
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Rossella Canese
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ken Pang
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville 3052, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Thomas SaiYing Ko
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yves Decadt
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
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7
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Aricò E, Bracci L, Castiello L, Gessani S, Belardelli F. Are we fully exploiting type I Interferons in today's fight against COVID-19 pandemic? Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 54:43-50. [PMID: 32665127 PMCID: PMC7334951 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in late 2019 in China. At the time of writing, its causative agent SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide infecting over 9 million individuals and causing more than 460,000 deaths. In the absence of vaccines, we are facing the dramatic challenge of controlling COVID-19 pandemic. Among currently available drugs, type I Interferons (IFN-I) - mainly IFN-α and β -represent ideal candidates given their direct and immune-mediated antiviral effects and the long record of clinical use. However, the best modalities of using these cytokines in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is a matter of debate. Here, we discuss how we can exploit the current knowledge on IFN-I system to tailor the most promising dosing, timing and route of administration of IFN-I to the disease stage, with the final aim of making these cytokines a valuable therapeutic strategy in today's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Gessani
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy.
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8
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Magliozzi R, Howell OW, Durrenberger P, Aricò E, James R, Cruciani C, Reeves C, Roncaroli F, Nicholas R, Reynolds R. Meningeal inflammation changes the balance of TNF signalling in cortical grey matter in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:259. [PMID: 31810488 PMCID: PMC6898969 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1650-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent studies of cortical pathology in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis have shown that a more severe clinical course and the presence of extended subpial grey matter lesions with significant neuronal/glial loss and microglial activation are associated with meningeal inflammation, including the presence of lymphoid-like structures in the subarachnoid space in a proportion of cases. Methods To investigate the molecular consequences of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic molecules diffusing from the meninges into the underlying grey matter, we carried out gene expression profiling analysis of the motor cortex from 20 post-mortem multiple sclerosis brains with and without substantial meningeal inflammation and 10 non-neurological controls. Results Gene expression profiling of grey matter lesions and normal appearing grey matter not only confirmed the substantial pathological cell changes, which were greatest in multiple sclerosis cases with increased meningeal inflammation, but also demonstrated the upregulation of multiple genes/pathways associated with the inflammatory response. In particular, genes involved in tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling were significantly deregulated in MS cases compared with controls. Increased meningeal inflammation was found to be associated with a shift in the balance of TNF signalling away from TNFR1/TNFR2 and NFkB-mediated anti-apoptotic pathways towards TNFR1- and RIPK3-mediated pro-apoptotic/pro-necroptotic signalling in the grey matter, which was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. TNFR1 was found expressed preferentially on neurons and oligodendrocytes in MS cortical grey matter, whereas TNFR2 was predominantly expressed by astrocytes and microglia. Conclusions We suggest that the inflammatory milieu generated in the subarachnoid space of the multiple sclerosis meninges by infiltrating immune cells leads to increased demyelinating and neurodegenerative pathology in the underlying grey matter due to changes in the balance of TNF signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Magliozzi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. .,Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Science, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
| | - Owain William Howell
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales
| | - Pascal Durrenberger
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachel James
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Carolina Cruciani
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Federico Roncaroli
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Nicholas
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Richard Reynolds
- Department of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
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9
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Castiello L, Aricò E, D'Agostino G, Santodonato L, Belardelli F. In situ Vaccination by Direct Dendritic Cell Inoculation: The Coming of Age of an Old Idea? Front Immunol 2019; 10:2303. [PMID: 31611878 PMCID: PMC6773832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than 25 years, dendritic cell (DC) based vaccination has flashily held promises to represent a therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. While the vast majority of studies has focused on the use of antigen loaded DC, the intratumoral delivery of unloaded DC aiming at in situ vaccination has gained much less attention. Such approach grounds on the ability of inoculated DC to internalize and process antigens directly released by tumor (usually in combination with cell-death-inducing agents) to activate broad patient-specific antitumor T cell response. In this review, we highlight the recent studies in both solid and hematological tumors showing promising clinical results and discuss the main pitfalls and advantages of this approach for endogenous cancer vaccination. Lastly, we discuss how in situ vaccination by DC inoculation may fit with current immunotherapy approaches to expand and prolong patient response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Santodonato
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Rome, Italy
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10
