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Celus W, Oliveira AI, Rivis S, Van Acker HH, Landeloos E, Serneels J, Cafarello ST, Van Herck Y, Mastrantonio R, Köhler A, Garg AD, Flamand V, Tamagnone L, Marine JC, Matteo MD, Costa BM, Bechter O, Mazzone M. Plexin-A4 Mediates Cytotoxic T-cell Trafficking and Exclusion in Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 10:126-141. [PMID: 34815265 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T cell (CTL) infiltration of the tumor carries the potential to limit cancer progression, but their exclusion by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment hampers the efficiency of immunotherapy. Here, we show that expression of the axon guidance molecule Plexin-A4 (Plxna4) in CTLs, especially in effector/memory CD8+ T cells, is induced upon T-cell activation, sustained in the circulation, but reduced when entering the tumor bed. Therefore, we deleted Plxna4 and observed that Plxna4-deficient CTLs acquired improved homing capacity to the lymph nodes and to the tumor, as well as increased proliferation, both achieved through enhanced Rac1 activation. Mice with stromal or hematopoietic Plxna4 deletion exhibited enhanced CTL infiltration and impaired tumor growth. In a melanoma model, adoptive transfer of CTLs lacking Plxna4 prolonged survival and improved therapeutic outcome, which was even stronger when combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment. PLXNA4 abundance in circulating CTLs was augmented in melanoma patients versus healthy volunteers but decreased after the first cycle of anti-PD-1, alone or in combination with anti-cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4), in those patients showing complete or partial response to the treatment. Altogether, our data suggest that Plxna4 acts as a "checkpoint," negatively regulating CTL migration and proliferation through cell-autonomous mechanisms independent of the interaction with host-derived Plxna4 ligands, semaphorins. These findings pave the way toward Plxna4-centric immunotherapies and propose Plxna4 detection in circulating CTLs as a potential way to monitor the response to immune checkpoint blockade in patients with metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ward Celus
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana I Oliveira
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Silvia Rivis
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ewout Landeloos
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jens Serneels
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Trusso Cafarello
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yannick Van Herck
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roberta Mastrantonio
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaud Köhler
- Institute for Medical Immunology, ULB-Center for Research in Immunology, Gosselies, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Abhishek D Garg
- Laboratory of Cell Stress & Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Véronique Flamand
- Institute for Medical Immunology, ULB-Center for Research in Immunology, Gosselies, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Luca Tamagnone
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Di Matteo
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Oliver Bechter
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Van Acker HH, Ma S, Scolaro T, Kaech SM, Mazzone M. How metabolism bridles cytotoxic CD8 + T cells through epigenetic modifications. Trends Immunol 2021; 42:401-417. [PMID: 33867272 PMCID: PMC9681987 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the direct competition for metabolic resources between cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, the latter are bound to lose out. These effector lymphocytes are therefore rendered exhausted or dysfunctional. Emerging insights into the mechanisms of T cell unresponsiveness in the tumor microenvironment (TME) point towards epigenetic mechanisms as crucial regulatory factors. In this review, we discuss the effects of characteristic components of the TME, i.e. glucose/amino acid dearth with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), on DNA methylation and histone modifications in CD8+ T cells. We then take a closer look at the translational potential of epigenetic interventions that aim to improve current immunotherapeutic strategies, including the adoptive transfer of T cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Shixin Ma
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Tommaso Scolaro
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Susan M Kaech
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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3
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Van Acker HH, Van Acker ZP, Versteven M, Ponsaerts P, Pende D, Berneman ZN, Anguille S, Van Tendeloo VF, Smits EL. CD56 Homodimerization and Participation in Anti-Tumor Immune Effector Cell Functioning: A Role for Interleukin-15. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1029. [PMID: 31336622 PMCID: PMC6678613 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11071029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A particularly interesting marker to identify anti-tumor immune cells is the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), also known as cluster of differentiation (CD)56. Namely, hematopoietic expression of CD56 seems to be confined to powerful effector immune cells. Here, we sought to elucidate its role on various killer immune cells. First, we identified the high motility NCAM-120 molecule to be the main isoform expressed by immune cells. Next, through neutralization of surface CD56, we were able to (1) demonstrate the direct involvement of CD56 in tumor cell lysis exerted by CD56-expressing killer cells, such as natural killer cells, gamma delta (γδ) T cells, and interleukin (IL)-15-cultured dendritic cells (DCs), and (2) reveal a putative crosstalk mechanism between IL-15 DCs and CD8 T cells, suggesting CD56 as a co-stimulatory molecule in their cell-to-cell contact. Moreover, by means of a proximity ligation assay, we visualized the CD56 homophilic interaction among cancer cells and between immune cells and cancer cells. Finally, by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway, we showed that IL-15 stimulation directly led to CD56 upregulation. In conclusion, these results underscore the previously neglected importance of CD56 expression on immune cells, benefiting current and future immune therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zoë P Van Acker
