scholarly journals Mechanism of rejection of virus persistently infected tumor cells by athymic nude mice.

1979 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 1117-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Minato ◽  
B R Bloom ◽  
C Jones ◽  
J Holland ◽  
L M Reid
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Nude Mice ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Persistently Infected

Cell lines known to be tumorigenic in the nude mouse were modified by rendering them persistently infected (P.I.) with a variety of RNA viruses, including measles, mumps, vesicular stomatitis virus, and influenza. Although as few as 100 HeLa or BHK cells produced tumors in 100% of nude mice, as many as 2 x 10(7) of the same cells P.I. with viruses failed to produce tumors. An active host response responsible for restricting the growth of the P.I. cells was suggested by the findings of marked mononuclear cell infiltrates at the inoculation sites and the inability of irradiated nude mice to reject them. An analysis of the in vitro cytotoxic activity of spleen cells from normal nude mice indicated that: (a) P.I. cell lines, but not uninfected cell lines, were susceptible to spontaneous cytotoxicity; (b) in vivo inoculation of P.I. lines induced an enhanced cytotoxic activity for P.I. targets in vitro, and this induction was not specific either for inducing virus or cell line; and (c) the effector cell had the characteristics for natural killer (NK) cells. Although the specificity of recognition of the various P.I. cell lines remains unclear, cold competition experiments indicated that blocking the killing of one P.I. cell line, e.g. HeLa-measles, could be achieved only by unlabeled homologous cells, i.e. HeLa-measles, and not by uninfected cells or other P.I. lines. A variant subline of BHK cells P.I. with VSV was selected for its ability to withstand the rejection process in nude mice. These cells formed metastatic and invasive tumors in nude mice. Although they were the most potent inducers in vivo of NK cell activity against various P.I. targets, they were the most resistant of the P.I. lines to NK cell cytotoxicity in vitro. In this system there was a good correlation between tumor rejection in vivo and susceptibility to NK cells in vitro. The present results suggest that NK cells may play a significant role in both rejection of tumor cells, and in resistance to viruses, particularly persistent infections.

scholarly journals NK cells promote cancer immunoediting through tumor-intrinsic loss of interferon-stimulated gene expression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung Yu Wong ◽  
Luke Riggan ◽  
Edgar Perez-Reyes ◽  
Christopher Huerta ◽  
Matt Moldenhauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Cancer Immunoediting ◽  
Ifn Γ

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that constantly patrol host tissues against transformed cells in a process known as cancer immunosurveillance. Previous evidence in mice has demonstrated that NK cell-derived IFN-γ can promote immunoevasion by sculpting the immunogenicity of developing tumors in a process known as cancer immunoediting. This process involves the elimination of highly immunogenic “unedited” tumor cells followed by the eventual escape of less immunogenic “edited” tumor cell variants that are able to escape recognition or elimination by the immune system. Here, we show that NK cell-edited fibrosarcomas decrease the expression of 17 conserved IFN-γ-inducible genes compared to unedited tumor cells. High expression of 3 of these identified genes (Psmb8, Trim21, Parp12) in human tumor samples correlates with enhanced survival in breast cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma patients. While NK cell-edited fibrosarcomas displayed resistance to IFN-γ growth suppression in vitro, functional knockouts of individual interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) were not required for outgrowth of unedited tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo compared to complete loss of IFN signaling. Furthermore, knockout of IFN-γ-intrinsic signaling via deletion of Ifngr in edited B16 F10 and E0771 LMB metastatic cancer cell lines did not impact host survival following lung metastasis. Together, these results suggest that unedited tumors can be selected for decreased IFN-γ signaling to evade immune responses in vivo, and as a consequence, tumor-extrinsic IFN signaling may be more important for potentiating durable anti-tumor responses to advanced solid tumors.

scholarly journals Pharmacologic inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 as a therapeutic and immune-sensitization strategy in pediatric high-grade glioma

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1302-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cavan P Bailey ◽  
Mary Figueroa ◽  
Achintyan Gangadharan ◽  
Yanwen Yang ◽  
Megan M Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Lysine Specific Demethylase

