Mitoxantrone-Loaded Nanoparticles for Magnetically Controlled Tumor Therapy–Induction of Tumor Cell Death, Release of Danger Signals and Activation of Immune Cells

Stimulating the patient’s immune system represents a promising therapeutic strategy to fight cancer. However, low immunogenicity of the tumor cells within an immune suppressive milieu often leads to weak anti-tumor immune responses. Additionally, the immune system may be impaired by accompanying aggressive chemotherapies. We show that mitoxantrone, bound to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as the transport system, can be magnetically accumulated in adherent HT-29 colon carcinoma cells, thereby inducing the same cell death phenotype as its soluble counterpart, a chemotherapeutic agent and prototypic inductor of immunogenic cell death. The nanoparticle-loaded drug induces cell cycle stop, apoptosis and secondary necrosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner comparable to the free drug. Cell death was accompanied by the release of interleukin-8 and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as HSP70 and ATP, which fostered chemotactic migration of monocytes and maturation of dendritic cells. We furthermore ensured absence of endotoxin contaminations and compatibility with erythrocytes and platelets and investigated the influence on plasma coagulation in vitro. Summarizing, with magnetic enrichment, mitoxantrone can be accumulated at the desired place, sparing healthy peripheral cells and tissues, such as immune cells. Conserving immune competence in cancer patients in the future might allow combined therapeutic approaches with immune therapies (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors).

Download Full-text

IMMU-06. TTFIELDS INDUCES IMMUNOGENIC CELL DEATH AND STING PATHWAY ACTIVATION THROUGH CYTOPLASMIC DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA IN GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noz175.500 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi120-vi120 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dongjiang Chen ◽

Nagheme Thomas ◽

Jie Ren ◽

Son Le ◽

Mathew Sebstian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Cell Death ◽

Immune System ◽

Electric Fields ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Type I ◽

Sting Pathway ◽

Marrow Cells

Abstract OBJECTIVES Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadliest malignant brain cancer in adults. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) was approved in combination with adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy for newly diagnosed GBM patients. The addition of TTFields resulted in a significant improvement in overall survival. TTFields are low-intensity alternating electric fields that are thought to disturb mitotic macromolecules’ assembly. In many patients, a transient stage of increased peritumoral edema is often observed early during TTFields treatment followed subsequently by objective radiographic responses, suggesting that a major component of therapeutic efficacy by TTFields may be an immune mediated process. We hypothesize that TTFields activate the immune system by triggering pyroptosis and type I Interferon (IFN) response. METHODS A panel of GBM cell lines were treated with TTFields at the clinically approved frequency of 200 kHz using an in vitro TTFields system. Cells were analyzed for the production of micronuclei and activation of both pyroptosis and STING pathways using immunostaining, quantitative PCR, ELISA and cytometry. RESULTS TTFields resulted in a significantly higher rate of micronuclei structures released into the cytoplasm, which were co-localized with two upstream dsDNA sensors AIM2 and cGAS. TTFields-activated micronuclei-dsDNA sensor complexes led to i) induction of pyroptotic cell death, as measured by LDH release assay, and through AIM2-recruited caspase1 and cleavage of pyroptosis-specific Gasdermin D; and ii) activation of STING pathway leading to the release of type I IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines downstream of the NFκB pathway. In a co-culture experiment of bone marrow cells with cells/supernatants obtained from GBM cells treated with TTFields, GBM cells depleted of AIM2 and STING failed to induce bone marrow cells. CONCLUSIONS These results provide compelling evidence that TTFields activates the innate immune system in GBM cells, and a strong rationale for combining TTFields with immune checkpoint inhibitors to create a therapeutic synergy.

Download Full-text

Follicular helper-T cells restore CD8+-dependent antitumor immunity and anti-PD-L1/PD-1 efficacy

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-002157 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e002157

Author(s):

Julie Niogret ◽

Hélène Berger ◽

Cédric Rebe ◽

Romain Mary ◽

Elise Ballot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cell Death ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Mouse Cell ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Follicular Helper ◽