- Laboratory of Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Membrane Trafficking, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Versteven
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Ponsaerts
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Experimental Cell Transplantation Group (ECTG), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Daniela Pende
- Immunology Laboratory, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Hematology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Hematology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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4
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Timmers M, Roex G, Wang Y, Campillo-Davo D, Van Tendeloo VFI, Chu Y, Berneman ZN, Luo F, Van Acker HH, Anguille S. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: Beyond B Cell Maturation Antigen. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1613. [PMID: 31379824 PMCID: PMC6646459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [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: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell therapy is a rapidly emerging immunotherapeutic approach that is revolutionizing cancer treatment. The impressive clinical results obtained with CAR-T cell therapy in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma have fueled the development of CAR-T cells targeting other malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). The field of CAR-T cell therapy for MM is still in its infancy, but remains promising. To date, most studies have been performed with B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted CARs, for which high response rates have been obtained in early-phase clinical trials. However, responses are usually temporary, and relapses have frequently been observed. One of the major reasons for relapse is the loss or downregulation of BCMA expression following CAR-T therapy. This has fostered a search for alternative target antigens that are expressed on the MM cell surface. In this review, we provide an overview of myeloma target antigens other than BCMA that are currently being evaluated in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke Timmers
- Division of Hematology, Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gils Roex
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yuedi Wang
- Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Diana Campillo-Davo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F I Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yiwei Chu
- Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Division of Hematology, Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Feifei Luo
- Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Division of Hematology, Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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5
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Van Acker HH, Versteven M, Lichtenegger FS, Roex G, Campillo-Davo D, Lion E, Subklewe M, Van Tendeloo VF, Berneman ZN, Anguille S. Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E579. [PMID: 31035598 PMCID: PMC6572115 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [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: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer characterized by the uncontrolled clonal proliferation of myeloid hematopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow. The outcome of AML is poor, with five-year overall survival rates of less than 10% for the predominant group of patients older than 65 years. One of the main reasons for this poor outcome is that the majority of AML patients will relapse, even after they have attained complete remission by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, supplemented with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients at high risk of relapse, is still the cornerstone of current AML treatment. Both therapies are, however, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These observations illustrate the need for more effective and less toxic treatment options, especially in elderly AML and have fostered the development of novel immune-based strategies to treat AML. One of these strategies involves the use of a special type of immune cells, the dendritic cells (DCs). As central orchestrators of the immune system, DCs are key to the induction of anti-leukemia immunity. In this review, we provide an update of the clinical experience that has been obtained so far with this form of immunotherapy in patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Maarten Versteven
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Felix S Lichtenegger
- Department of Medicine III, LMU Munich, University Hospital, 80799 Munich, Germany.
| | - Gils Roex
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Diana Campillo-Davo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Eva Lion
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marion Subklewe
- Department of Medicine III, LMU Munich, University Hospital, 80799 Munich, Germany.
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Division of Hematology and Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Division of Hematology and Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.
