RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can generate all the cells composing the human body, theoretically. Therefore, hiPSCs are thought to be a candidate source of stem cells for regenerative medicine. The major challenge of allogeneic hiPSC-derived cell products is their immunogenicity. The hypoimmunogenic cell strategy is allogenic cell therapy without using immune suppressants. Advances in gene engineering technology now permit the generation of hypoimmunogenic cells to avoid allogeneic immune rejection. In this study, we generated a hypoimmunogenic hiPSC (HyPSC) clone that had diminished expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class Ia and class II and expressed immune checkpoint molecules and a safety switch. METHODS: First, we generated HLA class Ia and class II double knockout (HLA class Ia/II DKO) hiPSCs. Then, a HyPSC clone was generated by introducing exogenous ß-2-microglobulin (B2M), HLA-G, PD-L1, and PD-L2 genes, and the Rapamycin-activated Caspase 9 (RapaCasp9)-based suicide gene as a safety switch into the HLA class Ia/II DKO hiPSCs. The characteristics and immunogenicity of the HyPSCs and their derivatives were analyzed. RESULTS: We found that the expression of HLA-G on the cell surface can be enhanced by introducing the exogenous HLA-G gene along with B2M gene into HLA class Ia/II DKO hiPSCs. The HyPSCs retained a normal karyotype and had the characteristics of pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, the HyPSCs could differentiate into cells of all three germ layer lineages including CD45+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), functional endothelial cells, and hepatocytes. The HyPSCs-derived HPCs exhibited the ability to evade innate and adaptive immunity. Further, we demonstrated that RapaCasp9 could be used as a safety switch in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: The HLA class Ia/II DKO hiPSCs armed with HLA-G, PD-L1, PD-L2, and RapaCasp9 molecules are a potential source of stem cells for allogeneic transplantation.
Assuntos
Imunidade Adaptativa , Antígeno B7-H1 , Antígenos HLA-G , Imunidade Inata , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas , Proteína 2 Ligante de Morte Celular Programada 1 , Humanos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/citologia , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/imunologia , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Antígeno B7-H1/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Proteína 2 Ligante de Morte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Proteína 2 Ligante de Morte Celular Programada 1/genética , Animais , CamundongosRESUMO
Chronic infections, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-caused tuberculosis (TB), can induce host immune exhaustion. However, the key checkpoint molecules involved in this process and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely undefined, which impede the application of checkpoint-based immunotherapy in infectious diseases. Here, through adopting time-of-flight mass cytometry and transcriptional profiling to systematically analyze natural killer (NK) cell surface receptors, we identify leukocyte immunoglobulin like receptor B1 (LILRB1) as a critical checkpoint receptor that defines a TB-associated cell subset (LILRB1+ NK cells) and drives NK cell exhaustion in TB. Mechanistically, Mtb-infected macrophages display high expression of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), which upregulates and activates LILRB1 on NK cells to impair their functions by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling via tyrosine phosphatases SHP1/2. Furthermore, LILRB1 blockade restores NK cell-dependent anti-Mtb immunity in immuno-humanized mice. Thus, LILRB1-HLA-G axis constitutes a NK cell immune checkpoint in TB and serves as a promising immunotherapy target.