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Cox MC, Castiello L, Mattei M, Santodonato L, D'Agostino G, Muraro E, Martorelli D, Lapenta C, Di Napoli A, Di Landro F, Cangemi M, Pavan A, Castaldo P, Hohaus S, Donati S, Montefiore E, Berdini C, Carlei D, Monque DM, Ruco L, Prosperi D, Tafuri A, Spadaro F, Sestili P, Spada M, Dolcetti R, Santini SM, Rozera C, Aricò E, Capone I, Belardelli F. Clinical and Antitumor Immune Responses in Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma Patients after Intranodal Injections of IFNα-Dendritic Cells and Rituximab: a Phase I Clinical Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5231-5241. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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11
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Simonetti S, Seijas ABB, Natalini A, Vitale S, Runci D, Soriani A, Di Virgilio A, Aricò E, Gabriele L, Santoni A, Di Rosa F. Dendritic cells modulate c-kit expression on the edge between activation and death. Eur J Immunol 2019; 49:534-545. [PMID: 30758056 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are key players in immunity and tolerance. Some DCs express c-kit, the receptor for stem cell factor (SCF), nevertheless c-kit functional role and the regulation of its expression in DCs are incompletely defined. We recently demonstrated that autocrine SCF sustains a pro-survival circuit, and that SCF increases phospho-AKT in c-kit+ mouse bone marrow-derived DCs (BMdDCs). Herein we observed that CpG and PolyI:C, two stimuli mimicking bacterial and viral nucleic acids respectively, strongly inhibited c-kit expression by BMdDCs and spleen DCs in vitro and in vivo. Experiments in IFNARI-/- mice showed that IFN-I pathway was required for c-kit down-regulation in cDC1s, but only partially supported it in cDC2s. Furthermore, CpG and PolyI:C strongly inhibited c-kit mRNA expression. In agreement with the reduced c-kit levels, SCF pro-survival activity was impaired. Thus in the presence of exogenously provided SCF, either PolyI:C or CpG induced spleen DC death in 2 days, while at earlier times IL-6 and IL-12 production were slightly increased. In contrast, SCF improved survival of unstimulated spleen DCs expressing high c-kit levels. Our studies suggest that c-kit down-modulation is a previously neglected component of DC response to CpG and PolyI:C, regulating DC survival and ultimately tuning immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Simonetti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Amairelys B Barroeta Seijas
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Ambra Natalini
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Vitale
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Runci
- Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Virgilio
- BENA Centro Nazionale Sperimentazione e Benessere Animale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Gabriele
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Rosa
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
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12
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Lo Iacono L, Catale C, Martini A, Valzania A, Viscomi MT, Chiurchiù V, Guatteo E, Bussone S, Perrone F, Di Sabato P, Aricò E, D'Argenio A, Troisi A, Mercuri NB, Maccarrone M, Puglisi-Allegra S, Casella P, Carola V. From Traumatic Childhood to Cocaine Abuse: The Critical Function of the Immune System. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:905-916. [PMID: 30029767 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiencing traumatic childhood is a risk factor for developing substance use disorder, but the mechanisms that underlie this relationship have not been determined. Adverse childhood experiences affect the immune system, and the immune system mediates the effects of psychostimulants. However, whether this system is involved in the etiology of substance use disorder in individuals who have experienced early life stress is unknown. METHODS In this study, we performed a series of ex vivo and in vivo experiments in mice and humans to define the function of the immune system in the early life stress-induced susceptibility to the neurobehavioral effects of cocaine. RESULTS We provide evidence that exposure to social stress at an early age permanently sensitizes the peripheral (splenocytes) and brain (microglia) immune responses to cocaine in mice. In the brain, microglial activation in the ventral tegmental area of social-stress mice was associated with functional alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission, as measured by whole-cell voltage clamp recordings in dopamine neurons. Notably, preventing immune activation during the social-stress exposure reverted the effects of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area and the cocaine-induced behavioral phenotype to control levels. In humans, cocaine modulated toll-like receptor 4-mediated innate immunity, an effect that was enhanced in those addicted to cocaine who had experienced a difficult childhood. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings demonstrate that sensitization to cocaine in early life-stressed individuals involves brain and peripheral immune responses and that this mechanism is shared between mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lo Iacono
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; "Daniel Bovet" Center, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Clarissa Catale
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; "Daniel Bovet" Center, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; Ph.D. Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Martini
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Valerio Chiurchiù
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Bussone
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; "Daniel Bovet" Center, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Perrone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Di Sabato
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alfonso Troisi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola B Mercuri
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; "Daniel Bovet" Center, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Carola
- Institute for Research and Health Care, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
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13
