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Gnanaprakasam JNR, Kushwaha B, Liu L, Chen X, Kang S, Wang T, Cassel TA, Adams CM, Higashi RM, Scott DA, Xin G, Li Z, Yang J, Lane AN, Fan TWM, Zhang J, Wang R. Asparagine restriction enhances CD8 + T cell metabolic fitness and antitumoral functionality through an NRF2-dependent stress response. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1423-1439. [PMID: 37550596 PMCID: PMC10447245 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00856-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Robust and effective T cell immune surveillance and cancer immunotherapy require proper allocation of metabolic resources to sustain energetically costly processes, including growth and cytokine production. Here, we show that asparagine (Asn) restriction on CD8+ T cells exerted opposing effects during activation (early phase) and differentiation (late phase) following T cell activation. Asn restriction suppressed activation and cell cycle entry in the early phase while rapidly engaging the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-dependent stress response, conferring robust proliferation and effector function on CD8+ T cells during differentiation. Mechanistically, NRF2 activation in CD8+ T cells conferred by Asn restriction rewired the metabolic program by reducing the overall glucose and glutamine consumption but increasing intracellular nucleotides to promote proliferation. Accordingly, Asn restriction or NRF2 activation potentiated the T cell-mediated antitumoral response in preclinical animal models, suggesting that Asn restriction is a promising and clinically relevant strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Our study revealed Asn as a critical metabolic node in directing the stress signaling to shape T cell metabolic fitness and effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bhavana Kushwaha
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lingling Liu
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xuyong Chen
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Siwen Kang
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tingting Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Teresa A Cassel
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Christopher M Adams
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Richard M Higashi
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - David A Scott
- Cancer Metabolism Core, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gang Xin
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zihai Li
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew N Lane
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Teresa W-M Fan
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Ji Zhang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Wang T, Gnanaprakasam JNR, Chen X, Kang S, Xu X, Sun H, Liu L, Rodgers H, Miller E, Cassel TA, Sun Q, Vicente-Muñoz S, Warmoes MO, Lin P, Piedra-Quintero ZL, Guerau-de-Arellano M, Cassady KA, Zheng SG, Yang J, Lane AN, Song X, Fan TWM, Wang R. Inosine is an alternative carbon source for CD8 +-T-cell function under glucose restriction. Nat Metab 2020; 2:635-647. [PMID: 32694789 PMCID: PMC7371628 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-020-0219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
T cells undergo metabolic rewiring to meet their bioenergetic, biosynthetic and redox demands following antigen stimulation. To fulfil these needs, effector T cells must adapt to fluctuations in environmental nutrient levels at sites of infection and inflammation. Here, we show that effector T cells can utilize inosine, as an alternative substrate, to support cell growth and function in the absence of glucose in vitro. T cells metabolize inosine into hypoxanthine and phosphorylated ribose by purine nucleoside phosphorylase. We demonstrate that the ribose subunit of inosine can enter into central metabolic pathways to provide ATP and biosynthetic precursors, and that cancer cells display diverse capacities to utilize inosine as a carbon source. Moreover, the supplementation with inosine enhances the anti-tumour efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T-cell transfer in solid tumours that are defective in metabolizing inosine, reflecting the capability of inosine to relieve tumour-imposed metabolic restrictions on T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xuyong Chen
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Siwen Kang
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xuequn Xu
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hua Sun
- The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lingling Liu
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hayley Rodgers
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ethan Miller
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Teresa A Cassel
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sara Vicente-Muñoz
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Marc O Warmoes
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Penghui Lin
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Zayda Lizbeth Piedra-Quintero
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mireia Guerau-de-Arellano
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kevin A Cassady
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Song Guo Zheng
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State University of Medicine and Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew N Lane
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Xiaotong Song
- The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Icell Kealex Therapeutics, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Teresa W-M Fan
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Gnanaprakasam JNR, Estrada-Muñiz E, Vega L. The antineoplastic agent anacardic 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid produces immunomodulation in vivo via the activation of MAPKs. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 376:82-92. [PMID: 31129177 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Anacardic 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid (6SA) is the active component of Amphipterygium adstringens, a plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria and vascular diseases and as an anti-bacterial and immune-modulatory agent. However, the effect of 6SA on the immune system remains unclear. In this study, we examined the immune-stimulatory activity of 6SA in 6-8-week-old female BALB/c mice. We found that treatment with 2 mg/kg of 6SA increased the proportions of macrophages after 7 and 14 days of treatment and of natural killer (NK) cells after 14 days of treatment in circulating blood. In lymph nodes, treatment with 6SA for 14 days increased the number of macrophages. In addition, 6SA increases in the systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-6 and IL-1β and of nitric oxide (NO). We observed an increase in the secretion of Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor (GM-CSF) that could explain the increase in the proportion of macrophages. Moreover, 6SA induced the classical activation of macrophages by increasing their expression of MHC-II and their production of TNF-α. These M1-polarised macrophages presented enhanced phagocytosis and NO secretion. This activation was due to induction of the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as ERK, JNK and p38 because specific inhibitors of the phosphorylation of these MAPKs reduced the 6SA-induced phagocytosis and NO and particularly, the secretion of GM-CSF in macrophages by inhibition of ERK. Despite these effects on macrophages, 6SA does not have any direct effect on the proportion of lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Elizabet Estrada-Muñiz
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Libia Vega
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico.