Assuntos
Antígenos HLA-G , Células Matadoras Naturais , Receptor B1 de Leucócitos Semelhante a Imunoglobulina , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculose , Receptor B1 de Leucócitos Semelhante a Imunoglobulina/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Humanos , Animais , Tuberculose/imunologia , Tuberculose/microbiologia , Camundongos , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/imunologia , Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Receptores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Receptores Imunológicos/genética , Antígenos CDRESUMO
HLA-G expression of tumors and upon viral infections is involved in their immune escape leading to the evasion from both T and NK cell recognition. The underlying mechanisms of HLA-G expression in both pathophysiologic conditions are broad and range from genetic abnormalities to epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the frequency, regulation and clinical relevance of HLA-G expression upon neoplastic and viral transformation, its interaction with components of the microenvironment as well as its potential as diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target. In addition, it discusses urgent topics, which have to be addressed in HLA-G research.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Antígenos HLA-G , Neoplasias , SARS-CoV-2 , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , COVID-19/imunologia , Neoplasias/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Evasão TumoralRESUMO
Organ transplantation is a lifesaving option for patients with advanced diseases. Rejection is regarded as one of the most severe risk factors post-transplantation. A molecule that contributes to immune tolerance and resisting rejection is human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, which belongs to the non-classical major histocompatibility complex class (MHC) I family. HLA-G was originally found to play a role during pregnancy to maintain immune tolerance between mother and child. It is expressed in the placenta and detected in several body fluids as soluble factor as well as different membrane isoforms on cells. Recent findings on HLA-G show that it can also play multifaceted roles during transplantation. This review will explain the general characteristics and biological function of HLA-G and summarize the views supporting the tolerogenic and other roles of HLA-G to better understand its role in solid organ transplantation (SOT) and its complications. Finally, we will discuss potential future research on the role of HLA-G in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in SOT.
Assuntos
Antígenos HLA-G , Transplante de Órgãos , Feminino , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Humanos , Tolerância Imunológica , Placenta/imunologia , Gravidez/imunologia , Isoformas de ProteínasRESUMO
In glioblastoma, non-classical human leucocyte antigen E (HLA-E) and HLA-G are frequently overexpressed. HLA-E loaded with peptides derived from HLA class I and from HLA-G contributes to inhibition of natural killer (NK) cells with expression of the inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A. We investigated whether NK cells expressing the activating CD94/NKG2C receptor counterpart were able to exert anti-glioma effects. NKG2C+ subsets were preferentially expanded by a feeder cell line engineered to express an artificial disulfide-stabilized trimeric HLA-E ligand (HLA-E*spG). NK cells expanded by a feeder cell line, which facilitates outgrowth of conventional NKG2A+, and fresh NK cells, were included for comparison. Expansion via the HLA-E*spG feeder cells selectively increased the fraction of NKG2C+ NK cells, which displayed a higher frequency of KIR2DL2/L3/S2 and CD16 when compared to expanded NKG2A+ NK cells. NKG2C+ NK cells exhibited increased cytotoxicity against K562 and KIR:HLA-matched and -mismatched primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells when compared to NKG2A+ NK cells and corresponding fresh NK cells. Cytotoxic responses of NKG2C+ NK cells were even more pronounced when utilizing target cells engineered with HLA-E*spG. These findings support the notion that NKG2C+ NK cells have potential therapeutic value for treating gliomas.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Encefálicas , Glioblastoma , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Células Matadoras Naturais , Subfamília C de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK , Neoplasias Encefálicas/imunologia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/terapia , Glioblastoma/metabolismo , Glioblastoma/terapia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Humanos , Fatores Imunológicos/imunologia , Fatores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Células K562 , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Subfamília C de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/imunologiaRESUMO
HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule with immunomodulatory properties. It was initially described at the maternal-fetal interface, and it was later found that this molecule was constitutively expressed on certain immuneprivileged tissues, such as cornea, endothelial and erythroid precursors, and thymus. The immunosuppressive effect of HLA-G is exerted through the interaction with its cognate receptors, expressed on immunocompetent cells, like ILT2, expressed on NK, B, T cells and APCs; ILT4, on APCs; KIR, found on the surface of NK cells; and finally, the co-receptor CD8. Because of these immunomodulatory functions, HLA-G has been involved in several processes, amongst which organ transplantation, viral infections, cancer progression, and autoimmunity. HLA-G neo-expression on tumors has been recently described in several types of malignancies. In fact, tumor progression is tightly linked to the presence of the molecule, as it exerts its tolerogenic function, inhibiting the cells of the immune system and favoring tumor escape. Several polymorphisms in the 3'UTR region condition changes in HLA-G expression (14bp and +3142C/G, among others), which have been associated with both the development and outcome of patients with different tumor types. Also, in recent years, several studies have shown that HLA-G plays an important role in the control of autoimmune diseases. The ability of HLA-G to limit the progression of these diseases has been confirmed and, in fact, levels of the molecule and several of its polymorphisms have been associated with increased susceptibility to the development of autoimmune diseases, as well as increased disease severity. Thus, modulating HLA-G expression in target tissues of oncology patients or patients with autoimmune diseases may be potential therapeutic approaches to treat these pathological conditions.
