June Ho Shin

Modulation of natural killer cell antitumor activity by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has become increasingly recognized for its role in the differentiation and activity of immune cell subsets; however, its role in regulating the activity of natural killer (NK) cells has not been described. Here, we show that AhR expression is induced in murine NK cells upon cytokine stimulation. We show that in the absence of AhR, NK cells have reduced cytolytic activity and reduced capacity to control RMA-S tumor formation in vivo, despite having normal development and maturation markers. Although AhR was first identified to bind the xenobiotic compound dioxin, AhR is now known to bind a variety of natural exogenous (e.g., dietary) and endogenous ligands. We show that activation of AhR with an endogenous tryptophan derivative, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, potentiates NK cell IFN-γ production and cytolytic activity. Further, administration of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in vivo enhances NK cell control of tumors in an NK cell- and AhR-dependent manner. Finally, similar effects on NK cell potency occur with AhR dietary ligands, potentially explaining the numerous associations that have been observed in the past between diet and NK cell function. Our studies introduce AhR as another regulator of NK cell activity in vivo.

CD44+ cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma suppress T cell-mediated immunity by selective constitutive and inducible expression of PD-L1.

Purpose: Human tumors consist of heterogeneous populations of cells with distinct marker expression and functional properties. In squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), CD44 is a well-characterized marker of a resilient subpopulation of cells associated with increased tumorigenesis, radioresistance, and chemoresistance. Evidence indicates that these cells have an immunosuppressive phenotype; however, mechanisms have been elusive. Experimental Design: Using primary human SCCHN tumor samples and patient-derived xenografts, we examined the phenotypes of subsets of tumor cells and investigated mechanisms regulating their immunogenicity. Results: CD44+ cells in primary human SCCHN were found to have an epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype and were less immunogenic than CD44− cells when cultured with autologous CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T cells. Selective expression of the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was observed on CD44+ cells compared with CD44− cells and was associated with constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 on CD44+ cells. Importantly, inhibition of STAT3 decreased expression of PD-L1 on CD44+ cells. IFNγ treatment preferentially induced even further PD-L1 expression on CD44+ cells and was associated with enhanced IFNγ receptor expression and phosphorylation of STAT1. Finally, the decreased immunogenicity of CD44+ cells was partially reversed by antibody blockade of the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor, indicating that the differences in PD-L1 expression between CD44+ and CD44− cells are biologically and clinically relevant. Conclusions: Our findings provide a mechanism by which long-lived CD44+ tumor-initiating cells can selectively evade host immune responses and provide rationale for targeting the PD-1 pathway in the adjuvant therapy setting of SCCHN. Clin Cancer Res; 22(14); 3571–81. ©2016 AACR.

CD44+ cells have cancer stem cell–like properties in nasopharyngeal carcinoma†

A subpopulation of cells within a tumor appears to have the exclusive ability to initiate tumors, self‐renew, and differentiate. These “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) are CD44+ in several epithelial malignancies. We examined the potential of CD44 to identify the CSC population in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is required for the maintenance of liver-resident natural killer cells

Sunwoo et al. show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a critical regulator of liver natural killer cell homeostasis.

CD271 Confers an Invasive and Metastatic Phenotype of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through the Upregulation of Slug

Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is comprised of heterogeneous populations of cells, and CD271 (NGFR; p75NTR) has been associated with a tumor-initiating cell subpopulation. This study assessed the role of CD271 in modulating metastatic behavior in HNSCC. Experimental Design: CD271 was overexpressed in murine and human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to assess the impact of CD271 activation on the invasive and metastatic phenotype of these cells, using in vitro and orthotopic in vivo modeling. Treatment with human nerve growth factor (NGF) to activate CD271, as well as shRNA knockdown of the CD271-upregulated Snai2 expression, was used to assess the mechanism of the CD271-induced invasive phenotype. Relevance of CD271 expression in human HNSCC was evaluated in patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and primary human oral cancers, annotated with clinical behavior characteristics and survival data. Results: Forced expression of CD271 resulted in a more invasive and metastatic phenotype. Slug, an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related transcription factor, encoded by Snai2, was highly expressed in MOC2-CD271 and HSC3-CD271, compared with respective parental cells. CD271 activation by NGF conferred enhanced invasiveness in CD271-overexpressing cells, which was abrogated by Snai2 knockdown. In PDXs and primary human HNSCC, CD271 expression correlated with higher Snai2 expression, greater nodal metastasis, and shorter disease-free survival. Conclusions: Activation of CD271 results in upregulation of Snai2/Slug, which, in turn, results in a more invasive phenotype and an enhanced capacity for metastasis to regional lymph nodes. These findings point to CD271 as a promising, therapeutic target for oral cancer metastasis. Clin Cancer Res; 24(3); 674–83. ©2017 AACR.