Abstract Background Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), including brainstem diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are incurable pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG). Mutations in the H3 histone tail (H3.1/3.3-K27M) are a feature of DIPG, rendering them therapeutically sensitive to small-molecule inhibition of chromatin modifiers. Pharmacological inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is clinically relevant but has not been carefully investigated in pHGG or DIPG. Methods Patient-derived DIPG cell lines, orthotopic mouse models, and pHGG datasets were used to evaluate effects of LSD1 inhibitors on cytotoxicity and immune gene expression. Immune cell cytotoxicity was assessed in DIPG cells pretreated with LSD1 inhibitors, and informatics platforms were used to determine immune infiltration of pHGG. Results Selective cytotoxicity and an immunogenic gene signature were established in DIPG cell lines using clinically relevant LSD1 inhibitors. Pediatric HGG patient sequencing data demonstrated survival benefit of this LSD1-dependent gene signature. Pretreatment of DIPG with these inhibitors increased lysis by natural killer (NK) cells. Catalytic LSD1 inhibitors induced tumor regression and augmented NK cell infusion in vivo to reduce tumor burden. CIBERSORT analysis of patient data confirmed NK infiltration is beneficial to patient survival, while CD8 T cells are negatively prognostic. Catalytic LSD1 inhibitors are nonperturbing to NK cells, while scaffolding LSD1 inhibitors are toxic to NK cells and do not induce the gene signature in DIPG cells. Conclusions LSD1 inhibition using catalytic inhibitors is selectively cytotoxic and promotes an immune gene signature that increases NK cell killing in vitro and in vivo, representing a therapeutic opportunity for pHGG. Key Points 1. LSD1 inhibition using several clinically relevant compounds is selectively cytotoxic in DIPG and shows in vivo efficacy as a single agent. 2. An LSD1-controlled gene signature predicts survival in pHGG patients and is seen in neural tissue from LSD1 inhibitor–treated mice. 3. LSD1 inhibition enhances NK cell cytotoxicity against DIPG in vivo and in vitro with correlative genetic biomarkers.

In Vitro and In Vivo Sensitization of Malignant Cells to Autologous Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Following Exposure to Bortezomib.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 925-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Lundqvist ◽  
Kristy Greeneltch ◽  
Maria Berg ◽  
Shivani Srivastava ◽  
Nanae Harashima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Nk Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Tumor Death

Abstract Killer IgG like receptor (KIR) inactivation of NK cells by self HLA molecules has been proposed as a mechanism through which malignant cells evade host NK cell-mediated immunity. To overcome this limitation, we sought to develop a method to sensitize the patient’s tumor to autologous NK cell cytotoxicity. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has recently been shown to enhance the activity of tumor death receptors. We found that exposure of a variety of different leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor cancer cell lines to sub-apoptotic doses of bortezomib sensitized tumor cells in vitro to lysis by allogeneic NK cells. Importantly, this sensitizing effect also occurs with autologous NK cells normally rendered inactive via tumor KIR ligands; NK cells expanded from patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were significantly more cytotoxic against the patient’s own autologous tumor cells when pretreated with bortezomib compared to untreated tumors. This sensitization to autologous NK cell killing was also observed in vivo in two different murine tumor models. A significant delay in tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice bearing LLC1 tumors (figure) and a delay in tumor growth and a significant prolongation (p<0.01) in survival were observed in RENCA tumor bearing Balb/c mice treated with bortezomib and syngeneic NK cell infusions compared to untreated mice or animals treated with bortezomib alone or NK cells alone. An investigation into the mechanism through which NK cell cytotoxicity was potentiated revealed bortezomib enhanced the activity of tumor death receptor-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways. More specifically, bortezomib sensitized human and murine tumor cells to TRAIL and perforin/granzyme mediated NK cell cytotoxicity respectively. These observations suggest that pretreatment of malignant cells with bortezomib could be used as a strategy to override NK cell inhibition via tumor KIR ligands, thus potentiating the activity of adoptively infused autologous NK cells. A clinical trial evaluating the safety and anti-tumor efficacy of adoptively infused autologous NK cells in patients with advanced malignancies with and without tumor sensitization using bortezomib is currently being explored. Figure: Tumor growth in LLC1 bearing C57BL/6 mice. Fourteen days following s.c. injection of 3x105 LLC1 tumor cells, mice received 15μg (i.p) bortezomib and/or an adoptive infusion of 1x106 NK cells from C57BL/6 mice (i.v) given on day 15. Each dot represents the tumor volume of individual mice measured on day 28 post tumor injection. Tumors were significantly smaller in mice treated with bortezomib followed by NK cells compared to controls or mice that received either NK cells alone or bortezomib alone (p<0.04 for all groups). Figure:. Tumor growth in LLC1 bearing C57BL/6 mice. . / Fourteen days following s.c. injection of 3x105 LLC1 tumor cells, mice received 15μg (i.p) bortezomib and/or an adoptive infusion of 1x106 NK cells from C57BL/6 mice (i.v) given on day 15. Each dot represents the tumor volume of individual mice measured on day 28 post tumor injection. Tumors were significantly smaller in mice treated with bortezomib followed by NK cells compared to controls or mice that received either NK cells alone or bortezomib alone (p<0.04 for all groups).