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6
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Acker HHV, Versteven M, Reu HD, Ponsaerts P, Berneman ZN, Tendeloo VFV, Smits EL. Abstract B192: CD56 participation in immune effector cell activation and tumor cell eradication: A role for interleukin-15. Cancer Immunol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/2326-6074.cricimteatiaacr18-b192] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Oncoimmunologists are in a constant search for more effective immunotherapeutic treatments, helping to cure cancer. In this respect, immune cell participation is a key issue. A particularly interesting marker to identify antitumor immune cells is the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), known as CD56. Namely, hematopoietic expression of CD56 seems to be confined to activated immune cells exhibiting some level of cytotoxic properties (Van Acker et al., Frontiers in Immunology 2017). Unfortunately, the current knowledge on the expression and functional role of CD56 is very fragmented. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the role of CD56 expression on various killer immune cells. First, we identified the high motility NCAM-120 isoform to be the main subset on immune cells. Next, through neutralization of surface CD56, we were able to demonstrate for the first time a direct involvement of CD56 in tumor cell lysis exerted by CD56-expressing killer cells such as natural killer cells, gamma delta (γδ) T-cells and interleukin (IL)-15-cultured dendritic cells (DCs). We also detected a putative crosstalk mechanism, suggesting CD56 as a co-stimulatory molecule in the interaction between IL-15 DCs and CD8 T-cells. Finally, by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT pathway, with respectively trametinib and afuresertib, we confirmed our hypothesis that IL-15 stimulation directly leads to CD56 upregulation via the recruitment of shc, binding a phosphotyrosine residue on the IL-2/15Rβ chain. In conclusion, these results underscore the previously neglected importance of CD56 expression on immune cells, benefiting current and future immune therapeutic options.
Citation Format: Heleen H. Van Acker, Maarten Versteven, Hans De Reu, Peter Ponsaerts, Zwi N Berneman, Viggo F. Van Tendeloo, Evelien L. Smits. CD56 participation in immune effector cell activation and tumor cell eradication: A role for interleukin-15 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B192.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H. Van Acker
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Maarten Versteven
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Hans De Reu
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Peter Ponsaerts
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | | | - Evelien L. Smits
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
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7
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van Ee TJ, Van Acker HH, van Oorschot TG, Van Tendeloo VF, Smits EL, Bakdash G, Schreibelt G, de Vries IJM. BDCA1+CD14+ Immunosuppressive Cells in Cancer, a Potential Target? Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:E65. [PMID: 30235890 PMCID: PMC6161086 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6030065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines show promising effects in cancer immunotherapy. However, their efficacy is affected by a number of factors, including (1) the quality of the DC vaccine and (2) tumor immune evasion. The recently characterized BDCA1+CD14+ immunosuppressive cells combine both aspects; their presence in DC vaccines may directly hamper vaccine efficacy, whereas, in patients, BDCA1+CD14+ cells may suppress the induced immune response in an antigen-specific manner systemically and at the tumor site. We hypothesize that BDCA1+CD14+ cells are present in a broad spectrum of cancers and demand further investigation to reveal treatment opportunities and/or improvement for DC vaccines. In this review, we summarize the findings on BDCA1+CD14+ cells in solid cancers. In addition, we evaluate the presence of BDCA1+CD14+ cells in leukemic cancers. Preliminary results suggest that the presence of BDCA1+CD14+ cells correlates with clinical features of acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. Future research focusing on the differentiation from monocytes towards BDCA1+CD14+ cells could reveal more about their cell biology and clinical significance. Targeting these cells in cancer patients may improve the outcome of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J van Ee
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
| | - Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
| | - Tom G van Oorschot
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
| | - Ghaith Bakdash
- Allergic Inflammation Discovery Performance Unit, Respiratory Therapy Area, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage SG1 2NY, UK.
