NK cells can recognize and kill tumor as well as certain normal cells. The outcome of the NK‐target interaction is determined by a balance of positive and negative signals initiated by different ...target cell ligands. We have previously shown that human NK cells kill CD40‐transfected tumor targets efficiently, but the physiological significance of this is unclear. We now demonstrate that human NK cells can kill dendritic cells (DC), known to express CD40 and other co‐stimulatory molecules. The killing was observed with polyclonal NK cells cultured short term in IL‐2 as well as with NK cell clones as effectors, and with allogeneic as well as autologous DC as targets. NK cell recognition could be inhibited, but only partially, by preincubation of target cells with monoclonal antibodies against CD40, suggesting that this molecule may be one of several ligands involved. Addition of TNF‐α of the cultures stimulated the development of a more mature DC phenotype, while addition of IL‐10 resulted in a less mature phenotype, with lower expression of CD40 and other co‐stimulatory molecules. Nevertheless, such DC were more NK susceptible than the differentiated DC. This may be partly explained by a reduced MHC class I expression observed on such cells, since blocking of MHC class I molecules on differentiated DC or CD94 receptors of NK cells led to increased NK susceptibility. The results show that NK cells may interact with DC, and suggest that the outcome of such interactions depend on the cytokine milieu.
NK recognition is regulated by a delicate balance between positive signals initiating their effector functions, and inhibitory signals preventing them from proceeding to cytolysis. Knowledge of the ...molecules responsible for positive signaling in NK cells is currently limited. We demonstrate that IL-2-activated human NK cells can express CD40 ligand (CD40L) and that recognition of CD40 on target cells can provide an activation pathway for such human NK cells. CD40-transfected P815 cells were killed by NK cell lines expressing CD40L, clones and PBL-derived NK cells cultured for 18 h in the presence of IL-2, but not by CD40L-negative fresh NK cells. Cross-linking of CD40L on IL-2-activated NK cells induced redirected cytolysis of CD40-negative but Fc receptor-expressing P815 cells. The sensitivity of human TAP-deficient T2 cells could be blocked by anti-CD40 antibodies as well as by reconstitution of TAP/MHC class I expression, indicating that the CD40-dependent pathway for NK activation can be downregulated, at least in part, by MHC class I molecules on the target cells. NK cell recognition of CD40 may be important in immunoregulation as well as in immune responses against B cell malignancies.
Human cytomegalovirus infection is a major cause of morbidity after lung transplantation. LIR-1 (leucocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor-1) is an inhibitory cell surface receptor that has high ...affinity for an MHC class I homologue (UL18) encoded by human cytomegalovirus. We aimed to investigate whether reactivation of human cytomegalovirus affects the expression of LIR-1. We measured LIR-1 expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes from 13 lung-transplant recipients and established human cytomegalovirus load using PCR. Eight patients developed cytomegalovirus disease. The percentage of cells expressing LIR-1 increased in the patients who developed cytomegalovirus disease several weeks before viral DNA was detectable by PCR. Measurement of LIR-1 expression might allow early identification of cytomegalovirus disease in lung-transplant patients.
Early hematopoietic zinc finger/zinc finger protein 521 (EHZF/ZNF521) is a novel zinc finger protein expressed in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and is down-regulated during their ...differentiation. Its transcript is also abundant in some hematopoietic malignancies. Analysis of the changes in the antigenic profile of cells transfected with EHZF cDNA revealed up-regulation of HLA class I cell surface expression. This phenotypic change was associated with an increased level of HLA class I H chain, in absence of detectable changes in the expression of other Ag-processing machinery components. Enhanced resistance of target cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity was induced by enforced expression of EHZF in the cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa and in the B lymphoblastoid cell line IM9. Preincubation of transfected cells with HLA class I Ag-specific mAb restored target cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated lysis, indicating a specific role for HLA class I Ag up-regulation in the NK resistance induced by EHZF. A potential clinical significance of these findings is further suggested by the inverse correlation between EHZF and MHC class I expression levels, and autologous NK susceptibility of freshly explanted multiple myeloma cells.
One constrain in the use of micellar carriers as drug delivery systems (DDSs) is their low stability in aqueous solution. In this study “tree-shaped” copolymers of general formula mPEG-(PLA)n (n = 1, ...2 or 4; mPEG = poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether 2K or 5K Da; PLA = atactic or isotactic poly(lactide)) were synthesized to evaluate the architecture and chemical composition effect on the micelles formation and stability. Copolymers with mPEG/PLA ratio of about 1:1 wt/wt were obtained using a “core-first” synthetic route. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Zeta Potential measurements showed that mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 copolymer, characterized by mPEG chain of 2000 Da and two blocks of atactic PLA, was able to form monodisperse and stable micelles. To analyze the interaction among micelles and tumor cells, FITC conjugated mPEG-(PLA) n were synthesized. The derived micelles were tested on two, histological different, tumor cell lines: HEK293t and HeLa cells. Fluorescence Activated Cells Sorter (FACS) analysis showed that the FITC conjugated mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 copolymer stain tumor cells with high efficiency. Our data demonstrate that both PEG size and PLA structure control the biological interaction between the micelles and biological systems. Moreover, using confocal microscopy analysis, the staining of tumor cells obtained after incubation with mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 was shown to be localized inside the tumor cells. Indeed, the mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 paclitaxel-loaded micelles mediate a potent antitumor cytotoxicity effect.