The Impact

BackgroundT follicular helper cells (Tfh) are essential to shape B cell response during germinal center formation. Tfh accumulation has been reported in various human cancers, with positive or negative prognostic roles. However, the mechanisms explaining the accumulation of Tfh and their role in cancer remain obscure.MethodsIn vitro differentiated and mouse cell sorted Tfh phenotype was evaluated by flow cytometry and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Antitumor effect of Tfh was evaluated by adoptive transfer in different tumor-bearing mice models. The involvement of immune cells, cytokines and chemokines was evaluated, using depleting antibodies. Chemokines and cytokines expression and production were evaluated by qPCR and ELISA. In human, the impact of immune cells and chemokines on survival was evaluated by analyzing transcriptomic data from public databases and from our own patient cohorts.ResultsIn this study, we show that Tfh exert an antitumor immune effect in a CD8+-dependent manner. Tfh produce interleukin-21, which sustains proliferation, viability, cytokine production and cytotoxic functions of exhausted T cells. The presence of Tfh is required for efficacy of antiprogrammed cell death ligand-1 therapy. Tfh accumulate in the tumor bed and draining lymph nodes in different mouse cancer models. This recruitment is due to the capacity of transforming growth factor β to drive Chemokine (C-X-C motif) Ligand 13 expression, a chemoattractant of Tfh, by intratumor CD8+ T cells. Accumulation of Tfh and exhausted CD8+ T cells predicts cancer outcome in various cancer types. In patients treated with anti-programmed cell death-1 mAb, accumulation of Tfh and CD8+ at the tumor site is associated with outcome.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that CD8+/Tfh crosstalk is important in shaping antitumor immune response generated by immunotherapy.

Download Full-text

Human Neuronal Cell Lines as An In Vitro Toxicological Tool for the Evaluation of Novel Psychoactive Substances

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22136785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 6785

Author(s):

Valeria Sogos ◽

Paola Caria ◽

Clara Porcedda ◽

Rafaela Mostallino ◽

Franca Piras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Mechanisms Of Toxicity ◽

Neuronal Cell Lines

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic substances belonging to diverse groups, designed to mimic the effects of scheduled drugs, resulting in altered toxicity and potency. Up to now, information available on the pharmacology and toxicology of these new substances is very limited, posing a considerable challenge for prevention and treatment. The present in vitro study investigated the possible mechanisms of toxicity of two emerging NPS (i) 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinoexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP), a synthetic cathinone, and (ii) 2-chloro-4,5-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (2-Cl-4,5-MDMA), a phenethylamine. In addition, to apply our model to the class of synthetic opioids, we evaluated the toxicity of fentanyl, as a reference compound for this group of frequently abused substances. To this aim, the in vitro toxic effects of these three compounds were evaluated in dopaminergic-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Following 24 h of exposure, all compounds induced a loss of viability, and oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA activates apoptotic processes, while 3,4-MDPHP elicits cell death by necrosis. Fentanyl triggers cell death through both mechanisms. Increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase 3 activity were observed following 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA and fentanyl, but not 3,4-MDPHP exposure, confirming the different modes of cell death.

Download Full-text

Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip model to evaluate the role of tumor environmental stress on NK cell exhaustion

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abc2331 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. eabc2331 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jose M. Ayuso ◽

Shujah Rehman ◽

Maria Virumbrales-Munoz ◽

Patrick H. McMinn ◽

Peter Geiger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nk Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Waste Product ◽

Extended Period ◽

Cell Exhaustion

Solid tumors generate a suppressive environment that imposes an overwhelming burden on the immune system. Nutrient depletion, waste product accumulation, hypoxia, and pH acidification severely compromise the capacity of effector immune cells such as T and natural killer (NK) cells to destroy cancer cells. However, the specific molecular mechanisms driving immune suppression, as well as the capacity of immune cells to adapt to the suppressive environment, are not completely understood. Thus, here, we used an in vitro microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip platform to evaluate how NK cells respond to the tumor-induced suppressive environment. The results demonstrated that the suppressive environment created by the tumor gradually eroded NK cell cytotoxic capacity, leading to compromised NK cell surveillance and tumor tolerance. Further, NK cell exhaustion persisted for an extended period of time after removing NK cells from the microfluidic platform. Last, the addition of checkpoint inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents alleviated NK cell exhaustion.

