scholarly journals Epigenetic modulation of immune synaptic-cytoskeletal networks potentiates γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in lung cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rueyhung R. Weng ◽  
Hsuan-Hsuan Lu ◽  
Chien-Ting Lin ◽  
Chia-Chi Fan ◽  
Rong-Shan Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Human Lung Cancer ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Cancer Management

Abstractγδ T cells are a distinct subgroup of T cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immune system and can attack cancer cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner. Trials of adoptive γδ T cell transfer in solid tumors have had limited success. Here, we show that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) upregulate surface molecules on cancer cells related to γδ T cell activation using quantitative surface proteomics. DNMTi treatment of human lung cancer potentiates tumor lysis by ex vivo-expanded Vδ1-enriched γδ T cells. Mechanistically, DNMTi enhances immune synapse formation and mediates cytoskeletal reorganization via coordinated alterations of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility. Genetic depletion of adhesion molecules or pharmacological inhibition of actin polymerization abolishes the potentiating effect of DNMTi. Clinically, the DNMTi-associated cytoskeleton signature stratifies lung cancer patients prognostically. These results support a combinatorial strategy of DNMTis and γδ T cell-based immunotherapy in lung cancer management.

scholarly journals Imperatorin Targets MCL-1 to Sensitize CD133+ Lung Cancer Cells to γδ-T Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changxuan You ◽  
Yu Yang ◽  
Beili Gao
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Lung Cancer Cells ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Cytochrome C Release

Background/Aims: CD133+ cancer cells display low sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment; thus, combination treatment with adjuvant drugs is required to improve the efficiency of cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of imperatorin, a linear furanocoumarin compound, on γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against CD133+ lung cancer cells. Methods: CD133+ and CD133- subgroups from A549 and PC9 lung cancer cells were sorted by using flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity of γδ T cells against cancer cells was evaluated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in the co-culture system was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential, expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5 on the cell surface, and rate of apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Cytochrome c release and cellular protein expression were detected by western blot analysis. Results: Compared with CD133- cells, CD133+ cells were resistant to γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. However, imperatorin significantly increased the sensitivity of CD133+ lung cancer cells to γδ T cell treatment in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, we found that myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), an important anti-apoptotic protein belonging to the Bcl-2 family, was overexpressed in CD133+ A549 and PC9 cells compared to their corresponding CD133- cells. Co-treatment with imperatorin and γδ T cells suppressed the expression of MCL-1, and thus promoted the mitochondrial apoptosis mediated by γδ T cells in CD133+ A549 and PC9 lung cancer cells. Conclusion: Up-regulated MCL-1 in CD133+ lung cancer cells is responsible for their resistance to γδ T cells. Furthermore, the combination of γδ T cells with imperatorin sensitized CD133+ lung cancer cells to γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by targeting MCL-1.

Epigenetic therapy remodels the immune synaptic cytoskeleton to potentiate cancer susceptibility to γδ T cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rueyhung R. Weng ◽  
Hsuan-Hsuan Lu ◽  
Chien-Ting Lin ◽  
Chia-Chi Fan ◽  
Rong-Shan Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Immune Synapse ◽  
Tumor Lysis ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase Inhibitors

ABSTRACTγδ T cells are a distinct subgroup of T cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems and can attack cancer or virus-infected cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner. Despite its antitumor ability in both autologous and allogeneic settings, earlier trials of adoptive γδ T cell transfer in solid tumors had limited success due to limitations in cell expansion and the lack of a strategy to modulate tumor lytic interactions between γδ T and cancer cells. Here, we show through quantitative surface proteomics and gene enrichment analyses that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) upregulate multiple surface molecules related to γδ T cell activation in cancer cells. DNMTi treatment of human lung cancer potentiates tumor lysis by ex vivo-expanded γδ T cells using a clinical-grade expansion protocol developed by our team to enrich for the Vδ1 subset while preserving their antitumor effector functions. Mechanistically, DNMTis enhance immune synapse formation and stabilize the synaptic cleft to facilitate γδ T-mediated tumor lysis. Through integrated analysis of RNA-seq, DNA methylation, and ATAC-seq, we demonstrate that depletion of DNMTs induces coordinated pattern alterations of immune synaptic-cytoskeletal networks at the cancer side of the immune synapse. In addition, single-cell mass cytometry reveals enrichment of polyfunctional γδ T subsets by DNMTis. Combined DNMTi and adoptive γδ T transfer in a mouse lung cancer model offers a significant survival benefit. Consistently, the DNMTi-associated cytoskeleton signature identifies a subset of lung cancer patients with improved survival. Our results demonstrate that epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for cytoskeletal remodeling in cancer to potentiate immune attack and support a combinatorial strategy of DNMTis and γδ T cell-based immunotherapy in lung cancer management.One Sentence SummaryDNA methyltransferase inhibitors potentiate the killing of lung cancer by γδ T cells through remodeling cytoskeletal-immune synaptic networks.

