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Di Matteo S, Bilotta MT, Pelosi A, Haas D, Theinert T, Weber G, Schlegel PG, Berg M, Moretta L, Maggi E, Azzarone B, Vacca P, Tumino N, Caruana I. Transition to a mesenchymal state in neuroblastoma may be characterized by a high expression of GD2 and by the acquisition of immune escape from NK cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1382931. [PMID: 38736882 PMCID: PMC11082345 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by both adrenergic (ADRN) and undifferentiated mesenchymal (MES) subsets. The ganglioside sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipid (GD2) is widely overexpressed on tumors of neuroectodermal origin promoting malignant phenotypes. MES cells are greatly enriched in post-therapy and relapsing tumors and are characterized by decreased expression of GD2. This event may cause failure of GD2-based immunotherapy. NK cells represent a key innate cell subset able to efficiently kill tumors. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) that includes tumor cells and tumor-associated (TA) cells could inhibit their effector function. Methods We studied eight NB primary cultures that, in comparison with commercial cell lines, more faithfully reflect the tumor cell characteristics. We studied four primary NB-MES cell cultures and two pairs of MES/ADRN (691 and 717) primary cultures, derived from the same patient. In particular, in the six human NB primary cultures, we assessed their phenotype, the expression of GD2, and the enzymes that control its expression, as well as their interactions with NK cells, using flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and cytotoxicity assays. Results We identified mature (CD105+/CD133-) and undifferentiated (CD133+/CD105-) NB subsets that express high levels of the MES transcripts WWTR1 and SIX4. In addition, undifferentiated MES cells display a strong resistance to NK-mediated killing. On the contrary, mature NB-MES cells display an intermediate resistance to NK-mediated killing and exhibit some immunomodulatory capacities on NK cells but do not inhibit their cytolytic activity. Notably, independent from their undifferentiated or mature phenotype, NB-MES cells express GD2 that can be further upregulated in undifferentiated NB-MES cells upon co-culture with NK cells, leading to the generation of mature mesenchymal GD2bright neuroblasts. Concerning 691 and 717, they show high levels of GD2 and resistance to NK cell-mediated killing that can be overcome by the administration of dinutuximab beta, the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody applied in the clinic. Conclusions NB is a heterogeneous tumor representing a further hurdle in NB immunotherapy. However, different from what was reported with NB commercial cells and independent of their MES/ADRN phenotype, the expression of GD2 and its displayed sensitivity to anti-GD2 mAb ADCC indicated the possible effectiveness of anti-GD2 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Di Matteo
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Bilotta
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Dorothee Haas
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Theinert
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerrit Weber
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul-Gerhardt Schlegel
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Berg
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Pellegrino M, Secli V, D’Amico S, Petrilli LL, Caforio M, Folgiero V, Tumino N, Vacca P, Vinci M, Fruci D, de Billy E. Manipulating the tumor immune microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapy: IGF1R, a promising target. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356321. [PMID: 38420122 PMCID: PMC10899349 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has made impressive advances in improving the outcome of patients affected by malignant diseases. Nonetheless, some limitations still need to be tackled to more efficiently and safely treat patients, in particular for those affected by solid tumors. One of the limitations is related to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which impairs anti-tumor immunity. Efforts to identify targets able to turn the TME into a milieu more auspicious to current immuno-oncotherapy is a real challenge due to the high redundancy of the mechanisms involved. However, the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), an attractive drug target for cancer therapy, is emerging as an important immunomodulator and regulator of key immune cell functions. Here, after briefly summarizing the IGF1R signaling pathway in cancer, we review its role in regulating immune cells function and activity, and discuss IGF1R as a promising target to improve anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marsha Pellegrino
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Secli
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia D’Amico
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Lisa Petrilli
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Caforio
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Folgiero
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vinci
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Doriana Fruci
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuel de Billy
- Oncohematology and Pharmaceutical Factory Research Area, Pediatric Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Caforio M, Tumino N, Sorino C, Manni I, Di Giovenale S, Piaggio G, Iezzi S, Strimpakos G, Mattei E, Moretta L, Fanciulli M, Vacca P, Locatelli F, Folgiero V. AATF/Che-1 RNA polymerase II binding protein overexpression reduces the anti-tumor NK-cell cytotoxicity through activating receptors modulation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1191908. [PMID: 37435061 PMCID: PMC10332273 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1191908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction AATF/Che-1 over-expression in different tumors is well known and its effect on tumorigenicity is mainly due to its central role demonstrated in the oncogenic pathways of solid tumors, where it controls proliferation and viability. The effect exerted by tumors overexpressing Che-1 on the immune response has not yet been investigated. Methods Starting from ChIP-sequencing data we confirmed Che-1 enrichment on Nectin-1 promoter. Several co-cultures experiments between NK-cells and tumor cells transduced by lentiviral vectors carrying Che-1-interfering sequence, analyzed by flow-cytometry have allowed a detailed characterization of NK receptors and tumor ligands expression. Results Here, we show that Che-1 is able to modulate the expression of Nectin-1 ligand at the transcriptional level, leading to the impairment of killing activity of NK-cells. Nectin-1 down-modulation induces a modification in NK-cell ligands expression able to interact with activating receptors and to stimulate NK-cell function. In addition, NK-cells from Che-1 transgenic mice, confirming a reduced expression of activating receptors, exhibit impaired activation and a preferential immature status. Discussion The critical equilibrium between NK-cell ligand expression on tumor cells and the interaction with NK cell receptors is affected by Che-1 over-expression and partially restored by Che-1 interference. The evidence of a new role for Che-1 as regulator of anti-tumor immunity supports the necessity to develop approaches able to target this molecule which shows a dual tumorigenic function as cancer promoter and immune response modulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Caforio
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Sorino
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Manni
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Giovenale
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Iezzi
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Georgios Strimpakos
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Mattei
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)-Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit , Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, RomaLM, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Fanciulli
- Stabilimento Allevamento Fornitore e Utilizzatore (SAFU) Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Folgiero
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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Di Pace AL, Pelosi A, Fiore PF, Tumino N, Besi F, Quatrini L, Santopolo S, Vacca P, Moretta L. MicroRNA analysis of Natural Killer cell-derived exosomes: the microRNA let-7b-5p is enriched in exosomes and participates in their anti-tumor effects against pancreatic cancer cells. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2221081. [PMID: 37304055 PMCID: PMC10251800 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2221081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are important components of the immune system in the defense against tumor growth and metastasis. They release exosomes containing proteins and nucleic acids, including microRNAs (miRNAs). NK-derived exosomes play a role in the anti-tumor NK cell function since they are able to recognize and kill cancer cells. However, the involvement of exosomal miRNAs in the function of NK exosomes is poorly understood. In this study, we explored the miRNA content of NK exosomes by microarray as compared to their cellular counterparts. The expression of selected miRNAs and lytic potential of NK exosomes against childhood B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells after co-cultures with pancreatic cancer cells were also evaluated. We identified a small subset of miRNAs, including miR-16-5p, miR-342-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-92a-3p and let-7b-5p that is highly expressed in NK exosomes. Moreover, we provide evidence that NK exosomes efficiently increase let-7b-5p expression in pancreatic cancer cells and induce inhibition of cell proliferation by targeting the cell cycle regulator CDK6. Let-7b-5p transfer by NK exosomes could represent a novel mechanism by which NK cells counteract tumor growth. However, both cytolytic activity and miRNA content of NK exosomes were reduced upon co-culture with pancreatic cancer cells. Alteration in the miRNA cargo of NK exosomes, together with their reduced cytotoxic activity, could represent another strategy exerted by cancer to evade the immune response. Our study provides new information on the molecular mechanisms used by NK exosomes to exert anti-tumor-activity and offers new clues to integrate cancer treatments with NK exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Santopolo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
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5
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Di Matteo S, Munari E, Fiore PF, Santopolo S, Sampaoli C, Pelosi A, Chouaib S, Tumino N, Vacca P, Mariotti FR, Ebert S, Machwirth M, Haas D, Pezzullo M, Pietra G, Grottoli M, Buart S, Mortier E, Maggi E, Moretta L, Caruana I, Azzarone B. The roles of different forms of IL-15 in human melanoma progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183668. [PMID: 37334356 PMCID: PMC10272795 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer, and the risk of developing it is increased by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The production of cytokines such as interleukin-15 (IL-15), induced by the exposure of skin cells to UV rays, could also promote melanoma development. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of Interleukin-15/Interleukin-15 Receptor α (IL-15/IL-15Rα) complexes in melanoma development. Methods The expression of IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes by melanoma cells was evaluated both ex vivo and in vitro by tissue microarray, PCR, and flow cytometry. The presence of the soluble complex (sIL-15/IL-15Rα) in the plasma of metastatic melanoma patients was detected using an ELISA assay. Subsequently, we investigated the impact of natural killer (NK) cell activation after rIL-2 starvation followed by exposure to the sIL-15/IL-15Rα complex. Finally, by analyzing public datasets, we studied the correlation between IL-15 and IL-15Rα expressions and melanoma stage, NK and T-cell markers, and overall survival (OS). Results Analysis of a melanoma tissue microarray shows a significant increase in the number of IL-15+ tumor cells from the benign nevi to metastatic melanoma stages. Metastatic melanoma cell lines express a phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-cleavable membrane-bound IL-15 (mbIL-15), whereas cultures from primary melanomas express a PMA-resistant isoform. Further analysis revealed that 26% of metastatic patients present with consistently high plasmatic levels of sIL-15/IL-15Rα. When the recombinant soluble human IL-15/IL-15Rα complex is added to briefly starved rIL-2-expanded NK cells, these cells exhibit strongly reduced proliferation and levels of cytotoxic activity against K-562 and NALM-18 target cells. The analysis of public gene expression datasets revealed that high IL-15 and IL-15Rα intra-tumoral production correlates with the high levels of expression of CD5+ and NKp46+ (T and NK markers) and significantly correlates with a better OS in stages II and III, but not in stage IV. Conclusions Membrane-bound and secreted IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes are continuously present during progression in melanoma. It is notable that, although IL-15/IL-15Rα initially promoted the production of cytotoxic T and NK cells, at stage IV promotion of the development of anergic and dysfunctional cytotoxic NK cells was observed. In a subgroup of melanoma metastatic patients, the continuous secretion of high amounts of the soluble complex could represent a novel NK cell immune escape mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Di Matteo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Piera Filomena Fiore
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Santopolo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Sampaoli
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Unitè Mixte Rechercce (INSERM UMR) 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Faculty De Médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Mariotti
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan Ebert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Machwirth