Lenalidomide Strongly Enhances Natural Killer (NK) Cell Mediated Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) of Rituximab Treated Non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma Cell Lines In Vitro.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3714-3714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wu ◽  
Peter Schafer ◽  
George Muller ◽  
David Stirling ◽  
J. Blake Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Activation Markers ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Dose Dependent

Abstract Lenalidomide (Revlimid® is approved for the treatment of transfusion-dependent patients with anemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS associated with a del 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities, and in combination with dexamethasone is for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy. Encouraging early results suggest a potential for clinical efficacy in B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Potential mechanisms of action include anti-angiogenic, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory activities. Lenalidomide has been shown to enhance Th1-type cytokines and T cell and NK cell activation markers in patients with advanced cancers. Furthermore, lenalidomide has been shown to enhance rituximab-mediated protection in a SCID mouse lymphoma model in vivo. We have utilized an in vitro ADCC system to assess the ability of lenalidomide to directly enhance human NK cell function in response to therapeutic antibodies, such as rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20 mAb). Isolated NK cells produced little or no IFN-γ in response to IgG and/or IL-2 or IL-12. However, pre-treatment of NK cells with lenalidomide greatly enhanced IFN-γ production by NK cells in a dose-dependent manner. In a functional ADCC assay, NHL cell lines (Namalwa, Farage & Raji) were pre-coated with rituximab and exposed to NK cells pre-treated with lenalidomide in the presence of either exogenous IL-2 or IL-12. After 4 hours in culture the viability of the tumor cells was assessed. Lenalidomide consistently and synergistically increased the killing of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner and up to >4-fold compared to rituximab alone. Rituximab alone had only a small effect in this model and there was no killing of cells in the absence of rituximab. The presence of either exogenous IL-2 or IL-12 was required to see enhanced killing by lenalidomide. In cancer patients lenalidomide has been shown to increase serum IL-12 levels and is also known to induce IL-2 production by T cells in vitro. Potential mechanisms for enhanced ADCC include increased signaling through NK FCγ receptors and/or IL-2 or IL-12 receptors. However, we found that these receptors are unaffected by lenalidomide, although downstream effects on NK signaling pathways are likely and are being actively investigated. In conclusion, we have shown that lenalidomide strongly enhances the ability of rituximab to induce ADCC mediated killing of NHL cells in vitro. This provides a strong rationale for combination of these drugs in patients with NHL and CLL.

scholarly journals Heat Shock Protein 70 Inhibitor, Alone or in Combination with Bortezomib, Prevented Plasmacytoma Development in Immunodeficient Mice Transplanted with Myeloma Cell Lines

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 5658-5658
Author(s):  
Mariana Bleker de Oliveira ◽  
Angela Isabel Eugenio ◽  
Veruska Lia Fook Alves ◽  
Daniela Zanatta ◽  
Mihoko Yamamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Proteasome Inhibitor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Immunodeficient Mice ◽  
Late Apoptosis

