Project description:The aim of this study is to evaluate data by comparing transcriptome profile (RNA-seq) of BMDMs trained with low-dose LPS and untrained BMDMs. Trained immunity enables innate immune cells to acquire memory-like responses, offering a promising strategy to enhance antitumor immunity. However, the metabolic‒epigenetic mechanisms underlying this process remain incompletely defined, limiting therapeutic translation. Here, we elucidate how metabolic reprogramming shapes epigenetic memory in macrophages and how this process can be harnessed to potentiate antitumor responses. The impact of LPS training in BMDMs is assessed focusing on the changes in metabolism related genes and difference in any other categories of genes to fully comprehend the metabolic reprogramming.
Project description:Cancers evade the immune system in order to grow or metastasise through the process of cancer immunoediting. While checkpoint inhibitor therapy has been effective for reactivating tumour immunity in some cancers, many solid cancers, including breast cancer, remain largely non-responsive. Understanding the way non-responsive cancers evolve to evade immunity, what resistance pathways are activated and whether this occurs at the clonal level will improve immunotherapeutic design. We tracked cancer cell clones during the immunoediting process and determined clonal transcriptional profiles that allow immune evasion in murine mammary tumour growth in response to immunotherapy with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4. Clonal diversity was significantly restricted by immunotherapy treatment at both the primary and metastatic sites. These findings demonstrate that immunoediting selects for pre-existing breast cancer cell populations, that immunoediting is not a static process and is ongoing during metastasis and immunotherapy treatment. Isolation of immunotherapy resistant clones revealed unique and overlapping transcriptional signatures. The overlapping gene signature was predictive of poor survival in basal-like breast cancer patient cohorts. Some of these overlapping genes have existing small molecules which can be used to potentially improve immunotherapy response.
Project description:Tumor-induced immunosuppression remains a major challenge for immunotherapy of cancer patients. To further elucidate why an allogeneic gene-modified (Interleukin-7(IL-7)/CD80 co-transfected) renal cell cancer vaccine failed to induce clinically relevant TH1-polarized immune responses, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from enrolled study patients were analyzed by gene expression profiling (GEP) both prior and after vaccination. At baseline before vaccination, a profound downregulation of gene signatures associated with antigen presentation, immune response/T cells, cytokines/chemokines and signaling/transcription factors was observed in renal cell cancer patients as compared to healthy controls. Vaccination led to a partial reversion of preexisting immunosuppression, however, GEP indicated that an appropriate TH1 polarization could not be achieved. Most interestingly, our results suggest that the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-M-NM-:B) signaling pathway might be involved in the impairment of immunological responsiveness and the observed TH2 deviation. In summary, our data suggest that GEP might be a powerful tool for the prediction of immunosuppression and the monitoring of immune responses within immunotherapy trials. Gene expression was profiled using Affymetrix Human Gene v1.1 ST microarrays in the following settings: 9 RCC patients were profiled before and after vaccination (pairs of measurements) and additionally 9 healthy control samples were profiled.
Project description:Overcoming immunosuppression in tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. In this study, we revealed a previously unrecognized role of IL-16 in shaping anti-tumor immunity. Compared to healthy individuals, cancer patients exhibited impaired production of IL-16, which was associated with inferior patient prognosis. In multiple murine cancer models, IL-16 administration augmented the anti-tumor immune responses and thus restrained tumor growth. Further investigation uncovered that IL-16 potentiated the polarization of T helper 1 (Th1) cells and the production of their effector cytokine IFN-γ. Mechanistically, IL-16 inhibited glutamine catabolism by downregulating the expression of glutaminase (GLS) in CD4+ T cells. The establishment of IL-16-dependent Th1 tumor microenvironment further increased the expression of CXCR3 ligands in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), thereby improving the therapeutic effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In cancer patients who received anti-PD1 therapy, higher levels of IL-16 were correlated with better responsiveness. Finally, we found that the impaired production of histamine by mast cells was a contributing factor to the downregulation of IL-16 in TME. Therefore, IL-16 could potentially be utilized as a therapeutic approach to augment anti-tumor immunity, and improve the outcome of ICB therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, our research provided new insights into the biological function of IL-16, emphasizing its potential clinical significance in cancer immunotherapy.
Project description:Overcoming immunosuppression in tumor microenvironment (TME) is fundamental to the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. Herein, we revealed an unrecognized role of IL-16 in shaping anti-tumor immunity. Compared with healthy subjects, cancer patients had impaired production of IL-16, which was correlated with inferior patient prognosis. In multiple murine cancer models, IL-16 administration augmented the anti-tumor immune responses and thus restrained tumor growth. Mechanistically, IL-16 potentiated the polarization of T helper 1 (Th1) cells and the production of their effector cytokine IFN-γ, Mechanistically, IL-16 blocked glutamine catabolism by downregulating glutaminase (GLS) expression in CD4+ T cells. The IL-16-established Th1 tumor microenvironment further increased the expression of CXCR3 ligands in tumor-associated macrophages, which improved the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In cancer patients who received anti-PD1 therapy, high IL-16 levels correlated with better responsiveness. Finally, we found that the impaired production of histamine by mast cells was a causative factor for IL-16 downregulation in TME. Thus, IL-16 administration may serve as a potential approach to augment anti-tumor immunity, and also improve the outcome of ICB therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, we provided new insights into the biological function of IL-16 and thus highlighted its potential clinical value in cancer immunotherapy.
Project description:Tumor metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as a critical determinant in tumor development and cancer immunotherapy. Aberrant choline metabolism is emerging as a defining hallmark of cancer. However, its impact on antitumor immunity remains largely unclear. Carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP)-mediated choline deprivation impels tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) reprogramming and maintains an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Mechanistically, ChREBP interacts with SP1 to increase the expression of immunosuppressive chemokines CCL2 and CXCL1, as well as choline transporter SLC44A1. As such, high expression of CCL2 and CXCL1 expression promotes recruitment of TAMs and MDSCs in the TME. Tumor cells with high SLC44A1 expression compete consuming choline with M1-like TAMs, inhibiting cGAS-STING signaling and promoting the polarization of M1 to M2 macrophages. Clinically, ChREBP-SP1-choline metabolism axis expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in CRC. Inhibiting ChREBP reduces M2-like TAMs and MDSCs to enhance anti-tumor immunity, suggesting ChREBP as a potential immunotherapy target in cancer.
Project description:scRNAseq-based unsupervised clustering and clonotyping revealed that Th1/17 and CCR6 SP clusters formed metacluster Th7R, which was distinct from Th1 or Th17, characterized by high expression of the IL-7 receptor. Use of this cluster to assess antitumor CD4+ T cell immunity from the peripheral blood and to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors will pave the way for novel antitumor immunotherapy strategies for patients.