Assuntos
Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Neoplasias/imunologia , Animais , Doenças Autoimunes/etiologia , Doenças Autoimunes/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Tolerância Imunológica , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Camundongos , Neoplasias/etiologia , Neoplasias/fisiopatologia , Polimorfismo Genético , Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G), a polymorphic non-classical HLA (HLA-Ib) with immune-regulatory properties in cancers and infectious diseases, presents both membrane-bound and soluble (sHLA-G) isoforms. Polymorphism has implications in host responses to pathogen infections and in pathogenesis. Differential expression patterns of HLA-G/sHLA-G or its polymorphism seem to be related to different pathological conditions, potentially acting as a disease progression biomarker. Pathogen antigens might be involved in the regulation of both membrane-bound and sHLA-G levels and impact immune responses during co-infections. The upregulation of HLA-G in viral and bacterial infections induce tolerance to infection. Recently, sHLA-G was found useful to identify the prognosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients and it was observed that the high levels of sHLA-G are associated with worse prognosis. The use of pathogens, such as Plasmodium falciparum, as immune modulators for other infections could be extended for the modulation of membrane-bound HLA-G in COVID-19-infected tissues. Overall, such information might open new avenues concerning the effect of some pathogens such as parasites in decreasing the expression level of HLA-G to restrict pathogenesis in some infections or to influence the immune responses after vaccination among others.
Assuntos
COVID-19/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , Imunomodulação , Doenças Parasitárias/imunologia , COVID-19/terapia , Humanos , Imunoterapia , Doenças Parasitárias/terapiaRESUMO
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a nonclassical MHC Class I molecule, which was initially reported as a mediator of immune tolerance when expressed in extravillous trophoblast cells at the maternal-fetal interface. HLA-G is the only known ligand of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL4 (KIR2DL4), an atypical family molecule that is widely expressed on the surface of NK cells. Unlike other KIR receptors, KIR2DL4 contains both an arginine-tyrosine activation motif in its transmembrane region and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) in its cytoplasmic tail, suggesting that KIR2DL4 may function as an activating or inhibitory receptor. The immunosuppressive microenvironment exemplified by a rewired cytokine network and upregulated immune checkpoint proteins is a hallmark of advanced and therapy-refractory tumors. Accumulating evidence has shown that HLA-G is an immune checkpoint molecule with specific relevance in cancer immune escape, although the role of HLA-G/KIR2DL4 in antitumor immunity is still uncharacterized. Our previous study had shown that HLA-G was a pivotal mediator of breast cancer resistance to trastuzumab, and blockade of the HLA-G/KIR2DL4 interaction can resensitize breast cancer to trastuzumab treatment. In this review, we aim to summarize and discuss the role of HLA-G/KIR2DL4 in the immune microenvironment of breast cancer. A better understanding of HLA-G is beneficial to identifying novel biomarker(s) for breast cancer, which is important for precision diagnosis and prognostic assessment. In addition, it is also necessary to unravel the mechanisms underlying HLA-G/KIR2DL4 regulation of the immune microenvironment in breast cancer, hopefully providing a rationale for combined HLA-G and immune checkpoints targeting for the effective treatment of breast cancer.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Receptores KIR2DL4/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/imunologia , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/genética , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/imunologia , Feminino , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Humanos , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Receptores KIR2DL4/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
Although the role of epidermal cells in skin regeneration has been extensively documented, their functions in immunity and tolerance mechanisms are largely underestimated. The aim of the present review was to outline the state of knowledge on resident immune cells of hematopoietic origin hosted in the epidermis, and then to focus on the involvement of keratinocytes in the complex skin immune networks acting in homeostasis and regeneration conditions. Based on this knowledge, the mechanisms of immune tolerance are reviewed. In particular, strategies based on immunosuppression mediated by HLA-G are highlighted, as recent advances in this field open up perspectives in epidermis-substitute bioengineering for temporary and permanent skin replacement strategies.