Abstract Introduction: HSP70 has an integrative role in protein degradation due to the interaction with many pathways, such as ubiquitin proteasome (UPS), unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy. In multiple myeloma (MM) HSP70 is overexpressed and helps to prevent proteotoxic stress and cell death caused by overload of unfolded/misfolded proteins produced by tumor cells. Aims: To explore the role of HSP70 inhibition, isolated or in association with proteasome inhibitor, as therapeutic strategy for MM through in vitro and in vivo analyses. Methods: RPMI8226-LUC-PURO and U266-LUC-PURO bioluminescent cell lines were treated with HSP70 inhibitor (VER155008- 50 μM or 80μM) and proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib 100nM) for evaluation of apoptosis induction by flow cytometry using annexin V and propidium iodide. NOD.Cg-rkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ immunodeficient mice were used for plasmacytoma xenograft model and treated with intravenous VER155008 (40mg/kg) and bortezomib (1mg/kg), immediately after transplant of RPMI8226-LUC-PURO and U266-LUC-PURO bioluminescent cell lines (N=3 for each group, including controls, bortezomib, VER155008, and combination of bortezomib and VER155008). Bioluminescence was measured in IVIS Kinetic (Capiler Life Science) once a day for seven days. Results: Bortezomib used as single treatment was able to induce apoptosis in RPMI8226-LUC-PURO cell line: the best result for in vitro studies RPMI8226-LUC-PURO was 65% of late apoptosis after treatment with bortezomib. On the other hand, U266-LUC-PURO cell line presented higher percentage of apoptosis when treated with bortezomib and VER155008 combination: U266-LUC-PURO cell line presented more than 60% of late apoptosis after VER155008 (80μM) combined with bortezomib, showing that inhibition of HSP70 could overcome U266-LUC-PURO resistance to bortezomib alone. Mice treated with VER155008, alone or in combination with bortezomib, showed complete inhibition of tumor growth (absence of bioluminescence) for both cell lines when compared with control group after one week of treatment (p<0.001, Two-way ANOVA). Therefore, in vivo studies using mice treated with VER155008, alone or in combination with bortezomib, prevented tumor development after one week of treatment, independent of the cell line used in the xenotransplant. Conclusion: Our study shows that HSP70 and proteasome inhibitors combination induced apoptosis in tumor cells in vivo for both MM cell lines. Since HSP70 is overexpressed in MM and connects several signaling pathways that maintain cell survival, such as UPS, UPR and autophagy, it can represent a key role to establish a new approach for the treatment of MM. Financial support: FAPESP 2010/17668-6 and CNPq (155272/2013-6). UNIFESP Ethics Committee (0219/12). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Lenalidomide Effects on NK Function in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3437-3437 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Epling-Burnette ◽  
Fanqi Bai ◽  
Jeffrey S. Painter ◽  
Julie Y. Djeu ◽  
Alan F. List
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
T Test ◽  
Leukemia Cell Line ◽  
Immunomodulatory Effects

Abstract Lenalidomide, which is a 4-amino-glutarimide analogue of thalidomide, has significant erythropoietic activity in patients with lower-risk MDS (List et al, NEJM, 351:26,2004). Although its precise target of action in MDS is not known, lenalidomide modulates cellular response to varied stimuli including inhibition of angiogenic response and endotoxin induction of inflammatory cytokines and enhancement of antigen-induced immunologic response and erythropoietin receptor signaling. Clinical investigations in multiple myeloma indicate that the immunomodulatory effects of thalidomide and lenalidomide extends to the expansion of natural killer (NK) cells. We recently found that MDS patients have defective NK function, araising in part to reduced expression of activating NK receptors (NKRs) NKp30, CD244 (2B4), and NKG2D. To determine if lenalidomide may restore NK function in MDS, we investigated the effects of in vitro treatment with lenalidomide on NK function and phenotype. Lytic function was studied using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as effector cells and the leukemia cell line, K562, as a target in standard 4-hr 51Cr-release assays at 12:1 and 25:1 effector:target (E:T) ratios. Among eight MDS patient’s specimens evaluated, five patients had significant increase in tumor lysis after treatment with 1 μM lenalidomide for 72 hours (p ≤ 0.01, T-test). In similar experiments using PBMCs from normal donors, we found that NK lysis of K562 was 42% ± 15 (25:1 E:T ratio) pre-treatment which increased to 71% ± 17 (25:1 E:T ratio) after treatment, which was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01, T-test). We also examined the in vitro effects of lenalidomide on lytic activity by the NK cell lines, NK92 and NKL, which was significantly increased after drug treatment. To discern the mechanisms of lenalidomide action in NK cell lines and normal NK cells, we evaluated NKR display by flow cytometry, and NKR function by antibody redirected cytotoxicity using the FcγR+ murine mastocytoma (P815) target cell line. Using NK92 and NKL cells, treatment with lenalidomide 1 μM for 72 hrs increased lysis by anti-NKG2D and anti-CD244 activating antibodies. We also found that NKG2D surface expression was increased on normal NK cells after lenalidomide treatment in vitro. These results suggest that some MDS patients may have improved NK function through the immunomodulatory effects of lenalidomide. The relationship between in vitro NK responsiveness to lenalidomide and in vivo hematological response warrants investigation in patients with MDS.

