Functional RNAi screening identifies G2/M and kinetochore components as modulators of TNFα/NF-κB pro-survival signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Immune and radiation resistance of cancer cells to cytotoxicity mediated by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα) is promoted by the transcription factor NF-κB in several cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Genomic alterations that converge on the TNFα/NF-κB signal axis were found in ~40% of HNSCCs by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). However, identification of therapeutic targets that contribute to aberrant TNFα/NF-κB activation and resistance has been challenging. Here, we conducted a functional RNAi screen to identify regulators of TNFα-induced NF-κB activation and cell viability, using parallel NF-κB ß-lactamase reporter and cell viability assays in a HNSCC cell line which harbors expression and genomic alterations typically found in HPV-negative HNSCC. Besides multiple components of canonical TNFα/NF-κB signaling, we identified components of the WNT, NOTCH, and TGFß pathways that we previously showed contribute to non-canonical activation of NF-κB. Unexpectedly, we also observed that multiple G2/M cell cycle kinases (AURKA, PLK1, WEE1, TTK), and structural kinetochore/microtubule components (NDC80, NUF2), modulate TNFα-induced NF-κB activation and cell viability. Several of these targets inhibit TNF-induced nuclear translocation of RELA, consistent with prior reports linking NF-B activation to G2/M kinases or microtubule assembly. Further investigation of an understudied mitotic kinase, TTK/MPS1, show that it's inhibition or depletion attenuates TNFα-induced RELA nuclear translocation, promoting cell death, DNA damage, polyploidy, and mitotic catastrophe, leading to radiosensitization. Together, our RNAi screening identifies a critical linkage between the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint/kinetochore components and NF-κB activity, and as targets that can sensitize HNSCC cells to TNFα or radiation.

Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA Crosstalk Overcomes TNFα Resistance in Head and Neck Cancers.

TNFα is a key mediator of immune and radiotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, but many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), display TNF resistance due to activation of the canonical IKK-NF-κB/RELA pro-survival pathway. However, toxicities associated with direct targeting of the canonical pathway point to the need to identify mechanism(s) contributing to TNFα resistance and synthetic lethal targets to overcome such resistance in cancer cells. Here, RNAi screening for modulators of TNFα-NF-κB reporter activity and cell survival unexpectedly implicated the WEE1 and CDC2 G2-M checkpoint kinases. The IKKα/ß-RELA and WEE1-CDC2 signaling pathways are activated by TNFα and form a complex in cell lines derived from both human papillomavirus (-) and (+) subtypes of HNSCC. WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 reduced IKK/RELA phosphorylation and the expression of NF-κB-dependent pro-survival proteins Cyclin D1 and BCL2. Combination of TNFα and AZD1775 enhanced caspase-mediated apoptosis in vitro, and combination treatment with radiotherapy and AZD1775 potentiated inhibition of HNSCC tumor xenograft growth in vivo, which could be significantly attenuated by TNFα depletion. These data offer new insight into the interplay between NF-κB signaling and WEE1-mediated regulation of the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint in HNSCC. IMPLICATIONS: Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA crosstalk could potentially enhance the effects of therapies mediated by TNFα with less systemic immune suppression and toxicity than observed with direct interruption of IKK-NF-κB/RELA signaling.

Death agonist antibody against TRAILR2/DR5/TNFRSF10B enhances birinapant anti-tumor activity in HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) have increased recently in the US. However, the distinct alterations of molecules involved in the death pathways and drug effects targeting inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) have not been extensively characterized in HPV(+) HNSCC cells. In this study, we observed the distinct genomic and expression alterations of nine genes involved in cell death in 55% HNSCC tissues, which were associated with HPV status, tumor staging, and anatomic locations. Expression of four genes was statistically correlated with copy number variation. A panel of HPV(+) HNSCC lines showed abundant TRAILR2 and IAP1 protein expression, but were not sensitive to IAP inhibitor birinapant alone, while combinatory treatment with TNFα or especially TRAIL enhanced this drug sensitivity. The death agonistic TRAILR2 antibody alone showed no cell inhibitory effects, whereas its combination with birinapant and/or TRAIL protein demonstrated additive or synergistic effects. We observed predominantly late apoptosis mode of cell death after combinatorial treatments, and pan-caspase (ZVAD) and caspase-8 (ZIETD) inhibitors attenuated treatment-induced cell death. Our genomic and expression data-driven study provides a framework for identifying relevant combinatorial therapies targeting death pathways in HPV(+) HNSCC and other squamous cancer types.