Assuntos
Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Queratinócitos/imunologia , Pele/imunologia , Animais , Terapia Genética , Homeostase , Humanos , Tolerância Imunológica , Pele/citologiaRESUMO
COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has threatened public health worldwide. Host antiviral immune responses are essential for viral clearance and disease control, however, remarkably decreased immune cell numbers and exhaustion of host cellular immune responses are commonly observed in patients with COVID-19. This is of concern as it is closely associated with disease severity and poor outcomes. Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a ligand for multiple immune inhibitory receptors, whose expression can be upregulated by viral infections. HLA-G/receptor signalling, such as engagement with immunoglobulin-like transcript 2 (ILT-2) or ILT-4, not only inhibit T and natural killer (NK) cell immune responses, dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and B cell antibody production. It also induces regulatory cells such as myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs), or M2 type macrophages. Moreover, HLA-G interaction with CD8 and killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) 2DL4 can provoke T cell apoptosis and NK cell senescence. In this context, HLA-G can induce profound immune suppression, which favours the escape of SARS-CoV-2 from immune attack. Although detailed knowledge on the clinical relevance of HLA-G in SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited, we herein review the immunopathological aspects of HLA-G/receptor signalling in SARS-CoV-2 infection, which could provide a better understanding of COVID-19 disease progression and identify potential immunointerventions to counteract SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Assuntos
COVID-19/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Tolerância Imunológica/imunologia , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/imunologiaRESUMO
The human G-leukocyte antigen (HLA-G) molecule is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule. The pertinence of HLA-G has been investigated in numerous studies which have sought to elucidate the relevance of HLA-G in pathologic conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, cancers, and hematologic malignancies. One of the main goals of the current research on HLA-G is to use this molecule in clinical practice, either in diagnostics or as a therapeutic target. Since HLA-G antigens are currently considered as immunomodulatory molecules that are involved in reducing inflammatory and immune responses, in this review, we decided to focus on this group of antigens as potential determinants of progression in autoimmune diseases. This article highlights what we consider as recent pivotal findings on the immunomodulatory function of HLA-G, not only to establish the role of HLA-G in the human body, but also to explain how these proteins mediate the immune response.
Assuntos
Autoantígenos/imunologia , Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Imunomodulação , Doenças Autoimunes/terapia , HumanosRESUMO
Maternal-fetal immune-tolerance occurs throughout the whole gestational trimester, thus a mother can accept a genetically distinct fetus without immunological aggressive behavior. HLA-G, one of the non-classical HLA class I molecules, is restricted-expression at extravillous trophoblast. It can concordantly interact with various kinds of receptors mounted on maternally immune cells residing in the uterus (e.g. CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells) for maintaining immune homeostasis of the maternal-fetus interface. HLA-G is widely regarded as the pivotal protective factor for successful pregnancies. In the past 20 years, researches associated with HLA-G have been continually published. Indeed, HLA-G plays a mysterious role in the mechanism of maternal-fetal immune-tolerance. It can also be ectopically expressed on tumor cells, infected sites and other pathologic microenvironments to confer a significant local tolerance. Understanding the characteristics of HLA-G in immunologic tolerance is not only beneficial for pathological pregnancy, but also helpful to the therapy of other immune-related diseases, such as organ transplant rejection, tumor migration, and autoimmune disease. In this review, we describe the biological properties of HLA-G, then summarize our understanding of the mechanisms of fetomaternal immunologic tolerance and the difference from transplant tolerance. Furthermore, we will discuss how HLA-G contributes to the tolerogenic microenvironment during pregnancy. Finally, we hope to find some new aspects of HLA-G in fundamental research or clinical application for the future.