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Haas
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marco Pezzullo
- Core Facility, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DiMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Melania Grottoli
- Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stephanie Buart
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Unitè Mixte Rechercce (INSERM UMR) 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Faculty De Médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Erwan Mortier
- Nantes Université, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Inserm, CRCI2NA, Nantes, France
- LabEx IGO, Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology, Nantes, France
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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Tumino N, Nava Lauson CB, Tiberti S, Besi F, Martini S, Fiore PF, Scodamaglia F, Mingari MC, Moretta L, Manzo T, Vacca P. The tumor microenvironment drives NK cell metabolic dysfunction leading to impaired antitumor activity. Int J Cancer 2023; 152:1698-1706. [PMID: 36468179 PMCID: PMC10107325 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
NK cells represent key players capable of driving antitumor immune responses. However, the potent immunosuppressive activity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) may impair their effector function. Here, we strengthen the importance of metabolic interactions between NK cells and TME and propose metabolic dysfunction as one of the major mechanisms behind NK failure in cancer treatment. In particular, we described that TME has a direct negative impact on NK cell function by disrupting their mitochondrial integrity and function in pediatric and adult patients with primary and metastatic cancer. Our results will help to design new strategies aimed at increasing the NK cell antitumor efficacy by their metabolic reprogramming. In this regard, we reveal an unprecedented role of IL15 in the metabolic reprogramming of NK cells enhancing their antitumor functions. IL15 prevents the inhibitory effect of soluble factors present in TME and restores both the metabolic characteristics and the effector function of NK cells inhibited by exposure to malignant pleural fluid. Thus, we propose here that IL15 may be exploited as a new strategy to metabolically reprogram NK cells with the aim of increasing the efficacy of NK-based immunotherapy in a wide range of currently refractory adult and pediatric solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carina B Nava Lauson
- Immunometabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Tiberti
- Immunometabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Tumor Immunology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Martini
- UO Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Manzo
- Immunometabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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7
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Nava Lauson CB, Tiberti S, Corsetto PA, Conte F, Tyagi P, Machwirth M, Ebert S, Loffreda A, Scheller L, Sheta D, Mokhtari Z, Peters T, Raman AT, Greco F, Rizzo AM, Beilhack A, Signore G, Tumino N, Vacca P, McDonnell LA, Raimondi A, Greenberg PD, Huppa JB, Cardaci S, Caruana I, Rodighiero S, Nezi L, Manzo T. Linoleic acid potentiates CD8 + T cell metabolic fitness and antitumor immunity. Cell Metab 2023; 35:633-650.e9. [PMID: 36898381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic state represents a major hurdle for an effective adoptive T cell therapy (ACT). Indeed, specific lipids can harm CD8+ T cell (CTL) mitochondrial integrity, leading to defective antitumor responses. However, the extent to which lipids can affect the CTL functions and fate remains unexplored. Here, we show that linoleic acid (LA) is a major positive regulator of CTL activity by improving metabolic fitness, preventing exhaustion, and stimulating a memory-like phenotype with superior effector functions. We report that LA treatment enhances the formation of ER-mitochondria contacts (MERC), which in turn promotes calcium (Ca2+) signaling, mitochondrial energetics, and CTL effector functions. As a direct consequence, the antitumor potency of LA-instructed CD8 T cells is superior in vitro and in vivo. We thus propose LA treatment as an ACT potentiator in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina B Nava Lauson
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Tiberti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola A Corsetto
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti," National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Punit Tyagi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Markus Machwirth
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Ebert
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alessia Loffreda
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
| | - Lukas Scheller
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation Laboratory, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dalia Sheta
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation Laboratory, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Zeinab Mokhtari
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation Laboratory, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Timo Peters
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ayush T Raman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Francesco Greco
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy; Institute of Life Sciences, Sant' Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angela M Rizzo
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Beilhack
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation Laboratory, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Giovanni Signore
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Innate Lymphoid Cells Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Liam A McDonnell
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Andrea Raimondi
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
| | - Philip D Greenberg
- Clinical Research Division and Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simone Cardaci
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Simona Rodighiero
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Luigi Nezi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Teresa Manzo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
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8
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Tumino N, Fiore PF, Pelosi A, Moretta L, Vacca P. Myeloid derived suppressor cells in tumor microenvironment: Interaction with innate lymphoid cells. Semin Immunol 2022; 61-64:101668. [PMID: 36370673 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Human myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) represent a stage of immature myeloid cells and two main subsets can be identified: monocytic and polymorphonuclear. MDSC contribute to the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The presence and the activity of MDSC in patients with different tumors correlate with poor prognosis. As previously reported, MDSC promote tumor growth and use different mechanisms to suppress the immune cell-mediated anti-tumor activity. Immunosuppression mechanisms used by MDSC are broad and depend on their differentiation stage and on the pathological context. It is known that some effector cells of the immune system can play an important role in the control of tumor progression and metastatic spread. In particular, innate lymphoid cells (ILC) contribute to control tumor growth representing a potential, versatile and, immunotherapeutic tool. Despite promising results obtained by using new cellular immunotherapeutic approaches, a relevant proportion of patients do not benefit from these therapies. Novel strategies have been investigated to overcome the detrimental effect exerted by the immunosuppressive component of TME (i.e. MDSC). In this review, we summarized the characteristics and the interactions occurring between MDSC and ILC in different tumors discussing how a deeper knowledge on MDSC biology could represent an important target for tumor immunotherapy capable of decreasing immunosuppression and enhancing anti-tumor activity exerted by immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Innate lymphoid cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Andrea Pelosi
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Innate lymphoid cells Unit, Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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9
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Rizzo PC, Girolami I, Marletta S, Pantanowitz L, Antonini P, Brunelli M, Santonicco N, Vacca P, Tumino N, Moretta L, Parwani A, Satturwar S, Eccher A, Munari E. Technical and Diagnostic Issues in Whole Slide Imaging Published Validation Studies. Front Oncol 2022; 12:918580. [PMID: 35785212 PMCID: PMC9246412 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.918580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveDigital pathology with whole-slide imaging (WSI) has many potential clinical and non-clinical applications. In the past two decades, despite significant advances in WSI technology adoption remains slow for primary diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify common pitfalls of WSI reported in validation studies and offer measures to overcome these challenges.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in the electronic databases Pubmed-MEDLINE and Embase. Inclusion criteria were all validation studies designed to evaluate the feasibility of WSI for diagnostic clinical use in pathology. Technical and diagnostic problems encountered with WSI in these studies were recorded.ResultsA total of 45 studies were identified in which technical issues were reported in 15 (33%), diagnostic issues in 8 (18%), and 22 (49%) reported both. Key technical problems encompassed slide scan failure, prolonged time for pathologists to review cases, and a need for higher image resolution. Diagnostic challenges encountered were concerned with grading dysplasia, reliable assessment of mitoses, identification of microorganisms, and clearly defining the invasive front of tumors.ConclusionDespite technical advances with WSI technology, some critical concerns remain that need to be addressed to ensure trustworthy clinical diagnostic use. More focus on the quality of the pre-scanning phase and training of pathologists could help reduce the negative impact of WSI technical difficulties. WSI also seems to exacerbate specific diagnostic tasks that are already challenging among pathologists even when examining glass slides with conventional light microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Chiara Rizzo
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Marletta
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Department of Pathology, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Italy
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Labs, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Pietro Antonini
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicola Santonicco
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Anil Parwani
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Swati Satturwar
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Albino Eccher
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
- *Correspondence: Albino Eccher,
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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10
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Munari E, Settanni G, Caliò A, Segala D, Lonardi S, Sandrini S, Vacca P, Tumino N, Marconi M, Brunelli M, Gobbo S, Netto GJ, Moretta L, Zamboni G, Martignoni G. TSC loss is a clonal event in eosinophilic solid and cystic renal cell carcinoma: a multiregional tumor sampling study. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:376-385. [PMID: 33990704 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00816-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Eosinophilic, solid and cystic (ESC) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by a solid and cystic architecture with cells showing abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with hobnail arrangement and a cytokeratin 7-negative/cytokeratin 20-positive immunophenotype. Recent studies have suggested that bi-allelic events affecting TSC genes might play an important role for such tumors. However, only indirect evidence of the clonal origin of TSC mutation has been gathered so far. Therefore, in this paper we aimed to perform multi-regional tumor sampling molecular analysis in four ESC RCC cases that had been completely embedded, three sporadic and one occurring in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Histologically, the 4 cases showed cystic and solid architecture and cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with cytoplasmic stippling and round to oval nuclei. Immunohistochemistry showed at least focal expression of cytokeratin 20 in all tissue samples and negative cytokeratin 7, as well as diffuse positivity for S100A1 and at least focal expression of cathepsin K in three out of four cases. The sporadic cases showed the same somatic TSC1 mutations in all tissue samples analyzed, while the TSC-associated case showed the same TSC1 alteration in both normal tissue and all tumor samples analyzed, proving the germline nature of the alteration. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that clonal TSC loss is a key event in ESC RCC and support considering ESC RCC as an entity given its distinct morphologic, immunophenotypical and molecular characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulio Settanni
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Caliò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diego Segala
- Pathology Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Sandrini
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcella Marconi
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Gobbo
- Pathology Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Verona, Italy
| | - George J Netto
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zamboni
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Guido Martignoni
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. .,Pathology Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Verona, Italy.