Enhancing direct cytotoxicity and response to immune checkpoint blockade following ionizing radiation with Wee1 kinase inhibition.

Tumor cells activate the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in response to ionizing radiation (IR) and effector immune cell-derived granzyme B to facilitate repair and survival. Wee1 kinase inhibition reverses the ability of tumor cells to pause at G2/M. Here, we hypothesized that AZD1775, a small molecule inhibitor of Wee1 kinase, could sensitize tumor cells to IR and T-lymphocyte killing and improve responses to combination IR and programmed death (PD)-axis immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Multiple models of head and neck carcinoma, lung carcinoma and melanoma were used in vitro and in vivo to explore this hypothesis. AZD1775 reversed G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation following IR, inducing cell death. Combination IR and AZD1775 induced accumulation of DNA damage in M-phase cells and was rescued with nucleoside supplementation, indicating mitotic catastrophe. Combination treatment enhanced control of syngeneic MOC1 tumors in vivo, and on-target effects of systemic AZD1775 could be localized with targeted IR. Combination treatment enhanced granzyme B-dependent T-lymphocyte killing through reversal of additive G2/M cell cycle block induced by IR and granzyme B. Combination IR and AZ1775-enhanced CD8+ cell-dependent MOC1 tumor growth control and rate of complete rejection of established tumors in the setting of PD-axis ICB. Functional assays demonstrated increased tumor antigen-specific immune responses in sorted T-lymphocytes. The combination of IR and AZD1775 not only lead to enhanced tumor-specific cytotoxicity, it also enhanced susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing and responses to PD-axis ICB. These data provide the pre-clinical rationale for the combination of these therapies in the clinical trial setting.

Cisplatin and oxaliplatin induce similar immunogenic changes in preclinical models of head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Prior studies suggest that oxaliplatin is unique among platinum chemotherapy drugs in its ability to enhance anti-tumor immunity, but the immune mechanisms of different platinum chemotherapy drugs have not been previously compared in preclinical models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human HNSCC cell lines were treated with cisplatin or oxaliplatin, then assessed for markers associated with immunogenic cell death (ICD) and antigen processing. A syngeneic mouse model of oral cancer was then used to compare the effects of cisplatin vs. oxaliplatin, alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, on tumor growth and survival. A subset of spleens and tumors were analyzed for ICD markers and immune cell infiltrates by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Cisplatin and oxaliplatin both increased cell surface levels of calreticulin, HSP70, MHC class I and PD-L1 in multiple cell lines. Inoculation of immunocompetent mice with cells killed in vitro by either drug resulted in failure of subsequently-injected live tumor cells to establish and grow in a small proportion of animals. Systemic cisplatin and oxaliplatin induced similar tumor growth delay when combined with anti-PD-1 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of HNSCC cells with platinum chemotherapy appears to induce some features of anti-tumor immunity, which may be enhanced by anti-PD-1 therapy. Cisplatin, the standard drug for HNSCC, appears to affect anti-tumor immunity in a similar fashion to oxaliplatin in these preclinical models.

Attenuated TRAF3 Fosters Activation of Alternative NF-κB and Reduced Expression of Antiviral Interferon, TP53, and RB to Promote HPV-Positive Head and Neck Cancers.

Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are linked to an epidemic increase in oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), which display viral inactivation of tumor suppressors TP53 and RB1 and rapid regional spread. However, the role of genomic alterations in enabling the modulation of pathways that promote the aggressive phenotype of these cancers is unclear. Recently, a subset of HPV+ HNSCC has been shown to harbor novel genetic defects or decreased expression of TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3). TRAF3 has been implicated as a negative regulator of alternative NF-κB pathway activation and activator of antiviral type I IFN response to other DNA viruses. How TRAF3 alterations affect pathogenesis of HPV+ HNSCC has not been extensively investigated. Here, we report that TRAF3-deficient HPV+ tumors and cell lines exhibit increased expression of alternative NF-κB pathway components and transcription factors NF-κB2/RELB. Overexpression of TRAF3 in HPV+ cell lines with decreased endogenous TRAF3 inhibited NF-κB2/RELB expression, nuclear localization, and NF-κB reporter activity, while increasing the expression of IFNA1 mRNA and protein and sensitizing cells to its growth inhibition. Overexpression of TRAF3 also enhanced TP53 and RB tumor suppressor proteins and decreased HPV E6 oncoprotein in HPV+ cells. Correspondingly, TRAF3 inhibited cell growth, colony formation, migration, and resistance to TNFα and cisplatin-induced cell death. Conversely, TRAF3 knockout enhanced colony formation and proliferation of an HPV+ HNSCC line expressing higher TRAF3 levels. Together, these findings support a functional role of TRAF3 as a tumor suppressor modulating established cancer hallmarks in HPV+ HNSCC.Significance: These findings report the functional role of TRAF3 as a tumor suppressor that modulates the malignant phenotype of HPV+ head and neck cancers. Cancer Res; 78(16); 4613-26. ©2018 AACR.

Clinical efficacy of gene-modified stem cells in adenosine deaminase-deficient immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) of gene-modified cells is an alternative to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and allogeneic HSCT that has shown clinical benefit for adenosine deaminase-deficient (ADA-deficient) SCID when combined with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) and ERT cessation. Clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in a phase II study. METHODS: Ten subjects with confirmed ADA-deficient SCID and no available matched sibling or family donor were enrolled between 2009 and 2012 and received transplantation with autologous hematopoietic CD34+ cells that were modified with the human ADA cDNA (MND-ADA) γ-retroviral vector after conditioning with busulfan (90 mg/m2) and ERT cessation. Subjects were followed from 33 to 84 months at the time of data analysis. Safety of the procedure was assessed by recording the number of adverse events. Efficacy was assessed by measuring engraftment of gene-modified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, ADA gene expression, and immune reconstitution. RESULTS: With the exception of the oldest subject (15 years old at enrollment), all subjects remained off ERT with normalized peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) ADA activity, improved lymphocyte numbers, and normal proliferative responses to mitogens. Three of nine subjects were able to discontinue intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy. The MND-ADA vector was persistently detected in PBMCs (vector copy number [VCN] = 0.1-2.6) and granulocytes (VCN = 0.01-0.3) through the most recent visits at the time of this writing. No patient has developed a leukoproliferative disorder or other vector-related clinical complication since transplant. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate clinical therapeutic efficacy from gene therapy for ADA-deficient SCID, with an excellent clinical safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00794508. FUNDING: Food and Drug Administration Office of Orphan Product Development award, RO1 FD003005; NHLBI awards, PO1 HL73104 and Z01 HG000122; UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute awards, UL1RR033176 and UL1TR000124.

Avoiding phagocytosis-related artifact in myeloid derived suppressor cell T-lymphocyte suppression assays.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have garnered much attention in recent years as a potential target for altering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in a variety of solid tumor types. The ability to accurately assess the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs is fundamental to the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at disabling these immunosuppressive functions. In this article we provide evidence that the use of CD3/28 coated microbeads leads to artefactual T-lymphocyte suppression due to sequestration of beads by MDSCs isolated from the spleens of wild-type mice bearing subcutaneous syngeneic, carcinogen-induced oral cavity carcinomas. Mechanisms of this finding may include early MDSC death and acquisition of phagocytic capacity. These artefactual findings were avoided by eliminating the use of microbeads and instead using plate bound CD3/28 antibody as the T-lymphocyte stimulus. We propose model-specific validation of microbead-based MDSC assays, or use of an alternative stimulation approach such as plate bound CD3/28 antibodies.

Early-onset stroke and vasculopathy associated with mutations in ADA2.

