Research Articles
Abstract
In comparison with responses in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM), the intracranial response of brain metastases (BrM) to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is less well studied. Here, we present an integrated single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) study of 19 ICB-naive and 9 ICB-treated BrM samples from our own and published data sets. We compared them with our previously published scRNA-Seq data from rGBM and found that ICB led to more prominent T cell infiltration into BrM than rGBM. These BrM-infiltrating T cells exhibited a tumor-specific phenotype and displayed greater activated/exhausted features. We also used multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics to reveal that ICB reduced a distinct CD206+ macrophage population in the perivascular space, which may modulate T cell entry into BrM. Furthermore, we identified a subset of progenitor exhausted T cells that correlated with longer overall survival in BrM patients. Our study provides a comprehensive immune cellular landscape of ICB’s effect on metastatic brain tumors and offers insights into potential strategies for improving ICB efficacy for brain tumor patients.
Authors
Lu Sun, Jenny C. Kienzler, Jeremy G. Reynoso, Alexander Lee, Eileen Shiuan, Shanpeng Li, Jiyoon Kim, Lizhong Ding, Amber J. Monteleone, Geoffrey C. Owens, Joanna J. Phillips, Richard G. Everson, David Nathanson, Timothy F. Cloughesy, Gang Li, Linda M. Liau, Willy Hugo, Won Kim, Robert M. Prins
Abstract
Therapeutic benefit to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is currently limited to the subset of cancers thought to possess a sufficient tumor mutational burden (TMB) to allow for the spontaneous recognition of neoantigens (NeoAg) by autologous T cells. We explored whether the response to ICB of an aggressive low-TMB squamous cell tumor could be improved through combination immunotherapy using functionally defined NeoAg as targets for endogenous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We found that, whereas vaccination with CD4+ or CD8+ NeoAg alone did not offer prophylactic or therapeutic immunity, vaccines containing NeoAg recognized by both subsets overcame ICB resistance and led to the eradication of large established tumors that contained a subset of PD-L1+ tumor-initiating cancer stem cells (tCSC), provided the relevant epitopes were physically linked. Therapeutic CD4+/CD8+ T cell NeoAg vaccination produced a modified tumor microenvironment (TME) with increased numbers of NeoAg-specific CD8+ T cells existing in progenitor and intermediate exhausted states enabled by combination ICB-mediated intermolecular epitope spreading. We believe that the concepts explored herein should be exploited for the development of more potent personalized cancer vaccines that can expand the range of tumors treatable with ICB.
Authors
Joseph S. Dolina, Joey Lee, Spencer E. Brightman, Sara McArdle, Samantha M. Hall, Rukman R. Thota, Karla S. Zavala, Manasa Lanka, Ashmitaa Logandha Ramamoorthy Premlal, Jason A. Greenbaum, Ezra E. W. Cohen, Bjoern Peters, Stephen P. Schoenberger
Abstract
Non–small cell lung cancers that harbor concurrent KRAS and TP53 (KP) mutations are immunologically warm tumors with partial responsiveness to anti–PD-(L)1 blockade; however, most patients observe little or no durable clinical benefit. To identify novel tumor-driven resistance mechanisms, we developed a panel of KP murine lung cancer models with intrinsic resistance to anti–PD-1 and queried differential gene expression between these tumors and anti–PD-1–sensitive tumors. We found that the enzyme autotaxin (ATX), and the metabolite it produces, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), were significantly upregulated in resistant tumors and that ATX directly modulated antitumor immunity, with its expression negatively correlating with total and effector tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Pharmacological inhibition of ATX, or the downstream receptor LPAR5, in combination with anti–PD-1 was sufficient to restore the antitumor immune response and efficaciously control lung tumor growth in multiple KP tumor models. Additionally, ATX was significantly correlated with inflammatory gene signatures, including a CD8+ cytolytic score in multiple lung adenocarcinoma patient data sets, suggesting that an activated tumor-immune microenvironment upregulates ATX and thus provides an opportunity for cotargeting to prevent acquired resistance to anti–PD-1 treatment. These data reveal the ATX/LPA axis as an immunosuppressive pathway that diminishes the immune checkpoint blockade response in lung cancer.
Authors
Jessica M. Konen, B. Leticia Rodriguez, Haoyi Wu, Jared J. Fradette, Laura Gibson, Lixia Diao, Jing Wang, Stephanie Schmidt, Ignacio I. Wistuba, Jianjun Zhang, Don L. Gibbons
Abstract
SAP30 is a core subunit of the transcriptional corepressor SIN3 complex, but little is known about its role in gene regulation and human cancer. Here, we show that SAP30 was a nonmutational oncoprotein upregulated in more than 50% of human breast tumors and correlated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with breast cancer. In various breast cancer mouse models, we found that SAP30 promoted tumor growth and metastasis through its interaction with SIN3A/3B. Surprisingly, the canonical gene silencing role was not essential for SAP30’s tumor-promoting actions. SAP30 enhanced chromatin accessibility and RNA polymerase II occupancy at promoters in breast cancer cells, acting as a coactivator for genes involved in cell motility, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis, thereby driving tumor progression. Notably, SAP30 formed a homodimer with 1 subunit binding to SIN3A and another subunit recruiting MLL1 through specific Phe186/200 residues within its transactivation domain. MLL1 was required for SAP30-mediated transcriptional coactivation and breast tumor progression. Collectively, our findings reveal that SAP30 represents a transcriptional dependency in breast cancer.
