scholarly journals Aneuploid cells activate NF-κB to promote their immune clearance by NK cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoxi W. Wang ◽  
Sonia Viganò ◽  
Uri Ben-David ◽  
Angelika Amon ◽  
Stefano Santaguida

SummaryThe immune system plays a major role in the protection against cancer. Identifying and characterizing the pathways mediating this immune surveillance is thus critical for understanding how cancer cells are recognized and eliminated. We previously found that untransformed cells that had undergone senescence due to highly abnormal karyotypes are eliminated by Natural Killer (NK) cells in vitro. Here we show that this is also true for aneuploid untransformed cells that had not lost their ability to proliferate. Their elimination by NK cells, like that of aneuploid senescent cells, is predominantly mediated by non-cell autonomous mechanisms. Our data further indicate that NF-κB signaling in aneuploid cells is central to eliciting this immune response. Inactivating NF-κB abolishes NK-cell mediated clearance in aneuploid cells in vitro. In cancer cell lines, NF-κB signaling correlates with degree of aneuploidy, raising the possibility that aneuploidy-induced immune recognition is partially retained in cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (12) ◽  
pp. 1892-1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Chen ◽  
Huihui Chen ◽  
Zining Zhang ◽  
Yajing Fu ◽  
Xiaoxu Han ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Natural killer (NK) cells are an important type of effector cell in the innate immune response, and also have a role in regulation of the adaptive immune response. Several studies have indicated that NK cells may influence CD4+ T cells during HIV infection. Methods In total, 51 HIV-infected individuals and 15 healthy controls participated in this study. We performed the flow cytometry assays and real-time PCR for the phenotypic analysis and the functional assays of NK cell-mediated deletion of CD4+ T cells, phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB/p65) and the intervention of metformin. Results Here we detected high CD54 expression on CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected individuals, and demonstrate that upregulated CD54 is associated with disease progression in individuals infected with HIV. We also show that CD54 expression leads to the deletion of CD4+ T cells by NK cells in vitro, and that this is modulated by NF-κB/p65 signaling. Further, we demonstrate that metformin can suppress CD54 expression on CD4+ T cells by inhibiting NF-κB/p65 phosphorylation. Conclusions Our data suggest that further studies to evaluate the potential role of metformin as adjunctive therapy to reconstitute immune function in HIV-infected individuals are warranted.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Caligiuri

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells were discovered more than 30 years ago. NK cells are large granular lymphocytes that belong to the innate immune system because unlike T or B lymphocytes of the adaptive or antigen-specific immune system, NK cells do not rearrange T-cell receptor or immunoglobulin genes from their germline configuration. During the past 2 decades there has been a substantial gain in our understanding of what and how NK-cells “see,” lending important insights into their functions and purpose in normal immune surveillance. The most recent discoveries in NK-cell receptor biology have fueled translational research that has led to remarkable results in treating human malignancy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arum Park ◽  
Yunjeong Yang ◽  
Yunhee Lee ◽  
Mi Sun Kim ◽  
Young-Jun Park ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells are key players in the immune system. They use receptors on their cell surface to identify target cells. However, to escape being killed by the immune system, cancer cells such as thyroid cancer cells, use various methods to suppress the function of NK cells. Thus, this study aims to elucidate how thyroid cancer cells downregulate NK cell function in a co-culture system. We found that thyroid cancer cells suppress NK cell cytotoxicity and inhibit the expression of activating receptors, such as NKG2D and NKp46, by regulating indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Also, thyroid cancer cells produce kynurenine using IDO, which causes NK cell dysfunction. Kynurenine enters NK cells via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) on the surfaces of the NK cells, which decreases NK cell function and NK receptor expression via the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 and STAT3 pathways. In addition, STAT1 and STAT3 directly regulated the expression of NKG2D and NKp46 receptors by binding to the promoter region. Conclusively, NK cell function may be impaired in thyroid cancer patients by IDO-induced kynurenine production. This implies that IDO can be used as a target for thyroid cancer therapeutics aiming at improving NK cell function.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Li ◽  
Liang Simin ◽  
Kang Jian ◽  
Gou Xin ◽  
Youlin Kuang

