1
|
Klein K, Kollmann S, Hiesinger A, List J, Kendler J, Klampfl T, Randhawa M, Trifinopoulos J, Maurer B, Grausenburger R, Bertram CA, Moriggl RH, Rülicke T, Mullighan CG, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Walter W, Hoermann G, Sexl V, Gotthardt D. A lineage-specific STAT5BN642H mouse model to study NK-cell leukemia. Blood 2024:blood.2023022655. [PMID: 38498036 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with T- and NK-cell neoplasms frequently have somatic STAT5B gain-of-function mutations. The most frequent STAT5B mutation is STAT5BN642H, which is known to drive murine T-cell leukemia although its role in NK-cell malignancies is unclear. Introduction of the STAT5BN642H mutation into human NK-cell lines enhances their potential to induce leukemia in mice. We have generated a mouse model that enables tissue-specific expression of STAT5BN642H and have selectively expressed the mutated STAT5B in hematopoietic cells (N642Hvav/+) or exclusively in NK cells (N642HNK/NK). All N642Hvav/+ mice rapidly develop an aggressive T-/NK T-cell leukemia, whereas N642HNK/NK mice display an indolent NK-large granular lymphocytic leukemia (NK-LGLL) that progresses to an aggressive leukemia with age. Samples from NK-cell leukemia patients have a distinctive transcriptional signature driven by mutant STAT5B, which overlaps with that of murine leukemic N642HNK/NK NK cells. We have generated the first reliable STAT5BN642H-driven pre-clinical mouse model that displays an indolent NK-LGLL progressing to aggressive NK-cell leukemia. This novel in vivo tool will enable us to explore the transition from an indolent to an aggressive disease and will thus permit the study of prevention and treatment options for NK-cell malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Klein
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Angela Hiesinger
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonatan Kendler
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mehak Randhawa
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Trifinopoulos
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Maurer
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Thomas Rülicke
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT pathway, which is one of the key pathways contributing to cancer. STAT3 regulates transcription downstream of many cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. In cancer, STAT3 is mainly described as a tumor promoter driving tumor cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis and aberrant activation of STAT3 is associated with poor prognosis. STAT3 is also an important driver of immune evasion. Among many other immunosuppressive mechanisms, STAT3 aids tumor cells to escape natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immune surveillance. NK cells are innate lymphocytes, which can directly kill malignant cells but also regulate adaptive immune responses and contribute to the composition of the tumor microenvironment. The inborn ability to lyse transformed cells renders NK cells an attractive tool for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an overview of the role of STAT3 in the dynamic interplay between NK cells and tumor cells. On the one hand, we summarize the current knowledge on how tumor cell-intrinsic STAT3 drives the evasion from NK cells. On the other hand, we describe the multiple functions of STAT3 in regulating NK-cell cytotoxicity, cytokine production and their anti-tumor responses in vivo. In light of the ongoing research on STAT3 inhibitors, we also discuss how targeting STAT3 would affect the two arms of STAT3-dependent regulation of NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Understanding the complexity of this interplay in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for future implementation of NK cell-based immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Zdársky
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- *Correspondence: Dagmar Stoiber,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Knab VM, Gotthardt D, Klein K, Grausenburger R, Heller G, Menzl I, Prinz D, Trifinopoulos J, List J, Fux D, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Sexl V. Triple-negative breast cancer cells rely on kinase-independent functions of CDK8 to evade NK-cell-mediated tumor surveillance. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:991. [PMID: 34689158 PMCID: PMC8542046 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04279-2] [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: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive malignant disease that is responsible for approximately 15% of breast cancers. The standard of care relies on surgery and chemotherapy but the prognosis is poor and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Recent in silico studies have revealed an inverse correlation between recurrence-free survival and the level of cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) in breast cancer patients. CDK8 is known to have a role in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, but its function in TNBC progression and immune cell recognition or escape has not been investigated. We have used a murine model of orthotopic breast cancer to study the tumor-intrinsic role of CDK8 in TNBC. Knockdown of CDK8 in TNBC cells impairs tumor regrowth upon surgical removal and prevents metastasis. In the absence of CDK8, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is impaired and immune-mediated tumor-cell clearance is facilitated. CDK8 drives EMT in TNBC cells in a