Assuntos
Feto/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Privilégio Imunológico/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , GravidezRESUMO
Cancer immunotherapies based mainly on the blockade of immune-checkpoint (IC) molecules by anti-IC antibodies offer new alternatives for treatment in oncological diseases. However, a considerable proportion of patients remain unresponsive to them. Hence, the development of novel clinical immunotherapeutic approaches and/or targets are crucial.W In this context, targeting the immune-checkpoint HLA-G/ILT2/ILT4 has caused great interest since it is abnormally expressed in several malignancies generating a tolerogenic microenvironment. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to block the HLA-G expression in two tumor cell lines expressing HLA-G, including a renal cell carcinoma (RCC7) and a choriocarcinoma (JEG-3). Different sgRNA/Cas9 plasmids targeting HLA-G exon 1 and 2 were transfected in both cell lines. Downregulation of HLA-G was reached to different degrees, including complete silencing. Most importantly, HLA-G - cells triggered a higher in vitro response of immune cells with respect to HLA-G + wild type cells. Altogether, we demonstrated for the first time the HLA-G downregulation through gene editing. We propose this approach as a first step to develop novel clinical immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer.
Assuntos
Edição de Genes/métodos , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Humanos , Imunoterapia/métodos , RNA Guia de Cinetoplastídeos , TransfecçãoRESUMO
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a group of molecules involved in inflammatory and infective responses. We evaluated blood sHLA-E and sHLA-G levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and their relationship with clinical evolution, changes in endothelial activation biomarker profile, and neutrophil adhesion. sHLA-E, sHLA-G, and endothelial activation biomarkers were quantified by ELISA assay in plasma samples. Neutrophil adhesion to endothelium was assessed in the presence/absence of patients' plasma samples. At admission, plasma levels of sHLA-G and sHLA-E were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure compared to controls. COVID-19 clinical improvement was associated with increased sHLA-G plasma levels. In COVID-19, but not in control patients, an inverse correlation was found between serum sICAM-1 and E-selectin levels and plasma sHLA-G values. The in vitro analysis of activated endothelial cells confirmed the ability of HLA-G molecules to control sICAM-1 and sE-selectin expression via CD160 interaction and FGF2 induction and consequently neutrophil adhesion. We suggest a potential role for sHLA-G in improving COVID-19 patients' clinical condition related to the control of neutrophil adhesion to activated endothelium.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores , COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/virologia , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Neutrófilos/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Idoso , Alelos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Adesão Celular/imunologia , Células Endoteliais/imunologia , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Antígenos HLA-G/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos Biológicos , Neutrófilos/metabolismoRESUMO
The human leukocyte antigen G1 (HLA-G1), a non-classical class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) protein, is a potent immunomodulatory molecule at the maternal/fetal interface and other environments to regulate the cellular immune response. We created GGTA1-/HLAG1+ pigs to explore their use as organ and cell donors that may extend xenograft survival and function in both preclinical nonhuman primate (NHP) models and future clinical trials. In the present study, HLA-G1 was expressed from the porcine ROSA26 locus by homology directed repair (HDR) mediated knock-in (KI) with simultaneous deletion of α-1-3-galactotransferase gene (GGTA1; GTKO) using the clustered regularly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) gene-editing system. GTKO/HLAG1+ pigs showing immune inhibitory functions were generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The presence of HLA-G1 at the ROSA26 locus and the deletion of GGTA1 were confirmed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger's sequencing. Fibroblasts from piglets, biopsies from transplantable organs, and islets were positive for HLA-G1 expression by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, or q-PCR. The expression of cell surface HLA-G1 molecule associated with endogenous ß2-microglobulin (ß2m) was confirmed by staining genetically engineered cells with fluorescently labeled recombinant ILT2 protein. Fibroblasts obtained from GTKO/HLAG1+ pigs were shown to modulate the immune response by lowering IFN-γ production by T cells and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells, as well as by augmenting phosphorylation of Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-2 (SHP-2), which plays a central role in immune suppression. Islets isolated from GTKO/HLA-G1+ genetically engineered pigs and transplanted into streptozotocin-diabetic nude mice restored normoglycemia, suggesting that the expression of HLA-G1 did not interfere with their ability to reverse diabetes. The findings presented here suggest that the HLA-G1+ transgene can be stably expressed from the ROSA26 locus of non-fetal maternal tissue at the cell surface. By providing an immunomodulatory signal, expression of HLA-G1+ may extend survival of porcine pancreatic islet and organ xenografts.
