The proto-oncogene Myc drives expression of the NK cell-activating NKp30 ligand B7-H6 in tumor cells.

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate effector cells that are able to recognize and eliminate tumor cells through engagement of their surface receptors. NKp30 is a potent activating NK cell receptor that elicits efficient NK cell-mediated target cell killing. Recently, B7-H6 was identified as tumor cell surface expressed ligand for NKp30. Enhanced B7-H6 mRNA levels are frequently detected in tumor compared to healthy tissues. To gain insight in the regulation of expression of B7-H6 in tumors, we investigated transcriptional mechanisms driving B7-H6 expression by promoter analyses. Using luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation we mapped a functional binding site for Myc, a proto-oncogene overexpressed in certain tumors, in the B7-H6 promoter. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA/shRNA-mediated knock-down of c-Myc or N-Myc significantly decreased B7-H6 expression on a variety of tumor cells including melanoma, pancreatic carcinoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. In tumor cell lines from different origin and primary tumor tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), lymphoma and neuroblastoma, mRNA levels of c-Myc positively correlated with B7-H6 expression. Most importantly, upon inhibition or knock-down of c-Myc in tumor cells impaired NKp30-mediated degranulation of NK cells was observed. Thus, our data imply that Myc driven tumors could be targets for cancer immunotherapy exploiting the NKp30/B7-H6 axis.

Evaluation of specific humoral and cellular immune responses against the major capsid L1 protein of cutaneous wart-associated alpha-Papillomaviruses in solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Infection with different species of cutaneous human papillomaviruses (cHPV) of genus alpha (cαHPVs) and associated skin disease are highly prevalent in solid organ transplant recipients (OTR), documenting the importance of the immunological control of HPV infection. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the natural course of cαHPV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses during systemic long-term immunosuppression. METHODS: Integrating bead-based multiplex serology and flow cytometry we analyzed natural cαHPV-specific antibodies and T(H) cell responses against the major capsid protein L1 of HPV types 2, 27, 57 (species 4) and 3, 10 and 77 (species 2) in sera and blood of OTR before and after initiation of iatrogenic immunosuppression and in comparison to immunocompetent individuals (IC). RESULTS: Among OTR we observed an overall 42% decrease in humoral L1-specific immune responses during the course of iatrogenic immunosuppression, comparing median values 30 d before and 30 d after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy (p < 0.05). This difference disappeared after long-term (>1 year) immunosuppression. The predominant cellular L1-specific immune response was of type T(H)1 (CD4(+)CD40L(+)IL-2(+)IFN-γ(+)). Consistent with the detected L1-specific antibody titers, L1-specific T(H)1 responses were unchanged in long-term immunosuppressed OTR compared to IC. Notably, cαHPV-L1-specific IL-2(+)/CD40L(+)CD4(+) or IFN-γ(+)/CD40L(+) CD4(+) T(H) cell responses against any of the cαHPV-L1 types were significantly higher in OTR with clinically apparent common warts. CONCLUSION: The systemic humoral immune response against cαHPV may reflect the individual degree of iatrogenic immunosuppression indicating a higher susceptibility for cαHPV infection among OTR during the early phase after organ transplantation. Humoral cαHPV-specific immune responses may show a reconstitution to pre-transplantation levels despite continuous potent immunosuppression.

Metalloprotease-mediated tumor cell shedding of B7-H6, the ligand of the natural killer cell-activating receptor NKp30.

Natural killer (NK) cells are potent immune effector cells capable of mediating antitumor responses. Thus, during immunoediting, tumor cell populations evolve strategies to escape NK-cell-mediated recognition. In this study, we report a novel mechanism of immune escape involving tumor cell shedding of B7-H6, a ligand for the activating receptor NKp30 that mediates NK-cell binding and NK-cell-mediated killing. Tumor cells from different cancer entities released B7-H6 by ectodomain shedding mediated by the cell surface proteases "a disintegrin and metalloproteases" (ADAM)-10 and ADAM-17, as demonstrated through the use of pharmacologic inhibitors or siRNA-mediated gene attenuation. Inhibiting this proteolytic shedding process increased the levels of B7-H6 expressed on the surface of tumor cells, enhancing NKp30-mediated activation of NK cells. Notably, we documented elevated levels of soluble B7-H6 levels in blood sera obtained from a subset of patients with malignant melanoma, compared with healthy control individuals, along with evidence of elevated B7-H6 expression in melanoma specimens in situ. Taken together, our results illustrated a novel mechanism of immune escape in which tumor cells impede NK-mediated recognition by metalloprotease-mediated shedding of B7-H6. One implication of our findings is that therapeutic inhibition of specific metalloproteases may help support NK-cell-based cancer therapy.