BACKGROUND: We observed a syndrome of intermittent fevers, early-onset lacunar strokes and other neurovascular manifestations, livedoid rash, hepatosplenomegaly, and systemic vasculopathy in three unrelated patients. We suspected a genetic cause because the disorder presented in early childhood. METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequencing in the initial three patients and their unaffected parents and candidate-gene sequencing in three patients with a similar phenotype, as well as two young siblings with polyarteritis nodosa and one patient with small-vessel vasculitis. Enzyme assays, immunoblotting, immunohistochemical testing, flow cytometry, and cytokine profiling were performed on samples from the patients. To study protein function, we used morpholino-mediated knockdowns in zebrafish and short hairpin RNA knockdowns in U937 cells cultured with human dermal endothelial cells. RESULTS: All nine patients carried recessively inherited mutations in CECR1 (cat eye syndrome chromosome region, candidate 1), encoding adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2), that were predicted to be deleterious; these mutations were rare or absent in healthy controls. Six patients were compound heterozygous for eight CECR1 mutations, whereas the three patients with polyarteritis nodosa or small-vessel vasculitis were homozygous for the p.Gly47Arg mutation. Patients had a marked reduction in the levels of ADA2 and ADA2-specific enzyme activity in the blood. Skin, liver, and brain biopsies revealed vasculopathic changes characterized by compromised endothelial integrity, endothelial cellular activation, and inflammation. Knockdown of a zebrafish ADA2 homologue caused intracranial hemorrhages and neutropenia - phenotypes that were prevented by coinjection with nonmutated (but not with mutated) human CECR1. Monocytes from patients induced damage in cocultured endothelial-cell layers. CONCLUSIONS: Loss-of-function mutations in CECR1 were associated with a spectrum of vascular and inflammatory phenotypes, ranging from early-onset recurrent stroke to systemic vasculopathy or vasculitis. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Programs and others.).

Loss-of-function mutations in Rab escort protein 1 (REP-1) affect intracellular transport in fibroblasts and monocytes of choroideremia patients.

BACKGROUND: Choroideremia (CHM) is a progressive X-linked retinopathy caused by mutations in the CHM gene, which encodes Rab escort protein-1 (REP-1), an escort protein involved in the prenylation of Rabs. Under-prenylation of certain Rabs, as a result of loss of function mutations in REP-1, could affect vesicular trafficking, exocytosis and secretion in peripheral cells of CHM patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To evaluate this hypothesis, intracellular vesicle transport, lysosomal acidification and rates of proteolytic degradation were studied in monocytes (CD14+ fraction) and primary skin fibroblasts from the nine age-matched controls and thirteen CHM patients carrying 10 different loss-of-function mutations. With the use of pHrodo BioParticles conjugated with E. coli, collagen I coated FluoSpheres beads and fluorescent DQ ovalbumin with BODYPY FL dye, we demonstrated for the first time that lysosomal pH was increased in monocytes of CHM patients and, as a consequence, the rates of proteolytic degradation were slowed. Microarray analysis of gene expression revealed that some genes involved in the immune response, small GTPase regulation, transcription, cell adhesion and the regulation of exocytosis were significantly up and down regulated in cells from CHM patients compared to controls. Finally, CHM fibroblasts secreted significantly lower levels of cytokine/growth factors such as macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) beta and interleukin (lL)-8. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrated for the first time that peripheral cells of CHM patients had increased pH levels in lysosomes, reduced rates of proteolytic degradation and altered secretion of cytokines. Peripheral cells from CHM patients expose characteristics that were not previously recognized and could used as an alternative models to study the effects of different mutations in the REP-1 gene on mechanism of CHM development in human population.

