RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cell genome editing promises to enhance the innate and alloreactive anti-tumor potential of NK cell adoptive transfer. DNA transposons are versatile non-viral gene vectors now being adapted to primary NK cells, representing important tools for research and clinical product development. AIMS AND METHODS: We set out to generate donor-derived, primary chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells by combining the TcBuster transposon system with Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid feeder cell-mediated activation and expansion. RESULTS: This approach allowed for clinically relevant NK-cell expansion capability and CAR expression, which was further enhanced by immunomagnetic selection based on binding to the CAR target protein.The resulting CAR-NK cells targeting the myeloid associated antigen CLL-1 efficiently targeted CLL-1-positive AML cell lines and primary AML populations, including a population enriched for leukemia stem cells. Subsequently, concurrent delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 cargo was applied to knockout the NK cell cytokine checkpoint cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS, product of the CISH gene), resulting in enhanced cytotoxicity and an altered NK cell phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This report contributes a promising application of transposon engineering to donor-derived NK cells and emphasizes the importance of feeder mediated NK cell activation and expansion to current protocols.
Assuntos
Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Citocinas/metabolismo , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Elementos de DNA Transponíveis/genética , Edição de Genes , Herpesvirus Humano 4/genética , Humanos , Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , Células Matadoras Naturais , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/genética , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/metabolismoRESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells can provide effective immunotherapy for ovarian cancer. Here, we evaluated the ability of NK cells isolated from peripheral blood (PB) and NK cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) to mediate killing of ovarian cancer cells in a mouse xenograft model. A mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the intraperitoneal delivery of three different NK cell populations: iPSC-derived NK cells, PB-NK cells that had been activated and expanded in long-term culture, and overnight activated PB-NK cells that were isolated through CD3/CD19 depletion of PB B and T cells. Bioluminescent imaging was used to monitor tumor burden of luciferase expressing tumor lines. Tumors were allowed to establish prior to administering NK cells via intraperitoneal injection. These studies demonstrate a single dose of any of the three NK cell populations significantly reduced tumor burden. When mice were given three doses of either iPSC-NK cells or expanded PB-NK cells, the median survival improved from 73 days in mice untreated to 98 and 97 days for treated mice, respectively. From these studies, we conclude iPSC-derived NK cells mediate antiovarian cancer killing at least as well as PB-NK cells, making these cells a viable resource for immunotherapy for ovarian cancer. Due to their ability to be easily differentiated into NK cells and their long-term expansion potential, iPSCs can be used to produce large numbers of well-defined NK cells that can be banked and used to treat a large number of patients including treatment with multiple doses if necessary.
Assuntos
Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/citologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/citologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/terapia , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Imunoterapia , Camundongos , Neoplasias Ovarianas/sangueRESUMO
Drug resistance is a serious challenge in cancer treatment and can be acquired through multiple mechanisms. These molecular changes may introduce varied extents of resistance to different therapies and need to be characterized for optimal therapy choice. A recently discovered small molecule, ethyl-2-amino-6-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate) (CXL017), reveals selective cytotoxicity toward drug-resistant leukemia. A drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia cell line, HL60/MX2, also failed to acquire resistance to CXL017 upon chronic exposure and regained sensitivity toward standard therapies. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for HL60/MX2 cells' drug resistance and the molecular basis for its resensitization. Results show that the HL60/MX2 cell line has an elevated level of Mcl-1 protein relative to the parental cell line, HL60, and its resensitized cell line, HL60/MX2/CXL017, whereas it has a reduced level of topoisomerase IIß. Mcl-1 overexpression in HL60/MX2 cells is mainly regulated through phospho-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2-mediated Mcl-1 stabilization, whereas the reduction of topoisomerase IIß in HL60/MX2 cells is controlled through genetic downregulation. Upregulating Mcl-1 introduces multidrug resistance to standard therapies, whereas its downregulation results in significant cell death. Downregulating topoisomerase IIß confers resistance specifically to mitoxantrone, not to other topoisomerase II inhibitors. Overall, these data suggest that Mcl-1 overexpression is a critical determinant for cross-resistance to standard therapies, whereas topoisomerase IIß downregulation is specific to mitoxantrone resistance.