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Castiello L, Sestili P, Schiavoni G, Dattilo R, Monque DM, Ciaffoni F, Iezzi M, Lamolinara A, Sistigu A, Moschella F, Pacca AM, Macchia D, Ferrantini M, Zeuner A, Biffoni M, Proietti E, Belardelli F, Aricò E. Disruption of IFN-I Signaling Promotes HER2/Neu Tumor Progression and Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:658-670. [PMID: 29622580 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Type I interferon (IFN-I) is a class of antiviral immunomodulatory cytokines involved in many stages of tumor initiation and progression. IFN-I acts directly on tumor cells to inhibit cell growth and indirectly by activating immune cells to mount antitumor responses. To understand the role of endogenous IFN-I in spontaneous, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, we characterized tumors arising in HER2/neu transgenic (neuT) mice carrying a nonfunctional mutation in the IFNI receptor (IFNAR1). Such mice are unresponsive to this family of cytokines. Compared with parental neu+/- mice (neuT mice), IFNAR1-/- neu+/- mice (IFNAR-neuT mice) showed earlier onset and increased tumor multiplicity with marked vascularization. IFNAR-neuT tumors exhibited deregulation of genes having adverse prognostic value in breast cancer patients, including the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) marker aldehyde dehydrogenase-1A1 (ALDH1A1). An increased number of BCSCs were observed in IFNAR-neuT tumors, as assessed by ALDH1A1 enzymatic activity, clonogenic assay, and tumorigenic capacity. In vitro exposure of neuT+ mammospheres and cell lines to antibodies to IFN-I resulted in increased frequency of ALDH+ cells, suggesting that IFN-I controls stemness in tumor cells. Altogether, these results reveal a role of IFN-I in neuT-driven spontaneous carcinogenesis through intrinsic control of BCSCs. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(6); 658-70. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Dattilo
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica M Monque
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Ciaffoni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Antonella Sistigu
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of General Pathology and Physiopathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ferrantini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Aricò E, Sestili P, Carpinelli G, Canese R, Cecchetti S, Schiavoni G, D'Urso MT, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Chemo-immunotherapy induces tumor regression in a mouse model of spontaneous mammary carcinogenesis. Oncotarget 2018; 7:59754-59765. [PMID: 27486759 PMCID: PMC5312346 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-specific immune tolerance represents an obstacle for the development of effective anti-tumor immune responses through cancer vaccines. We here evaluated the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy in breaking tumor-specific immune tolerance in an almost incurable mouse model of spontaneous carcinogenesis. Transgenic HER-2/neu mice bearing large mammary tumors received the adoptive transfer of splenocytes and serum isolated from immune donors, with or without pre-conditioning with cyclophosphamide. Treatment efficacy was assessed by monitoring tumor growth by manual inspection and by magnetic resonance imaging. The same chemo-immunotherapy protocol was tested on tumor-free HER-2/neu mice, to evaluate the effects on tumor emergence. Our data show that chemo-immunotherapy hampered carcinogenesis and caused the regression of large mammary tumor lesions in tumor-bearing HER-2/neu mice. The complete eradication of a significant number of tumor lesions occurred only in mice receiving cyclophosphamide shortly before immunotherapy, and was associated with increased serum anti HER-2/p185 antibodies and tumor leukocyte infiltration. The same protocol significantly delayed the appearance of mammary tumors when administered to tumor-free HER-2/neu mice, indicating that this chemo-immunotherapy approach acted through the elicitation of an effective anti-tumor immune response. Overall, our data support the immune-modulatory role of chemotherapy in overcoming cancer immune tolerance when administered at lymphodepleting non-myeloablative doses shortly before transfer of antigen-specific immune cells and immunoglobulins. These findings open new perspectives on combining immune-modulatory chemotherapy and immunotherapy to overcome immune tolerance in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Carpinelli
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Canese
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Cecchetti
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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15
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Anticoli S, Aricò E, Arenaccio C, Manfredi F, Chiozzini C, Olivetta E, Ferrantelli F, Lattanzi L, D'Urso MT, Proietti E, Federico M. Engineered exosomes emerging from muscle cells break immune tolerance to HER2 in transgenic mice and induce antigen-specific CTLs upon challenge by human dendritic cells. J Mol Med (Berl) 2017; 96:211-221. [PMID: 29282521 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-017-1617-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We recently described a novel biotechnological platform for the production of unrestricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) vaccines. It relies on in vivo engineering of exosomes, i.e., nanovesicles constitutively released by all cells, with full-length antigens of choice upon fusion with an exosome-anchoring protein referred to as Nefmut. They are produced upon intramuscular injection of a DNA vector and, when uploaded with a viral tumor antigen, were found to elicit an immune response inhibiting the tumor growth in a model of transplantable tumors. However, for a possible application in cancer immunotherapy, a number of key issues remained unmet. Among these, we investigated: (i) whether the immunogenic stimulus induced by the engineered exosomes can break immune tolerance, and (ii) their effectiveness when applied in human system. As a model of immune tolerance, we considered mice transgenic for the expression of activated rat HER2/neu which spontaneously develop adenocarcinomas in all mammary glands. When these mice were injected with a DNA vector expressing the product of fusion between Nefmut and the extracellular domain of HER2/neu, antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes became readily detectable. This immune response associated with a HER2-directed CTL activity and a significant delay in tumor development. On the other hand, through cross-priming experiments, we demonstrated the effectiveness of the engineered exosomes emerging from transfected human primary muscle cells in inducing antigen-specific CTLs. We propose our CTL vaccine platform as part of new immunotherapy strategies against tumors expressing self-antigens, i.e., products highly expressed in oncologic lesions but tolerated by the immune system. KEY MESSAGES We established a novel, exosome-based method to produce unrestricted CTL vaccines. This strategy is effective in breaking the tolerance towards tumor self-antigens. Our method is also useful to elicit antigen-specific CTL immunity in humans. These findings open the way towards the use of this antitumor strategy in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Anticoli
