RESUMO
Expansion of antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells is critical for the success of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in patients with cancer1. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) acts as a key regulator of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte functions by promoting expansion and cytotoxic capability2,3. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend mechanistic barriers to IL-2 sensing in the tumour microenvironment to implement strategies to reinvigorate IL-2 responsiveness and T cell antitumour responses. Here we report that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a known negative regulator of immune response in the tumour microenvironment4,5, is present at high concentrations in tumour tissue from patients and leads to impaired IL-2 sensing in human CD8+ TILs via the PGE2 receptors EP2 and EP4. Mechanistically, PGE2 inhibits IL-2 sensing in TILs by downregulating the IL-2Rγc chain, resulting in defective assembly of IL-2Rß-IL2Rγc membrane dimers. This results in impaired IL-2-mTOR adaptation and PGC1α transcriptional repression, causing oxidative stress and ferroptotic cell death in tumour-reactive TILs. Inhibition of PGE2 signalling to EP2 and EP4 during TIL expansion for ACT resulted in increased IL-2 sensing, leading to enhanced proliferation of tumour-reactive TILs and enhanced tumour control once the cells were transferred in vivo. Our study reveals fundamental features that underlie impairment of human TILs mediated by PGE2 in the tumour microenvironment. These findings have therapeutic implications for cancer immunotherapy and cell therapy, and enable the development of targeted strategies to enhance IL-2 sensing and amplify the IL-2 response in TILs, thereby promoting the expansion of effector T cells with enhanced therapeutic potential.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Proliferação de Células , Dinoprostona , Interleucina-2 , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral , Mitocôndrias , Transdução de Sinais , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/citologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Regulação para Baixo , Ferroptose , Subunidade gama Comum de Receptores de Interleucina/biossíntese , Subunidade gama Comum de Receptores de Interleucina/deficiência , Subunidade gama Comum de Receptores de Interleucina/metabolismo , Interleucina-2/antagonistas & inibidores , Interleucina-2/imunologia , Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Subunidade beta de Receptor de Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/citologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Coativador 1-alfa do Receptor gama Ativado por Proliferador de Peroxissomo/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP2/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP2/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP4/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP4/antagonistas & inibidores , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
Cancer-specific TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells can drive protective anticancer immunity through expansion and effector cell differentiation1-4; however, this response is dysfunctional in tumours. Current cancer immunotherapies2,5-9 can promote anticancer responses through TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells in some but not all patients. This variation points towards currently ill-defined mechanisms that limit TCF1+CD8+ T cell-mediated anticancer immunity. Here we demonstrate that tumour-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) restricts the proliferative expansion and effector differentiation of TCF1+CD8+ T cells within tumours, which promotes cancer immune escape. PGE2 does not affect the priming of TCF1+CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. PGE2 acts through EP2 and EP4 (EP2/EP4) receptor signalling in CD8+ T cells to limit the intratumoural generation of early and late effector T cell populations that originate from TCF1+ tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes (TILs). Ablation of EP2/EP4 signalling in cancer-specific CD8+ T cells rescues their expansion and effector differentiation within tumours and leads to tumour elimination in multiple mouse cancer models. Mechanistically, suppression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) signalling pathway underlies the PGE2-mediated inhibition of TCF1+ TIL responses. Altogether, we uncover a key mechanism that restricts the IL-2 responsiveness of TCF1+ TILs and prevents anticancer T cell responses that originate from these cells. This study identifies the PGE2-EP2/EP4 axis as a molecular target to restore IL-2 responsiveness in anticancer TILs to achieve cancer immune control.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Proliferação de Células , Dinoprostona , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral , Neoplasias , Células-Tronco , Evasão Tumoral , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/citologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Diferenciação Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Fator 1-alfa Nuclear de Hepatócito/metabolismo , Interleucina-2 , Linfonodos/citologia , Linfonodos/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/citologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP2/deficiência , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP2/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP4/deficiência , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP4/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Células-Tronco/citologia , Células-Tronco/imunologia , Células-Tronco/metabolismo , Evasão Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