Assuntos
Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Galactosiltransferases/deficiência , Antígenos HLA-G/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Geneticamente Modificados , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Glicemia/imunologia , Proliferação de Células , Células Cultivadas , Técnicas de Cocultura , Fibroblastos/imunologia , Galactosiltransferases/genética , Genótipo , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Haplorrinos , Humanos , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Transplante das Ilhotas Pancreáticas , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos Nus , Fenótipo , Sus scrofa , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Doadores de Tecidos , Transplante HeterólogoRESUMO
Recent studies have indicated the antitumor activity and reduced allogeneic response of universal chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (UCAR T) cells lacking endogenous T cell receptors and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) generated using gene-editing technologies. However, these cells are vulnerable to lysis by allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells due to their lack of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecule expression. Here, constitutive expression of mutant B2M-HLA-E (mBE) and B2M-HLA-G (mBG) fusion proteins in anti-CD19 UCAR T (UCAR T-19) cells was conducted to protect against allogeneic NK cell-mediated lysis. The ability of cells expressing mBE or mBG to resist NK cell-mediated lysis was observed in gene-edited Jurkat CAR19 cells. UCAR T-19 cells constitutively expressing the mBE and mBG fusion proteins were manufactured and showed effective and specific anti-tumor activity. Constitutive expression of the mBE and mBG fusion proteins in UCAR T-19 cells prevented allogeneic NK cell-mediated lysis. In addition, these cells were not recognizable by allogeneic T cells. Additional experiments, including those in animal models and clinical trials, are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UCAR T-19 cells that constitutively express mBE and mBG.
Assuntos
Citotoxicidade Imunológica/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/genética , Mutação , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Microglobulina beta-2/genética , Antígenos CD19/imunologia , Técnicas de Inativação de Genes , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/imunologia , Humanos , Imunofenotipagem , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/imunologia , Microglobulina beta-2/imunologia , Antígenos HLA-ERESUMO
Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is known as a novel immune checkpoint molecule in cancer; thus, HLA-G and its receptors might be targets for immune checkpoint blockade in cancer immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to systematically identify the roles of checkpoint HLA-G molecules across various types of cancer. ONCOMINE, GEPIA, CCLE, TRRUST, HAP, PrognoScan, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, cBioPortal, LinkedOmics, STRING, GeneMANIA, DAVID, TIMER, and CIBERSORT were utilized. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed. In this study, we comprehensively analysed the heterogeneous expression of HLA-G molecules in various types of cancer and focused on genetic alterations, coexpression patterns, gene interaction networks, HLA-G interactors, and the relationships between HLA-G and pathological stage, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. We first identified that the mRNA expression levels of HLA-G were significantly upregulated in both most tumor tissues and tumor cell lines on the basis of in-depth analysis of RNAseq data. The expression levels of HLA-G were positively associated with those of the other immune checkpoints PD-1 and CTLA-4. Abnormal expression of HLA-G was significantly correlated with the pathological stage of some but not all tumor types. There was a significant difference between the high and low HLA-G expression groups in terms of overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS). The results showed that HLA-G highly expressed have positive associations with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the microenvironment in most types of tumors (P<0.05). Additionally, we identified the key transcription factor (TF) targets in the regulation of HLA-G expression, including HIVEP2, MYCN, CIITA, MYC, and IRF1. Multiple mutations (missense, truncating, etc.) and the methylation status of the HLA-G gene may explain the differential expression of HLA-G across different tumors. Functional enrichment analysis showed that HLA-G was primarily related to T cell activation, T cell regulation, and lymphocyte-mediated immunity. The data may provide novel insights for blockade of the HLA-G/ILT axis, which holds potential for the development of more effective antitumour treatments.