Downregulation of the activating NKp30 ligand B7-H6 by HDAC inhibitors impairs tumor cell recognition by NK cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are central effector cells during innate immune responses against cancer. Natural cytotoxicity receptors expressed by NK cells such as NKp30 are involved in the recognition of transformed cells. Recently, the novel B7 family member B7-H6, which is expressed on the cell surface of various tumor cells including hematological malignancies, was identified as an activating ligand for NKp30. To investigate expression and regulation of B7-H6, we generated monoclonal antibodies. Our study reveals that B7-H6 surface protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in various tumor cell lines was downregulated upon treatment with pan- or class I histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) as well as after small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the class I histone deacetylases (HDAC) 2 or 3. B7-H6 downregulation was associated with decreased B7-H6 reporter activity and reduced histone acetylation at the B7-H6 promoter. In certain primary lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma samples, B7-H6 mRNA levels were elevated and correlated with HDAC3 expression. Finally, downregulation of B7-H6 on tumor cells by HDACi reduced NKp30-dependent effector functions of NK cells. Thus, we identified a novel mechanism that governs B7-H6 expression in tumor cells that has implications for potential cancer treatments combining immunotherapy with HDACi.

Human NK cells are alerted to induction of p53 in cancer cells by upregulation of the NKG2D ligands ULBP1 and ULBP2.

Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells sensing and eliminating foreign, stressed, transformed, and senescent cells through specialized surface receptors, such as NKG2D, that interacts with several virus- or stress-inducible ligands, including ULBP1 and -2, which are expressed on target cell surfaces. For example, induction of DNA damage or cellular senescence pathways in tumor cells led to upregulation of NKG2D ligands that activate NK cells. Although, both pathways activate p53, the relationship of p53 activation to upregulation of NKG2D ligands has not been addressed. In this study, we report that induction of wild-type p53, but not mutant p53, strongly upregulated mRNA and cell surface expression of ULBP1 and -2, whereas expression of other NK cell ligands was not affected. We defined intronic p53-responsive elements in these two novel p53 target genes. Coculture of wild-type p53-induced human tumor cells with primary human NK cells enhanced NKG2D-dependent degranulation and IFN-γ production by NK cells. Accordingly, treatment of certain wild-type p53-expressing tumor cell lines with the p53-reactivating small molecular compound RITA resulted in upregulation of ULBP2 mRNA and cell surface protein expression. Taken together, our findings define the involvement of p53 in the regulation of specific NKG2D ligands that enhance NK cell-mediated target recognition. One implication of our work is that activating p53 after adoptive transfer of NK cells might constitute an effective combinatorial strategy of NK cell-based immunochemotherapy in cancers in which wild-type p53 function is preserved.

NF-κ B-dependent upregulation of ICAM-1 by HPV16-E6/E7 facilitates NK cell/target cell interaction.

NK cell recognition of tumor cells is mediated by a delicate balance of signals received by MHC class I-binding inhibitory NK cell receptors and activating NK cell receptors, which mainly bind to virus-, stress- or tumor-induced ligands. In addition, adhesion molecules such as the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its receptors, the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and Mac-1, are crucial for immune synapse formation and NK cell-mediated killing. In this study, we show that expression of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 was rapidly induced by E6 and -E7 oncoproteins of HPV16, -18, -5 and -8, but not of HPV38 and -6 in primary human keratinocytes after retroviral transduction. ICAM-1 was upregulated in E6E7-expressing keratinocytes both at mRNA and protein levels. The observed ICAM-1 upregulation in HPV16-E6E7-expressing keratinocytes was partially dependent on activation of the NF-κB pathway. Importantly, the upregulated ICAM-1 expression in HPV16-E6E7-expressing keratinocytes led to enhanced conjugate formation with NK cells. We previously showed that HPV16-positive cervical carcinomas frequently express low levels of inhibitory NK cell ligands and high levels of activating NK cell ligands. Moreover, levels of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 are enhanced by HPV16-E6/E7. Therefore, strategies that aim at harnessing NK cells might be beneficial for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.

Virus-like particles and capsomeres are potent vaccines against cutaneous alpha HPVs.