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11
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Tumino N, Besi F, Martini S, Di Pace AL, Munari E, Quatrini L, Pelosi A, Fiore PF, Fiscon G, Paci P, Scordamaglia F, Covesnon MG, Bogina G, Mingari MC, Moretta L, Vacca P. Polymorphonuclear Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Abundant in Peripheral Blood of Cancer Patients and Suppress Natural Killer Cell Anti-Tumor Activity. Front Immunol 2022; 12:803014. [PMID: 35116033 PMCID: PMC8805733 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.803014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) includes a wide variety of cell types and soluble factors capable of suppressing immune-responses. While the role of NK cells in TME has been analyzed, limited information is available on the presence and the effect of polymorphonuclear (PMN) myeloid-derived suppressor cells, (MDSC). Among the immunomodulatory cells present in TME, MDSC are potentially efficient in counteracting the anti-tumor activity of several effector cells. We show that PMN-MDSC are present in high numbers in the PB of patients with primary or metastatic lung tumor. Their frequency correlated with the overall survival of patients. In addition, it inversely correlated with low frequencies of NK cells both in the PB and in tumor lesions. Moreover, such NK cells displayed an impaired anti-tumor activity, even those isolated from PB. The compromised function of NK cells was consequent to their interaction with PMN-MDSC. Indeed, we show that the expression of major activating NK receptors, the NK cytolytic activity and the cytokine production were inhibited upon co-culture with PMN-MDSC through both cell-to-cell contact and soluble factors. In this context, we show that exosomes derived from PMN-MDSC are responsible of a significant immunosuppressive effect on NK cell-mediated anti-tumor activity. Our data may provide a novel useful tool to implement the tumor immunoscore. Indeed, the detection of PMN-MDSC in the PB may be of prognostic value, providing clues on the presence and extension of both adult and pediatric tumors and information on the efficacy not only of immune response but also of immunotherapy and, possibly, on the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Martini
- Unità Operativa (UO) Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Di Pace
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Piera Filomena Fiore
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Grazia Covesnon
- Struttura Complessa (SC) Pneumologia Ospedale Villa Scassi, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bogina
- Pathology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Unità Operativa (UO) Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Experimental Medicine Department (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Lorenzo Moretta,
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
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12
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Tumino N, Weber G, Besi F, Del Bufalo F, Bertaina V, Paci P, Quatrini L, Antonucci L, Sinibaldi M, Quintarelli C, Maggi E, De Angelis B, Locatelli F, Moretta L, Vacca P, Caruana I. Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells impair the anti-tumor efficacy of GD2.CAR T-cells in patients with neuroblastoma. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:191. [PMID: 34772439 PMCID: PMC8588686 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01193-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The outcome of patients affected by high-risk or metastatic neuroblastoma (NB) remains grim, with ≥ 50% of the children experiencing relapse or progression of the disease despite multimodal, intensive treatment. In order to identify new strategies to improve the overall survival and the quality of life of these children, we recently developed and optimized a third-generation GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct, which is currently under evaluation in our Institution in a phase I/II clinical trial (NCT03373097) enrolling patients with relapsed/refractory NB. We observed that our CAR T-cells are able to induce marked tumor reduction and even achieve complete remission with a higher efficiency than that of other CAR T-cells reported in previous studies. However, often responses are not sustained and relapses occur. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a mechanism of resistance to GD2.CAR T-cell treatment, showing how polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) increase in the peripheral blood (PB) of NB patients after GD2.CAR T-cell treatment in case of relapse and loss of response. In vitro, isolated PMN-MDSC demonstrate to inhibit the anti-tumor cytotoxicity of different generations of GD2.CAR T-cells. Gene-expression profiling of GD2.CAR T-cells "conditioned" with PMN-MDSC shows downregulation of genes involved in cell activation, signal transduction, inflammation and cytokine/chemokine secretion. Analysis of NB gene-expression dataset confirms a correlation between expression of these genes and patient outcome. Moreover, in patients treated with GD2.CAR T-cells, the frequency of circulating PMN-MDSC inversely correlates with the levels of GD2.CAR T-cells, resulting more elevated in patients who did not respond or lost response to the treatment. The presence and the frequency of PMN-MDSC in PB of high-risk and metastatic NB represents a useful prognostic marker to predict the response to GD2.CAR T-cells and other adoptive immunotherapy. This study underlines the importance of further optimization of both CAR T-cells and clinical trial in order to target elements of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerrit Weber
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation University Children's Hospital of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Del Bufalo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Bertaina
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Antonucci
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Matilde Sinibaldi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Maternal, Infantile, and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation University Children's Hospital of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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13
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Quatrini L, Tumino N, Besi F, Ciancaglini C, Galaverna F, Grasso AG, Merli P, Locatelli F, Vacca P, Moretta L. Glucocorticoids inhibit human hematopoietic stem cell differentiation toward a common ILC precursor. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 149:1772-1785. [PMID: 34688777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) comprise cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells and helper ILCs (hILCs). Human hILC development is less characterized as compared with that of NK cells, although all ILCs are developmentally related. It has been reported that the immunosuppressive drugs glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate ILC function, but whether they control ILC differentiation from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to analyze the effect of GCs on ILC development from HSCs. METHODS This study exploited an in vitro system to generate and expand from peripheral blood HSCs a multipotent CD56+ ILC precursor able to differentiate into NK cells, ILC1s, and ILC3s. We also analyzed ex vivo, at different time points, the peripheral blood of recipients of allogeneic HSC transplantation who were or were not treated with GCs and compared ILC subset reconstitution. RESULTS Invitro, GCs favor the generation of NK cells from myeloid precursors, while they strongly impair lymphoid development. In support of these data, recipients of HSC transplantation who had been treated with GCs display a lower number of circulating hILCs, including the ILC precursor (ILCP) previously identified as a systemic substrate for tissue ILC differentiation. CONCLUSIONS GCs impair the development of the CD117+ ILCP from CD34+ HSCs, while they do not affect the further steps of ILCP differentiation toward NK cells and hILC subsets. This reflects an association of GC treatment with a marked reduction of circulating hILCs in the recipients of HSC transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ciancaglini
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Galaverna
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Giacomo Grasso
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Merli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Fiore PF, Di Matteo S, Tumino N, Mariotti FR, Pietra G, Ottonello S, Negrini S, Bottazzi B, Moretta L, Mortier E, Azzarone B. Interleukin-15 and cancer: some solved and many unsolved questions. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-001428. [PMID: 33203664 PMCID: PMC7674108 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble interleukin (IL)-15 exists under two forms: as monomer (sIL-15) or as heterodimeric complex in association with sIL-15Rα (sIL-15/IL-15Rα). Both forms have been successfully tested in experimental tumor murine models and are currently undergoing investigation in phase I/II clinical trials. Despite more than 20 years research on IL-15, some controversial issues remain to be addressed. A first point concerns the detection of the sIL-15/IL-15Rα in plasma of healthy donors or patients with cancer and its biological significance. The second and third unsolved question regards the protumorigenic role of the IL-15/IL-15Rα complex in human cancer and the detrimental immunological consequences associated to prolonged exposure of natural killer (NK) cells to both forms of soluble IL-15, respectively. Data suggest that in vivo prolonged or repeated exposure to monomeric sIL-15 or the soluble complex may lead to NK hypo-responsiveness through the expansion of the CD8+/CD44+ T cell subset that would suppress NK cell functions. In vitro experiments indicate that soluble complex and monomeric IL-15 may cause NK hyporesponsiveness through a direct effect caused by their prolonged stimulation, suggesting that this mechanism could also be effective in vivo. Therefore, a better knowledge of IL-15 and a more appropriate use of both its soluble forms, in terms of concentrations and time of exposure, are essential in order to improve their therapeutic use. In cancer, the overproduction of sIL-15/IL-15Rα could represent a novel mechanism of immune escape. The soluble complex may act as a decoy cytokine unable to efficiently foster NK cells, or could induce NK hyporesponsiveness through an excessive and prolonged stimulation depending on the type of IL-15Rα isoforms associated. All these unsolved questions are not merely limited to the knowledge of IL-15 pathophysiology, but are crucial also for the therapeutic use of this cytokine. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss key unanswered issues on the heterogeneity and biological significance of IL-15 isoforms, analyzing both their cancer-related biological functions and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabina Di Matteo
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Pietra
- Immuology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DiMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Selene Ottonello
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DiMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Barbara Bottazzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Erwan Mortier
- University of Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, CRCINA, University of Nantes, Nantes, France .,Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology, LabEx IGO, Nantes, France
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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15
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Quatrini L, Ricci B, Ciancaglini C, Tumino N, Moretta L. Regulation of the Immune System Development by Glucocorticoids and Sex Hormones. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672853. [PMID: 34248954 PMCID: PMC8260976 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Through the release of hormones, the neuro-endocrine system regulates the immune system function promoting adaptation of the organism to the external environment and to intrinsic physiological changes. Glucocorticoids (GCs) and sex hormones not only regulate immune responses, but also control the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation and subsequent maturation of immune cell subsets. During the development of an organism, this regulation has long-term consequences. Indeed, the effects of GC exposure during the perinatal period become evident in the adulthood. Analogously, in the context of HSC transplantation (HSCT), the immune system development starts de novo from the donor HSCs. In this review, we summarize the effects of GCs and sex hormones on the regulation of HSC, as well as of adaptive and innate immune cells. Moreover, we discuss the short and long-term implications on hematopoiesis of sex steroid ablation and synthetic GC administration upon HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Biancamaria Ricci
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ciancaglini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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16
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Munari E, Marconi M, Querzoli G, Lunardi G, Bertoglio P, Ciompi F, Tosadori A, Eccher A, Tumino N, Quatrini L, Vacca P, Rossi G, Cavazza A, Martignoni G, Brunelli M, Netto GJ, Moretta L, Zamboni G, Bogina G. Impact of PD-L1 and PD-1 Expression on the Prognostic Significance of CD8 + Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:680973. [PMID: 34122444 PMCID: PMC8187779 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.680973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune infiltrate within tumors has proved to be very powerful in the prognostic stratification of patients and much attention is also being paid towards its predictive value. In this work we therefore aimed at clarifying the significance and impact of PD-L1 and PD-1 expression on the prognostic value of CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in a cohort of consecutive patients with primary resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tissue microarrays (TMA) were built using one representative formalin fixed paraffin embedded block for every case, with 5 cores for each block. TMA sections were stained with PD-L1 (clone SP263), PD-1 (clone NAT105) and CD8 (clone SP57). Number of CD8+ cells per mm2 were automatically counted; median, 25th and 75th percentiles of CD8+ cells were used as threshold for statistical clinical outcome analysis and evaluated in patients subgroups defined by expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 within tumors. We found an overall strong prognostic value of CD8+ cells in our cohort of 314 resected NSCLC, especially in PD-L1 negative tumors lacking PD-1+ TILs, and demonstrated that in PD-L1 positive tumors a higher density of CD8+ lymphocytes is necessary to improve the prognosis. Our data strengthen the concept of the importance of the assessment and quantification of the immune contexture in cancer and, similarly to what has been carried on in colorectal cancer, promote the efforts for the establishment of an Immunoscore for NSCLC for prognostic and possibly predictive purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marcella Marconi
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Giulia Querzoli
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Lunardi
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory and Transfusional Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Pietro Bertoglio
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS Maggiore Teaching Hospital and Sant'Orsola University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Ciompi
- Computational Pathology Group, Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alice Tosadori
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Albino Eccher
- Pathology Unit, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Rossi
- Pathology Unit, AUSL della Romagna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Alberto Cavazza
- Pathology Unit, AUSL/IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Guido Martignoni
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Pathology Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Italy
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - George J Netto
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zamboni
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bogina
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
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17
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Munari E, Mariotti FR, Quatrini L, Bertoglio P, Tumino N, Vacca P, Eccher A, Ciompi F, Brunelli M, Martignoni G, Bogina G, Moretta L. PD-1/PD-L1 in Cancer: Pathophysiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5123. [PMID: 34066087 PMCID: PMC8151504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is a key strategy adopted by tumor cells to escape the immune system while promoting their survival and metastatic spreading. Indeed, several mechanisms have been developed by tumors to inhibit immune responses. PD-1 is a cell surface inhibitory receptor, which plays a major physiological role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. In pathological conditions, activation of the PD-1/PD-Ls signaling pathway may block immune cell activation, a mechanism exploited by tumor cells to evade the antitumor immune control. Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis has represented a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. Indeed, the success of PD-1 blockade immunotherapies represents an unprecedented success in the treatment of different cancer types. To improve the therapeutic efficacy, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating PD-1 expression and signaling in the tumor context is required. We provide an overview of the current knowledge of PD-1 expression on both tumor-infiltrating T and NK cells, summarizing the recent evidence on the stimuli regulating its expression. We also highlight perspectives and limitations of the role of PD-L1 expression as a predictive marker, discuss well-established and novel potential approaches to improve patient selection and clinical outcome and summarize current indications for anti-PD1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Francesca R. Mariotti
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (L.Q.); (N.T.); (P.V.)
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (L.Q.); (N.T.); (P.V.)
| | - Pietro Bertoglio
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS Maggiore Teaching Hospital and Sant’Orsola University Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (L.Q.); (N.T.); (P.V.)
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (L.Q.); (N.T.); (P.V.)
| | - Albino Eccher
- Pathology Unit, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Francesco Ciompi
- Computational Pathology Group, Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6543 SH Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Guido Martignoni
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.)