| | - Gerty Schreibelt
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
| | - I Jolanda M de Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Oncology; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
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8
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Van Acker HH, Campillo-Davo D, Roex G, Versteven M, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. The role of the common gamma-chain family cytokines in γδ T cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2018; 41:54-64. [PMID: 29773448 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family, comprising interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21, are vital with respect to organizing and sustaining healthy immune cell functions. Supporting the anti-cancer immune response, these cytokines inspire great interest for their use as vaccine adjuvants and cancer immunotherapies. It is against this background that gamma delta (γδ) T cells, as special-force soldiers and natural contributors of the tumor immunosurveillance, also received a lot of attention the last decade. As γδ T cell-based cancer trials are coming of age, this present review focusses on the effects of the different cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family on γδ T cells with respect to boosting γδ T cells as a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. This review also gathers data that IL-15 in particular exhibits key features for augmenting the anti-tumor activity of effector killer γδ T cells whilst overcoming the myriad of immune escape mechanisms used by cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Diana Campillo-Davo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gils Roex
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten Versteven
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
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9
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Van Acker HH, Anguille S, De Reu H, Berneman ZN, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. Interleukin-15-Cultured Dendritic Cells Enhance Anti-Tumor Gamma Delta T Cell Functions through IL-15 Secretion. Front Immunol 2018; 9:658. [PMID: 29692776 PMCID: PMC5902500 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00658] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination can be an effective post-remission therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Yet, current DC vaccines do not encompass the ideal stimulatory triggers for innate gamma delta (γδ) T cell anti-tumor activity. Promoting type 1 cytotoxic γδ T cells in patients with AML is, however, most interesting, considering these unconventional T cells are primed for rapid function and exert meaningful control over AML. In this work, we demonstrate that interleukin (IL)-15 DCs have the capacity to enhance the anti-tumoral functions of γδ T cells. IL-15 DCs of healthy donors and of AML patients in remission induce the upregulation of cytotoxicity-associated and co-stimulatory molecules on the γδ T cell surface, but not of co-inhibitory molecules, incite γδ T cell proliferation and stimulate their interferon-γ production in the presence of blood cancer cells and phosphoantigens. Moreover, the innate cytotoxic capacity of γδ T cells is significantly enhanced upon interaction with IL-15 DCs, both towards leukemic cell lines and allogeneic primary AML blasts. Finally, we address soluble IL-15 secreted by IL-15 DCs as the main mechanism behind the IL-15 DC-mediated γδ T cell activation. These results indicate that the application of IL-15-secreting DC subsets could render DC-based anti-cancer vaccines more effective through, among others, the involvement of γδ T cells in the anti-leukemic immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Division of Hematology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Hans De Reu
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Division of Hematology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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10
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Van Acker HH, Beretta O, Anguille S, De Caluwé L, Papagna A, Van den Bergh JM, Willemen Y, Goossens H, Berneman ZN, Van Tendeloo VF, Smits EL, Foti M, Lion E. Desirable cytolytic immune effector cell recruitment by interleukin-15 dendritic cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:13652-13665. [PMID: 28099143 PMCID: PMC5355127 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Success of dendritic cell (DC) therapy in treating malignancies is depending on the DC capacity to attract immune effector cells, considering their reciprocal crosstalk is partially regulated by cell-contact-dependent mechanisms. Although critical for therapeutic efficacy, immune cell recruitment is a largely overlooked aspect regarding optimization of DC vaccination. In this paper we have made a head-to-head comparison of interleukin (IL)-15-cultured DCs and conventional IL-4-cultured DCs with regard to their proficiency in the recruitment of (innate) immune effector cells. Here, we demonstrate that IL-4 DCs are suboptimal in attracting effector lymphocytes, while IL15 DCs provide a favorable chemokine milieu for recruiting CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. Gene expression analysis revealed that IL-15 DCs exhibit a high expression of chemokines involved in antitumor immune effector cell attraction, while IL-4 DCs display a more immunoregulatory profile characterized by the expression of Th2 and regulatory T cell-attracting chemokines. This is confirmed by functional data indicating an enhanced recruitment of granzyme B+ effector lymphocytes by IL-15 DCs, as compared to IL-4 DCs, and subsequent superior killing of tumor cells by the migrated lymphocytes. Elevated CCL4 gene expression in IL-15 DCs and lowered CCR5 expression on both migrated γδ T cells and NK cells, led to validation of increased CCL4 secretion by IL15 DCs. Moreover, neutralization of CCR5 prior to migration resulted in an important inhibition of γδ T cell and NK cell recruitment by IL-15 DCs. These findings further underscore the strong immunotherapeutic potential of IL-15 DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ottavio Beretta
