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Pohlers M, Gies S, Taenzer T, Stroeder R, Theobald L, Ludwig N, Kim YJ, Bohle RM, Solomayer EF, Meese E, Hart M, Walch-Rückheim B. Th17 cells target the metabolic miR-142-5p-succinate dehydrogenase subunit C/D (SDHC/SDHD) axis, promoting invasiveness and progression of cervical cancers. Mol Oncol 2023. [PMID: 37899663 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
During cervical carcinogenesis, T-helper (Th)-17 cells accumulate in the peripheral blood and tumor tissues of cancer patients. We previously demonstrated that Th17 cells are associated with therapy resistance as well as cervical cancer metastases and relapse; however, the underlying Th17-driven mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, using microarrays, we found that Th17 cells induced an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype of cervical cancer cells and promoted migration and invasion of 2D cultures and 3D spheroids via induction of microRNA miR-142-5p. As the responsible mechanism, we identified the subunits C and D of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex as new targets of miR-142-5p and provided evidence that Th17-miR-142-5p-dependent reduced expression of SDHC and SDHD mediated enhanced migration and invasion of cancer cells using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for SDHC and SDHD, and miR-142-5p inhibitors. Consistently, patients exhibited high levels of succinate in their serum associated with lymph node metastases and diminished expression of SDHD in patient biopsies correlated with increased numbers of Th17 cells. Correspondingly, a combination of weak or negative SDHD expression and a ratio of Th17/CD4+ T cells > 43.90% in situ was associated with reduced recurrence-free survival. In summary, we unraveled a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which Th17 cells promote cervical cancer progression and suggest evaluation of Th17 cells as a potential target for immunotherapy in cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Pohlers
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Selina Gies
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Tanja Taenzer
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Russalina Stroeder
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Laura Theobald
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Nicole Ludwig
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Yoo-Jin Kim
- Institute of Pathology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Rainer Maria Bohle
- Institute of Pathology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Erich Franz Solomayer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Martin Hart
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Barbara Walch-Rückheim
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Lainé A, Gonzalez-Lopez AM, Hasan U, Ohkuma R, Ray-Coquard I. Immune Environment and Immunotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma and Cervical Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072042. [PMID: 37046702 PMCID: PMC10093320 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the seventh most common tumor in women, and prognosis of recurrent and metastatic disease is poor. Cervical cancer (CC) represents the fifth most common gynecological cancer. While ECs are more common in developed countries, the incidence of CC has decreased due to the recent implementation of large screening and vaccination programs. Until very recently, patients with advanced or unresectable EC or CC had very limited treatment options and were receiving in first line setting platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy (CT). Significant progress in the treatment of gynecological cancers has occurred in the last few years, with the use of innovative targeted therapies and immunotherapy. However, targeting the immune system in patients with gynecological tumors remains challenging and is not always successful. In ovarian cancer, several immunotherapy treatment regimens have been investigated (as monotherapy and combination therapy in first and subsequent lines of treatment) and showed poor responses. Therefore, we specifically focused our review on EC and CC for their specific immune-related features and therapeutic results demonstrated with immunotherapy. We report recent and current immunotherapy-based clinical trials and provide a review of emerging data that are likely to impact immunotherapy development based on increased biomarkers' identification to monitor response and overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Uzma Hasan
- CIRI, Team Enveloped Viruses, Vectors and ImmunotheRapy INSERM U1111/UCBL 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Université Lyon, 69364 Lyon, France
- The Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL)/UMR Inserm 1052/CNRS 5286, CLB, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France
| | - Ryotaro Ohkuma
- Team CISTAR, CRCL, INSERM-1052/CNRS-5286, CLB, Lyon, 69373 CEDEX 08, France