- Pathology Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, 37019 Peschiera del Garda, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bogina
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, 37024 Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (L.Q.); (N.T.); (P.V.)
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18
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Pelosi A, Besi F, Tumino N, Merli P, Quatrini L, Li Pira G, Algeri M, Moretta L, Vacca P. NK Cells and PMN-MDSCs in the Graft From G-CSF Mobilized Haploidentical Donors Display Distinct Gene Expression Profiles From Those of the Non-Mobilized Counterpart. Front Immunol 2021; 12:657329. [PMID: 33986748 PMCID: PMC8111072 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.657329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent approach of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation from haploidentical donors "mobilized" with G-CSF is based on the selective depletion of αβ T and B lymphocytes from the graft. Through this approach, the patient receives both HSC and mature donor-derived effector cells (including NK cells), which exert both anti-leukemia activity and protection against infections. We previously showed that donor HSC mobilization with G-CSF results in accumulation in the graft of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), capable of inhibiting in vitro the anti-leukemia activity of allogeneic NK cells. Here, we performed a detailed gene expression analysis on NK cells and PMN-MDSCs both derived from mobilized graft. Cytotoxicity assays and real time PCR arrays were performed in NK cells. Microarray technology followed by bioinformatics analysis was used for gene expression profiling in PMN-MDSCs. Results indicate that NK cells from the graft have a lower cytolytic activity as compared to those from non-mobilized samples. Further, mobilized PMN-MDSCs displayed a peculiar transcriptional profile distinguishing them from non-mobilized ones. Differential expression of pro-proliferative and immune-modulatory genes was detected in mobilized PMN-MDSCs. These data strengthen the concept that G-CSF-mobilized PMN-MDSCs present in the graft display unique molecular characteristics, in line with the strong inhibitory effect on donor NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Merli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Li Pira
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Algeri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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19
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Tumino N, Di Pace AL, Besi F, Quatrini L, Vacca P, Moretta L. Interaction Between MDSC and NK Cells in Solid and Hematological Malignancies: Impact on HSCT. Front Immunol 2021; 12:638841. [PMID: 33679798 PMCID: PMC7928402 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.638841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are heterogeneous populations that through the release of soluble factors and/or by cell-to-cell interactions suppress both innate and adaptive immune effector cells. In pathological conditions, characterized by the presence of inflammation, a partial block in the differentiation potential of myeloid precursors causes an accumulation of these immunosuppressive cell subsets both in peripheral blood and in tissues. On the contrary, NK cells represent a major player of innate immunity able to counteract tumor growth. The anti-tumor activity of NK cells is primarily related to their cytolytic potential and to the secretion of soluble factors or cytokines that may act on tumors either directly or indirectly upon the recruitment of other cell types. NK cells have been shown to play a fundamental role in haploidentical hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), for the therapy of high-risk leukemias. A deeper analysis of MDSC functional effects demonstrated that these cells are capable, through several mechanisms, to reduce the potent GvL activity exerted by NK cells. It is conceivable that, in this transplantation setting, the MDSC-removal or -inactivation may represent a promising strategy to restore the anti-leukemia effect mediated by NK cells. Thus, a better knowledge of the cellular interactions occurring in the tumor microenvironment could promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid and hematological malignances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Di Pace
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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20
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Canzonetta C, Pelosi A, Di Matteo S, Veneziani I, Tumino N, Vacca P, Munari E, Pezzullo M, Theuer C, De Vito R, Pistoia V, Tomao L, Locatelli F, Moretta L, Caruana I, Azzarone B. Identification of neuroblastoma cell lines with uncommon TAZ +/mesenchymal stromal cell phenotype with strong suppressive activity on natural killer cells. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001313. [PMID: 33452207 PMCID: PMC7813384 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common, extracranial childhood solid tumor arising from neural crest progenitor cells and is a primary cause of death in pediatric patients. In solid tumors, stromal elements recruited or generated by the cancer cells favor the development of an immune-suppressive microenvironment. Herein, we investigated in NB cell lines and in NB biopsies, the presence of cancer cells with mesenchymal phenotype and determined the immune-suppressive properties of these tumor cells on natural killer (NK) cells. Methods We assessed the mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-like phenotype and function of five human NB cell lines and the presence of this particular subset of neuroblasts in NB biopsies using flow-cytometry, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, cytotoxicity assays, western blot and silencing strategy. We corroborated our data consulting a public gene-expression dataset. Results Two NB cell lines, SK-N-AS and SK-N-BE(2)C, exhibited an unprecedented MSC phenotype (CD105+/CD90+/CD73+/CD29+/CD146+/GD2+/TAZ+). In these NB-MSCs, the ectoenzyme CD73 and the oncogenic/immune-regulatory transcriptional coactivator TAZ were peculiar markers. Their MSC-like nature was confirmed by their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of neuroblasts with MSC phenotype (CD105+/CD73+/TAZ+). Moreover, a public gene-expression dataset revealed that, in stage IV NB, a higher expression of TAZ and CD105 strongly correlated with a poorer outcome. Among the NB-cell lines analyzed, only NB-MSCs exhibited multifactorial resistance to NK-mediated lysis, inhibition of activating NK receptors, signal adaptors and of NK-cell cytotoxicity through cell-cell contact mediated mechanisms. The latter property was controlled partially by TAZ, since its silencing in NB cells efficiently rescued NK-cell cytotoxic activity, while its overexpression induced opposite effects in non-NB-MSC cells. Conclusions We identified a novel NB immunoregulatory subset that: (i) displayed phenotypic and functional properties of MSC, (ii) mediated multifactorial resistance to NK-cell-induced killing and (iii) efficiently inhibited, in coculture, the cytotoxic activity of NK cells against target cells through a TAZ-dependent mechanism. These findings indicate that targeting novel cellular and molecular components may disrupt the immunomodulatory milieu of the NB microenvironment ameliorating the response to conventional treatments as well as to advanced immunotherapeutic approaches, including adoptive transfer of NK cells and chimeric antigen receptor T or NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Di Matteo
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Veneziani
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Department, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Verona, Veneto, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Pezzullo
- Core Facilities, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita De Vito
- Anatomical Pathology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Vito Pistoia
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Tomao
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Gynaecology/Obstetrics and Paediatrics, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy .,Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation University Children's Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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21
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Abstract
Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are heterogeneous populations that through the release of soluble factors and/or by cell-to-cell interactions suppress both innate and adaptive immune effector cells. In pathological conditions, characterized by the presence of inflammation, a partial block in the differentiation potential of myeloid precursors causes an accumulation of these immunosuppressive cell subsets both in peripheral blood and in tissues. On the contrary, NK cells represent a major player of innate immunity able to counteract tumor growth. The anti-tumor activity of NK cells is primarily related to their cytolytic potential and to the secretion of soluble factors or cytokines that may act on tumors either directly or indirectly upon the recruitment of other cell types. NK cells have been shown to play a fundamental role in haploidentical hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), for the therapy of high-risk leukemias. A deeper analysis of MDSC functional effects demonstrated that these cells are capable, through several mechanisms, to reduce the potent GvL activity exerted by NK cells. It is conceivable that, in this transplantation setting, the MDSC-removal or -inactivation may represent a promising strategy to restore the anti-leukemia effect mediated by NK cells. Thus, a better knowledge of the cellular interactions occurring in the tumor microenvironment could promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid and hematological malignances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Di Pace
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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22
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Carrega P, Orecchia P, Quatrini L, Tumino N, Venè R, Benelli R, Poggi A, Scabini S, Mingari MC, Moretta L, Vacca P. Characterisation of innate lymphoid cell subsets infiltrating colorectal carcinoma. Gut 2020; 69:2261-2263. [PMID: 32139551 PMCID: PMC7677477 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-320908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Carrega
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biotherapy, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Sicilia, Italy,Cell Factory Center, University of Messina, Messina, Sicilia, Italy
| | - Paola Orecchia
- UOC Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Roberta Venè
- Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Roberto Benelli
- UOC Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Alessandro Poggi
- Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Stefano Scabini
- Oncological Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- UOC Immunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Liguria, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, Roma, Lazio, Italy
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23
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Quatrini L, Mariotti FR, Munari E, Tumino N, Vacca P, Moretta L. The Immune Checkpoint PD-1 in Natural Killer Cells: Expression, Function and Targeting in Tumour Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3285. [PMID: 33172030 PMCID: PMC7694632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [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: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, immunotherapy with antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of different types of tumours, representing a true revolution in oncology. While its efficacy has initially been attributed only to unleashing T cell responses, responsivity to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade was observed in some tumours with low Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) I expression and increasing evidence has revealed PD-1 surface expression and inhibitory function also in natural killer (NK) cells. Thus, the contribution of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy to the recovery of NK cell anti-tumour response has recently been appreciated. Here, we summarize the studies investigating PD-1 expression and function in NK cells, together with the limitations and perspectives of immunotherapies. A better understanding of checkpoint biology is needed to design next-generation therapeutic strategies and to improve the clinical protocols of current therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Francesca Romana Mariotti
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
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24
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Quatrini L, Tumino N, Moretta F, Besi F, Vacca P, Moretta L. Helper Innate Lymphoid Cells in Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Graft Versus Host Disease. Front Immunol 2020; 11:582098. [PMID: 33101308 PMCID: PMC7554507 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.582098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Helper Innate Lymphoid Cells (hILCs), including ILC1s, ILC2s, and ILC3s, are mainly localized at the mucosal barriers where they play an important role in tissue regeneration and homeostasis through the secretion of specific sets of cytokines. The recent identification of a circulating ILC precursor able to generate all ILC mature subsets in physiological conditions, suggests that “ILC-poiesis” may be important in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Indeed, in HSCT the conditioning regimen (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) may cause severe damages to mucosal tissues. Therefore, it is conceivable that rapid reconstitution of the hILC compartment may be beneficial in HSCT, by promoting mucosal tissue repair/regeneration and providing protection from opportunistic infections. In this review, we will summarize the evidence for a role of hILCs in allogenic HSCT for the treatment of hematological malignancies in all its steps, from the preparative regimen to the immune reconstitution in the recipient. The protective properties of hILCs at the mucosal barrier interfaces make them an attractive target to exploit in future cellular therapies aimed at improving allogenic HSCT outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Moretta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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25