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Lien De Caluwé
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Angela Papagna
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Johan M Van den Bergh
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yannick Willemen
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herman Goossens
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maria Foti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Eva Lion
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
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11
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Van Acker HH, Capsomidis A, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. CD56 in the Immune System: More Than a Marker for Cytotoxicity? Front Immunol 2017; 8:892. [PMID: 28791027 PMCID: PMC5522883 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [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: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past years, the phenotypic and functional boundaries distinguishing the main cell subsets of the immune system have become increasingly blurred. In this respect, CD56 (also known as neural cell adhesion molecule) is a very good example. CD56 is the archetypal phenotypic marker of natural killer cells but can actually be expressed by many more immune cells, including alpha beta T cells, gamma delta T cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes. Common to all these CD56-expressing cell types are strong immunostimulatory effector functions, including T helper 1 cytokine production and an efficient cytotoxic capacity. Interestingly, both numerical and functional deficiencies and phenotypic alterations of the CD56+ immune cell fraction have been reported in patients with various infectious, autoimmune, or malignant diseases. In this review, we will discuss our current knowledge on the expression and function of CD56 in the hematopoietic system, both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anna Capsomidis
- Cancer Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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12
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Van Acker HH, Anguille S, Willemen Y, Van den Bergh JM, Berneman ZN, Lion E, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. Interleukin-15 enhances the proliferation, stimulatory phenotype, and antitumor effector functions of human gamma delta T cells. J Hematol Oncol 2016; 9:101. [PMID: 27686372 PMCID: PMC5041439 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-016-0329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adoptive immunotherapy is gaining momentum to fight malignancies, whereby γδ T cells have received recent attention as an alternative cell source as to natural killer cells and αβ T cells. The advent of γδ T cells is largely due to their ability to recognize and target tumor cells using both innate characteristic and T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated mechanisms, their capacity to enhance the generation of antigen-specific T cell responses, and their potential to be used in an autologous or allogeneic setting. Methods In this study, we explored the beneficial effect of the immunostimulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-15 on purified γδ T cells and its use as a stimulatory signal in the ex vivo expansion of γδ T cells for adoptive transfer. The expansion protocol was validated both with immune cells of healthy individuals and acute myeloid leukemia patients. Results We report that the addition of IL-15 to γδ T cell cultures results in a more activated phenotype, a higher proliferative capacity, a more pronounced T helper 1 polarization, and an increased cytotoxic capacity of γδ T cells. Moreover γδ T cell expansion starting with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals and acute myeloid leukemia patients is boosted in the presence of IL-15, whereby the antitumor properties of the γδ T cells are strengthened as well. Conclusions Our results support the rationale to explore the use of IL-15 in clinical adoptive therapy protocols exploiting γδ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Yannick Willemen
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan M Van den Bergh
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zwi N Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Eva Lion
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.,Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
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13
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van Beek JJP, Gorris MAJ, Sköld AE, Hatipoglu I, Van Acker HH, Smits EL, de Vries IJM, Bakdash G. Human blood myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells cross activate each other and synergize in inducing NK cell cytotoxicity. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1227902. [PMID: 27853652 PMCID: PMC5087293 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1227902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Human blood dendritic cells (DCs) hold great potential for use in anticancer immunotherapies. CD1c+ myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) have been successfully utilized in clinical vaccination trials against melanoma. We hypothesize that combining both DC subsets in a single vaccine can further improve vaccine efficacy. Here, we have determined the potential synergy between the two subsets in vitro on the level of maturation, cytokine expression, and effector cell induction. Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation of CD1c+ DCs induced cross-activation of immature pDCs and vice versa. When both subsets were stimulated together using TLR agonists, CD86 expression on pDCs was increased and higher levels of interferon (IFN)-α were produced by DC co-cultures. Although the two subsets did not display any synergistic effect on naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cell polarization, CD1c+ DCs and pDCs were able to complement each other's induction of other immune effector cells. The mere presence of pDCs in DC co-cultures promoted plasma cell differentiation from activated autologous B cells. Similarly, CD1c+ DCs, alone or in co-cultures, induced high levels of IFN-γ from allogeneic peripheral blood lymphocytes or activated autologous natural killer (NK) cells. Both CD1c+ DCs and pDCs could enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, and interestingly DC co-cultures further enhanced NK cell-mediated killing of an NK-resistant tumor cell line. These results indicate that co-application of human blood DC subsets could render DC-based anticancer vaccines more efficacious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper J P van Beek