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FabioCell, Core Facilities, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Arenaccio
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Chiozzini
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Olivetta
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Ferrantelli
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Lattanzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- National Center for Animal Experimentation and Health, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Federico
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Buccione C, Fragale A, Polverino F, Ziccheddu G, Aricò E, Belardelli F, Proietti E, Battistini A, Moschella F. Role of interferon regulatory factor 1 in governing
T
reg depletion,
T
h1 polarization, inflammasome activation and antitumor efficacy of cyclophosphamide. Int J Cancer 2017; 142:976-987. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Buccione
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Alessandra Fragale
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Federica Polverino
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Giovanna Ziccheddu
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Angela Battistini
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
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17
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Lo Iacono L, Valzania A, Visco-Comandini F, Aricò E, Viscomi MT, Castiello L, Oddi D, D'Amato FR, Bisicchia E, Ermakova O, Puglisi-Allegra S, Carola V. Social threat exposure in juvenile mice promotes cocaine-seeking by altering blood clotting and brain vasculature. Addict Biol 2017; 22:911-922. [PMID: 26870906 PMCID: PMC5573927 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment is associated with increased severity of substance use disorder and frequent relapse to drug use following abstinence. However, the molecular and neurobiological substrates that are engaged during early traumatic events and mediate the greater risk of relapse are poorly understood and knowledge of risk factors is to date extremely limited. In this study, we modeled childhood maltreatment by exposing juvenile mice to a threatening social experience (social stressed, S‐S). We showed that S‐S experience influenced the propensity to reinstate cocaine‐seeking after periods of withdrawal in adulthood. By exploring global gene expression in blood leukocytes we found that this behavioral phenotype was associated with greater blood coagulation. In parallel, impairments in brain microvasculature were observed in S‐S mice. Furthermore, treatment with an anticoagulant agent during withdrawal abolished the susceptibility to reinstate cocaine‐seeking in S‐S mice. These findings provide novel insights into a possible molecular mechanism by which childhood maltreatment heightens the risk for relapse in cocaine‐dependent individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Italy
| | | | - Luciano Castiello
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Italy
| | - Diego Oddi
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology; CNR; Rome Italy
| | | | | | - Olga Ermakova
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology; CNR; Rome Italy
| | - Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
- IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia Rome; Italy
- Department of Psychology and ‘Daniel Bovet’ Center; University ‘La Sapienza,’ Rome; Italy
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18
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Rozera C, Cappellini GA, D'Agostino G, Santodonato L, Castiello L, Urbani F, Macchia I, Aricò E, Casorelli I, Sestili P, Montefiore E, Monque D, Carlei D, Napolitano M, Rizza P, Moschella F, Buccione C, Belli R, Proietti E, Pavan A, Marchetti P, Belardelli F, Capone I. Intratumoral injection of IFN-alpha dendritic cells after dacarbazine activates anti-tumor immunity: results from a phase I trial in advanced melanoma. J Transl Med 2015; 13:139. [PMID: 25933939 PMCID: PMC4438625 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0473-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Advanced melanoma patients have an extremely poor long term prognosis and are in strong need of new therapies. The recently developed targeted therapies have resulted in a marked antitumor effect, but most responses are partial and some degree of toxicity remain the major concerns. Dendritic cells play a key role in the activation of the immune system and have been typically used as ex vivo antigen-loaded cell drugs for cancer immunotherapy. Another approach consists in intratumoral injection of unloaded DCs that can exploit the uptake of a wider array of tumor-specific and individual unique antigens. However, intratumoral immunization requires DCs endowed at the same time with properties typically belonging to both immature and mature DCs (i.e. antigen uptake and T cell priming). DCs generated in presence of interferon-alpha (IFN-DCs), due to their features of partially mature DCs, capable of efficiently up-taking, processing and cross-presenting antigens to T cells, could successfully carry out this task. Combining intratumoral immunization with tumor-destructing therapies can induce antigen release in situ, facilitating the injected DCs in triggering an antitumor immune response. Methods We tested in a phase I clinical study in advanced melanoma a chemo-immunotherapy approach based on unloaded IFN-DCs injected intratumorally one day after administration of dacarbazine. Primary endpoint of the study was treatment safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints were immune and clinical responses of patients. Results Six patients were enrolled, and only three completed the treatment. The chemo-immunotherapy was well tolerated with no major side effects. Three patients showed temporary disease stabilization and two of them showed induction of T cells specific for tyrosinase, NY-ESO-1 and gp100. Of interest, one patient showing a remarkable long-term disease stabilization kept showing presence of tyrosinase specific T cells in PBMC and high infiltration of memory T cells in the tumor lesion at 21 months. Conclusion We tested a chemo-immunotherapeutic approach based on IFN-DCs injected intratumorally one day after DTIC in advanced melanoma. The treatment was well tolerated, and clinical and immunological responses, including development of vitiligo, were observed, therefore warranting additional clinical studies aimed at evaluating efficacy of this approach. Trial registration Trial Registration Number not publicly available due to EudraCT regulations: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/doc/EU_CTR_FAQ.pdf
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Rozera
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Giancarlo Antonini Cappellini