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Sivori S, Della Chiesa M, Carlomagno S, Quatrini L, Munari E, Vacca P, Tumino N, Mariotti FR, Mingari MC, Pende D, Moretta L. Inhibitory Receptors and Checkpoints in Human NK Cells, Implications for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2156. [PMID: 33013909 PMCID: PMC7494755 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly destructive mechanisms by which the immune system faces microbial infections is under the control of a series of inhibitory receptors. While most of these receptors prevent unwanted/excessive responses of individual effector cells, others play a more general role in immunity, acting as true inhibitory checkpoints controlling both innate and adaptive immunity. Regarding human NK cells, their function is finely regulated by HLA-class I-specific inhibitory receptors which allow discrimination between HLA-I+, healthy cells and tumor or virus-infected cells displaying loss or substantial alterations of HLA-I molecules, including allelic losses that are sensed by KIRs. A number of non-HLA-specific receptors have been identified which recognize cell surface or extracellular matrix ligands and may contribute to the physiologic control of immune responses and tolerance. Among these receptors, Siglec 7 (p75/AIRM-1), LAIR-1 and IRp60, recognize ligands including sialic acids, extracellular matrix/collagen or aminophospholipids, respectively. These ligands may be expressed at the surface of tumor cells, thus inhibiting NK cell function. Expression of the PD-1 checkpoint by NK cells requires particular cytokines (IL-15, IL-12, IL-18) together with cortisol, a combination that may occur in the microenvironment of different tumors. Blocking of single or combinations of inhibitory receptors unleashes NK cells and restore their anti-tumor activity, with obvious implications for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mariella Della Chiesa
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Carlomagno
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,UOC Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UOC Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
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26
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Sivori S, Pende D, Quatrini L, Pietra G, Della Chiesa M, Vacca P, Tumino N, Moretta F, Mingari MC, Locatelli F, Moretta L. NK cells and ILCs in tumor immunotherapy. Mol Aspects Med 2020; 80:100870. [PMID: 32800530 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cells of the innate immunity play an important role in tumor immunotherapy. Thus, NK cells can control tumor growth and metastatic spread. Thanks to their strong cytolytic activity against tumors, different approaches have been developed for exploiting/harnessing their function in patients with leukemia or solid tumors. Pioneering trials were based on the adoptive transfer of autologous NK cell-enriched cell populations that were expanded in vitro and co-infused with IL-2. Although relevant results were obtained in patients with advanced melanoma, the effect was mostly limited to certain metastatic localizations, particularly to the lung. In addition, the severe IL-2-related toxicity and the preferential IL-2-induced expansion of Treg limited this type of approach. This limitation may be overcome by the use of IL-15, particularly of modified IL-15 molecules to improve its half-life and optimize the biological effects. Other approaches to harness NK cell function include stimulation via TLR, the use of bi- and tri-specific NK cell engagers (BiKE and TriKE) linking activating NK receptors (e.g. CD16) to tumor-associated antigens and even incorporating an IL-15 moiety (TriKE). As recently shown, in tumor patients, NK cells may also express inhibitory checkpoints, primarily PD-1. Accordingly, the therapeutic use of checkpoint inhibitors may unleash NK cells against PD-L1+ tumors. This effect may be predominant and crucial in tumors that have lost HLA cl-I expression, thus resulting "invisible" to T lymphocytes. Additional approaches in which NK cells may represent an important tool for cancer therapy, are to exploit the unique properties of the "adaptive" NK cells. These CD57+ NKG2C+ cells, despite their mature stage and a potent cytolytic activity, maintain a strong proliferating capacity. This property revealed to be crucial in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly in the haplo-HSCT setting, to cure high-risk leukemias. T depleted haplo-HSCT (e.g. from one of the parents) allowed to save the life of thousands of patients lacking a HLA-compatible donor. In this setting, NK cells have been shown to play an essential role against leukemia cells and infections. Another major advance is represented by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered NK cells. CAR-NK, different from CAR-T cells, may be obtained from allogeneic donors since they do not cause GvHD. Accordingly, they may represent "off-the-shelf" products to promptly treat tumor patients, with affordable costs. Different from NK cells, helper ILC (ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3), the innate counterpart of T helper cell subsets, remain rather ambiguous with respect to their anti-tumor activity. A possible exception is represented by a subset of ILC3: their frequency in peri-tumoral tissues in patients with NSCLC directly correlates with a better prognosis, possibly reflecting their ability to contribute to the organization of tertiary lymphoid structures, an important site of T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. It is conceivable that innate immunity may significantly contribute to the major advances that immunotherapy has ensured and will continue to ensure to the cure of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mariella Della Chiesa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Moretta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; UO Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy; Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Mariotti FR, Quatrini L, Munari E, Vacca P, Tumino N, Pietra G, Mingari MC, Moretta L. Inhibitory checkpoints in human natural killer cells: IUPHAR Review 28. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:2889-2903. [PMID: 32335915 PMCID: PMC7279970 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy leading to exceptional success. However, there is still the need to improve their efficacy in non‐responder patients. Natural killer (NK) cells represent the first line of defence against tumours, due to their ability to release immunomodulatory cytokines and kill target cells that have undergone malignant transformation. Harnessing NK cell response will open new possibilities to improve control of tumour growth. In this respect inhibitory checkpoints expressed on these innate lymphocytes represents a promising target for next‐generation immunotherapy. In this review, we will summarize recent evidences on the expression of NK cells receptors in cancer, with a focus on the inhibitory checkpoint programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1). We will also highlight the strength and limitations of the blockade of PD‐1 inhibitory pathway and suggest new combination strategies that may help to unleash more efficiently NK cell anti‐tumour response.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R Mariotti
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - L Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - E Munari
- Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - P Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - N Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - G Pietra
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - M C Mingari
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - L Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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28
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Quatrini L, Vacca P, Tumino N, Besi F, Di Pace AL, Scordamaglia F, Martini S, Munari E, Mingari MC, Ugolini S, Moretta L. Glucocorticoids and the cytokines IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 present in the tumor microenvironment induce PD-1 expression on human natural killer cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020; 147:349-360. [PMID: 32417134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.04.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-immune checkpoint blockade has provided significant clinical efficacy across various types of cancer by unleashing both T and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumor responses. However, resistance to immunotherapy occurs for many patients, rendering the identification of the mechanisms that control PD-1 expression extremely important to increase the response to the therapy. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify the stimuli and the molecular mechanisms that induce the de novo PD-1 expression on human NK cells in the tumor setting. METHODS NK cells freshly isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors were stimulated with different combinations of molecules, and PD-1 expression was studied at the mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, ex vivo analysis of tumor microenvironment and NK cell phenotype was performed. RESULTS Glucocorticoids are indispensable for PD-1 induction on human NK cells, in cooperation with a combination of cytokines that are abundant at the tumor site. Mechanistically, glucocorticoids together with IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 not only upregulate PDCD1 transcription, but also activate a previously unrecognized transcriptional program leading to enhanced mRNA translation and resulting in an increased PD-1 amount in NK cells. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence of a novel immune suppressive mechanism of glucocorticoids involving the transcriptional and translational control of an important immune checkpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Di Pace
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Martini
- Immunology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Immunology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sophie Ugolini
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Istitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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29
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Merli P, Vacca P, Galaverna F, Tumino N, Moretta L, Locatelli F. TCRαβ/CD19 depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from haploidentical donors: dissecting the GvL/GvHD conundrum. Bone Marrow Transplant 2020; 55:1483-1484. [PMID: 32286504 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-020-0891-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Merli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Galaverna
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.,Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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30
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Pelosi A, Alicata C, Tumino N, Ingegnere T, Loiacono F, Mingari MC, Moretta L, Vacca P. An Anti-inflammatory microRNA Signature Distinguishes Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells From Natural Killer Cells in Human Decidua. Front Immunol 2020; 11:133. [PMID: 32117280 PMCID: PMC7015979 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00133] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a heterogeneous subset of lymphocytes deeply implicated in the innate immune responses to different pathogens, in lymphoid organogenesis and in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) have been detected in human decidua, where they play a role in the early inflammatory phase favoring implantation and tissue remodeling as well as in the subsequent regulatory phase preventing fetal rejection and supporting neoangiogenesis. A balance between inflammation and immune tolerance is required to maintain pregnancy, thus maternal immune system must be controlled by finely tuned mechanisms. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with important regulatory roles in immune cells, but their function in decidual ILC3 (dILC3) and in decidual NK (dNK) cells is still undefined. Here, we examined the miRNome by microarray in these cells during the first trimester of pregnancy and compared with miRNA profiles of peripheral blood NK (pbNK) cells from pregnant women. We show that distinct miRNA profiles could clearly distinguish dILC3 from NK cells. Correlation analyses revealed that dNK and pbNK miRNome profiles are more similar to each other as compared to dILC3. In particular, we identified 302 and 279 mature miRNAs differentially expressed in dILC3 as compared to dNK and pbNK, respectively. The expression of miR-574-3p and the miR-99b/let-7e/miR-125a miRNA cluster resulted the most increased in dILC3. Remarkably, gene ontology analysis and pathway enrichments of miRNA targets revealed an involvement of these miRNAs in the promotion of anti-inflammatory responses. In agreement to this finding, we also found a higher expression of the anti-inflammatory miR-146a-5p in dILC3 with respect to NK cells. Overall, our data identified specific miRNA signatures distinguishing dILC3, dNK, and pbNK cells. Our data suggest the existence of a tight epigenetic control mediated by miRNAs in dILC3, potentially acting as a brake to prevent exaggerated inflammatory responses and to maintain the immune homeostasis in the early phases of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Alicata
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziano Ingegnere
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Loiacono
- Immunology Operative Unit, Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Immunology Operative Unit, Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
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31
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Tumino N, Vacca P, Quatrini L, Munari E, Moretta F, Pelosi A, Mariotti FR, Moretta L. Helper Innate Lymphoid Cells in Human Tumors: A Double-Edged Sword? Front Immunol 2020; 10:3140. [PMID: 32063901 PMCID: PMC7000626 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) were found to be developmentally related to natural killer (NK) cells. In humans, they are mostly located in “barrier” tissues where they contribute to innate defenses against different pathogens. ILCs are heterogeneous and characterized by a high degree of plasticity. ILC1s are Tbet+, produce interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha, but, unlike NK cells, are non-cytolytic and are Eomes independent. ILC2 (GATA-3+) secrete type-2 cytokines, while ILC3s secrete interleukin-22 and interleukin-17. The cytokine signatures of ILC subsets mirror those of corresponding helper T-cell subsets. The ILC role in defenses against pathogens is well-documented, while their involvement in tumor defenses is still controversial. Different ILCs have been detected in tumors. In general, the conflicting data reported in different tumors on the role of ILC may reflect the heterogeneity and/or differences in tumor microenvironment. The remarkable plasticity of ILCs suggests new therapeutic approaches to induce differentiation/switch toward ILC subsets more favorable in tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Francesca Moretta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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32