Download Full-text

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids Induce Cell Death in Human HepaRG Cells in a Structure-Dependent Manner

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22010202 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 202

Author(s):

Josephin Glück ◽

Julia Waizenegger ◽

Albert Braeuning ◽

Stefanie Hessel-Pras

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Cell Viability ◽

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids ◽

Defense Mechanism ◽

Hepatoma Cell ◽

Hepatoma Cell Line ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Human Hepatoma Cell

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of secondary metabolites produced in various plant species as a defense mechanism against herbivores. PAs consist of a necine base, which is esterified with one or two necine acids. Humans are exposed to PAs by consumption of contaminated food. PA intoxication in humans causes acute and chronic hepatotoxicity. It is considered that enzymatic PA toxification in hepatocytes is structure-dependent. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the induction of PA-induced cell death associated with apoptosis activation. Therefore, 22 structurally different PAs were analyzed concerning the disturbance of cell viability in the metabolically competent human hepatoma cell line HepaRG. The chosen PAs represent the main necine base structures and the different esterification types. Open-chained and cyclic heliotridine- and retronecine-type diesters induced strong cytotoxic effects, while treatment of HepaRG with monoesters did not affect cell viability. For more detailed investigation of apoptosis induction, comprising caspase activation and gene expression analysis, 14 PA representatives were selected. The proapoptotic effects were in line with the potency observed in cell viability studies. In vitro data point towards a strong structure–activity relationship whose effectiveness needs to be investigated in vivo and can then be the basis for a structure-associated risk assessment.

Download Full-text

Ferroptosis contributes to isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and learning and memory impairment

Cell Death Discovery ◽

10.1038/s41420-021-00454-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pengfei Liu ◽

Jing Yuan ◽

Yetong Feng ◽

Xin Chen ◽

Guangsuo Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Memory Impairment ◽

Close Association ◽

Dimethyl Fumarate ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Transport Chain ◽

The Relationship

AbstractFerroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death, which is different from apoptosis and autophagic cell death. Recently, ferroptosis has been indicated to contribute to the in vitro neurotoxicity induced by isoflurane, which is one of the most common anesthetics in clinic. However, the in vivo position of ferroptosis in isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity as well as learning and memory impairment remains unclear. In this study, we mainly explored the relationship between ferroptosis and isoflurane-induced learning and memory, as well as the therapeutic methods in mouse model. Our results indicated that isoflurane induced the ferroptosis in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in hippocampus, the organ related with learning and memory ability. In addition, the activity of cytochrome c oxidase/Complex IV in mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) was increased by isoflurane, which might further contributed to cysteine deprivation-induced ferroptosis caused by isoflurane exposure. More importantly, isoflurane-induced ferroptosis could be rescued by both ferroptosis inhibitor (ferrostatin-1) and mitochondria activator (dimethyl fumarate), which also showed effective therapeutic action against isoflurane-induced learning and memory impairment. Taken together, our data indicate the close association among ferroptosis, mitochondria and isoflurane, and provide a novel insight into the therapy mode against isoflurane-induced learning and memory impairment.

Download Full-text

Role of Hypoxia-Mediated Autophagy in Tumor Cell Death and Survival

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13030533 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 533

Author(s):

Rania F. Zaarour ◽

Bilal Azakir ◽

Edries Y. Hajam ◽

Husam Nawafleh ◽

Nagwa A. Zeinelabdin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Type I ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Destruction Process ◽

Tumor Cell Death ◽

Complex Regulation ◽

Cancer Immunotherapies ◽

The Relationship ◽

Shed Light

Programmed cell death or type I apoptosis has been extensively studied and its contribution to the pathogenesis of disease is well established. However, autophagy functions together with apoptosis to determine the overall fate of the cell. The cross talk between this active self-destruction process and apoptosis is quite complex and contradictory as well, but it is unquestionably decisive for cell survival or cell death. Autophagy can promote tumor suppression but also tumor growth by inducing cancer-cell development and proliferation. In this review, we will discuss how autophagy reprograms tumor cells in the context of tumor hypoxic stress. We will illustrate how autophagy acts as both a suppressor and a driver of tumorigenesis through tuning survival in a context dependent manner. We also shed light on the relationship between autophagy and immune response in this complex regulation. A better understanding of the autophagy mechanisms and pathways will undoubtedly ameliorate the design of therapeutics aimed at targeting autophagy for future cancer immunotherapies.