An ADCC-Independent Mechanism of Rituximab-Mediated B-NHL Cells Depletion Via Sensitization to Cell Death through the Expression of TRAIL on NK Cells

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4919-4919
Author(s):  
Mario I. Vega ◽  
Sara Huerta-Yepez ◽  
Melisa Martinez-Paniagua ◽  
Stavroula Baritaki ◽  
Benjamin Bonavida
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Cytotoxic Cells ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Anti Cd20

Abstract Abstract 4919 Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 mAb, has being used, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, in the treatment of patients with B-NHL and rheumatoid arthritis. It is also being tested clinically in the treatment of other B cell malignancies. The mechanisms by which the antibody depletes the B cells have been shown to be mediated via ADCC, CDC, and apoptosis. In addition, the antibody also signals the cells and modifies various survival pathways and sensitizes the resistant tumor cells to various apoptotic stimuli (Jazirehi and Bonavida, Oncogene 24:2121, 2005). The role of the host innate cytotoxic cells, such as NK cells, in cooperation with rituximab in the depletion of B-NHL cells has been poorly explored. Studies by us and others have reported that rituximab sensitizes resistant B-NHL tumor cells to both Fas ligand and TRAIL-induced apoptosis (Bonavida, Oncogene 26:3629, 2007; Daniel, D. et al., Blood 110:4037, 2007). Since NK cells express on the surface TRAIL, we hypothesized that rituximab may also sensitize the TRAIL-resistant tumor cells to NK-mediated cytotoxicity. Accordingly, we have examined various TRAIL-resistant B-NHL cell lines and used peripheral blood-derived purified human NK cells. Treatment of various B-NHL cell lines with rituximab sensitized the cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The mechanism of TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity was found to be the result of TRAIL-induced inhibition of NF-κB and downstream inhibition of the DR5 transcription repressor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) as well as inhibition of anti-apoptotic gene products such as Bclxl. Treatment of various B-NHL cell lines with rituximab, unlike treatment with control IgG1, resulted in significant cytotoxicity in the presence of purified NK cells. The extent of the cytotoxic activity was a function of the E:T ratios used. We then examined the contribution of TRAIL expressed on the NK cell surface for its role in NK-mediated cytotoxicity of rituximab-pretreated B-NHL cells. We used a neutralizing TRAIL antibody that was added in the reaction mixture and demonstrated that the NK cytotoxic activity was significantly reduced compared to controls. These studies with rituximab were also confirmed with other CD20 mAbs. We are currently examining the sensitization of freshly-derived B-NHL and CLL cells that are treated with rituximab and other anti-CD20 mAbs to NK-mediated cytotoxicity for validation of the findings with cell lines. The present findings suggest that, in vivo, patients who are treated with rituximab may recruit NK and other effector cells to mediate, independently of ADCC, cytotoxicity via the TNF-family ligands (e.g. TNF-α, Fas-L, TRAIL). The studies also suggest that this B cell-depletion mechanism by NK cells may contribute to the mechanism of rituximab- mediated depletion of B-NHL cells in vivo. Noteworthy, the proposed host cytotoxic mechanism may not be functional if the therapeutic treatment consists of the combination of rituximab and immunosuppressive chemotherapeutic drugs that may lead to depletion or inactivation of host cytotoxic cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Modulation of Natural Killer Cell Activity in the Setting of Oncolytic Virotherapy and with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 210-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Xilin ◽  
Jianfeng Han ◽  
Chu Jianhong ◽  
Walter Meisen ◽  
Zhang Jianying ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that can rapidly eradicate tumor cells, especially those lacking MHC Class I molecules. NK cells can also rapidly eradicate herpes virus-infected cells. We designed an oncolytic herpes virus (oHSV) to selectively infect, replicate within, and lyse glioblastoma (GBM), a devastating brain tumor with a median survival of only 15 months following diagnosis. We have shown that the rapid influx of NK cells limits oHSV efficacy in GBM as they impede oHSV replication and spread [Alvarez-Breckenridge et al., Nat Med, 2012, 18(12):1827-34]. In the current study, we developed NK cell-based novel GBM therapies by decreasing the brain influx of NK cells to enhance the efficacy of oHSV, while arming NK cells in the brain with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets both the wild-type EGFR and its mutant form EGFRvIII, two GBM tumor-associated antigens. We then investigated the synergistic effects between EGFR-CAR NK cells and oHSV. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine of NK cells [Yu et al, Immunity, 2006, 24(5):575-90]. We first determined if oHSV efficacy for treatment of GBM would be augmented by inhibiting anti-oHSV activity of NK cells with TGF-β pre-treatment. In vitro, NK cells pre-treated with TGF-β displayed less cytolytic capacity against oHSV-infected GBM cell lines and patient-derived GBM stem-like cells. In viral replication assays, co-culturing oHSV-infected GBM cells with NK cells pre-treated with TGF-β significantly increased virus titers. In an immunocompetent syngeneic GBM mouse model,administration of TGF-β to GBM-bearing mice prior to oHSV injection significantly inhibited intracranial infiltration and activation of NK cells (P < 0.05). In orthotopic human GBM xenograft mouse models and in syngeneic GBM mouse models, TGF-β treatment in vivo prior to oHSV therapy resulted in inhibition of NK cell infiltration, suppression of tumor growth and significantly prolonged survival of GBM-bearing mice (P < 0.05). Furthermore, depletion of NK cells incompletely blocked the positive effects of in vivo treatment of GBM with TGF-β on survival, suggesting that TGF-β may also directly act on other innate immune cells such as macrophages/microglia. These data demonstrate a single dose of TGF-β prior to oHSV administration enhances anti-tumor efficacy for GBM at least in part through the transient inhibition of the innate immune responses to oHSV infection. We next investigated whether NK cell activity could be enhanced to more directly target brain tumors while sparing eradication of oHSV. We therefore infected both human NK-92 cells and primary human NK cells to express the second generation CAR targeting both EGFR and EGFRvIII that we designed. Further, we asked if the treatment with EGFR-CAR NK cells plus oHSV could create a therapeutic synergy for the treatment to brain tumors. In vitro, compared with mock-transduced CAR-NK-cells, EGFR-CAR NK cells exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production when co-cultured with tumor cells, for both NK-92 and primary NK cells (P < 0.01). Further, significantly higher cytolytic activity against tumor cells was obtained when CAR NK cells were combined with oHSV-1 infection of tumor cells, compared to either of the monotherapies alone (P < 0.05). In mice, to avoid oHSV clearance by the EGFR-CAR NK cells following the inoculation of the mouse with tumor cells, we administered these two agents sequentially; administering EGFR-CAR NK cells directly into the tumor first as a single injection of 2 × 106 cells, followed by intracranial infection with 2 × 105 plaque-forming units oHSV five days later, presumably after EGFR-CAR NK survival has diminished. Compared to vehicle controls, intracranial administration of either EGFR-CAR NK cells or oHSV blunted tumor growth. However, the combination of EGFR-CAR NK cells followed by oHSV infection resulted in significantly more efficient killing of tumor cells (P < 0.05) and significantly longer survival for tumor-bearing mice when compared to either monotherapy alone. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that in animal tumor models, we can combine novel NK cell and oHSV therapies to significantly improve survival. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals In vitro and in vivo effect of human lactoferrin on glioblastoma growth