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mark A J Gorris
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Annette E Sköld
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ibrahim Hatipoglu
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - I Jolanda M de Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ghaith Bakdash
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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14
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Van Acker HH, Anguille S, Willemen Y, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. Bisphosphonates for cancer treatment: Mechanisms of action and lessons from clinical trials. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 158:24-40. [PMID: 26617219 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence points toward an important anti-cancer effect of bisphosphonates, a group of inexpensive, safe, potent, and long-term stable pharmacologicals that are widely used as osteoporosis drugs. To date, they are already used in the prevention of complications of bone metastases. Because the bisphosphonates can also reduce mortality in among other multiple myeloma, breast, and prostate cancer patients, they are now thoroughly studied in oncology. In particular, the more potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have the potential to improve prognosis. The first part of this review will elaborate on the direct and indirect anti-tumoral effects of bisphosphonates, including induction of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell adhesion and invasion, anti-angiogenesis, synergism with anti-neoplastic drugs, and enhancement of immune surveillance (e.g., through activation of γδ T cells and targeting macrophages). In the second part, we shed light on the current clinical position of bisphosphonates in the treatment of hematological and solid malignancies, as well as on ongoing and completed clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effect of bisphosphonates in cancer. Based on these recent data, the role of bisphosphonates is expected to further expand in the near future outside the field of osteoporosis and to open up new avenues in the treatment of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Yannick Willemen
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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15
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Anguille S, Smits EL, Bryant C, Van Acker HH, Goossens H, Lion E, Fromm PD, Hart DN, Van Tendeloo VF, Berneman ZN. Dendritic Cells as Pharmacological Tools for Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:731-53. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.009456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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16
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Willemen Y, Van den Bergh JMJ, Lion E, Anguille S, Roelandts VAE, Van Acker HH, Heynderickx SDI, Stein BMH, Peeters M, Figdor CG, Van Tendeloo VFI, de Vries IJ, Adema GJ, Berneman ZN, Smits ELJ. Engineering monocyte-derived dendritic cells to secrete interferon-α enhances their ability to promote adaptive and innate anti-tumor immune effector functions. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:831-42. [PMID: 25863943 PMCID: PMC11028489 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1688-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination has demonstrated potential in clinical trials as a new effective cancer treatment, but objective and durable clinical responses are confined to a minority of patients. Interferon (IFN)-α, a type-I IFN, can bolster anti-tumor immunity by restoring or increasing the function of DCs, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Moreover, type-I IFN signaling on DCs was found to be essential in mice for tumor rejection by the innate and adaptive immune system. Targeted delivery of IFN-α by DCs to immune cells could boost the generation of anti-tumor immunity, while avoiding the side effects frequently associated with systemic administration. Naturally circulating plasmacytoid DCs, major producers of type-I IFN, were already shown capable of inducing tumor antigen-specific T cell responses in cancer patients without severe toxicity, but their limited number complicates their use in cancer vaccination. In the present work, we hypothesized that engineering easily generated human monocyte-derived mature DCs to secrete IFN-α using mRNA electroporation enhances their ability to promote adaptive and innate anti-tumor immunity. Our results show that IFN-α mRNA electroporation of DCs significantly increases the stimulation of tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell as well as anti-tumor NK cell effector functions in vitro through high levels of IFN-α secretion. Altogether, our findings mark IFN-α mRNA-electroporated DCs as potent inducers of both adaptive and innate anti-tumor immunity and pave the way for clinical trial evaluation in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Willemen
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, 2610, Belgium,
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17