kinase-independent manner. In vivo experiments have confirmed that CDK8 is a crucial regulator of NK-cell-mediated immune evasion in TNBC. The studies also show that CDK8 is involved in regulating the checkpoint inhibitor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). The CDK8-PD-L1 axis is found in mouse and human TNBC cells, underlining the importance of CDK8-driven immune cell evasion in these highly aggressive breast cancer cells. Our data link CDK8 to PD-L1 expression and provide a rationale for investigating the possibility of CDK8-directed therapy for TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Maria Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Grausenburger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingeborg Menzl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Prinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Trifinopoulos
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Fux
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Moser B, Edtmayer S, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Stoiber D. The Ups and Downs of STAT Inhibition in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1051. [PMID: 34440253 PMCID: PMC8392322 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a highly heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy. The management of AML is complex and despite impressive efforts into better understanding its underlying molecular mechanisms, survival rates in the elderly have not shown a substantial improvement over the past decades. This is particularly due to the heterogeneity of AML and the need for personalized approaches. Due to the crucial role of the deregulated JAK-STAT signaling in AML, selective targeting of the JAK-STAT pathway, particularly constitutively activated STAT3 and STAT5 and their associated upstream JAKs, is of great interest. This strategy has shown promising results in vitro and in vivo with several compounds having reached clinical trials. Here, we summarize recent FDA approvals and current potential clinically relevant inhibitors for AML patients targeting JAK and STAT proteins. This review underlines the need for detailed cytogenetic analysis and additional assessment of JAK-STAT pathway activation. It highlights the ongoing development of new JAK-STAT inhibitors with better disease specificity, which opens up new avenues for improved disease management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems, Austria; (B.M.); (S.E.); (A.W.-S.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Klein K, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Gotthardt D, Agerer B, Locker F, Grausenburger R, Knab VM, Bergthaler A, Sexl V. T Cell-Intrinsic CDK6 Is Dispensable for Anti-Viral and Anti-Tumor Responses In Vivo. Front Immunol 2021; 12:650977. [PMID: 34248938 PMCID: PMC8264666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.650977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) regulates the transition through the G1-phase of the cell cycle, but also acts as a transcriptional regulator. As such CDK6 regulates cell survival or cytokine secretion together with STATs, AP-1 or NF-κB. In the hematopoietic system, CDK6 regulates T cell development and promotes leukemia and lymphoma. CDK4/6 kinase inhibitors are FDA approved for treatment of breast cancer patients and have been reported to enhance T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. The involvement of CDK6 in T cell functions remains enigmatic. We here investigated the role of CDK6 in CD8+ T cells, using previously generated CDK6 knockout (Cdk6-/-) and kinase-dead mutant CDK6 (Cdk6K43M) knock-in mice. RNA-seq analysis indicated a role of CDK6 in T cell metabolism and interferon (IFN) signaling. To investigate whether these CDK6 functions are T cell-intrinsic, we generated a T cell-specific CDK6 knockout mouse model (Cdk6fl/fl CD4-Cre). T cell-intrinsic loss of CDK6 enhanced mitochondrial respiration in CD8+ T cells, but did not impact on cytotoxicity and production of the effector cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α by CD8+ T cells in vitro. Loss of CDK6 in peripheral T cells did not affect tumor surveillance of MC38 tumors in vivo. Similarly, while we observed an impaired induction of early responses to type I IFN in CDK6-deficient CD8+ T cells, we failed to observe any differences in the response to LCMV infection upon T cell-intrinsic loss of CDK6 in vivo. This apparent contradiction might at least partially be explained by the reduced expression of Socs1, a negative regulator of IFN signaling, in CDK6-deficient CD8+ T cells. Therefore, our data are in line with a dual role of CDK6 in IFN signaling; while CDK6 promotes early IFN responses, it is also involved in the induction of a negative feedback loop. These data assign CDK6 a role in the fine-tuning of cytokine responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Agerer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Locker