scholarly journals CD122-directed interleukin-2 treatment mechanisms in bladder cancer differ from αPD-L1 and include tissue-selective γδ T cell activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e002051
Author(s):  
Ryan Michael Reyes ◽  
Yilun Deng ◽  
Deyi Zhang ◽  
Niannian Ji ◽  
Neelam Mukherjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bladder Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Combination Treatment ◽  
Treatment Efficacy ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Γδ T Cell

BackgroundAnti-programmed death-ligand 1 (αPD-L1) immunotherapy is approved to treat bladder cancer (BC) but is effective in <30% of patients. Interleukin (IL)-2/αIL-2 complexes (IL-2c) that preferentially target IL-2 receptor β (CD122) augment CD8+ antitumor T cells known to improve αPD-L1 efficacy. We hypothesized that the tumor microenvironment, including local immune cells in primary versus metastatic BC, differentially affects immunotherapy responses and that IL-2c effects could differ from, and thus complement αPD-L1.MethodsWe studied mechanisms of IL-2c and αPD-L1 efficacy using PD-L1+ mouse BC cell lines MB49 and MBT-2 in orthotopic (bladder) and metastatic (lung) sites.ResultsIL-2c reduced orthotopic tumor burden and extended survival in MB49 and MBT-2 BC models, similar to αPD-L1. Using antibody-mediated cell depletions and genetically T cell-deficient mice, we unexpectedly found that CD8+ T cells were not necessary for IL-2c efficacy against tumors in bladder, whereas γδ T cells, not reported to contribute to αPD-L1 efficacy, were indispensable for IL-2c efficacy there. αPD-L1 responsiveness in bladder required conventional T cells as expected, but not γδ T cells, altogether defining distinct mechanisms for IL-2c and αPD-L1 efficacy. γδ T cells did not improve IL-2c treatment of subcutaneously challenged BC or orthotopic (peritoneal) ovarian cancer, consistent with tissue-specific and/or tumor-specific γδ T cell contributions to IL-2c efficacy. IL-2c significantly altered bladder intratumoral γδ T cell content, activation status, and specific γδ T cell subsets with antitumor or protumor effector functions. Neither IL-2c nor αPD-L1 alone treated lung metastatic MB49 or MBT-2 BC, but their combination improved survival in both models. Combination treatment efficacy in lungs required CD8+ T cells but not γδ T cells.ConclusionsMechanistic insights into differential IL-2c and αPD-L1 treatment and tissue-dependent effects could help develop rational combination treatment strategies to improve treatment efficacy in distinct cancers. These studies also provide insights into γδ T cell contributions to immunotherapy in bladder and engagement of adaptive immunity by IL-2c plus αPD-L1 to treat refractory lung metastases.