Abstract Purpose-Natural killer (NK) cells play a potent role in antitumor immunity via spontaneously eliminating tumor directly. However, some tumors such as prostate cancer constantly escape this immune response by down-regulating cell surface molecule recognition and/or secreting immune impressive cytokines. Pterostilbene, a dietary compound primarily found in blueberries, exhibits a potential anti-tumor activities and immunoregulation function. However, whether it could affect NK cells immune response against prostate cancer is not clear.Methods-NK cell cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells was analyzed using the CytoTox 96 cytotoxicity assay kit. Flow cytometry was used to detected NK cell degranulation, NK cell-surface and intracellular protein expression. The effects of pterostilbene on TGF-β1 secretion were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The candidate target gene of miR-20a was determined by luciferase reporter assay and the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related proteins A and B (MICA/B) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results-We found pterostilbene could enhance expression of MICA/B on prostate cancer cells surface, which are ligands of the natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) expressed by NK cells, and inhibit TGF-β1 secretion by prostate cancer cells. Further, we discovered that these effects were caused by inhibition of miR-20a in prostate cancer cells by pterostilbene. MiR-20a could target the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of MICA/B, resulting in their expression down-regulation. Inhibition of TGF-β1 function by its specific antibody attenuated its impairment to NKG2D on NK cells. Finally, we observed that pterostilbene-treated prostate cancer cells were more easily to be killed by NK cells.Conclusions-Our findings demonstrated inhibition of miR-20a by pterostilbene in prostate cancer cells could increase MICA/B expression and decrease TGF-β1 secretion, which enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity againt prostate cancer cells, suggesting a potential approach for increasing anti-prostate cancer immune.


Author(s):  
Dieter Sonntag ◽  
Stephan Sudowe

Natural killer (NK) cells are among the first in defense of the innate immune system by eliminating a variety of abnormal or stressed cells such as cancer cells or virus-infected cells. Individuals who exhibit low cytolytic NK cell activity are believed to be at higher risk of viral infection, tumorigenesis, and various other diseases of the immune system. Therefore, restoration of impaired NK cell function might be an essential step in immunostimulatory therapy of immunocompromised patients. Bacillus firmus is a non-pathogenic gram-positive bacterium of the environment, which possesses various immunomodulatory properties in vitro and in vivo. This retrospective study reports on the effect of B. firmus on the activity of NK cells in vitro. Basal cytolytic NK cell activity against tumor cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of routine patients was determined in a standardized NK cell cytotoxicity assay. The impact of cultivation of PBMCs with B. firmus preparation Bacillus firmus e volumine ex muris cellulae (Bacillus firmus (evc)) 6x on tumor cell killing by NK cells was monitored in relation to basal NK cell activity. This study showed that stimulation of PBMCs with Bacillus firmus (evc) 6x in vitro led to a significant increase in NK cell function. Substantial improvement in cytolytic NK cell activity (more than 1.3-fold of basal activity) was much more pronounced for patients with compromised NK cell function. Due to its immunostimulatory mode of action, Bacillus firmus (evc) may be of particular importance in therapy of patients with NK cell deficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Nathalie Meijerink ◽  
Jean E. de Oliveira ◽  
Daphne A. van Haarlem ◽  
Guilherme Hosotani ◽  
David M. Lamot ◽  
...  

Restrictions on the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry stimulate the development of alternative nutritional solutions to maintain or improve poultry health. This requires more insight in the modulatory effects of feed additives on the immune system and microbiota composition. Compounds known to influence the innate immune system and microbiota composition were selected and screened in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. Among all compounds, 57 enhanced NK cell activation, 56 increased phagocytosis, and 22 increased NO production of the macrophage cell line HD11 in vitro. Based on these results, availability and regulatory status, six compounds were selected for further analysis. None of these compounds showed negative effects on growth, hatchability, and feed conversion in in ovo and in vivo studies. Based on the most interesting numerical results and highest future potential feasibility, two compounds were analyzed further. Administration of glucose oligosaccharide and long-chain glucomannan in vivo both enhanced activation of intraepithelial NK cells and led to increased relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) amongst ileum and ceca microbiota after seven days of supplementation. Positive correlations between NK cell subsets and activation, and relative abundance of LAB suggest the involvement of microbiota in the modulation of the function of intraepithelial NK cells. This study identifies glucose oligosaccharide and long-chain glucomannan supplementation as effective nutritional strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota composition and strengthen the intraepithelial innate immune system.