Assuntos
Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Antígenos HLA-G/genética , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Proteínas de Checkpoint Imunológico/genética , Neoplasias/genética , Transcriptoma/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Biologia Computacional , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Humanos , Proteínas de Checkpoint Imunológico/imunologia , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Neoplasias/classificação , Neoplasias/imunologiaRESUMO
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a promising immunotherapy for cancers. Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a neoantigen, its biological functions and clinical relevance have been extensively investigated in malignancies, and early clinical trials with "anti-HLA-G strategy" are being launched for advance solid cancer immunotherapy. The mechanism of HLA-G as a new ICI is that HLA-G can bind immune cell bearing inhibitory receptors, the immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)-2 and ILT-4. HLA-G/ILT-2/-4 (HLA-G/ILTs) signaling can drive comprehensive immune suppression, promote tumor growth and disease progression. Though clinical benefits could be expected with application of HLA-G antibodies to blockade the HLA-G/ILTs signaling in solid cancer immunotherapy, major challenges with the diversity of HLA-G isoforms, HLA-G/ILTs binding specificity, intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity of HLA-G, lack of isoform-specific antibodies and validated assay protocols, which could dramatically affect the clinical efficacy. Clinical benefits of HLA-G-targeted solid cancer immunotherapy may be fluctuated or even premature unless major challenges are addressed.
Assuntos
Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/farmacologia , Imunoterapia/métodos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos HLA-G/efeitos dos fármacos , HumanosRESUMO
Unrelated haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved from an experimental protocol to a potentially curative first-line treatment in a variety of haematologic malignancies. The continuous refinement of treatment protocols and supportive care paired with ongoing achievements in the technological field of histocompatibility testing enabled this transformation. Without a doubt, HLA matching is still the foremost criterion for donor selection in unrelated HSCT. However, HSCT-related treatment complications still occur frequently, often resulting in patients suffering severely or even dying as a consequence of such complications. Current literature indicates that other immune system modulating factors may play a role in the setting of HSCT. In this review, we discuss the current clinical evidence of a possible influence of nonclassical HLA antigens HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G as well as the HLA-like molecules MICA and MICB, in HSCT.
Assuntos
Antígenos HLA/imunologia , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Histocompatibilidade/imunologia , Sistema Imunitário , Antígenos HLA/classificação , Antígenos HLA-G/imunologia , Neoplasias Hematológicas/imunologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/imunologia , Humanos , Antígenos HLA-ERESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate effector lymphocytes with strong antitumor effects against hematologic malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, NK cells fail to control CLL progression on the long term. For effective lysis of their targets, NK cells use a specific cell-cell interface, known as the immunological synapse (IS), whose assembly and effector function critically rely on dynamic cytoskeletal changes in NK cells. Here we explored the role of CLL cell actin cytoskeleton during NK cell attack. We found that CLL cells can undergo fast actin cytoskeleton remodeling which is characterized by a NK cell contact-induced accumulation of actin filaments at the IS. Such polarization of the actin cytoskeleton was strongly associated with resistance against NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and reduced amounts of the cell-death inducing molecule granzyme B in target CLL cells. Selective pharmacological targeting of the key actin regulator Cdc42 abrogated the capacity of CLL cells to reorganize their actin cytoskeleton during NK cell attack, increased levels of transferred granzyme B and restored CLL cell susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxicity. This resistance mechanism was confirmed in primary CLL cells from patients. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of actin dynamics in combination with blocking antibodies increased conjugation frequency and improved CLL cell elimination by NK cells. Together our results highlight the critical role of CLL cell actin cytoskeleton in driving resistance against NK cell cytotoxicity and provide new potential therapeutic point of intervention to target CLL immune escape.