Dynamic effect of bortezomib on nuclear factor-kappaB activity and gene expression in tumor cells.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) influences the initiation, progression, and maintenance of diverse cancer types. Despite current therapeutic efforts to block hyperactive NF-kappaB in cancer cells, the in vivo effects of a drug upon this complex pathway are unclear. We monitored NF-kappaB activity and a fast-expressing reporter level simultaneously in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells by quantitative live microscopy. The real-time single cell assay revealed the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced oscillation of NF-kappaB was echoed by equally dynamic reporter expression rate. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor whose anticancer action is partly mediated through inhibition of NF-kappaB. When administered to preactivated cells, the drug gave rise to distinct inhibition dynamics, with discrete pulses of reporter induction remaining for hours. These findings suggest that, contrary to a simplistic presumption for a pathway "blockade," the network dynamics and the intracellular pharmacokinetics of the inhibitor must be critically evaluated in developing strategies for optimal intervention of oncogenic pathways.

Immunization with peptides derived from the idiotypic region of lupus-associated autoantibodies delays the development of lupus nephritis in the (SWR x NZB)F1 murine model.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiorgan autoimmune disease affecting 40-50/100,000 Americans. Although most of the research on pathogenic antibodies focuses on antigenic specificity, there is increasing evidence that specific immunoglobulin idiotypes may mediate lupus nephritis independent of autoantigen specificity. In previous work, our laboratory characterized a set of nephritogenic monoclonal antibodies with substantial idiotypic cross-reactivity, produced by the spontaneous SLE model (SWR x NZB)F(1) (SNF(1)), termed Id(LN)F(1). Peptides derived from one of these antibodies, Id540, was previously shown to stimulate pathogenic T-cells from prenephritic SNF(1) mice, similar to what has been seen for pathogenic A6.1 antibody produced by the (NZB x NZW)F(1) model. In this study, we immunized pre-nephritic SNF(1) mice with p62-73, a peptide derived from the variable region of Id540 and, in separate experiments, with p58-69, a peptide derived from the variable region of A6.1. In both cases, immunization resulted in increased survival and delayed nephritis; however, while both peptides affected levels of anti-DNA antibodies, immunization with p62-73 only affected levels of Id(LN)F(1) antibodies. These findings confirm the roles of pathogenic idiotypes in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis and suggest that therapies that target specific idiotypes might be a potential tool in the management of SLE.

Gene therapy improves immune function in preadolescents with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.

Retroviral gene therapy can restore immunity to infants with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) caused by mutations in the IL2RG gene encoding the common gamma chain (gammac) of receptors for interleukins 2 (IL-2), -4, -7, -9, -15, and -21. We investigated the safety and efficacy of gene therapy as salvage treatment for older XSCID children with inadequate immune reconstitution despite prior bone marrow transplant from a parent. Subjects received retrovirus-transduced autologous peripherally mobilized CD34(+) hematopoietic cells. T-cell function significantly improved in the youngest subject (age 10 years), and multilineage retroviral marking occurred in all 3 children.

Functional identification of kinases essential for T-cell activation through a genetic suppression screen.

Activation of T-cells by antigens initiates a complex series of signal-transduction events that are critical for immune responses. While kinases are key mediators of signal transduction networks, several of which have been well characterized in T-cell activation, the functional roles of other kinases remain poorly defined. To address this deficiency, we developed a genetic screen to survey the functional roles of kinases in antigen mediated T-cell activation. A retroviral library was constructed that expressed genetic suppressor elements (GSEs) comprised of peptides and antisense nucleotides derived from kinase cDNAs including members of the STE, CAMK, AGC, CMGC, RGC, TK, TKL, Atypical, and Lipid kinase groups. The retroviral library was expressed in Jurkat T-cells and analyzed for their effect on T-cell activation as monitored by CD69 expression. Jurkat cells were activated by antigen presenting cells treated with superantigen, and sorted for a CD69 negative phenotype by flow cytometry. We identified 19 protein kinases that were previously implicated in T-cell signaling processes and 12 kinases that were not previously linked to T-cell activation. To further validate our approach, we characterized the role of the protein kinase MAP4K4 that was identified in the screen. siRNA studies showed a role for MAP4K4 in antigen mediated T-cell responses in Jurkat and primary T-cells. In addition, by analyzing multiple promoter elements using reporter assays, we have shown that MAP4K4 is implicated in the activation of the TNF-alpha promoter. Our results suggest that this methodology could be used to survey the function of the entire kinome in T-cell activation.