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan
| | - Isabelle Ray-Coquard
- Centre Léon Bérard, University Claude Bernard Lyon I, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France
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Guo Y, Liu J, Luo J, You X, Weng H, Wang M, Ouyang T, Li X, Liao X, Wang M, Lan Z, Shi Y, Chen S. Molecular Profiling Reveals Common and Specific Development Processes in Different Types of Gynecologic Cancers. Front Oncol 2020; 10:584793. [PMID: 33194730 PMCID: PMC7658613 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.584793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gynecologic cancers have become a major threat to women's health. The molecular biology of gynecologic cancers is not as well understood as that of breast cancer, and precision targeting is still new. Although viewed collectively as a group of cancers within the female reproductive system, they are more often studied separately. A comprehensive within-group comparison on molecular profiles is lacking. METHODS We conducted a whole-exome sequencing study of cervical/endometrial/ovarian cancer samples from 209 Chinese patients. We combined our data with genomic and transcriptomic data from relevant TCGA cohorts to identify and verify common/exclusive molecular changes in cervical/endometrial/ovarian cancer. RESULTS We identified shared molecular features including a COSMIC signature of deficient mismatch repair (dMMR), four recurrent copy-number variation (CNV) events, and extensive alterations in PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling and cilium component genes; we also identified transcription factors and pathways that are exclusively altered in cervical/endometrial/ovarian cancer. The functions of the commonly/exclusively altered genomic circuits suggest (1) a common reprogramming process during early tumor initiation, which involves PI3K activation, defects in mismatch repair and cilium organization, as well as disruption in interferon signaling and immune recognition; (2) a cell-type specific program at late-stage tumor development that eventually lead to tumor proliferation and migration. CONCLUSION This study describes, from a molecular point of view, how similar and how different gynecologic cancers are, and it provides a hypothesis about the causes of the observed similarities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanli Guo
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Luo
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaobin You
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Weng
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Minyi Wang
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Ouyang
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoming Liao
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Maocai Wang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoji Lan
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujian Shi
- Department of Research, Top Gene Tech (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan Chen
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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4
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De Gregorio V, Urciuolo F, Netti PA, Imparato G. In Vitro Organotypic Systems to Model Tumor Microenvironment in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Related Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1150. [PMID: 32375253 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the well-known role of chronic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in causing tumors (i.e., all cervical cancers and other human malignancies from the mucosal squamous epithelia, including anogenital and oropharyngeal cavity), its persistence is not sufficient for cancer development. Other co-factors contribute to the carcinogenesis process. Recently, the critical role of the underlying stroma during the HPV life cycle and HPV-induced disease have been investigated. The tumor stroma is a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a specialized entity. The TME is dynamic, interactive, and constantly changing—able to trigger, support, and drive tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In previous years, in vitro organotypic raft cultures and in vivo genetically engineered mouse models have provided researchers with important information on the interactions between HPVs and the epithelium. Further development for an in-depth understanding of the interaction between HPV-infected tissue and the surrounding microenvironment is strongly required. In this review, we critically describe the HPV-related cancers modeled in vitro from the simplified ‘raft culture’ to complex three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models, focusing on HPV-associated cervical cancer disease platforms. In addition, we review the latest knowledge in the field of in vitro culture systems of HPV-associated malignancies of other mucosal squamous epithelia (anogenital and oropharynx), as well as rare cutaneous non-melanoma associated cancer.