- IV Dermatology Oncology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS), via Monti Creta 104, Rome, 00167, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina D'Agostino
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Laura Santodonato
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Luciano Castiello
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Iole Macchia
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Ida Casorelli
- Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Enrica Montefiore
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Domenica Monque
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Davide Carlei
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Napolitano
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Paola Rizza
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Carla Buccione
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Roberto Belli
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Antonio Pavan
- Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- IV Dermatology Oncology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS), via Monti Creta 104, Rome, 00167, Italy. .,Department of Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Imerio Capone
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
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19
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Sciamanna I, Gualtieri A, Cossetti C, Osimo EF, Ferracin M, Macchia G, Aricò E, Prosseda G, Vitullo P, Misteli T, Spadafora C. A tumor-promoting mechanism mediated by retrotransposon-encoded reverse transcriptase is active in human transformed cell lines. Oncotarget 2014; 4:2271-87. [PMID: 24345856 PMCID: PMC3926826 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
LINE-1 elements make up the most abundant retrotransposon family in the human genome. Full-length LINE-1 elements encode a reverse transcriptase (RT) activity required for their own retrotranpsosition as well as that of non-autonomous Alu elements. LINE-1 are poorly expressed in normal cells and abundantly in cancer cells. Decreasing RT activity in cancer cells, by either LINE-1-specific RNA interference, or by RT inhibitory drugs, was previously found to reduce proliferation and promote differentiation and to antagonize tumor growth in animal models. Here we have investigated how RT exerts these global regulatory functions. We report that the RT inhibitor efavirenz (EFV) selectively downregulates proliferation of transformed cell lines, while exerting only mild effects on non-transformed cells; this differential sensitivity matches a differential RT abundance, which is high in the former and undetectable in the latter. Using CsCl density gradients, we selectively identify Alu and LINE-1 containing DNA:RNA hybrid molecules in cancer but not in normal cells. Remarkably, hybrid molecules fail to form in tumor cells treated with EFV under the same conditions that repress proliferation and induce the reprogramming of expression profiles of coding genes, microRNAs (miRNAs) and ultraconserved regions (UCRs). The RT-sensitive miRNAs and UCRs are significantly associated with Alu sequences. The results suggest that LINE-1-encoded RT governs the balance between single-stranded and double-stranded RNA production. In cancer cells the abundant RT reverse-transcribes retroelement-derived mRNAs forming RNA:DNA hybrids. We propose that this impairs the formation of double-stranded RNAs and the ensuing production of small regulatory RNAs, with a direct impact on gene expression. RT inhibition restores the ‘normal’ small RNA profile and the regulatory networks that depend on them. Thus, the retrotransposon-encoded RT drives a previously unrecognized mechanism crucial to the transformed state in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Sciamanna
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy
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20
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Aricò E, Belardelli F. Interferon-α as antiviral and antitumor vaccine adjuvants: mechanisms of action and response signature. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2012; 32:235-47. [PMID: 22490303 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2011.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-α (IFN-α) are cytokines endowed with multiple biologic effects, including activities on cells of the immune system, which are important for inducing protective antiviral and antitumor responses. Studies in mouse models have been instrumental for understanding the immune adjuvant activity of these cytokines and some of their mechanisms of action. In particular, recent studies conducted on both mouse and human models suggest that IFN-α act as effective immune adjuvants for inducing antiviral and antitumor immunity and that the effects of IFN on the differentiation and activation of dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the induction of protective responses. In spite of the long record of IFN-α clinical use, a few clinical trials have attempted to evaluate the efficacy of these cytokines used as vaccine adjuvants. Recently, studies on the IFN-α signature in cells from patients treated with IFN-α under different modalities and various clinical settings have provided important insights for understanding the in vivo mechanisms of the IFN immune adjuvant activity in humans and may contribute to the identification of molecular markers with a clinical response. These studies further support the interest of evaluating the clinical efficacy of IFN-α when used as a vaccine adjuvant and also suggest that the DC generated in vitro from monocytes in the presence of this cytokine can exhibit a special advantage for the development of effective therapeutic vaccination strategies in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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21