An important checkpoint in the progression of melanoma is the metastasis to lymph nodes. Here, to investigate the role of lymph node NK cells in disease progression, we analyze frequency, phenotype ...and functions of NK cells from tumour-infiltrated (TILN) and tumour-free ipsilateral lymph nodes (TFLN) of the same patients. We show an expansion of CD56dim CD57dim CD69+CCR7+KIR+ NK cells in TILN. TILN NK cells display robust cytotoxic activity against autologous melanoma cells. In the blood of metastatic melanoma patients, the frequency of NK cells expressing the receptors for CXCL8 receptor is increased compared with healthy subjects, and blood NK cells also express the receptors for CCL2 and IL-6. These factors are produced in high amount in TILN and in vitro switch the phenotype of blood NK cells from healthy donors to the phenotype associated with TILN. Our data suggest that the microenvironment of TILN generates and/or recruits a particularly effective NK cell subset.
Human solid malignant tumours may be particularly resistant to conventional therapies. Among solid tumours, immunological features of cutaneous melanoma have been well characterized in the past and ...today melanoma patients are routinely treated with the anti‐immune checkpoints immunotherapy that has completely changed metastatic melanoma treatment and prognosis. Two cytotoxic cell populations may lead to the physical elimination of tumour cell targets: cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Tumour recognition by CTLs depends on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, while NK cells recognize tumours expressing low or null levels of MHC class I molecules. Despite this well‐established complementarity, NK cells are still left behind in the optimization of innovative immunotherapy approaches. NK cells are members of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) that play a critical role in early host defence against invading pathogens and transformed cells. Recent findings suggest that NK cell frequencies directly correlate with the overall survival of ipilimumab‐treated melanoma patients. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo evidences indicate that NK cells can selectively kill cancer stem cells, reducing tumour size and delaying metastatic progression. The aim of this review is to provide a survey of the evidences indicating NK cells as an excellent candidate to complement the newest solid tumour immunotherapy approaches.
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive form of cancer with limited treatment options. Although the role of NK cells has been studied in many solid tumors, the pattern of NK‐cell subsets ...and their recognition of mesothelioma cells remain to be explored. We used RNA expression data of MM biopsies derived from the cancer genome atlas to evaluate the immune cell infiltrates. We characterized the phenotype of circulating NK and T cells of 27 MM patients before and after treatment with an anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody (tremelimumab). These immune cell profiles were compared to healthy controls. The RNA expression data of the MM biopsies indicated the presence of NK cells in a subgroup of patients. We demonstrated that NK cells recognize MM cell lines and that IL‐15 stimulation improved NK cell‐mediated lysis in vitro. Using multivariate projection models, we found that MM patients had a perturbed ratio of CD56bright and CD56dim NK subsets and increased serum concentrations of the cytokines IL‐10, IL‐8 and TNF‐α. After tremelimumab treatment, the ratio between the CD56bright and CD56dim subsets shifted back towards physiological levels. Furthermore, the improved overall survival was correlated with low TIM‐3+CD8+ T‐cell frequency, high DNAM‐1+CD56dim NK‐cell frequency and high expression levels of NKp46 on the CD56dim NK cells before and after immune checkpoint blockade. Together, our observations suggest that NK cells infiltrate MM and that they can recognize and kill mesothelioma cells. The disease is associated with distinct lymphocytes patterns, some of which correlate with prognosis or are affected by treatment with tremelimumab.
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Treatment options for malignant mesothelioma (MM) have not significantly improved over the past four decades. A better understanding of the immune response in MM might guide new treatment strategies. In this study, the authors found evidence that natural killer (NK) cells can infiltrate, recognize, and kill MM cells. However, MM patients have distinct alterations in NK, CD8+ T‐cell, and cytokine profiles. Some of these alterations correlated with prognosis, or were affected by treatment with tremelimumab.
The activation of the T cell mediated immune response relies on the fine interaction between the T cell receptor on the immune cell and the antigen-presenting major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ...molecules on the membrane surface of antigen-presenting cells. Both the distribution and quantity of MHC/peptide complexes and their adequate morphological presentation affect the activation of the immune cells. In several types of cancer the immune response is down-regulated due to the low expression of MHC-class I (MHC-I) molecules on the cell’s surface, and in addition, the mechanical properties of the membrane seem to play a role. Herein, we investigate the distribution of MHC-I molecules and the related nanoscale mechanical environment on the cell surface of two cell lines derived from colon adenocarcinoma and a healthy epithelial colon reference cell line. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) force spectroscopy analysis using an antibody-tagged pyramidal probe specific for MHC-I molecules and a formula that relates the elasticity of the cell to the energy of adhesion revealed the different population distributions of MHC-I molecules in healthy cells compared to cancer cells. We found that MHC-I molecules are significantly less expressed in cancer cells. Moreover, the local elastic modulus is significantly reduced in cancer cells. We speculate that these results might be related to the proven ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system, not only by reducing MHC-I cell surface expression but also by modifying the local mechanical properties affecting the overall morphology of MHC-I synapse presentation to immune cells.
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