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Grausenburger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vanessa Maria Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bergthaler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Meissl K, Simonović N, Amenitsch L, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Lassnig C, Puga A, Vogl C, Poelzl A, Bosmann M, Dohnal A, Sexl V, Müller M, Strobl B. STAT1 Isoforms Differentially Regulate NK Cell Maturation and Anti-tumor Activity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2189. [PMID: 33042133 PMCID: PMC7519029 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are important components of the innate immune defense against infections and cancers. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) is a transcription factor that is essential for NK cell maturation and NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance. Two alternatively spliced isoforms of STAT1 exist: a full-length STAT1α and a C-terminally truncated STAT1β isoform. Aberrant splicing is frequently observed in cancer cells and several anti-cancer drugs interfere with the cellular splicing machinery. To investigate whether NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance is affected by a switch in STAT1 splicing, we made use of knock-in mice expressing either only the STAT1α (Stat1α/α) or the STAT1β (Stat1β/β ) isoform. NK cells from Stat1α/α mice matured normally and controlled transplanted tumor cells as efficiently as NK cells from wild-type mice. In contrast, NK cells from Stat1β/β mice showed impaired maturation and effector functions, albeit less severe than NK cells from mice that completely lack STAT1 (Stat1-/- ). Mechanistically, we show that NK cell maturation requires the presence of STAT1α in the niche rather than in NK cells themselves and that NK cell maturation depends on IFNγ signaling under homeostatic conditions. The impaired NK cell maturation in Stat1β/β mice was paralleled by decreased IL-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) surface levels on dendritic cells, macrophages and monocytes. Treatment of Stat1β/β mice with exogenous IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes rescued NK cell maturation but not their effector functions. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that STAT1 isoforms are not functionally redundant in regulating NK cell activity and that the absence of STAT1α severely impairs, but does not abolish, NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meissl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Natalija Simonović
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Amenitsch
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Lassnig
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Puga
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Vogl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Poelzl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Bosmann
- Pulmonary Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexander Dohnal
- Tumor Immunology, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Prinz D, Klein K, List J, Knab VM, Menzl I, Leidenfrost N, Heller G, Polić B, Putz EM, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Sexl V, Gotthardt D. Loss of NKG2D in murine NK cells leads to increased perforin production upon long-term stimulation with IL-2. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:880-890. [PMID: 32052406 PMCID: PMC7318224 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
NK cells are innate lymphocytes responsible for lysis of pathogen-infected and transformed cells. One of the major activating receptors required for target cell recognition is the NK group 2D (NKG2D) receptor. Numerous reports show the necessity of NKG2D for effective tumor immune surveillance. Further studies identified NKG2D as a key element allowing tumor immune escape. We here use a mouse model with restricted deletion of NKG2D in mature NKp46+ cells (NKG2DΔNK ). NKG2DΔNK NK cells develop normally, have an unaltered IFN-γ production but kill tumor cell lines expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) less efficiently. However, upon long-term stimulation with IL-2, NKG2D-deficient NK cells show increased levels of the lytic molecule perforin. Thus, our findings demonstrate a dual function of NKG2D for NK cell cytotoxicity; while NKG2D is a crucial trigger for cytotoxicity of tumor cells expressing activating ligands it is also capable to limit perforin production in IL-2 activated NK cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Prinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia List
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vanessa M Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingeborg Menzl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicoletta Leidenfrost
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Institute of Internal Medicine I, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bojan Polić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Eva Maria Putz
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Menzl I, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Sexl V. CDK8-Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2019; 12:E92. [PMID: 31248103 PMCID: PMC6630639 DOI: 10.3390/ph12020092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Improvements in cancer therapy frequently stem from the development of new small-molecule inhibitors, paralleled by the identification of biomarkers that can predict the treatment response. Recent evidence supports the idea that cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) may represent a potential drug target for breast and prostate cancer, although no CDK8 inhibitors have entered the clinics. As the available inhibitors have been recently reviewed, we focus on the biological functions of CDK8 and provide an overview of the complexity of CDK8-dependent signaling throughout evolution and CDK8-dependent effects that may open novel treatment avenues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Menzl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | | | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Simonović N, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Meissl