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Drolet M, Laprise JF, Brotherton JML, Donovan B, Fairley CK, Ali H, Bénard É, Martin D, Brisson M. The Impact of Human Papillomavirus Catch-Up Vaccination in Australia: Implications for Introduction of Multiple Age Cohort Vaccination and Postvaccination Data Interpretation. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:1205-1209. [PMID: 28968800 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We used transmission-dynamic modeling to estimate the added effectiveness of vaccinating multiple cohorts of females (12-26 years) in Australia compared with the theoretical introduction of routine-only (12-13 years) vaccination. Our results suggest that vaccinating multiple cohorts produced markedly faster direct/herd effects, and it added benefits that last for 20-70 years. Furthermore, the number needed to vaccinate to prevent 1 anogential warts (AGW) case or cervical cancer (CC) was similar for routine + catch-up (AGW = 9.9, CC = 678) and routine-only vaccination (AGW = 9.9, CC = 677), thus providing similar levels of efficiency per person vaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Drolet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Canada
| | | | - Julia M L Brotherton
- National HPV Vaccination Program Register, Victorian Cytology Service, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Christopher K Fairley
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Central Clinical School Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hammad Ali
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Élodie Bénard
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Canada
| | - Dave Martin
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Canada
| | - Marc Brisson
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Canada.,Université Laval, Québec, Canada.,Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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Xiang L, Li J, Jiang W, Shen X, Yang W, Wu X, Yang H. Comprehensive analysis of targetable oncogenic mutations in chinese cervical cancers. Oncotarget 2015; 6:4968-75. [PMID: 25669975 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in 16 targetable oncogenic genes were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and direct sequencing in 285 Chinese cervical cancers. Their clinicopathological relevance and prognostic significance was assessed. Ninety-two nonsynonymous somatic mutations were identified in 29.8% of the cancers. The mutation rates were as follows: PIK3CA (12.3%), KRAS (5.3%), HER2 (4.2%), FGFR3-TACC3 fusions (3.9%), PTEN (2.8%), FGFR2 (1.8%), FGFR3 (0.7%), NRAS (0.7%), HRAS (0.4%) and EGFR (0.4%). No mutations were detected in AKT1 or BRAF, and the fusions FGFR1-TACC1, EML4-ALK, CCDC6-RET and KIF5B-RET were not found in any of the cancers. RTK and RAS mutations were more common in non-squamous carcinomas than in squamous carcinomas (P=0.043 and P=0.042, respectively). RAS mutations were more common in young patients (<45 years) (13.7% vs. 7.7%, P=0.027). RTK mutations tended to be more common in young patients, whereas PIK3CA/PTEN/AKT mutations tended to be more common in old patients. RAS mutations were significantly associated with disease relapse. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive analysis of major targetable oncogenic mutations in a large cohort of cervical cancer cases. Our data reveal that a considerable proportion of patients with cervical cancers harbor known druggable mutations and might benefit from targeted therapy.
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Xiong Y, Chen L, Luo P. N-Benzylcinnamide induces apoptosis in HPV16 and HPV18 cervical cancer cells via suppression of E6 and E7 protein expression. IUBMB Life 2015; 67:374-9. [PMID: 25914202 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Seventy percent of all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Natural products are being extensively explored for their potential ability to prevent and treat cervical cancers. N-benzylcinnamide (PT-3) is a natural product purified from Piper submultinerve. Whether or not PT-3 has an effect on cervical cancer cells is as yet unknown. Therefore, we set out to explore the mechanism of action behind PT-3 and how it affects cells that either contain or lack HPV DNA. Our results demonstrate that PT-3 slows the growth kinetics of CaSki (HPV-16 positive) and HeLa (HPV-18 positive) cells in a dose-dependent manner, but does not slows HPV-negative cells. Importantly, we also found that PT-3 induces apoptosis by suppressing expression of E6 and E7 viral oncogenes in HPV-infected cervical cancer CaSki and HeLa cells. Moreover, we found that suppression of E6 and E7 expression leads to modulations in p53 and protein retinoblastomas, which are not changed in HPV-negative cervical cancer C33A cells. These findings demonstrate that PT-3 can effectively promote apoptosis by downregulating expression of E6 and E7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhuan Xiong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Puying Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
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Demoulin SA, Somja J, Duray A, Guénin S, Roncarati P, Delvenne PO, Herfs MF, Hubert PM. Cervical (pre)neoplastic microenvironment promotes the emergence of tolerogenic dendritic cells via RANKL secretion. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1008334. [PMID: 26155412 PMCID: PMC4485731 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1008334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [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: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The progression of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections into preneoplastic lesions suggests that infected/malignant cells are not adequately recognized by the immune system. In this study, we demonstrated that cervical/vulvar cancer cells secrete factor(s) that affect both the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DC) leading to a tolerogenic profile. Indeed, DC cocultured with cancer cell lines display both a partially mature phenotype after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) maturation and an altered secretory profile (IL-10high and IL-12p70low). In addition, tumor-converted DC acquire the ability to alter T-cell proliferation and to induce FoxP3+ suppressive T cells from naive CD4+ T cells. Among the immunosuppressive factors implicated in DC alterations in genital (pre)neoplastic microenvironment, we identified receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), a TNF family member, as a potential candidate. For the first time, we showed that RANKL expression strongly increases during cervical progression. We also confirmed that RANKL is directly secreted by cancer cells and this expression is not related to HPV viral oncoprotein induction. Interestingly, the addition of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in coculture experiments reduces significantly the inhibition of DC maturation, the release of a tolerogenic cytokine profile (IL-12low IL-10high) and the induction of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Our findings suggest that the use of inhibitory molecules directed against RANKL in cervical/vulvar (pre)neoplastic lesions might prevent alterations of DC functionality and represent an attractive strategy to overcome immune tolerance in such cancers.