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Vacca P, Pietra G, Tumino N, Munari E, Mingari MC, Moretta L. Exploiting Human NK Cells in Tumor Therapy. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3013. [PMID: 32010130 PMCID: PMC6978749 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cells play an important role in the innate defenses against tumor growth and metastases. Human NK cell activation and function are regulated by an array of HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors and activating receptors recognizing ligands expressed de novo on tumor or virus-infected cells. NK cells have been exploited in immunotherapy of cancer, including: (1) the in vivo infusion of IL-2 or IL-15, cytokines inducing activation and proliferation of NK cells that are frequently impaired in cancer patients. Nonetheless, the significant toxicity experienced, primarily with IL-2, limited their use except for combination therapies, e.g., IL-15 with checkpoint inhibitors; (2) the adoptive immunotherapy with cytokine-induced NK cells had effect on some melanoma metastases (lung), while other localizations were not affected; (3) a remarkable evolution of adoptive cell therapy is represented by NK cells engineered with CAR-targeting tumor antigens (CAR-NK). CAR-NK cells complement CAR-T cells as they do not cause GvHD and may be obtained from unrelated donors. Accordingly, CAR-NK cells may represent an “off-the-shelf” tool, readily available for effective tumor therapy; (4) the efficacy of adoptive cell therapy in cancer is also witnessed by the αβT cell- and B cell-depleted haploidentical HSC transplantation in which the infusion of donor NK cells and γδT cells, together with HSC, sharply reduces leukemia relapses and infections; (5) a true revolution in tumor therapy is the use of mAbs targeting checkpoint inhibitors including PD-1, CTLA-4, the HLA class I-specific KIR, and NKG2A. Since PD-1 is expressed not only by tumor-associated T cells but also by NK cells, its blocking might unleash NK cells playing a crucial effector role against HLA class I-deficient tumors that are undetectable by T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- UOC Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- UOC Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Polito VA, Cristantielli R, Weber G, Del Bufalo F, Belardinilli T, Arnone CM, Petretto A, Antonucci L, Giorda E, Tumino N, Pitisci A, De Angelis B, Quintarelli C, Locatelli F, Caruana I. Universal Ready-to-Use Immunotherapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Cancer: Expanded and Activated Polyclonal γδ Memory T Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2717. [PMID: 31824502 PMCID: PMC6883509 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, important progresses have been registered in the treatment of patients suffering from oncological/haematological malignancies, but more still needs to be done to reduce toxicity and side effects, improve outcome and offer new strategies for relapsed or refractory disease. A remarkable part of these clinical benefits is due to advances in immunotherapy. Here, we investigate the generation of a novel, universal and ready-to-use immunotherapeutic product based on γδ-T lymphocytes. These cells are part of the innate immune system, exerting potent natural cytotoxicity against bacteria, viruses and tumours. This ability, coupled with their negligible alloreactivity, makes them attractive for adoptive immunotherapy approaches. To achieve a cell product suitable for clinical use, we developed a strategy capable to generate polyclonal γδ-T cells with predominant memory-Vδ1 phenotype in good manufacturing practice (GMP) procedures with the additional possibility of gene-modification to improve their anti-tumour activity. Irradiated, engineered artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) expressing CD86/41BBL/CD40L and the cytomegalovirus (CMV)-antigen-pp65 were used. The presence of CMV-pp65 and CD40L proved to be crucial for expansion of the memory-Vδ1 subpopulation. To allow clinical translation and guarantee patient safety, aAPCs were stably transduced with an inducible suicide gene. Expanded γδ-T cells showed high expression of activation and memory markers, without signs of exhaustion; they maintained polyclonality and potent anti-tumour activity both in vitro (against immortalised and primary blasts) and in in vivo studies without displaying alloreactivity signals. The molecular characterisation (phophoproteomic and gene-expression) of these cell products underlines their unique properties. These cells can further be armed with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to improve anti-tumour capacity and persistence. We demonstrate the feasibility of establishing an allogeneic third-party, off-the-shelf and ready-to-use, γδ-T-cell bank. These γδ-T cells may represent an attractive therapeutic option endowed with broad clinical applications, including treatment of viral infections in highly immunocompromised patients, treatment of aggressive malignancies refractory to conventional approaches, bridging therapy to more targeted immunotherapeutic approaches and, ultimately, an innovative platform for the development of off-the-shelf CAR-T-cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicia A Polito
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosaria Cristantielli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerrit Weber
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Del Bufalo
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Tamascia Belardinilli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia M Arnone
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Petretto
- Core Facilities, Proteomics Laboratory, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Antonucci
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Ezio Giorda
- Core Facilities, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Pitisci
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.,Department of Gynaecology/Obstetrics and Paediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Cellular and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Agrati C, Tumino N, Bordoni V, Pinnetti C, Sabatini A, Amendola A, Abbate I, Lorenzini P, Mondi A, Casetti R, Cimini E, Grassi G, Antinori A, Sacchi A. Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells Expansion Persists After Early ART and May Affect CD4 T Cell Recovery. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1886. [PMID: 31440256 PMCID: PMC6694843 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are expanded during HIV-1 infection and correlated with disease progression. MDSC expand in the early phase of primary infection depending on TRAIL level. In this study we evaluated the effect of ART on the frequency of MDSC in patients with primary HIV infection (PHI), and their impact on CD4 T cell reconstitution. MDSC frequency was evaluated by flow-cytometry in 60 PHI patients at 12, 24 and 48 weeks after ART initiation. Cytokine plasma levels were evaluated by Luminex technology at the same time points. The capacity of MDSC to modulate hematopoietic early progenitor cells' expansion was evaluated using the OP9/Dl1 in vitro system. As previously described, polymorphonuclear-MDSC (PMN-MDSC) frequency was higher in PHI compared to healthy donors. Interestingly, 48 weeks of successful ART failed to normalize the PMN-MDSC frequency. Moreover, PMN-MDSC frequency was not correlated with residual viral load, suggesting that the persistence of PMN-MDSC was not due to residual viral replication. Interestingly, patients with low PMN-MDSC frequency (<6%) at T0 had a higher HIV DNA at the same time point than individuals with high PMN-MDSC frequency (>6%). We also found an inverse correlation between PMN-MDSC frequency and CD4-T cell count at 48 weeks post-ART, which was confirmed by multivariate analysis adjusting for age and CD4 T cell number at baseline. These data suggest that the persistence of PMN-MDSC may impact CD4 T cell recovery. Indeed, in vitro PMN-MDSC impaired the expansion of CD34+CD38- hematopoietic early progenitors. Further, a balance between TRAIL and GM-CSF may be necessary to maintain a low MDSC level. In conclusion, early ART initiation was not able to normalize PMN-MDSC frequency that might impact the CD4 T cell recovery. These data open new questions regarding the clinical impact of MDSC persistence in HIV+ patients, in particular on non-AIDS related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Pinnetti
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sabatini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Amendola
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Abbate
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Lorenzini
- Clinical Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Mondi
- Clinical Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Grassi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Antinori
- Clinical Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Ingegnere T, Mariotti FR, Pelosi A, Quintarelli C, De Angelis B, Tumino N, Besi F, Cantoni C, Locatelli F, Vacca P, Moretta L. Human CAR NK Cells: A New Non-viral Method Allowing High Efficient Transfection and Strong Tumor Cell Killing. Front Immunol 2019; 10:957. [PMID: 31114587 PMCID: PMC6503170 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [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: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CAR-NK cells may represent a valuable tool, complementary to CAR-T cells, in adoptive immunotherapy of leukemia and solid tumors. However, gene transfer to human NK cells is a challenging task, particularly with non-virus-based techniques. Here, we describe a new procedure allowing efficient electroporation-based transfection of plasmid DNA, including CAR and CCR7 genes, in resting or cytokine-expanded human NK cell populations and NK-92 cell line. This procedure may offer a suitable platform for a safe and effective use of CAR-NK cells in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Ingegnere
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.,Department of "Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia", University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa and Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Research Area, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Tumino N, Martini S, Munari E, Scordamaglia F, Besi F, Mariotti FR, Bogina G, Mingari MC, Vacca P, Moretta L. Presence of innate lymphoid cells in pleural effusions of primary and metastatic tumors: Functional analysis and expression of PD-1 receptor. Int J Cancer 2019; 145:1660-1668. [PMID: 30856277 PMCID: PMC6767381 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [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: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TM) contains a wide variety of cell types and soluble factors capable of suppressing immune responses. While the presence of NK cells in pleural effusions (PE) has been documented, no information exists on the presence of other innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets and on the expression of programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1) in NK and ILC. The presence of ILC was assessed in PE of 54 patients (n = 33 with mesothelioma, n = 15 with adenocarcinoma and n = 6 with inflammatory pleural diseases) by cell staining with suitable antibody combinations and cytofluorimetric analysis. The cytokine production of ILC isolated from both PE and autologous peripheral blood was analyzed upon cell stimulation and intracytoplasmic staining. We show that, in addition to NK cells, also ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3 are present in malignant PE and that the prevalent subset is ILC3. PE‐ILC subsets produced their typical sets of cytokines upon activation. In addition, we analyzed the PD‐1 expression on NK/ILC by multiparametric flow‐cytometric analysis, while the expression of PD‐1 ligand (PD‐L1) was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Both NK cells and ILC3 expressed functional PD‐1, moreover, both tumor samples and malignant PE‐derived tumor cell lines were PD‐L1+ suggesting that the interaction between PD‐1+ILC and PD‐L1+tumor cells may hamper antitumor immune responses mediated by NK and ILC. What's new? Pleural tumors result in effusions that are not well characterized. In this study, the authors found that pleural effusions from patients with primary mesothelioma or metastatic adenocarcinoma contain NK cells and other innate lymphoid cells (ILC). These immune cells were capable of expressing normal cytokines, including the checkpoint protein PD‐1. However, the tumor cells were found to express the ligand PD‐L1. These results suggest a PD‐1‐mediated inhibitory effect on lymphoid cells with potential anti‐tumor activity. Better understanding of this inhibition in the tumor microenvironment may lead to new targets for checkpoint‐inhibitor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Martini
- UOC Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar VR, Italy.,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Besi
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Bogina
- Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar VR, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- UOC Immunologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Mariotti FR, Petrini S, Ingegnere T, Tumino N, Besi F, Scordamaglia F, Munari E, Pesce S, Marcenaro E, Moretta A, Vacca P, Moretta L. PD-1 in human NK cells: evidence of cytoplasmic mRNA and protein expression. Oncoimmunology 2018; 8:1557030. [PMID: 30723590 PMCID: PMC6350684 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1557030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Under physiological conditions, PD-1/PD-L1 interactions regulate unwanted over-reactions of immune cells and contribute to maintain peripheral tolerance. However, in tumor microenvironment, this interaction may greatly compromise the immune-mediated anti-tumor activity. PD-1+ NK cells have been detected in high percentage in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of ovarian carcinoma patients. To acquire information on PD-1 expression and physiology in human NK cells, we analyzed whether PD-1 mRNA and protein are present in resting, surface PD-1−, NK cells from healthy donors. Both different splicing isoforms of PD-1 mRNA and a cytoplasmic pool of PD-1 protein were detected. Similar results were obtained also from both in vitro-activated and tumor-associated NK cells. PD-1 mRNA and protein were higher in CD56dim than in CD56bright NK cells. Confocal microscopy analyses revealed that PD-1 protein is present in virtually all NK cells analyzed. The present findings are compatible with a rapid surface expression of PD-1 in NK cells in response to appropriate, still undefined, stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziano Ingegnere
- Department of Immunology, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Department of Immunology, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy.,Department of Pathology AOUI, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Pesce
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Marcenaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Moretta
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCSS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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38
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Vacca P, Munari E, Tumino N, Moretta F, Pietra G, Vitale M, Del Zotto G, Mariotti FR, Mingari MC, Moretta L. Human natural killer cells and other innate lymphoid cells in cancer: Friends or foes? Immunol Lett 2018; 201:14-19. [PMID: 30439479 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) including NK cells (cytotoxic) and the recently identified "helper" ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3, play an important role in innate defenses against pathogens. Notably, they mirror analogous T cell subsets, regarding the pattern of cytokine produced, while the timing of their intervention is few hours vs days required for T cell-mediated adaptive responses. On the other hand, the effectiveness of ILC in anti-tumor defenses is controversial. The relevance of NK cells in the control of tumor growth and metastasis has been well documented and they have been exploited in the therapy of high risk leukemia in the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation setting. In contrast, the actual involvement of helper ILCs remains contradictory. Thus, while certain functional capabilities of ILC1 and ILC3 may favor anti-tumor responses, other functions could rather favor tumor growth, neo-angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. In addition, ILC2, by secreting type-2 cytokines, are thought to induce a prevalent pro-tumorigenic effect. Finally, the function of both NK cells and helper ILCs may be inhibited by the tumor microenvironment, thus adding further complexity to the interplay between ILC and tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Department of Pathology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, VR, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Moretta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, 37024, Negrar, VR, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- UOC Immunologia, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Centre of Exellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- UOC Immunologia, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Genny Del Zotto