Download Full-text

The Role of Sphingolipids in Cancer Immunotherapy

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126492 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6492

Author(s):

Paola Giussani ◽

Alessandro Prinetti ◽

Cristina Tringali

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Plasma Membranes ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Surface Receptors ◽

Car T ◽

Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽

And Migration ◽

Lymphocyte Egress

Immunotherapy is now considered an innovative and strong strategy to beat metastatic, drug-resistant, or relapsing tumours. It is based on the manipulation of several mechanisms involved in the complex interplay between cancer cells and immune system that culminates in a form of immune-tolerance of tumour cells, favouring their expansion. Current immunotherapies are devoted enforcing the immune response against cancer cells and are represented by approaches employing vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, interleukins, checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Despite the undoubted potency of these treatments in some malignancies, many issues are being investigated to amplify the potential of application and to avoid side effects. In this review, we discuss how sphingolipids are involved in interactions between cancer cells and the immune system and how knowledge in this topic could be employed to enhance the efficacy of different immunotherapy approaches. In particular, we explore the following aspects: how sphingolipids are pivotal components of plasma membranes and could modulate the functionality of surface receptors expressed also by immune cells and thus their functionality; how sphingolipids are related to the release of bioactive mediators, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and ceramide that could significantly affect lymphocyte egress and migration toward the tumour milieu, in addition regulating key pathways needed to activate immune cells; given the renowned capability of altering sphingolipid expression and metabolism shown by cancer cells, how it is possible to employ sphingolipids as antigen targets.

Download Full-text

Host/Malassezia Interaction: A Quantitative, Non-Invasive Method Profiling Oxylipin Production Associates Human Skin Eicosanoids with Malassezia

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11100700 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 700

Author(s):

Yohannes Abere Ambaw ◽

Martin P. Pagac ◽

Antony S. Irudayaswamy ◽

Manfred Raida ◽

Anne K. Bendt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Immune System ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Human Skin ◽

Skin Surface ◽

Lipid Mediators ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Human Immune System ◽

Plant Host

Malassezia are common components of human skin, and as the dominant human skin eukaryotic microbe, they take part in complex microbe–host interactions. Other phylogenetically related fungi (including within Ustilagomycotina) communicate with their plant host through bioactive oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids, generally known as oxylipins, by regulating the plant immune system to increase their virulence. Oxylipins are similar in structure and function to human eicosanoids, which modulate the human immune system. This study reports the development of a highly sensitive mass-spectrometry-based method to capture and quantify bioactive oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids from the human skin surface and in vitro Malassezia cultures. It confirms that Malassezia are capable of synthesizing eicosanoid-like lipid mediators in vitro in a species dependent manner, many of which are found on human skin. This method enables sensitive identification and quantification of bioactive lipid mediators from human skin that may be derived from metabolic pathways shared between skin and its microbial residents. This enables better cross-disciplinary and detailed studies to dissect the interaction between Malassezia and human skin, and to identify potential intervention points to promote or abrogate inflammation and to improve human skin health.

Download Full-text

TB-4 Antitumor effects of a novel curcumin derivative curcumin monoglucuronide on glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Neuro-Oncology Advances ◽

10.1093/noajnl/vdab159.022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi6-vi6

Author(s):

Takashi Fujii ◽

Shun Yamamuro ◽

Masamichi Takahashi ◽

Akihide Kondo ◽

Yoshitaka Narita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Antitumor Effects ◽

Multiple Cell ◽

Human Gbm ◽

Dose Dependent ◽

Novel Therapeutic

Abstract The therapeutic outcome of glioblastomas (GBMs) is still very poor. Therefore, invention of novel therapeutic methods against GBM cases is considered urgent. The antitumor effects of naturally-derived compounds are attracting attention recently, and therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, a plant-derived compound previously used for multiple purpose, has been indicated in many cancer systems; however, clinical application of curcumin is considered difficult because of its poor bioavailability (under 1 %). Curcumin monoglucuronide (CMG), a water-soluble prodrug of curcumin recently developed for overcoming this weakness, has been demonstrated excellent antitumor effects for several malignancies in vitro and in vivo; therefore, we investigated the effects of CMG against GBM cells. CMG induced cell death of human GBM cells lines (T98G, U251MG, and U87MG) by dose dependent manner by triggering multiple forms of cell death such as apoptosis and perthanatos. Immunoblotting of CMG-treated GBM cell lysates demonstrated activation of multiple cell death signaling. Furthermore, immunodeficiency mice harboring intracerebral U87MG cell xenografts systemically treated by CMG showed significantly prolonged survival compared with control mice. These results suggest CMG would be a novel therapeutic agent against GBM cases.

Download Full-text