K, Lassnig C, Reichart U, Kolbe T, Farlik M, Bock C, Sexl V, Müller M, Strobl B. NK Cells Require Cell-Extrinsic and -Intrinsic TYK2 for Full Functionality in Tumor Surveillance and Antibacterial Immunity. J Immunol 2019; 202:1724-1734. [PMID: 30718299 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a widely expressed receptor-associated kinase that is involved in signaling by a variety of cytokines with important immune regulatory activities. Absence of TYK2 in mice results in impaired NK cell maturation and antitumor activity, although underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using conditional ablation of TYK2 in NK cells we show that TYK2 is required for IFN-γ production by NK cells in response to IL-12 and for an efficient immune defense against Listeria monocytogenes Deletion of TYK2 in NK cells did not impact NK cell maturation and IFN-γ production upon NK cell activating receptor (actR) stimulation. Similarly, NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance was unimpaired upon deletion of TYK2 in NK cells only. In line with the previously reported maturation-associated Ifng promoter demethylation, the less mature phenotype of Tyk2-/- NK cells correlated with an increased CpG methylation at the Ifng locus. Treatment with the DNA hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine restored the ability of Tyk2-/- NK cells to produce IFN-γ upon actR but not upon IL-12 stimulation. NK cell maturation was dependent on the presence of TYK2 in dendritic cells and could be rescued in Tyk2-deficient mice by treatment with exogenous IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes. IL-15 treatment also rescued the in vitro cytotoxicity defect and the impaired actR-induced IFN-γ production of Tyk2-/- NK cells. Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, for a key role of TYK2 in the host environment in promoting NK cell maturation and antitumor activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalija Simonović
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Meissl
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Lassnig
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Reichart
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Kolbe
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Matthias Farlik
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Prinz D, Leidenfrost N, Schabbauer G, Dohnal A, Sexl V. Loss of JAK1 Drives Innate Immune Deficiency. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3108. [PMID: 30671064 PMCID: PMC6331462 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway is critical in tuning immune responses and its dysregulation is tightly associated with cancer and immune disorders. Disruption of interleukin (IL)-15/STAT5 signaling pathway due to the loss of IL-15 receptor chains, JAK3 or STAT5 leads to immune deficiencies with natural killer (NK) cell abnormalities. JAK1, together with JAK3 transmits signals downstream of IL-15, but the exact contribution of JAK1 to NK cell biology remains to be elucidated. To study the consequences of JAK1 deficiency in NK cells, we generated mice with conditional deletion of JAK1 in NKp46+ cells (Jak1 fl/fl Ncr1Cre). We show here that deletion of NK cell-intrinsic JAK1 significantly reduced NK cell numbers in the bone marrow and impaired their development. In line, we observed almost a complete loss of NK cells in the spleen, blood, and liver, proving a crucial role of JAK1 in peripheral NK cells. In line, Jak1 fl/+ Ncr1Cre mice showed significantly impaired NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance. Our data suggest that JAK2 is not able to compensate for the loss of JAK1 in NK cells. Importantly, conditional deletion of JAK2 in NKp46+ cells had no effect on peripheral NK cells revealing that NK cell-intrinsic JAK2 is dispensable for NK cell survival. In summary, we identified that loss of JAK1 in NK cells drives innate immune deficiency, whereas JAK2 deficiency leaves NK cell numbers and maturation unaltered. We thus propose that in contrast to currently used JAK1/JAK2 inhibitors, the use of JAK2-specific inhibitors would be advantageous for the patients by leaving NK cells intact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Prinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicoletta Leidenfrost
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Schabbauer
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Dohnal
- Tumor Immunology, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gotthardt D, Putz EM, Grundschober E, Prchal-Murphy M, Straka E, Kudweis P, Heller G, Bago-Horvath Z, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Cumaraswamy AA, Gunning PT, Strobl B, Müller M, Moriggl R, Stockmann C, Sexl V. STAT5 Is a Key Regulator in NK Cells and Acts as a Molecular Switch from Tumor Surveillance to Tumor Promotion. Cancer Discov 2016; 6:414-29. [PMID: 26873347 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-0732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Natural killer (NK) cells are tightly regulated by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and cannot survive in the absence of STAT5. We now report that STAT5-deficient NK cells can be rescued by overexpression of BCL2. Our experiments define STAT5 as a master regulator of NK-cell proliferation and lytic functions. Although NK cells are generally responsible for killing tumor cells, the rescued STAT5-deficient NK cells promote tumor formation by producing enhanced levels of the angiogenic factor VEGFA. The importance of VEGFA produced by NK cells was verified by experiments with a conditional knockout of VEGFA in NK cells. We show that STAT5 normally represses the transcription of VEGFA in NK cells, in both mice and humans. These findings reveal that STAT5-directed therapies may have negative effects: In addition to impairing NK-cell-mediated tumor surveillance, they may even promote tumor growth by enhancing angiogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE The importance of the immune system in effective cancer treatment is widely recognized. We show that the new signal interceptors targeting the JAK-STAT5 pathway may have dangerous side effects that must be taken into account in clinical trials: inhibiting JAK-STAT5 has the potential to promote tumor growth by enhancing NK-cell-mediated angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Gotthardt