2015 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 1026-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonietta Arcella ◽  
Maria Antonietta Oliva ◽  
Sabrina Staffieri ◽  
Silvia Aalberti ◽  
Giovanni Grillea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Nude Mice ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Primary Cell ◽  
Continuous Cell Line ◽  
Human Lactoferrin ◽  
Primary Cell Lines

OBJECT Human lactoferrin (HLF) is a natural protein with antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HLF alone and in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), a conventional chemotherapeutic, on human glioblastoma (GBM) cells. METHODS The authors cultured fresh human primary cell lines NMD and FN and the continuous cell line U87MG to evaluate proliferation in the presence of HLF alone at different doses (1, 10, and 100 mg/ml, and 1 mg/ml) and in combination with TMZ. In in vivo experiments they assessed tumor size reduction in CD1 nude mice carrying an orthotopic GBM xenograft and orally treated with HLF. RESULTS Lactoferrin causes growth inhibition in the NMD and FN primary cell lines and in the U87MG continuous cell line. This inhibition seemed to be modulated by the downregulation of cyclin D1 and D4. Western blot and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed inhibition of the cell cycle in G0/G1 and G2 phases. When administered in nude mice, HLF (60 mg/kg/day) decreased tumor size about 30%, as shown in both histological analyses and high-field brain MRI. Administration of HLF with TMZ enhanced the effect of chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that HLF can inhibit GBM cell growth, suggesting that this nontoxic substance may have a role in potentiating the effect of current TMZ treatment of GBM.