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Anguille S, Van Acker HH, Van den Bergh J, Willemen Y, Goossens H, Van Tendeloo VF, Smits EL, Berneman ZN, Lion E. Interleukin-15 Dendritic Cells Harness NK Cell Cytotoxic Effector Function in a Contact- and IL-15-Dependent Manner. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123340. [PMID: 25951230 PMCID: PMC4423923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The contribution of natural killer (NK) cells to the treatment efficacy of dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines is being increasingly recognized. Much current efforts to optimize this form of immunotherapy are therefore geared towards harnessing the NK cell-stimulatory ability of DCs. In this study, we investigated whether generation of human monocyte-derived DCs with interleukin (IL)-15 followed by activation with a Toll-like receptor stimulus endows these DCs, commonly referred to as "IL-15 DCs", with the capacity to stimulate NK cells. In a head-to-head comparison with "IL-4 DCs" used routinely for clinical studies, IL-15 DCs were found to induce a more activated, cytotoxic effector phenotype in NK cells, in particular in the CD56bright NK cell subset. With the exception of GM-CSF, no significant enhancement of cytokine/chemokine secretion was observed following co-culture of NK cells with IL-15 DCs. IL-15 DCs, but not IL-4 DCs, promoted NK cell tumoricidal activity towards both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant targets. This effect was found to require cell-to-cell contact and to be mediated by DC surface-bound IL-15. This study shows that DCs can express a membrane-bound form of IL-15 through which they enhance NK cell cytotoxic function. The observed lack of membrane-bound IL-15 on "gold-standard" IL-4 DCs and their consequent inability to effectively promote NK cell cytotoxicity may have important implications for the future design of DC-based cancer vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
- Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Heleen H. Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Van den Bergh
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yannick Willemen
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herman Goossens
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F. Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L. Smits
- Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zwi N. Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
- Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Eva Lion
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
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18
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Van Acker HH, Anguille S, Van Tendeloo VF, Lion E. Empowering gamma delta T cells with antitumor immunity by dendritic cell-based immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1021538. [PMID: 26405575 PMCID: PMC4570126 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1021538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma delta (γδ) T cells are the all-rounders of our immune-system with their major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytotoxicity, capacity to secrete immunosti-mulatory cytokines and ability to promote the generation of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses. Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine therapy has the prospective to harness these unique features of the γδ T cells in the fight against cancer. In this review, we will discuss our current knowledge on DC-mediated γδ T cell activation and related opportunities for tumor immunologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR); Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO); Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; University of Antwerp ; Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Anguille
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR); Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO); Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; University of Antwerp ; Antwerp, Belgium ; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine; Antwerp University Hospital ; Edegem, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR); Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO); Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; University of Antwerp ; Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eva Lion
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR); Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO); Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; University of Antwerp ; Antwerp, Belgium ; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine; Antwerp University Hospital ; Edegem, Belgium
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19
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Anguille S, Lion E, Van den Bergh J, Van Acker HH, Willemen Y, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF, Berneman ZN. Interleukin-15 dendritic cells as vaccine candidates for cancer immunotherapy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:1956-61. [PMID: 23778748 DOI: 10.4161/hv.25373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to their professional antigen-presenting capacity and unique potential to induce tumor antigen-specific T cell immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) have attracted much interest over the past decades for therapeutic vaccination against cancer. Clinical trials have shown that the use of tumor antigen-loaded DCs in cancer patients is safe and that it has the potential to induce anti-tumor immunity which, in some cases, culminates in striking clinical responses. Unfortunately, in a considerable number of patients, DC vaccination is unable to mount effective anti-tumor immune responses and, if it does so, the resultant immunity is often insufficient to translate into tangible clinical benefit. This underscores the necessity to re-design and optimize the current procedures for DC vaccine manufacturing. A new generation of DC vaccines with improved potency has now become available for clinical use as a result of extensive pre-clinical research. One of the promising next-generation DC vaccine candidates are interleukin (IL)-15-differentiated DCs. In this commentary, we will compile the research data that have been obtained by our group and other groups with these so-called IL-15 DCs and summarize the evidence supporting the implementation of IL-15 DCs in DC-based cancer vaccination regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Anguille
- Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute; Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR); University of Antwerp; Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine; Antwerp University Hospital; Antwerp, Belgium
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