- Department of Research and Diagnostics, Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- UOC Immunologia, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Centre of Exellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Sacchi A, Tumino N, Grassi G, Casetti R, Cimini E, Bordoni V, Ammassari A, Antinori A, Agrati C. A new procedure to analyze polymorphonuclear myeloid derived suppressor cells in cryopreserved samples cells by flow cytometry. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202920. [PMID: 30161175 PMCID: PMC6117014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) is a heterogeneous subset of immature and mature cells of the myeloid lineage, undergoing expansion during pathologic conditions, and able to perform strong immune suppressive functions. It has been shown that cryopreservation selectively impacts the polimorphonuclear (PMN) MDSC viability and recovery, and alters the correct analysis of MDSC subsets. In laboratory practice, cryopreservation is often inevitable, in particular in multicenter studies where samples have to be shipped to a centralized laboratory. Aim of the present work was to set out a new protocol to evaluate the frequency of PMN-MDSC in thawed cells by flow-cytometry. PBMC were isolated from HIV+ patients and healthy donors, and were cryopreserved for at least ten days. After thawing, two different protocols were used: 1. standard protocol (SP) consisting of staining with the antibodies mix and then fixing with formalin 1%; 2. thawed protocol (TP) in which fixation foregoes the staining with the antibodies mix. Results showed that PMN-MDSC frequency in ex vivo PBMC evaluated by means TP was comparable to that analysed by SP, indicating that the protocol did not alter PMN-MDSC quantification in ex vivo cells. We then demonstrated that PMN-MDSC frequency in thawed PBMC tested by TP was almost identical to the frequency obtained in ex vivo cells evaluated by using SP. However, we observed that after three hours of culture post-thawing, PMN-MDSC were not assessable anymore with both SP and TP. In conclusion, we herein demonstrated that fixing PBMC soon after thawing and before antibody staining allows preservation of PMN-MDSC integrity and a reliable cells quantification. Thus, it is possible to phenotipically identify PMN-MDSC in cryopreserved PBMC, consenting adequate test precision and accuracy as well as making multicentre research more feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Grassi
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Ammassari
- Clinical Department, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Antinori
- Clinical Department, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Sacchi A, Tumino N, Sabatini A, Cimini E, Casetti R, Bordoni V, Grassi G, Agrati C. Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Specifically Suppress IFN-γ Production and Antitumor Cytotoxic Activity of Vδ2 T Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1271. [PMID: 29928279 PMCID: PMC5997821 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells represent less than 5% of circulating T cells; they exert a potent cytotoxic function against tumor or infected cells and secrete cytokines like conventional αβ T cells. As αβ T cells γδ T cells reside in the typical T cell compartments (the lymph nodes and spleen), but are more widely distributed in tissues throughout the body. For these reasons, some investigators are exploring the possibility of immunotherapies aimed to expand and activate Vδ2 T cells, or using them as Chimeric Antigen Receptor carriers. However, the role of immunosuppressive microenvironment on Vδ2 T cells during infections and cancers has not been completely elucidated. In particular, the effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), largely expanded in such pathologies, were not explored. In the present work, we demonstrated that MDSC may inhibit IFN-γ production and degranulation of phosphoantigen-activated Vδ2 T cells. Moreover, the Vδ2 T cells cytotoxic activity against the Burkitt lymphoma cell line Daudi and Jurkat cell line were impaired by MDSC. The Arginase I seems to be involved in the impairment of Vδ2 T cell function induced by both tumor cells and MDSC. These data open a key issue in the context of Vδ2-targeted immunoteraphy, suggesting the need of combined strategies aimed to boost Vδ2 T cells circumventing tumor- and MDSC-induced Vδ2 T cells suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sacchi
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sabatini
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Grassi
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Pharmacology, Department of Epidemiology, Pre-Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Giglio P, Gagliardi M, Tumino N, Antunes F, Smaili S, Cotella D, Santoro C, Bernardini R, Mattei M, Piacentini M, Corazzari M. PKR and GCN2 stress kinases promote an ER stress-independent eIF2α phosphorylation responsible for calreticulin exposure in melanoma cells. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1466765. [PMID: 30221067 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1466765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunogenic cell death (ICD) process represents a novel therapeutic approach to treat tumours, in which cytotoxic compounds promote both cancer cell death and the emission of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from dying cells, to activate the immune system against the malignancy. Therefore, we explored the possibility to stimulate the key molecular players with a pivotal role in the execution of the ICD program in melanoma cells. To this aim, we used the pro-ICD agents mitoxantrone and doxorubicin and found that both agents could induce cell death and stimulate the release/exposure of the strictly required DAMPs in melanoma cells: i) calreticulin (CRT) exposure on the cell membrane; ii) ATP secretion; iii) type I IFNs gene up-regulation and iv) HMGB1 secretion, highlighting no interference by oncogenic BRAF. Importantly, although the ER stress-related PERK activation has been linked to CRT externalization, through the phosphorylation of eIF2α, we found that this stress pathway together with PERK were not involved in melanoma cells. Notably, we identified PKR and GCN2 as key mediators of eIF2α phosphorylation, facilitating the translocation of CTR on melanoma cells surface, under pro-ICD drugs stimulation. Therefore, our data indicate that pro-ICD drugs are able to stimulate the production/release of DAMPs in melanoma cells at least in vitro, indicating in this approach a potential new valuable therapeutic strategy to treat human skin melanoma malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Giglio
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.,Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani', Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Gagliardi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.,Department of Health Science (DISS), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani', Rome, Italy
| | - Fernanda Antunes
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Soraya Smaili
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diego Cotella
- Department of Health Science (DISS), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Claudio Santoro
- Department of Health Science (DISS), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Roberta Bernardini
- Department of Biology, Centro Servizi Interdipartimentale-STA, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mattei
- Department of Biology, Centro Servizi Interdipartimentale-STA, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Piacentini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.,Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani', Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Corazzari
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani', Rome, Italy.,Department of Health Science (DISS), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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42
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Pistoia V, Tumino N, Vacca P, Veneziani I, Moretta A, Locatelli F, Moretta L. Human γδ T-Cells: From Surface Receptors to the Therapy of High-Risk Leukemias. Front Immunol 2018; 9:984. [PMID: 29867961 PMCID: PMC5949323 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
γδ T lymphocytes are potent effector cells, capable of efficiently killing tumor and leukemia cells. Their activation is mediated by γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) and by activating receptors shared with NK cells (e.g., NKG2D and DNAM-1). γδ T-cell triggering occurs upon interaction with specific ligands, including phosphoantigens (for Vγ9Vδ2 TCR), MICA-B and UL16 binding protein (for NKG2D), and PVR and Nectin-2 (for DNAM-1). They also respond to cytokines undergoing proliferation and release of cytokines/chemokines. Although at the genomic level γδ T-cells have the potential of an extraordinary TCR diversification, in tissues they display a restricted repertoire. Recent studies have identified various γδ TCR rearrangements following either hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or cytomegalovirus infection, accounting for their “adaptive” potential. In humans, peripheral blood γδ T-cells are primarily composed of Vγ9Vδ2 chains, while a minor proportion express Vδ1. They do not recognize antigens in the context of MHC molecules, thus bypassing tumor escape based on MHC class I downregulation. In view of their potent antileukemia activity and absence of any relevant graft-versus-host disease-inducing effect, γδ T-cells may play an important role in the successful clinical outcome of patients undergoing HLA-haploidentical HSCT depleted of TCR αβ T/CD19+ B lymphocytes to cure high-risk acute leukemias. In this setting, high numbers of both γδ T-cells (Vδ1 and Vδ2) and NK cells are infused together with CD34+ HSC and may contribute to rapid control of infections and leukemia relapse. Notably, zoledronic acid potentiates the cytolytic activity of γδ T-cells in vitro and its infusion in patients strongly promotes γδ T-cell differentiation and cytolytic activity; thus, treatment with this agent may contribute to further improve the patient clinical outcome after HLA-haploidentical HSCT depleted of TCR αβ T/CD19+ B lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Pistoia
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Veneziani
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Moretta
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale and Centro di Eccellenza per le Ricerche Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Bordoni V, Viola D, Sacchi A, Pinnetti C, Casetti R, Cimini E, Tumino N, Antinori A, Ammassari A, Agrati C. IL-18 and Stem Cell Factor affect hematopoietic progenitor cells in HIV-infected patients treated during primary HIV infection. Cytokine 2018; 103:34-37. [PMID: 29324258 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2017.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The impact of early antiretroviral therapy (ART) during Primary HIV Infection (PHI) on the hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) homeostasis is not available. This study aimed to characterize HPCs and their relationship with cytokines regulating progenitors function in ART-treated patients with PHI. We enrolled HIV infected patients treated with ART during PHI. Circulating HPCs, Lymphoid-HPCs (L-HPCs) frequency and plasmatic concentrations of IL-7, IL-18 and Stem Cell Factor (SCF) were analysed at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. ART introduction during PHI restored the decline of L-HPCs, induced a decrease in the level of pro-inflammatory IL-18 cytokine and a parallel increase of SCF. Moreover, L-HPCs frequency positively correlated with IL-18 at baseline, and with SCF after 6 months of therapy, suggesting that different signals impact L-HPCs expansion and maintenance before and after treatment. Finally, the SCF receptor expression on HPCs decreased after early ART initiation. These insights may open new perspectives for the evaluation of cytokine-driven L-HPCs expansion and their impact on the homeostasis of hematopoietic compartment during HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Domenico Viola
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Pinnetti
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Antinori
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Ammassari
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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44
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Tumino N, Casetti R, Fabbri G, Cimini E, Romanelli A, Turchi F, Forini O, Bordoni V, Antinori A, Ammassari A, Sacchi A, Agrati C. In HIV/HCV co-infected patients T regulatory and myeloid-derived suppressor cells persist after successful treatment with directly acting antivirals. J Hepatol 2017; 67:422-424. [PMID: 28411041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tumino
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Fabbri
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Romanelli
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Turchi
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Olindo Forini
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Antinori
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Ammassari
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Department of Epidemiology, Pre-clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostic, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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45
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Sacchi A, Tumino N, Turchi F, Refolo G, Fimia G, Ciccosanti F, Montalbano M, Lionetti R, Taibi C, D'Offizi G, Casetti R, Bordoni V, Cimini E, Martini F, Agrati C. Dendritic cells activation is associated with sustained virological response to telaprevir treatment of HCV-infected patients. Clin Immunol 2017; 183:82-90. [PMID: 28736275 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
First anti-HCV treatments, that include protease inhibitors in conjunction with IFN-α and Ribavirin, increase the sustained virological response (SVR) up to 80% in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The effects of triple therapies on dendritic cell (DC) compartment have not been investigated. In this study we evaluated the effect of telaprevir-based triple therapy on DC phenotype and function, and their possible association with treatment outcome. HCV+ patients eligible for telaprevir-based therapy were enrolled, and circulating DC frequency, phenotype, and function were evaluated by flow-cytometry. The antiviral activity of plasmacytoid DC was also tested. In SVR patients, myeloid DC frequency transiently decreased, and returned to baseline level when telaprevir was stopped. Moreover, an up-regulation of CD80 and CD86 on mDC was observed in SVR patients as well as an improvement of IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DC, able to inhibit in vitro HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Turchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Refolo