Type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) can support T cell responses within tumors but whether this determines protective versus ineffective anti-cancer immunity is poorly understood. Here, we use imaging-based deep learning to identify intratumoral cDC1-CD8+ T cell clustering as a unique feature of protective anti-cancer immunity. These clusters form selectively in stromal tumor regions and constitute niches in which cDC1 activate TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells. We identify a distinct population of immunostimulatory CCR7neg cDC1 that produce CXCL9 to promote cluster formation and cross-present tumor antigens within these niches, which is required for intratumoral CD8+ T cell differentiation and expansion and promotes cancer immune control. Similarly, in human cancers, CCR7neg cDC1 interact with CD8+ T cells in clusters and are associated with patient survival. Our findings reveal an intratumoral phase of the anti-cancer T cell response orchestrated by tumor-residing cDC1 that determines protective versus ineffective immunity and could be exploited for cancer therapy.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Receptores CCR7/metabolismo , Neoplasias/terapia , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Células DendríticasRESUMO
Type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) are critical for anti-cancer immunity. Protective anti-cancer immunity is thought to require cDC1s to sustain T cell responses within tumors, but it is poorly understood how this function is regulated and whether its subversion contributes to immune evasion. Here, we show that tumor-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) programmed a dysfunctional state in intratumoral cDC1s, disabling their ability to locally orchestrate anti-cancer CD8+ T cell responses. Mechanistically, cAMP signaling downstream of the PGE2-receptors EP2 and EP4 was responsible for the programming of cDC1 dysfunction, which depended on the loss of the transcription factor IRF8. Blockade of the PGE2-EP2/EP4-cDC1 axis prevented cDC1 dysfunction in tumors, locally reinvigorated anti-cancer CD8+ T cell responses, and achieved cancer immune control. In human cDC1s, PGE2-induced dysfunction is conserved and associated with poor cancer patient prognosis. Our findings reveal a cDC1-dependent intratumoral checkpoint for anti-cancer immunity that is targeted by PGE2 for immune evasion.
Assuntos
Dinoprostona , Neoplasias , Humanos , Anticorpos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Células Dendríticas , Receptores de Prostaglandina ERESUMO
Giant congenital melanocytic nevi are NRAS-driven proliferations that may cover up to 80% of the body surface. Their most dangerous consequence is progression to melanoma. This risk often triggers preemptive extensive surgical excisions in childhood, producing severe lifelong challenges. We have presented preclinical models, including multiple genetically engineered mice and xenografted human lesions, which enabled testing locally applied pharmacologic agents to avoid surgery. The murine models permitted the identification of proliferative versus senescent nevus phases and treatments targeting both. These nevi recapitulated the histologic and molecular features of human giant congenital nevi, including the risk of melanoma transformation. Cutaneously delivered MEK, PI3K, and c-KIT inhibitors or proinflammatory squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) achieved major regressions. SADBE triggered innate immunity that ablated detectable nevocytes, fully prevented melanoma, and regressed human giant nevus xenografts. These findings reveal nevus mechanistic vulnerabilities and suggest opportunities for topical interventions that may alter the therapeutic options for children with congenital giant nevi.
Assuntos
Melanoma , Nevo Pigmentado , Neoplasias Cutâneas , Animais , Xenoenxertos , Humanos , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/patologia , Camundongos , Transplante de Neoplasias , Nevo Pigmentado/congênito , Nevo Pigmentado/tratamento farmacológico , Nevo Pigmentado/patologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/prevenção & controleRESUMO
The conjugation of fullerene with well-established drug molecules has been a representative strategy to impart fullerene-specific properties for improved formulation. However, conjugates involving fullerenes or other nanomaterials often differ significantly from the free drug molecules in cellular uptake and distributions. For the highly effective anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), its strong absorption and fluorescence in the visible spectral region enable the tracking of DOX-containing conjugates by optical techniques. In this work, a stoimetrically and structurally well-defined fullerene-DOX conjugate was studied in terms of fluorescence microscopy, including the fluorescence imaging with two-photon excitation, to examine the uptake and distribution in human breast cancer cells. The results suggested that the conjugate was distributed mostly in the cytoplasm, significantly different from free DOX molecules (predominantly in the cell nucleus, as already reported in the literature). Mechanistic implications of the results are discussed. Also discussed are potentials of conjugated DOX species as self-labeled fluorescent probes in bioimaging and other mechanistic investigations on drug delivery.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Doxorrubicina/administração & dosagem , Doxorrubicina/farmacocinética , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Fulerenos/química , Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Antineoplásicos/farmacocinética , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Composição de Medicamentos/métodos , HumanosRESUMO
Covalent conjugates of fullerene C(60) and the highly effective anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) were prepared and studied. The conjugation was through the amide linkage to preserve the intrinsic properties of DOX and fullerene cage. As designed, the conjugates with hydrophilic ethylene glycol spacers exhibited much improved aqueous compatibility, with significant solubility in water-DMSO mixtures. The anti-neoplastic activities of DOX were apparently unaffected in the conjugates according to evaluations in vitro with a human breast cancer cell line.