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Aricò E, Castiello L, Urbani F, Rizza P, Panelli MC, Wang E, Marincola FM, Belardelli F. Concomitant detection of IFNα signature and activated monocyte/dendritic cell precursors in the peripheral blood of IFNα-treated subjects at early times after repeated local cytokine treatments. J Transl Med 2011; 9:67. [PMID: 21586124 PMCID: PMC3115876 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferons alpha (IFNα) are the cytokines most widely used in clinical medicine for the treatment of cancer and viral infections. Among the immunomodulatory activities possibly involved in their therapeutic efficacy, the importance of IFNα effects on dendritic cells (DC) differentiation and activation has been considered. Despite several studies exploiting microarray technology to characterize IFNα mechanisms of action, there is currently no consensus on the core signature of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of IFNα-treated individuals, as well as on the existence of blood genomic and proteomic markers of low-dose IFNα administered as a vaccine adjuvant. METHODS Gene profiling analysis with microarray was performed on PBMC isolated from melanoma patients and healthy individuals 24 hours after each repeated injection of low-dose IFNα, administered as vaccine adjuvant in two separate clinical trials. At the same time points, cytofluorimetric analysis was performed on CD14+ monocytes, to detect the phenotypic modifications exerted by IFNα on antigen presenting cells precursors. RESULTS An IFNα signature was consistently observed in both clinical settings 24 hours after each repeated administration of the cytokine. The observed modulation was transient, and did not reach a steady state level refractory to further stimulations. The molecular signature observed ex vivo largely matched the one detected in CD14+ monocytes exposed in vitro to IFNα, including the induction of CXCL10 at the transcriptional and protein level. Interestingly, IFNα ex vivo signature was paralleled by an increase in the percentage and expression of costimulatory molecules by circulating CD14+/CD16+ monocytes, indicated as natural precursors of DC in response to danger signals. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into the identification of a well defined molecular signature as biomarker of IFNα administered as immune adjuvants, and for the characterization of new molecular and cellular players, such as CXCL10 and CD14+/CD16+ cells, mediating and possibly predicting patient response to these cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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22
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Moschella F, Valentini M, Aricò E, Macchia I, Sestili P, D'Urso MT, Alessandri C, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Unraveling cancer chemoimmunotherapy mechanisms by gene and protein expression profiling of responses to cyclophosphamide. Cancer Res 2011; 71:3528-39. [PMID: 21444678 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-4523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Certain chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (CTX), can enhance the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy because of their capacity to modulate innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, it has been argued that this capacity may be more significant to chemotherapeutic efficacy in general than is currently appreciated. To gain insights into the core mechanisms of chemoimmunotherapy, we methodically profiled the effects of CTX on gene expression in bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood, and on cytokine expression in plasma and bone marrow of tumor-bearing mice. Gene and protein expression were modulated early and transiently by CTX, leading to upregulation of a variety of immunomodulatory factors, including danger signals, pattern recognition receptors, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. These factors are involved in sensing CTX myelotoxicity and activating repair mechanisms, which, in turn, stimulate immunoactivation events that promote efficacy. In particular, CTX induced a T-helper 17 (Th17)-related gene signature associated with an increase in Th17, Th1, and activated CD25(+)CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T lymphocytes and a slight recovery of regulatory T cells. By analyzing gene and protein expression kinetics and their relationship to the antitumor efficacy of different therapeutic schedules of combination, we determined that optimal timing for performing adoptive immunotherapy is approximately 1 day after CTX treatment. Together, our findings highlight factors that may propel the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy, offering a mechanistic glimpse of the important immune modulatory effects of CTX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Moschella
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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23
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Veroni C, Gabriele L, Canini I, Castiello L, Coccia E, Remoli ME, Columba-Cabezas S, Aricò E, Aloisi F, Agresti C. Activation of TNF receptor 2 in microglia promotes induction of anti-inflammatory pathways. Mol Cell Neurosci 2010; 45:234-44. [PMID: 20600925 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fine regulation of the innate immune response following brain injury or infection is important to avoid excessive activation of microglia and its detrimental consequences on neural cell viability and function. To get insights on the molecular networks regulating microglia activation, we analyzed expression, regulation and functional relevance of tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) 2 in cultured mouse microglia. We found that microglia upregulate TNFR2 mRNA and protein and shed large amounts of soluble TNFR2, but not TNFR1, in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli and through activation of TNFR2 itself. By microarray analysis, we demonstrate that TNFR2 stimulation in microglia regulates expression of genes involved in immune processes, including molecules with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective function like granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, adrenomedullin and IL-10. In addition, we identify IFN-γ as a regulator of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective factors induced by TNFR2 stimulation. These data indicate that, through TNFR2, microglia may contribute to the counter-regulatory response activated in neuropathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Veroni
- Departments of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Nisticò P, Capone I, Palermo B, Del Bello D, Ferraresi V, Moschella F, Aricò E, Valentini M, Bracci L, Cognetti F, Ciccarese M, Vercillo G, Roselli M, Fossile E, Tosti ME, Wang E, Marincola F, Imberti L, Catricalà C, Natali PG, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Chemotherapy enhances vaccine-induced antitumor immunity in melanoma patients. Int J Cancer 2009; 124:130-9. [PMID: 18839429 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.23886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Combination of chemotherapy with cancer vaccines is currently regarded as a potentially valuable therapeutic approach for the treatment of some metastatic tumors, but optimal modalities remain unknown. We designed a phase I/II pilot study for evaluating the effects of dacarbazine (DTIC) on the immune response in HLA-A2(+) disease-free melanoma patients who received anticancer vaccination 1 day following chemotherapy (800 mg/mq i.v.). The vaccine, consisting of a combination of HLA-A2 restricted melanoma antigen A (Melan-A/MART-1) and gp100 analog peptides (250 microg each, i.d.), was administered in combination or not with DTIC to 2 patient groups. The combined treatment is nontoxic. The comparative immune monitoring demonstrates that patients receiving DTIC 1 day before the vaccination have a significantly improved long-lasting memory CD8(+) T cell response. Of relevance, these CD8(+) T cells recognize and lyse HLA-A2(+)/Melan-A(+) tumor cell lines. Global transcriptional analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) revealed a DTIC-induced activation of genes involved in cytokine production, leukocyte activation, immune response and cell motility that can favorably condition tumor antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. This study represents a proof in humans of a chemotherapy-induced enhancement of CD8(+) memory T cell response to cancer vaccines, which opens new opportunities to design novel effective combined therapies improving cancer vaccination effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Nisticò