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva M Putz
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Grundschober
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michaela Prchal-Murphy
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Straka
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Kudweis
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Abbarna A Cumaraswamy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick T Gunning
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Stockmann
- PARCC Paris - Centre de recherche Cardiovasculaire à l'HEGP Inserm - UMR 970, Paris, France
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Department for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Leitner NR, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Strobl B, Müller M. Tyrosine kinase 2 - Surveillant of tumours and bona fide oncogene. Cytokine 2015; 89:209-218. [PMID: 26631911 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK) family, which transduces cytokine and growth factor signalling. Analysis of TYK2 loss-of-function revealed its important role in immunity to infection, (auto-) immunity and (auto-) inflammation. TYK2-deficient patients unravelled high similarity between mice and men with respect to cellular signalling functions and basic immunology. Genome-wide association studies link TYK2 to several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as carcinogenesis. Due to its cytokine signalling functions TYK2 was found to be essential in tumour surveillance. Lately TYK2 activating mutants and fusion proteins were detected in patients diagnosed with leukaemic diseases suggesting that TYK2 is a potent oncogene. Here we review the cell intrinsic and extrinsic functions of TYK2 in the characteristics preventing and enabling carcinogenesis. In addition we describe an unexpected function of kinase-inactive TYK2 in tumour rejection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Leitner
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Witalisz-Siepracka A, Prchal-Murphy M, Bednarik K, Meissl K, Putz EM, Gotthardt D, Sexl V, Strobl B, Müller M. ID: 77. Cytokine 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.08.107] [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: 10/23/2022]
|
14
|
Prchal-Murphy M, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Bednarik KT, Putz EM, Gotthardt D, Meissl K, Sexl V, Müller M, Strobl B. In vivo tumor surveillance by NK cells requires TYK2 but not TYK2 kinase activity. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1047579. [PMID: 26451322 PMCID: PMC4589058 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1047579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a Janus kinase (JAK) that is crucially involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis and defense against infection. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in TYK2-deficient (Tyk2−/−) mice is severely reduced, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using Tyk2−/− mice and mice expressing a kinase-inactive version of TYK2 (Tyk2K923E), we show that NK cell function is partly independent of the enzymatic activity of TYK2. Tyk2−/− and Tyk2K923E NK cells develop normally in the bone marrow, but the maturation of splenic Tyk2−/− NK cells (and to a lesser extent of Tyk2K923E NK cells) is impaired. In contrast, the production of interferon γ (IFNγ) in response to interleukin 12 (IL-12) or to stimulation through NK cell-activating receptors strictly depends on the presence of enzymatically active TYK2. The cytotoxic activity of Tyk2K923E NK cells against a range of target cells in vitro is higher than that of Tyk2−/− NK cells. Consistently, Tyk2K923E mice control the growth of NK cell-targeted tumors significantly better than TYK2-deficient mice, showing the physiological relevance of the finding. Inhibitors of TYK2's kinase activity are being developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers, but their effects on tumor immune surveillance have not been investigated. Our finding that TYK2 has kinase-independent functions in vivo suggests that such inhibitors will leave NK cell mediated tumor surveillance largely intact and that they will be suitable for use in cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Prchal-Murphy
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria ; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Karoline T Bednarik
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Maria Putz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Meissl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria ; Biomodels Austria; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics; University of Veterinary Medicine ; Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|