The potential as prophylactic vaccines of L1-based particles from cutaneous genus alpha human papillomavirus (HPV) types has not been assessed so far. However, there is a high medical need for such vaccines since HPV-induced skin warts represent a major burden for children and for immunocompromised adults, such as organ transplant recipients. In this study, we have examined the immunogenicity of capsomeres and virus-like particles (VLPs) from HPV types 2, 27, and 57, the most frequent causative agents of skin warts. Immunization of mice induced immune responses resembling those observed upon vaccination with HPV 16 L1-based antigens. The antibody responses were cross-reactive but type-restricted in their neutralizing capacities. Application of adjuvant led to an enhanced potential to neutralize the respective immunogen type but did not improve cross-neutralization. Vaccination with capsomeres and VLPs from all four analyzed HPV types induced robust IFNgamma-associated T-cell activation. Immunization with mixed VLPs from HPV types 2, 27, and 57 triggered an antibody response similar to that after single-type immunization and capable of efficiently neutralizing all three types. Our results imply that vaccination with combinations of VLPs from cutaneous HPV types constitutes a promising strategy to prevent HPV-induced skin lesions.

Interferon-gamma down-regulates NKG2D ligand expression and impairs the NKG2D-mediated cytolysis of MHC class I-deficient melanoma by natural killer cells.

NKG2D operates as an activating receptor on natural killer (NK) cells and costimulates the effector function of alphabeta CD8(+) T cells. Ligands of NKG2D, the MHC class I chain-related (MIC) and UL16 binding protein (ULBP) molecules, are expressed on a variety of human tumors, including melanoma. Recent studies in mice demonstrated that NKG2D mediates tumor immune surveillance, suggesting that antitumor immunity in humans could be enhanced by therapeutic manipulation of NKG2D ligand (NKG2DL) expression. However, signals and mechanisms regulating NKG2DL expression still need to be elucidated. Here, we asked whether the proinflammatory cytokine Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) affects NKG2DL expression in melanoma. Cell lines, established from MHC class I-negative and -positive melanoma metastases, predominantly expressed MICA and ULBP2 molecules on their surface. Upon IFN-gamma treatment, expression of MICA, in some cases, also of ULBP2 decreased. Besides melanoma, this observation was made also for glioma cells. Down-regulation of NKG2DL surface expression was dependent on the cytokine dose and the duration of treatment, but was neither due to an intracellular retention of the molecules nor to an increased shedding of ligands from the tumor cell surface. Instead, quantitative RT-PCR revealed a decrease of MICA-specific mRNA levels upon IFN-gamma treatment and siRNA experiments pointed to an involvement of STAT-1 in this process. Importantly, IFN-gamma-treated MHC class I-negative melanoma cells were less susceptible to NKG2D-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity. Our study suggests that IFN-gamma, by down-regulating ligand expression, might facilitate escape of MHC class I-negative melanoma cells from NKG2D-mediated killing by NK cells.

Activating NK cell receptor ligands are differentially expressed during progression to cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus-induced cervical carcinomas often show impaired expression of MHC class I molecules resulting in the inability of tumor cells to directly present viral peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Loss of MHC class I expression combined with the expression of activating NK cell receptor ligands renders tumor cells potentially susceptible to NK cell attack. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the expression of activating NK cell receptor ligands, NK cell accumulation and activation status in situ in normal ectocervical tissue (NCT), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cervical carcinoma (CxCa). We observed that expression of the DNAM-1 ligand CD155 was frequently upregulated in CxCa, but not in CIN. The NKG2D ligand MICA was upregulated in fewer CxCa biopsies. In contrast, another NKG2D ligand ULBP2 was preferentially expressed in differentiated epithelial cells of NCT. Increased numbers of NK cells were detected in CIN as compared to NCT and CxCa. Expression of activating NK cell receptor ligands combined with loss of MHC class I was not correlated with enhanced NK cell accumulation or activation status. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cervical cancer cell lines are killed by the NK cell line, NKL, in a NKG2D- and DNAM-1-dependent manner in vitro. Since a significant number of CxCa biopsies showed low MHC class I expression combined with high expression of one or more of the tested activating NK cell receptor ligands, we conclude that CxCa might be a promising target for NK cell-based adoptive immunotherapy.

Identification of CLEC12B, an inhibitory receptor on myeloid cells.

Activation of immune cells has to be tightly controlled to prevent detrimental hyperactivation. In this regulatory process molecules of the C-type lectin-like family play a central role. Here we describe a new member of this family, CLEC12B. The extracellular domain of CLEC12B shows considerable homology to the activating natural killer cell receptor NKG2D, but unlike NKG2D, CLEC12B contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif in its intracellular domain. Despite the homology, CLEC12B does not appear to bind NKG2D ligands and therefore does not represent the inhibitory counterpart of NKG2D. However, CLEC12B has the ability to counteract NKG2D-mediated signaling, and we show that this function is dependent on the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif and the recruitment of the phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2. Using monoclonal anti-CLEC12B antibodies we found de novo expression of this receptor on in vitro generated human macrophages and on the human myelo-monocytic cell line U937 upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment, suggesting that this receptor plays a role in myeloid cell function.