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Key Words
- LC, Langerhans cells; LPS, lipopolysaccharide
- APC, antigen presenting cells; DC, dendritic cells
- GILZ, glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper; HPV, human papillomavirus
- HSIL, high grade intraepithelial lesions
- IHC, immunohistochemistry
- ILT3, Immunoglobulin-like transcript 3
- KN, normal keratinocytes
- LSIL, low grade intraepithelial lesion
- MFI, mean fluorescence intensity
- OPG, osteoprotegerin
- PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cells
- RANKL
- RANKL, Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand
- SCC, squamous cell carcinoma
- SIL, squamous intraepithelial neoplasia
- Treg cells
- Treg cells, regulatory T cells
- VIN, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
- cervical cancers
- dendritic cells
- tolerogenicity
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie A Demoulin
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | - Joan Somja
- Department of Pathology; University Hospital of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | - Anaëlle Duray
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | - Samuel Guénin
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | - Patrick Roncarati
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Michael F Herfs
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
| | - Pascale M Hubert
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology; GIGA-Cancer; University of Liège ; Liège, Belgium
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Demoulin S, Herfs M, Somja J, Roncarati P, Delvenne P, Hubert P. HMGB1 secretion during cervical carcinogenesis promotes the acquisition of a tolerogenic functionality by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Int J Cancer 2014; 137:345-58. [PMID: 25492101 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Acquisition of an impaired functionality by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) contributing to cancer progression has been documented in different types of cancers. In the present study, we postulate that molecules secreted by (pre)neoplastic epithelial cells of the genital tract (cervix/vulva) might attract pDCs but also modify their proper functionality, allowing these cells to initiate a tolerogenic response interfering with antitumor immunity. We demonstrated that pDCs are recruited during the cervical metaplasia-dysplasia-cancer sequence, through the action of their chemoattractant, chemerin. We showed that stimulated-pDCs exposed to cervical/vulvar tumor microenvironment display an altered phenotype. We also demonstrated that cervical/vulvar neoplastic keratinocytes inhibit the proper function of pDCs by decreasing their IFNα secretion in response to CpG oligonucleotides. In parallel, we observed that (pre)neoplastic areas of the cervix are infiltrated by FoxP3(+) Treg cells which colocalize with pDCs. Accordingly, pDCs cocultured with cervical/vulvar neoplastic keratinocytes have the capacity to induce a Treg cell differentiation from naïve CD4(+) T cells, which is in agreement with the development of a tolerogenic response. We identified HMGB1 as a soluble factor produced by neoplastic keratinocytes from the genital tract involved in pDCs functional alteration. Indeed, this molecule inhibited pDC maturation, decreased IFNα secretion following TLR9 stimulation and forced these cells to become tolerogenic. In contrast, inhibition of HMGB1 restored pDC phenotype. Our findings indicate that the use of inhibitory molecules notably directed against HMGB1 in cervical/vulvar (pre)neoplastic lesions might prevent alterations of pDCs functionality and represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to overcome immune tolerance in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Demoulin
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, GIGA-Cancer, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Michael Herfs
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, GIGA-Cancer, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Joan Somja
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Patrick Roncarati
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, GIGA-Cancer, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delvenne
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pascale Hubert
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, GIGA-Cancer, 4000, Liège, Belgium
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