107 Effects of IL-2 and IL-15 on the proliferative and antitumor capacities of allogeneic CD20 CAR-engineered γδ T cells in a 3D B cell lymphoma spheroid assay

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A119-A119
Author(s):  
Lu Bai ◽  
Kevin Nishimoto ◽  
Mustafa Turkoz ◽  
Marissa Herrman ◽  
Jason Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Car T

BackgroundAutologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of B cell malignancies; however, widespread adoption and application of CAR T cell products still face a number of challenges. To overcome these challenges, Adicet Bio is developing an allogeneic γδ T cell-based CAR T cell platform, which capitalizes on the intrinsic abilities of Vδ1 γδ T cells to recognize and kill transformed cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner, to migrate to epithelial tissues, and to function in hypoxic conditions. To gain a better understanding of the requirements for optimal intratumoral CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid assay, in which tumor cells acquire the structural organization of a solid tumor and establish a microenvironment that has oxygen and nutrient gradients. Moreover, through the addition of cytokines and/or tumor stromal cell types, the spheroid microenvironment can be modified to reflect hot or cold tumors. Here, we report on the use of a 3D CD20+ Raji lymphoma spheroid assay to evaluate the effects of IL-2 and IL-15, positive regulators of T cell homeostasis and differentiation, on the proliferative and antitumor capacities of CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cells.MethodsMolecular, phenotypic, and functional profiling were performed to characterize the in vitro dynamics of the intraspheroid CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell response to target antigen in the presence of IL-2, IL-15, or no added cytokine.ResultsWhen compared to no added cytokine, the addition of IL-2 or IL-15 enhanced CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner but were only able to alter the kinetics of Raji cell killing at low effector to target ratios. Notably, differential gene expression analysis using NanoString nCounter® Technology confirmed the positive effects of IL-2 or IL-15 on CAR-activated Vδ1 γδ T cells as evidenced by the upregulation of genes involved in activation, cell cycle, mitochondrial biogenesis, cytotoxicity, and cytokine production.ConclusionsTogether, these results not only show that the addition of IL-2 or IL-15 can potentiate CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and differentiation into antitumor effectors but also highlight the utility of the 3D spheroid assay as a high throughput in vitro method for assessing and predicting CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and differentiation in hot and cold tumors.

Butyrophilin 2A1 is essential for phosphoantigen reactivity by γδ T cells

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6478) ◽  
pp. eaay5516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Rigau ◽  
Simone Ostrouska ◽  
Thomas S. Fulford ◽  
Darryl N. Johnson ◽  
Katherine Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
T Cell Receptors ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Molecular Targets ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Gamma Delta

Gamma delta (γδ) T cells are essential to protective immunity. In humans, most γδ T cells express Vγ9Vδ2+ T cell receptors (TCRs) that respond to phosphoantigens (pAgs) produced by cellular pathogens and overexpressed by cancers. However, the molecular targets recognized by these γδTCRs are unknown. Here, we identify butyrophilin 2A1 (BTN2A1) as a key ligand that binds to the Vγ9+ TCR γ chain. BTN2A1 associates with another butyrophilin, BTN3A1, and these act together to initiate responses to pAg. Furthermore, binding of a second ligand, possibly BTN3A1, to a separate TCR domain incorporating Vδ2 is also required. This distinctive mode of Ag-dependent T cell activation advances our understanding of diseases involving pAg recognition and creates opportunities for the development of γδ T cell–based immunotherapies.

scholarly journals Immunosurveillance by human γδ T lymphocytes: the emerging role of butyrophilins

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Kabelitz ◽  
Marcus Lettau ◽  
Ottmar Janssen
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
T Cell Receptor ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Cellular Transformation ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Γδ T Cell

In contrast to conventional T lymphocytes, which carry an αβ T-cell receptor and recognize antigens as peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex class I or class II molecules, human γδ T cells recognize different metabolites such as non-peptidic pyrophosphate molecules that are secreted by microbes or overproduced by tumor cells. Hence, γδ T cells play a role in immunosurveillance of infection and cellular transformation. Until recently, it has been unknown how the γδ T-cell receptor senses such pyrophosphates in the absence of known antigen-presenting molecules. Recent studies from several groups have identified a unique role of butyrophilin (BTN) protein family members in this process, notably of BTN3A1. BTNs are a large family of transmembrane proteins with diverse functions in lipid secretion and innate and adaptive immunity. Here we discuss current models of how BTN molecules regulate γδ T-cell activation. We also address the implications of these recent findings on the design of novel immunotherapeutic strategies based on the activation of γδ T cells.

scholarly journals Phosphoantigens are Molecular Glues that Promote Butyrophilin 3A1/2A1 Association Leading to Vγ9Vδ2 T Cell Activation