Assuntos
DNA Topoisomerases Tipo II/biossíntese , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/biossíntese , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/metabolismo , Mitoxantrona/farmacologia , Proteína de Sequência 1 de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/biossíntese , Benzopiranos/farmacologia , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Morte Celular/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , DNA Topoisomerases Tipo II/genética , DNA Topoisomerases Tipo II/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Regulação para Baixo , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Células HL-60 , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Proteína de Sequência 1 de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/genética , Proteína de Sequência 1 de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/metabolismo , Regulação para Cima/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) significantly enhance the anti-tumor activity of immune effector cells. Although most studies have evaluated CAR expression in T cells, here we evaluate different CAR constructs that improve natural killer (NK) cell-mediated killing. We identified a CAR containing the transmembrane domain of NKG2D, the 2B4 co-stimulatory domain, and the CD3ζ signaling domain to mediate strong antigen-specific NK cell signaling. NK cells derived from human iPSCs that express this CAR (NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells) have a typical NK cell phenotype and demonstrate improved anti-tumor activity compared with T-CAR-expressing iPSC-derived NK cells (T-CAR-iPSC-NK cells) and non-CAR-expressing cells. In an ovarian cancer xenograft model, NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival compared with PB-NK cells, iPSC-NK cells, or T-CAR-iPSC-NK cells. Additionally, NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells demonstrate in vivo activity similar to that of T-CAR-expressing T cells, although with less toxicity. These NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells now provide standardized, targeted "off-the-shelf" lymphocytes for anti-cancer immunotherapy.
Assuntos
Engenharia Celular , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/citologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/citologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/imunologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Humanos , Células K562 , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Camundongos SCID , Neoplasias Ovarianas/genética , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genéticaRESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive cell population for immunotherapy. Adoptive transfer of NK cells has been tested in multiple clinical trials including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and ovarian cancer, although limitations do exist especially for treatment of solid tumors. In order to overcome these limitations, mouse xenograft models are needed for evaluation of various NK cell populations, as well as routes of NK cell administration. Here, we describe the methods used for the establishment of an intraperitoneal (ip) ovarian cancer mouse xenograft model with ip delivery of NK cells. This model has been successfully employed with multiple ovarian cell lines and could be applied to other tumor models where the tumor's primary location is in the peritoneal cavity. It is also compatible with multiple routes of NK cell administration. Bioluminescent imaging for monitoring tumor formation and response provides for easy visualization of NK cell tumor inhibition. This xenograft model is superior to other models because the tumor is implanted into the same physiological space where ovarian cancer is found, which allows for improved mimicking of actual disease.
Assuntos
Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/transplante , Neoplasias Ovarianas/terapia , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoterapia , Injeções Intraperitoneais , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Medições Luminescentes , Camundongos , Neoplasias Ovarianas/imunologia , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells represent an attractive lymphocyte population for cancer immunotherapy due to their ability to lyse tumor targets without prior sensitization and without need for human leukocyte antigens-matching. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are able to enhance lymphocyte targeting and activation toward diverse malignancies. CARs consist of an external recognition domain (typically a small chain variable fragment) directed at a specific tumor antigen that is linked with one or more intracellular signaling domains that mediate lymphocyte activation. Most CAR studies have focused on their expression in T cells. However, use of CARs in NK cells is starting to gain traction because they provide a method to redirect these cells more specifically to target refractory cancers. CAR-mediated anti-tumor activity has been demonstrated using NK cell lines, as well as NK cells isolated from peripheral blood, and NK cells produced from human pluripotent stem cells. This review will outline the CAR constructs that have been reported in NK cells with a focus on comparing the use of different signaling domains in combination with other co-activating domains.