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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25
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Lorenzetti S, Lagatta V, Marcoccia D, Aureli F, Cubadda F, Aricò E, Canini I, Castiello L, Parlato S, Gabriele L, Maranghi F, Mantovani A. Functional assays, integrated with gene expression signatures, as predictive toxicological biomarkers: From toxicogenomics to phenotypic anchoring. Toxicol Lett 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2008.06.384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Aricò E, Wang E, Tornesello ML, Tagliamonte M, Lewis GK, Marincola FM, Buonaguro FM, Buonaguro L. Immature monocyte derived dendritic cells gene expression profile in response to Virus-Like Particles stimulation. J Transl Med 2005; 3:45. [PMID: 16384534 PMCID: PMC1360684 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-3-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2005] [Accepted: 12/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently developed a candidate HIV-1 vaccine model based on HIV-1 Pr55gag Virus-Like Particles (HIV-VLPs), produced in a baculovirus expression system and presenting a gp120 molecule from an Ugandan HIV-1 isolate of the clade A (HIV-VLPAs). The HIV-VLPAs induce in Balb/c mice systemic and mucosal neutralizing Antibodies as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, by intra-peritoneal as well as intra-nasal administration. Moreover, we have recently shown that the baculovirus-expressed HIV-VLPs induce maturation and activation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) which, in turn, produce Th1- and Th2-specific cytokines and stimulate in vitro a primary and secondary response in autologous CD4+ T cells. In the present manuscript, the effects of the baculovirus-expressed HIV-VLPAs on the genomic transcriptional profile of MDDCs obtained from normal healthy donors have been evaluated. The HIV-VLPA stimulation, compared to both PBS and LPS treatment, modulate the expression of genes involved in the morphological and functional changes characterizing the MDDCs activation and maturation. The results of gene profiling analysis here presented are highly informative on the global pattern of gene expression alteration underlying the activation of MDDCs by HIV-VLPAs at the early stages of the immune response and may be extremely helpful for the identification of exclusive activation markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Immunogenetics Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1502, USA
- Department of Cell Biolology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
| | - Ena Wang
- Immunogenetics Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1502, USA
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Lab. Viral Oncogenesis and Immunotherapies & AIDS Reference Center, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fond. G. Pascale", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Lab. Viral Oncogenesis and Immunotherapies & AIDS Reference Center, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fond. G. Pascale", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - George K Lewis
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Francesco M Marincola
- Immunogenetics Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1502, USA
| | - Franco M Buonaguro
- Lab. Viral Oncogenesis and Immunotherapies & AIDS Reference Center, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fond. G. Pascale", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Lab. Viral Oncogenesis and Immunotherapies & AIDS Reference Center, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fond. G. Pascale", 80131 Napoli, Italy
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
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Buonaguro L, Tornesello ML, Aricò E, Marincola FM, Lewis-Kamin R, Gallo RC, Lewis GK, Buonaguro FM. Baculovirus-Derived HIV-1 Virus-Like Particles (VLP) Activate Dendritic Cells and Are Cross-Presented to Induce In Vitro T-Cell Response. Retrovirology 2005. [DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-2-s1-s70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Aricò E, Robertson KA, Belardelli F, Ferrantini M, Nash AA. Vaccination with inactivated murine gammaherpesvirus 68 strongly limits viral replication and latency and protects type I IFN receptor knockout mice from a lethal infection. Vaccine 2004; 22:1433-40. [PMID: 15063566 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2003.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2003] [Revised: 10/15/2003] [Accepted: 10/22/2003] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Human gammaherpesviruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) cause lifelong infections and associated diseases, including malignancies, and the development of an effective vaccine against this class of viral infections is of considerable interest. The murine herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) model provides a useful experimental setting to investigate the immune response to gammaherpesvirus infections and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination strategies. In this study, we tested a heat-inactivated MHV-68 vaccine in immunocompetent mice as well as in B cell-deficient or type I IFN receptor knockout mice. Vaccination with heat-inactivated MHV-68 protected immunocompetent mice from the acute MHV-68 infection in the lung and strongly reduced the expansion of latently infected cells in the spleen and the development of splenomegaly. A similar inhibition of the acute viral replication in the lung was also observed in vaccinated B cell-deficient mice. Of note, the inactivated MHV-68 vaccine completely protected type I IFN receptor knockout mice from the infection with a lethal dose of MHV-68.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy.