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linjie Yuan ◽  
Xianqiang Ma ◽  
Yunyun Yang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Weiwei Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Cellular Assays ◽  
Inside Out

Tumor cells and pathogen-infected cells are presented to human γδ T cells based on "inside-out" signaling in which metabolites called phosphoantigens (pAgs) inside target cells are recognized by the intracellular domain of a butyrophilin protein (BTN3A1), leading to an extracellular conformational change. Here, we report that pAgs function as molecular "glues" that initiate a heteromeric association between the intracellular domains of BTN3A1 and the structurally similar BTN2A1. Working with both exogenous and endogenous pAgs, we used x-ray crystallography, mutational studies, cellular assays, synthetic probe as well as molecular dynamics investigations to determine how pAgs glue intracellular BTN3A1 and BTN2A1 together for the "inside-out" signaling that triggers γδ T cell activation. This γδ T cell-specific mode of antigen sensing creates opportunities for the development of alternative immunotherapies against cancer and infectious diseases that do not involve αβ T cells.

scholarly journals Function of γδ T cells in tumor immunology and their application to cancer therapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jang Hyun Park ◽  
Heung Kyu Lee
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Tumor Immunology ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Antigen Specificity ◽  
Antitumor Therapy

AbstractT cells of the γδ lineage are unconventional T cells with functions not restricted to MHC-mediated antigen presentation. Because of their broad antigen specificity and NK-like cytotoxicity, γδ T-cell importance in tumor immunology has been emphasized. However, some γδ T-cell subsets, especially those expressing IL-17, are immunosuppressive or tumor-promoting cells. Their cytokine profile and cytotoxicity are seemingly determined by cross-talk with microenvironment components, not by the γδTCR chain. Furthermore, much about the TCR antigen of γδ T cells remains unknown compared with the extreme diversity of their TCR chain pairs. Thus, the investigation and application of γδ T cells have been relatively difficult. Nevertheless, γδ T cells remain attractive targets for antitumor therapy because of their independence from MHC molecules. Because tumor cells have the ability to evade the immune system through MHC shedding, heterogeneous antigens, and low antigen spreading, MHC-independent γδ T cells represent good alternative targets for immunotherapy. Therefore, many approaches to using γδ T cells for antitumor therapy have been attempted, including induction of endogenous γδ T cell activation, adoptive transfer of expanded cells ex vivo, and utilization of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Here, we discuss the function of γδ T cells in tumor immunology and their application to cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Activation of Human γδ T Cells: Modulation by Toll-Like Receptor 8 Ligands and Role of Monocytes

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Serrano ◽  
Daniela Wesch ◽  
Dieter Kabelitz
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Zoledronic Acid ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

Background: Human Vγ9Vδ2 γδ T cells can kill a variety of cancer cells and have attracted substantial interest for cancer immunotherapy. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are promising adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy, but TLR7/8 ligand Resiquimod has been shown to inhibit CD4 T-cell activation in a monocyte-dependent manner. Therefore, we studied the modulation of human γδ T-cell activation by TLR7/8 ligands. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or purified γδ T cells together with purified monocytes were stimulated with zoledronic acid or phosphoantigens in the absence or presence of various imidazoquinoline TLR7 or TLR8 agonists. Read-out systems included interferon-γ induction and cellular expansion of γδ T cells, as well as viability, cell surface antigen modulation, and IL-1β and TNF-α production of monocytes. Results: TLR8 ligand TL8-506 and TLR7/8 ligand Resiquimod (but not TLR7 ligands) rapidly induced IFN-γ expression in γδ T cells within PBMC, and co-stimulated phosphoantigen-induced IFN-γ expression in γδ T cells. On the other hand, TLR8 ligands potently suppressed γδ T-cell expansion in response to zoledronic acid and phosphoantigen. Purified monocytes secreted large amounts of IL-1β and TNF-α when stimulated with TLR8 ligands but simultaneously underwent substantial cell death after 24 h. Conclusions: TLR8 ligand-activated monocytes potently co-stimulate early γδ T-cell activation but failed to provide accessory cell function for in vitro expansion of γδ T cells.

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