RESUMO
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle in the treatment of cancer, and there is a pressing need for new therapies. We have recently developed ethyl 2-amino-6-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (CXL017), derived from a dual inhibitor of Bcl-2 and SERCA proteins, sHA 14-1, with selective cytotoxicity toward MDR cancer cell lines in vitro. In this study, we present new evidence for its therapeutic potential in treatment of MDR cancers and offer mechanistic insights toward its preferential targeting of drug-resistant cancer. CXL017 selectively suppressed the growth of tumors derived from the MDR cancer cell line, HL60/MX2, in vivo. In addition, even after chronic exposure to CXL017, HL60/MX2 failed to develop stable resistance to CXL017, whereas it acquired >2000-fold resistance to cytarabine (Ara-C), the major first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Remarkably, instead of acquiring further cross-resistance, HL60/MX2 cells exposed to CXL017 were resensitized to standard therapies (10- to 100-fold). Western blotting analyses revealed that CXL017 exposure significantly down-regulated Mcl-1 and Bax and up-regulated Noxa, Bim, Bcl-X(L), SERCA2, and SERCA3 proteins, along with a reduction in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium content. Given the well-established functions of Bcl-2 family proteins and ER calcium in drug resistance, our results suggest that the down-regulation of Mcl-1 and the up-regulation of Noxa and Bim along with the decrease in ER calcium content are likely responsible for CXL017-induced resensitization of MDR cancer cells. These data also demonstrate the unique potential of CXL017 to overcome MDR in cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacologia , Benzopiranos/farmacologia , Citarabina/farmacologia , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/química , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Benzopiranos/química , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Citarabina/química , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Células HL-60 , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/patologia , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
Multidrug resistance (MDR) against standard therapies poses a serious challenge in cancer treatment, and there is a clinical need for new anticancer agents that would selectively target MDR malignancies. Our previous studies have identified a 4H-chromene system, CXL017 (4) as an example, that can preferentially kill MDR cancer cells. To further improve its potency, we have performed detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies at the 3, 4, and 6 positions of the 4H-chromene system. The results reveal that the 3 and 4 positions prefer rigid and hydrophobic functional groups while the 6 position prefers a meta or para-substituted aryl functional group and the substituent should be small and hydrophilic. We have also identified and characterized nine MDR cancer cells that acquire MDR through different mechanisms and demonstrated the scope of our new lead, 9g, to selectively target different MDR cancers, which holds promise to help manage MDR in cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Benzopiranos/síntese química , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Membro 1 da Subfamília B de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Benzopiranos/química , Benzopiranos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/metabolismo , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio do Retículo Sarcoplasmático/metabolismo , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer is a phenomenon in which administration of a single chemotherapeutic agent causes cross-resistance of cancer cells to a variety of therapies even with different mechanisms of action. Development of MDR against standard therapies is a major challenge in the treatment of cancer. Previously we have demonstrated a unique ability of CXL017 (5) to selectively target MDR cancer cells and synergize with mitoxantrone (MX) in HL60/MX2 MDR cells. Here we expand its scope and demonstrate that 5 can synergize with both vincristine and paclitaxel in three different MDR cell lines (HL60/DNR, K562/HHT300, and CCRF-CEM/VLB100). We also demonstrate that 5 has potent cytotoxicity in the NCI-60 panel of cell lines with an average IC(50) of 1.04 µM. In addition, 5 has a unique mechanism of action in comparison with standard agents in the NCI database based on COMPARE analysis. Further structure-activity relationship study led to the development of a more potent analogue, compound 7d, with an IC(50) of 640 nM in HL60/MX2. Additionally, one enantiomer of 5 is 13-fold more active than the less active enantiomer. Taken together, our study has led to the discovery of a series of analogues that selectively target drug-resistant cancer cells with the potential for the treatment of drug-resistant cancers.
Assuntos
Benzopiranos/química , Benzopiranos/farmacologia , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Daunorrubicina/farmacologia , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Células HCT116 , Células HL-60 , Células HT29 , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Células K562 , Mitoxantrona/farmacologia , Estrutura Molecular , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patologia , Paclitaxel/farmacologia , Estereoisomerismo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Vincristina/farmacologiaRESUMO
Rapid development of multiple drug resistance against current therapies is a major barrier in the treatment of cancer. Therefore, anticancer agents that can overcome acquired drug resistance in cancer cells are of great importance. Previously, we have demonstrated that ethyl 2-amino-4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-6-phenyl-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (5a, sHA 14-1), a stable analogue of ethyl 2-amino-6-bromo-4-(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (6, HA 14-1), mitigates drug resistance and synergizes with a variety of cancer therapies in leukemia cells. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 5a guided the development of ethyl 2-amino-6-(3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (5q, CXL017), a compound with low micromolar cytotoxicity against a wide-range of hematologic and solid tumor cells. More excitingly, our studies of 5q in camptothecin (CCRF-CEM/C2) and mitoxantrone (HL-60/MX2) resistant cancer cells highlight its ability to selectively kill drug-resistant cells over parent cancer cells. 5q inhibits tumor cell growth through the induction of apoptosis, with detailed mechanism of its selectivity toward drug-resistant cancer cells under investigation. These results suggest that 5q is a promising candidate for treatment of cancers with multiple drug resistance.