Optimizing Lentiviral Transduction of Human Natural Killer Cells

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4714-4714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Su ◽  
Dawn M Betters ◽  
Muthalagu Ramanathan ◽  
Keyvan Keyvanfar ◽  
Aleah Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Human Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Hiv 1

Abstract Abstract 4714 The development of an efficient method to genetically modify natural killer (NK) cells could be used to characterize NK cell differentiation, acquisition of self-tolerance, tumor trafficking in vivo, as well as to manipulate NK cells to enhance their activity against infectious diseases and tumors. Although HIV-1 based lentiviral vectors (LVs) have been used to efficiently transfer genes into human T-cells, little data exists on LV transduction of either fresh or in vitro expanded human NK cells or its effects on NK cell phenotype and cytolytic function. In this study, we used an HIV-based LV expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) driven by a murine stem cell virus long terminal repeat (MSCV-LTR) promoter to transduce CD3− and CD56+ and/or CD16+ human NK cells that were either resting, IL-2 activated, or expanded in vitro using an irradiated EBV-LCL feeder cell line. We observed that resting NK cells were difficult to transduce with LVs, even at high multiplicities of infection (MOI), with transduction efficiencies (TE) in the range of only 3–14%. The efficiency of LV transduction improved when the NK cells were pre-stimulated in vitro with IL-2: TE improved to 21±0.2% in NK cells cultured for 24 hours in media containing IL-2 (200 U/mL) and 28.7±12.9% in NK cells that underwent in vitro expansion over 9 days prior to transduction using irradiated EBV-LCL feeder cells and media containing IL-2 (200U/mL). Subsequently, we evaluated incremental MOIs (3-200) to optimize LV transduction of expanded NK cells; optimal transduction was achieved using a spinoculation protocol at a MOI of 25 which resulted in the highest transduction efficiencies with the least amount of cell death. Increasing the MOI above this level resulted in a small increase in transduction, but was offset by an increase in NK cell apoptosis/death. Using a one-round, non-spinoculation protocol and an MOI of 30, we obtained a median transduction efficiency of 29% (range 16–41) with excellent retention of NK cell viability. This optimized protocol was used to transduce expanded NK cells with a LV vector encoding an shRNA targeting a region of the NK cell inhibitory receptor transcript NKG2A. Following transduction, surface expression of NKG2A decreased significantly on expanded NK cells compared to non-transduced expanded NK cells and “scramble transduced” LV controls; at a MOI of 10, the MFI of NKG2A on expanded human NK cells decreased 35% compared to non-transduced and LV transduced scramble controls (median MFI 428, 673, 659 in shRNA, non-transduced and scramble LV control transduced NK cells respectively). A comparison of transduction efficiencies using LVs expressing EGFP driven by MSCV-LTR, EF1a, and Ubi promoters showed MSCV-LTR mediated the highest level of gene expression in expanded NK cells. Transduced NK cells maintained stable EGFP transgene expression in vitro, which peaked 5 days following LV transduction and remained stable for an additional 9 days. The phenotype of lentiviral transduced NK cells was similar to non-transduced NK cells. Specifically, expression of CD56, CD16, granzyme A and B, perforin, the inhibitory receptors NKG2A, KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, and KIR2DL1/DL2, and the activating receptors NKG2D, NCRs NKp46, and NKp30 were not altered in either fresh or expanded NK cells following LV transduction, although we did observe a significant reduction in NKp44 expression in LV transduced cells (22% compared to 50% on untransduced NK cells; 0.02). Furthermore, NK cell function, as assessed by cytokine production and cytotoxicity vs tumor targets was not altered in LV transduced NK cells. A 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay showed GFP+ NK cells, flow sorted following LV transduction of expanded NK cells, had similar cytotoxicity against K562 cells and human renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) compared to non-transduced expanded NK cell controls (figures). In conclusion, we show that an HIV-1 based lentiviral vector driven by a MSCV-LTR, mediated efficient and stable gene transfer in IL-2 activated and in vitro expanded human NK cells. This study provides valuable insights for methods to optimize the long-term expression of LV transduced genes in human NK cells which could be used to improve their anti-tumor function in vivo. Target: K562 cells Target: RCC cell line Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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