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Aricò E, Robertson K, Allen D, Ferrantini M, Belardelli F, Nash AA. Humoral immune response and protection from viral infection in mice vaccinated with inactivated MHV-68: effects of type I interferon. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2002; 22:1081-8. [PMID: 12513907 DOI: 10.1089/10799900260442502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection of mice by murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) represents a suitable animal model in which to investigate the immune response against gammaherpesviruses and to test the efficacy of vaccination strategies. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of heat-inactivated MHV-68 as a vaccine as well as the adjuvant activity of type I interferon (IFN-I) administered together with the vaccine. Mice vaccinated with inactivated MHV-68 and subsequently infected with the virus exhibited a significant augmentation of the virus-specific humoral immune response and a considerable inhibition of MHV-68 acute replication in the lungs compared with unvaccinated control mice. The coadministration of IFN-I with inactivated MHV-68 significantly enhanced the humoral immune response elicited by the vaccine by stimulating the production of virus-specific IgG2 antibodies but did not significantly enhance protection from viral challenge. We conclude that IFN-I, recently shown to exhibit a powerful adjuvant activity to a poorly immunogenic subunit vaccine in mice, can also enhance the humoral immune response when used as adjuvant of an inactivated viral vaccine, even though this effect is less marked as a result of the strong immune response elicited by the inactivated virus alone, which may also involve the contribution of endogenous IFN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Laboratory of Virology, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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D'Agostino G, Aricò E, Santodonato L, Venditti M, Sestili P, Masuelli L, Coletti A, Modesti A, Picchio G, Mosier DE, Ferrantini M, Belardelli F. Type I consensus IFN (IFN-con1) gene transfer into KSHV/HHV-8-infected BCBL-1 cells causes inhibition of viral lytic cycle activation via induction of apoptosis and abrogates tumorigenicity in sCID mice. J Interferon Cytokine Res 1999; 19:1305-16. [PMID: 10574624 DOI: 10.1089/107999099312984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of human type I consensus interferon (IFN-con1) (Amgen) gene transfer into body cavity-based lymphomas (BCBL)-1 cells, which are latently infected with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). Both the basal and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated production of KSHV/HHV-8 mature virions was strongly inhibited in genetically modified IFN-producing BCBL-1 cells as compared with parental or control transduced counterparts. A similar inhibition was obtained on treatment of parental BCBL-1 cells with exogenous IFN-con1. The reduction in KSHV/HHV-8 production was associated with a decrease in the basal and TPA-stimulated intracellular amount of the linear form of the viral genome. Interestingly, 25%40% of the IFN-producing BCBL-1 cell population underwent spontaneous apoptosis in vitro. TPA treatment, which did not significantly affect the viability of the parental and control BCBL-1 cells, resulted in the apoptotic death of up to 70% of the IFN-producing cell population. Addition of exogenous IFN-con1 to parental BCBL-1 cells produced similar effects, although less intense. Injection of either parental or control-transduced BCBL-1 cells into SCID mice resulted in progressively growing tumors characterized by an unusually high level of tumor angiogenesis. In contrast, complete tumor regression was observed in all the mice injected either subcutaneously (s.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the IFN-producing BCBL-1 cells. These results represent the first evidence that type I IFN can counteract the activation of a productive herpesvirus infection in latently infected tumor cells by the induction of apoptosis, providing an interesting link between the antiviral and antitumor activities of this cytokine. These data suggest the possible advantages of strategies of type I IFN gene transfer (with respect to the use of the exogenous cytokine) for the treatment of patients with some HHV-8-induced malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D'Agostino
- Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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