Authors
Lei Bao, Ashwani Kumar, Ming Zhu, Yan Peng, Chao Xing, Jennifer E. Wang, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although mutations in TARDBP, encoding transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), account for less than 1% of all ALS cases, TDP-43–positive aggregates are present in nearly all ALS patients, including patients with sporadic ALS (sALS) or carrying other familial ALS–causing (fALS-causing) mutations. Interestingly, TDP-43 inclusions are also present in subsets of patients with frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease; therefore, methods of activating intracellular protein quality control machinery capable of clearing toxic cytoplasmic TDP-43 species may alleviate disease-related phenotypes. Here, we identify a function of nemo-like kinase (Nlk) as a negative regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Genetic or pharmacological reduction of Nlk increased lysosome formation and improved clearance of aggregated TDP-43. Furthermore, Nlk reduction ameliorated pathological, behavioral, and life span deficits in 2 distinct mouse models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Because many toxic proteins can be cleared through the autophagy/lysosome pathway, targeted reduction of Nlk represents a potential approach to therapy development for multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
Authors
Leon Tejwani, Youngseob Jung, Hiroshi Kokubu, Sowmithra Sowmithra, Luhan Ni, Changwoo Lee, Benjamin Sanders, Paul J. Lee, Yangfei Xiang, Kimberly Luttik, Armand Soriano, Jennifer Yoon, Junhyun Park, Hannah H. Ro, Hyoungseok Ju, Clara Liao, Sofia Massaro Tieze, Frank Rigo, Paymaan Jafar-Nejad, Janghoo Lim
Abstract
Long-acting antiretroviral agents for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represent a promising new alternative to daily oral regimens for HIV prevention. Lenacapavir (LEN) is a first-in-class long-acting capsid inhibitor approved for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Here, we assessed the efficacy of LEN for PrEP using a single high-dose simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) rectal challenge macaque model. In vitro, LEN showed potent antiviral activity against SHIV, as it did for HIV-1. In macaques, a single subcutaneous administration of LEN demonstrated dose proportional increases in and durability of drug plasma levels. A high-dose SHIV inoculum for the PrEP efficacy evaluation was identified via virus titration in untreated macaques. LEN-treated macaques were challenged with high-dose SHIV 7 weeks after drug administration, and the majority remained protected from infection, as confirmed by plasma PCR, cell-associated proviral DNA, and serology testing. Complete protection and superiority to the untreated group was observed among animals whose LEN plasma exposure exceeded its model-adjusted clinical efficacy target at the time of challenge. All infected animals had subprotective LEN concentrations and showed no emergent resistance. These data demonstrate effective SHIV prophylaxis in a stringent macaque model at clinically relevant LEN exposures and support the clinical evaluation of LEN for HIV PrEP in humans.
Authors
Elena Bekerman, Stephen R. Yant, Laurie VanderVeen, Derek Hansen, Bing Lu, William Rowe, Kelly Wang, Christian Callebaut
Abstract
Despite the success of KRAS G12C inhibitors in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), more effective treatments are needed. One preclinical strategy has been to cotarget RAS and mTOR pathways; however, toxicity due to broad mTOR inhibition has limited its utility. Therefore, we sought to develop a more refined means of targeting cap-dependent translation and identifying the most therapeutically important eukaryotic initiation factor 4F complex–translated (eIF4F-translated) targets. Here, we show that an eIF4A inhibitor, which targets a component of eIF4F, dramatically enhances the effects of KRAS G12C inhibitors in NSCLCs and together these agents induce potent tumor regression in vivo. By screening a broad panel of eIF4F targets, we show that this cooperativity is driven by effects on BCL-2 family proteins. Moreover, because multiple BCL-2 family members are concomitantly suppressed, these agents are broadly efficacious in NSCLCs, irrespective of their dependency on MCL1, BCL-xL, or BCL-2, which is known to be heterogeneous. Finally, we show that MYC overexpression confers sensitivity to this combination because it creates a dependency on eIF4A for BCL-2 family protein expression. Together, these studies identify a promising therapeutic strategy for KRAS-mutant NSCLCs, demonstrate that BCL-2 proteins are the key mediators of the therapeutic response in this tumor type, and uncover a predictive biomarker of sensitivity.