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Abstract
The adoptive transfer of T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) through genetic engineering is one of the most promising new therapies for treating cancer patients. A robust CAR T cell-mediated anti-tumor response requires the coordination of nutrient and energy supplies with CAR T cell expansion and function. However, the high metabolic demands of tumor cells compromise the function of CAR T cells by competing for nutrients within the tumor microenvironment (TME). To substantially improve clinical outcomes of CAR T immunotherapy while treating solid tumors, it is essential to metabolically prepare CAR T cells to overcome the metabolic barriers imposed by the TME. In this review, we discuss a potential metabolism toolbox to improve the metabolic fitness of CAR T cells and maximize the efficacy of CAR T therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuequn Xu
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - John Sherman
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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Abstract
Myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC) family members, including cellular MYC (c-Myc), neuroblastoma derived MYC (MYCN), and lung carcinoma derived MYC (MYCL), have all been implicated as key oncogenic drivers in a broad range of human cancers. Beyond cancer, MYC plays an important role in other physiological and pathological processes, namely immunity and immunological diseases. MYC largely functions as a transcription factor that promotes the expression of numerous target genes to coordinate death, proliferation, and metabolism at the cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. It has been shown that the expression of MYC family members is tightly regulated in immune cells during development or upon immune stimulations. Emerging evidence suggests that MYC family members play essential roles in regulating the development, differentiation and activation of immune cells. Through driving the expression of a broad range of metabolic genes in immune cells, MYC family members coordinate metabolic programs to support immune functions. Here, we discuss our understanding of MYC biology in immune system and how modulation of MYC impacts immune metabolism and responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
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Gnanaprakasam JNR, Estrada-Muñiz E, Vega L. The anacardic 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid induces macrophage activation via the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, P38 kinases and NF-κB. Int Immunopharmacol 2015; 29:808-817. [PMID: 26371858 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Amphipterygium adstringens is a plant traditionally used to treat gingivitis, gastric ulcer and even gastric cancer but the mechanism involved in the regulation of the immune response is not elucidated yet. The 6-pentadecylsalicylic acid (6SA) is the main anacardic acid found in A. adstringens. In order to evaluate the immune-modulatory abilities of 6SA, we used mouse splenocytes and determined the phosphorylation of the transcription factor NF-κB and MAP kinases ERK1/2, JNK and p38 in helper and cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and F4/80(+) macrophages. Treatment with 6SA was not cytotoxic as measured by both trypan blue exclusion and tetrazolium salts (MTT) tests. Additionally, 6SA did not alter the proportion of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, NK cells or macrophages. Moreover, 6SA treatment significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, P38 and NF-κB mainly in macrophages. In this cells (peritoneal macrophages), treatment with 6SA increased the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and decreased the secretion of IL-4 and IL-10 depending on MAPK and NF-κB phosphorylation. In addition, 6SA increased the migration and phagocytic activity of macrophages also depending on the phosphorylation of different kinases. These data suggest that 6SA induces the classical activation pathway in macrophages via the phosphorylation of MAP kinases and NF-κB thus activating the adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Rashida Gnanaprakasam
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Elizabet Estrada-Muñiz
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Libia Vega
- Department of Toxicology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN, 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico.
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