- Cellular Biology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - GianMaria Fimia
- Cellular Biology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiola Ciccosanti
- Cellular Biology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Montalbano
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Lionetti
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Taibi
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianpiero D'Offizi
- Clinical Division, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Martini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Bordoni V, Bibas M, Viola D, Sacchi A, Cimini E, Tumino N, Casetti R, Amendola A, Ammassari A, Agrati C, Martini F. Bone Marrow CD34 + Progenitor Cells from HIV-Infected Patients Show an Impaired T Cell Differentiation Potential Related to Proinflammatory Cytokines. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2017; 33:590-596. [PMID: 28125903 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2016.0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of HIV infection on the frequency and differentiation capability of CD34+ bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells (BM-HPCs) is still debated, having a possible primary role in antiretroviral-induced immunoreconstitution. We investigated the influence of HIV replication or proinflammatory cytokines on lymphopoietic capability of BM-HPCs from seven viremic (VR) and five nonviremic (NVR) HIV-infected patients. We found that BM-HPCs from VR patients were unable to differentiate in vitro toward T cells, and produced proinflammatory cytokines in the absence of viral replication. In contrast, the lymphoid differentiation potential of BM-HPCs was partially restored in successfully antiretroviral therapy-treated patients. We also showed that TLR8 triggering induced BM-HPCs from healthy donors to release proinflammatory cytokines affecting T cell differentiation. These data suggest that in HIV-infected patients, the lymphopoiesis capability of BM-HPCs may be modulated by a virus-driven autocrine mechanism involving proinflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Bibas
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Viola
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Amendola
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Ammassari
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Martini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
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47
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Cimini E, Viola D, Cabeza-Cabrerizo M, Romanelli A, Tumino N, Sacchi A, Bordoni V, Casetti R, Turchi F, Martini F, Bore JA, Koundouno FR, Duraffour S, Michel J, Holm T, Zekeng EG, Cowley L, Garcia Dorival I, Doerrbecker J, Hetzelt N, Baum JHJ, Portmann J, Wölfel R, Gabriel M, Miranda O, Díaz G, Díaz JE, Fleites YA, Piñeiro CA, Castro CM, Koivogui L, Magassouba N, Diallo B, Ruibal P, Oestereich L, Wozniak DM, Lüdtke A, Becker-Ziaja B, Capobianchi MR, Ippolito G, Carroll MW, Günther S, Di Caro A, Muñoz-Fontela C, Agrati C. Different features of Vδ2 T and NK cells in fatal and non-fatal human Ebola infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005645. [PMID: 28558022 PMCID: PMC5472323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human Ebola infection is characterized by a paralysis of the immune system. A signature of αβ T cells in fatal Ebola infection has been recently proposed, while the involvement of innate immune cells in the protection/pathogenesis of Ebola infection is unknown. Aim of this study was to analyze γδ T and NK cells in patients from the Ebola outbreak of 2014–2015 occurred in West Africa, and to assess their association with the clinical outcome. Methodology/Principal findings Nineteen Ebola-infected patients were enrolled at the time of admission to the Ebola Treatment Centre in Guinea. Patients were divided in two groups on the basis of the clinical outcome. The analysis was performed by using multiparametric flow cytometry established by the European Mobile Laboratory in the field. A low frequency of Vδ2 T-cells was observed during Ebola infection, independently from the clinical outcome. Moreover, Vδ2 T-cells from Ebola patients massively expressed CD95 apoptotic marker, suggesting the involvement of apoptotic mechanisms in Vδ2 T-cell loss. Interestingly, Vδ2 T-cells from survivors expressed an effector phenotype and presented a lower expression of the CTLA-4 exhaustion marker than fatalities, suggesting a role of effector Vδ2 T-cells in the protection. Furthermore, patients with fatal Ebola infection were characterized by a lower NK cell frequency than patients with non fatal infection. In particular, both CD56bright and CD56dim NK frequency were very low both in fatal and non fatal infections, while a higher frequency of CD56neg NK cells was associated to non-fatal infections. Finally, NK activation and expression of NKp46 and CD158a were independent from clinical outcome. Conclusions/Significances Altogether, the data suggest that both effector Vδ2 T-cells and NK cells may play a role in the complex network of protective response to EBOV infection. Further studies are required to characterize the protective effector functions of Vδ2 and NK cells. Human Ebola infection presents a high lethality rate and is characterized by a paralysis of the immune response. The definition of the protective immune profile during Ebola infection represents a main challenge useful in vaccine and therapy design. In particular, the protective/pathogenetic involvement of innate immune cells during Ebola infection in humans remains to be clarified. Nineteen Ebola-infected patients were enrolled at the time of admission to the Ebola Treatment Center in Guinea, and the profiling of innate immunity was correlated with the clinical outcome. Our results show that both effector Vδ2 T-cells and NK cells were associated with survival, suggesting their involvement in the complex network of protective response to EBOV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Cimini
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Viola
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Mar Cabeza-Cabrerizo
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antonella Romanelli
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Turchi
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Martini
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Joseph A Bore
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Sophie Duraffour
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janine Michel
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Holm
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elsa Gayle Zekeng
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Cowley
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down and Colindale, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Garcia Dorival
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Juliane Doerrbecker
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research (TWINCORE), Institute for Experimental Virology, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Hetzelt
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan H J Baum
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jasmine Portmann
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Federal Office for Civil Protection, Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland
| | - Roman Wölfel
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Gabriel
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - José E Díaz
- Hospital Militar Central Dr. Carlos J. Finlay, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yoel A Fleites
- Hospital Militar Central Dr. Carlos J. Finlay, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - N'Faly Magassouba
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Boubacar Diallo
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. (Boubacar is separate: World Health Organization, Conakry, Guinea)
| | - Paula Ruibal
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany.,Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | - David M Wozniak
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Lüdtke
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany.,Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Beate Becker-Ziaja
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria R Capobianchi
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Miles W Carroll
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down and Colindale, United Kingdom.,University of Southampton, South General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stephan Günther
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany
| | - Antonino Di Caro
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.,European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany
| | - César Muñoz-Fontela
- European Mobile Laboratory Consortium, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hamburg, Munich, Germany.,Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Department of Epidemiology and Pre-clinical research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
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48
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Bordoni V, Sacchi A, Cimini E, Casetti R, Tumino N, Ammassari A, Agrati C, Martini F. The Different Roles of Interleukin 7 and Interleukin 18 in Affecting Lymphoid Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells and CD4 Homeostasis in Naive Primary and Chronic HIV-Infected Patients. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 63:1683-1684. [PMID: 27664242 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Adriana Ammassari
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Rome, Italy
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49
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Casetti R, De Simone G, Sacchi A, Rinaldi A, Viola D, Agrati C, Bordoni V, Cimini E, Tumino N, Besi F, Martini F. Vγ9Vδ2 T-Cell Polyfunctionality Is Differently Modulated in HAART-Treated HIV Patients according to CD4 T-Cell Count. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132291. [PMID: 26161861 PMCID: PMC4498914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of γδ T-cell distribution and function in peripheral blood is among the earliest defects during HIV-infection. We asked whether the polyfunctional response could also be affected, and how this impairment could be associated to CD4 T-cell count. To this aim, we performed a cross-sectional study on HIV-infected individuals. In order to evaluate the polyfunctional-Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell response after phosphoantigen-stimulation, we assessed the cytokine/chemokine production and cytotoxicity by flow-cytometry in HAART-treated-HIV+ persons and healthy-donors. During HIV-infection Vγ9Vδ2-polyfunctional response quality is affected, since several Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell subsets resulted significantly lower in HIV+ patients in respect to healthy donors. Interestingly, we found a weak positive correlation between Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell-response and CD4 T-cell counts. By dividing the HIV+ patients according to CD4 T-cell count, we found that Low-CD4 patients expressed a lower number of two Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell subsets expressing MIP-1β in different combinations with other molecules (CD107a/IFNγ) in respect to High-CD4 individuals. Our results show that the Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell-response quality in Low-CD4 patients is specifically affected, suggesting a direct link between innate Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells and CD4 T-cell count. These findings suggest that Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell quality may be indirectly influenced by HAART therapy and could be included in a new therapeutical strategy which would perform an important role in fighting HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Casetti
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Simone
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rinaldi
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Viola
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Besi
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Martini
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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50
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Cimini E, Agrati C, D’Offizi G, Vlassi C, Casetti R, Sacchi A, Lionetti R, Bordoni V, Tumino N, Scognamiglio P, Martini F. Primary and Chronic HIV Infection Differently Modulates Mucosal Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-Cells Differentiation Profile and Effector Functions. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129771. [PMID: 26086523 PMCID: PMC4472518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut-associated immune system has been identified as a major battlefield during the early phases of HIV infection. γδ T-cells, deeply affected in number and function after HIV infection, are able to act as a first line of defence against invading pathogens by producing antiviral soluble factors and by killing infected cells. Despite the relevant role in mucosal immunity, few data are available on gut-associated γδ T-cells during HIV infection. Aim of this work was to evaluate how primary (P-HIV) and chronic (C-HIV) HIV infection affects differentiation profile and functionality of circulating and gut-associated Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cells. In particular, circulating and mucosal cells were isolated from respectively whole blood and residual gut samples from HIV-infected subjects with primary and chronic infection and from healthy donors (HD). Differentiation profile and functionality were analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry. P-HIV and C-HIV were characterized by an increase in the frequency of effector Vδ1-T cells both in circulating and mucosal compartments. Moreover, during P-HIV mucosal Vδ1 T-cells expressed high levels of CD107a, suggesting a good effector cytotoxic capability of these cells in the early phase of infection that was lost in C-HIV. P-HIV induced an increase in circulating effector Vδ2 T-cells in comparison to C-HIV and HD. Notably, P-HIV as well as HD were characterized by the ability of mucosal Vδ2 T-cells to spontaneously produce IFN-γ that was lost in C-HIV. Altogether, our data showed for the first time a functional capability of mucosal Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cells during P-HIV that was lost in C-HIV, suggesting exhaustion mechanisms induced by persistent stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Cimini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
- Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Gianpiero D’Offizi
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Chrysoula Vlassi
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Casetti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sacchi
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Lionetti
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Scognamiglio
- Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Martini
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
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