Authors
Francesca Nardi, Naiara Perurena, Amy E. Schade, Ze-Hua Li, Kenneth Ngo, Elena V. Ivanova, Aisha Saldanha, Chendi Li, Prafulla C. Gokhale, Aaron N. Hata, David A. Barbie, Cloud P. Paweletz, Pasi A. Jänne, Karen Cichowski
Abstract
There is no vaccine to protect from cryptosporidiosis, a leading cause of diarrhea in infants in low- and middle-income countries. Here, we comprehensively identified parasite antigens associated with protection from reinfection. A Cryptosporidium protein microarray was constructed by in vitro transcription and translation of 1,761 C. parvum, C. hominis, or C. meleagridis antigens, including proteins with a signal peptide and/or a transmembrane domain. Plasma IgG and/or IgA from Bangladeshi children longitudinally followed for cryptosporidiosis from birth to 3 years of age allowed for identification of 233 seroreactive proteins. Seven of these were associated with protection from reinfection. These included Cp23, Cp17, Gp900, and 4 additional antigens — CpSMP1, CpMuc8, CpCorA and CpCCDC1. Infection in the first year of life, however, often resulted in no detectable antigen-specific antibody response, and antibody responses, when detected, were specific to the infecting parasite genotype and decayed in the months after infection. In conclusion, humoral immune responses against specific parasite antigens were associated with acquired immunity. While antibody decay over time and parasite genotype-specificity may limit natural immunity, this work serves as a foundation for antigen selection for vaccine design.
Authors
Carol A. Gilchrist, Joseph J. Campo, Jozelyn V. Pablo, Jennie Z. Ma, Andy Teng, Amit Oberai, Adam D. Shandling, Masud Alam, Mamun Kabir, A.S.G. Faruque, Rashidul Haque, William A. Petri Jr.
Abstract
CXCR7 is an atypical chemokine receptor that recruits β-arrestin (ARRB2) and internalizes into clathrin-coated intracellular vesicles where the complex acts as a scaffold for cytoplasmic kinase assembly and signal transduction. Here, we report that CXCR7 was elevated in the majority of prostate cancer (PCa) cases with neuroendocrine features (NEPC). CXCR7 markedly induced mitotic spindle and cell cycle gene expression. Mechanistically, we identified Aurora Kinase A (AURKA), a key regulator of mitosis, as a novel target that was bound and activated by the CXCR7-ARRB2 complex. CXCR7 interacted with proteins associated with microtubules and golgi, and, as such, the CXCR7-ARRB2-containing vesicles trafficked along the microtubules to the pericentrosomal golgi apparatus, where the complex interacted with AURKA. Accordingly, CXCR7 promoted PCa cell proliferation and tumor growth, which was mitigated by AURKA inhibition. In summary, our study reveals a critical role of CXCR7-ARRB2 in interacting and activating AURKA, which can be targeted by AURKA inhibitors to benefit a subset of patients with NEPC.
Authors
Galina Gritsina, Ka-wing Fong, Xiaodong Lu, Zhuoyuan Lin, Wanqing Xie, Shivani Agarwal, Dong Lin, Gary E. Schiltz, Himisha Beltran, Eva Corey, Colm Morrissey, Yuzhuo Wang, Jonathan C. Zhao, Maha Hussain, Jindan Yu
Abstract
The liver can fully regenerate after partial resection, and its underlying mechanisms have been extensively studied. The liver can also rapidly regenerate after injury, with most studies focusing on hepatocyte proliferation; however, how hepatic necrotic lesions during acute or chronic liver diseases are eliminated and repaired remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate that monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) were rapidly recruited to and encapsulated necrotic areas during immune-mediated liver injury and that this feature was essential in repairing necrotic lesions. At the early stage of injury, infiltrating MoMFs activated the Jagged1/notch homolog protein 2 (JAG1/NOTCH2) axis to induce cell death–resistant SRY-box transcription factor 9+ (SOX9+) hepatocytes near the necrotic lesions, which acted as a barrier from further injury. Subsequently, necrotic environment (hypoxia and dead cells) induced a cluster of complement 1q–positive (C1q+) MoMFs that promoted necrotic removal and liver repair, while Pdgfb+ MoMFs activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to express α–smooth muscle actin and induce a strong contraction signal (YAP, pMLC) to squeeze and finally eliminate the necrotic lesions. In conclusion, MoMFs play a key role in repairing the necrotic lesions, not only by removing necrotic tissues, but also by inducing cell death–resistant hepatocytes to form a perinecrotic capsule and by activating α-smooth muscle actin–expressing HSCs to facilitate necrotic lesion resolution.
Authors
Dechun Feng, Xiaogang Xiang, Yukun Guan, Adrien Guillot, Hongkun Lu, Chingwen Chang, Yong He, Hua Wang, Hongna Pan, Cynthia Ju, Sean P. Colgan, Frank Tacke, Xin Wei Wang, George Kunos, Bin Gao
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Copyright © 2023 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)