Author(s):  
Luis Sánchez-del-Campo ◽  
Román Martí-Díaz ◽  
María F. Montenegro ◽  
Rebeca González-Guerrero ◽  
Trinidad Hernández-Caselles ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The application of immune-based therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. Yet how the immune system responds to phenotypically heterogeneous populations within tumors is poorly understood. In melanoma, one of the major determinants of phenotypic identity is the lineage survival oncogene MITF that integrates diverse microenvironmental cues to coordinate melanoma survival, senescence bypass, differentiation, proliferation, invasion, metabolism and DNA damage repair. Whether MITF also controls the immune response is unknown. Methods By using several mouse melanoma models, we examine the potential role of MITF to modulate the anti-melanoma immune response. ChIP-seq data analysis, ChIP-qPCR, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify ADAM10 as a direct MITF target gene. Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity assays were used to determine the underlying mechanisms by which MITF-driven phenotypic plasticity modulates melanoma NK cell-mediated killing. Results Here we show that MITF regulates expression of ADAM10, a key sheddase that cleaves the MICA/B family of ligands for NK cells. By controlling melanoma recognition by NK-cells MITF thereby controls the melanoma response to the innate immune system. Consequently, while melanoma MITFLow cells can be effectively suppressed by NK-mediated killing, MITF-expressing cells escape NK cell surveillance. Conclusion Our results reveal how modulation of MITF activity can impact the anti-melanoma immune response with implications for the application of anti-melanoma immunotherapies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 656
Author(s):  
Hantae Jo ◽  
Byungsun Cha ◽  
Haneul Kim ◽  
Sofia Brito ◽  
Byeong Mun Kwak ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that can directly destroy cancer cells. When NK cells are activated, CD56 and CD107a markers are able to recognize cancer cells and release perforin and granzyme B proteins that induce apoptosis in the targeted cells. In this study, we focused on the role of phytoncides in activating NK cells and promoting anticancer effects. We tested the effects of several phytoncide compounds on NK-92mi cells and demonstrated that α-pinene treatment exhibited higher anticancer effects, as observed by the increased levels of perforin, granzyme B, CD56 and CD107a. Furthermore, α-pinene treatment in NK-92mi cells increased NK cell cytotoxicity in two different cell lines, and immunoblot assays revealed that the ERK/AKT pathway is involved in NK cell cytotoxicity in response to phytoncides. Furthermore, CT-26 colon cancer cells were allografted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, and α-pinene treatment then inhibited allografted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate that α-pinene activates NK cells and increases NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting it is a potential compound for cancer immunotherapy.


Endocrines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
Erik D. Hanson ◽  
Lauren C. Bates ◽  
Kaileigh Moertl ◽  
Elizabeth S. Evans

Natural killer (NK) cells from the innate immune system are integral to overall immunity and also in managing the tumor burden during cancer. Breast (BCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) are the most common tumors in U.S. adults. Both BCa and PCa are frequently treated with hormone suppression therapies that are associated with numerous adverse effects including direct effects on the immune system. Regular exercise is recommended for cancer survivors to reduce side effects and improve quality of life. Acute exercise is a potent stimulus for NK cells in healthy individuals with current evidence indicating that NK mobilization in individuals with BCa and PCa is comparable. NK cell mobilization results from elevations in shear stress and catecholamine levels. Despite a normal NK cell response to exercise, increases in epinephrine are attenuated in BCa and PCa. The significance of this potential discrepancy still needs to be determined. However, alterations in adrenal hormone signaling are hypothesized to be due to chronic stress during cancer treatment. Additional compensatory factors induced by exercise are reviewed along with recommendations on standardized approaches to be used in exercise immunology studies involving oncology populations.


2022 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Hosseini ◽  
Hamzeh Sarvnaz ◽  
Maedeh Arabpour ◽  
Samira Molaei Ramshe ◽  
Leila Asef-Kabiri ◽  
...  

AbstractTumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) play pivotal roles in several aspects of cancer biology. It is now evident that TDEs also favor tumor growth by negatively affecting anti-tumor immunity. As important sentinels of immune surveillance system, natural killer (NK) cells can recognize malignant cells very early and counteract the tumor development and metastasis without a need for additional activation. Based on this rationale, adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded NK cells/NK cell lines, such as NK-92 cells, has attracted great attention and is widely studied as a promising immunotherapy for cancer treatment. However, by exploiting various strategies, including secretion of exosomes, cancer cells are able to subvert NK cell responses. This paper reviews the roles of TDEs in cancer-induced NK cells impairments with mechanistic insights. The clinical significance and potential approaches to nullify the effects of TDEs on NK cells in cancer immunotherapy are also discussed.


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