ESM1 mediates NGFR-induced invasion and metastasis in murine oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly invasive and metastatic malignancy. The nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) has been observed to be expressed on a subset of cells in OSCC, and NGFR+ cells have greater tumor-initiating capacity in vivo. Further, inhibition of NGFR reduces tumor growth, indicating a functional role of this receptor; however, the mechanisms by which NGFR confers enhanced tumor formation are not known. Here, we used an established murine model of OSCC and gene expression array analysis to identify ESM1 as a downstream target gene of NGFR, critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. ESM1 encodes a protein called endocan, which has the property of regulating proliferation, differentiation, migration, and adhesion of different cell types. Incubation of NGFR+ murine OSCC cells with nerve growth factor resulted in increased expression of ESM1. Importantly, ESM1 overexpression conferred an enhanced migratory, invasive, and metastatic phenotype, similar to what has been correlated with NGFR expression. Conversely, shRNA knockdown of ESM1 in NGFR overexpressing OSCC cells abrogated the tumor growth kinetics and the invasive and metastatic properties associated with NGFR. Together, our data indicate that NGFR plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of OSCC via regulation of ESM1.

Targeting aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with a novel small molecule inhibitor

Chemoresistant cancer cells express high levels of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs), particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The ALDH family of enzymes detoxify both exogenous and endogenous aldehydes. Since many chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, result in the generation of cytotoxic aldehydes and oxidative stress, we hypothesized that cells expressing high levels of ALDH may be more chemoresistant due to their increased detoxifying capacity and that inhibitors of ALDHs may sensitize them to these drugs. Here, we show that overall ALDH activity is increased with cisplatin treatment of HNSCC and that ALDH3A1 protein expression is particularly enriched in cells treated with cisplatin. Activation of ALDH3A1 by a small molecule activator (Alda-89) increased survival of HNSCC cells treated with cisplatin. Conversely, treatment with a novel small molecule ALDH inhibitor (Aldi-6) resulted in a marked decrease in cell viability, and the combination of Aldi-6 and cisplatin resulted in a more pronounced reduction of cell viability and a greater reduction in tumor burden in vivo than what was observed with cisplatin alone. These data indicate that ALDH3A1 contributes to cisplatin resistance in HNSCC and that the targeting of ALDH, specifically, ALDH3A1, appears to be a promising strategy in this disease.Chemoresistant cancer cells express high levels of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs), particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The ALDH family of enzymes detoxify both exogenous and endogenous aldehydes. Since many chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, result in the generation of cytotoxic aldehydes and oxidative stress, we hypothesized that cells expressing high levels of ALDH may be more chemoresistant due to their increased detoxifying capacity and that inhibitors of ALDHs may sensitize them to these drugs. Here, we show that overall ALDH activity is increased with cisplatin treatment of HNSCC and that ALDH3A1 protein expression is particularly enriched in cells treated with cisplatin. Activation of ALDH3A1 by a small molecule activator (Alda-89) increased survival of HNSCC cells treated with cisplatin. Conversely, treatment with a novel small molecule ALDH inhibitor (Aldi-6) resulted in a marked decrease in cell viability, and the combination of Aldi-6 and cisplatin resulted in a more pronounced reduction of cell viability and a greater reduction in tumor burden in vivo than what was observed with cisplatin alone. These data indicate that ALDH3A1 contributes to cisplatin resistance in HNSCC and that the targeting of ALDH, specifically, ALDH3A1, appears to be a promising strategy in this disease.

NSD1 inactivation defines an immune cold, DNA hypomethylated subtype in squamous cell carcinoma

Chromatin modifying enzymes are frequently mutated in cancer, resulting in widespread epigenetic deregulation. Recent reports indicate that inactivating mutations in the histone methyltransferase NSD1 define an intrinsic subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) that features pronounced DNA hypomethylation. Here, we describe a similar hypomethylated subtype of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) that is enriched for both inactivating mutations and deletions in NSD1. The ‘NSD1 subtypes’ of HNSC and LUSC are highly correlated at the DNA methylation and gene expression levels, featuring ectopic expression of developmental transcription factors and genes that are also hypomethylated in Sotos syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by germline NSD1 mutations. Further, the NSD1 subtype of HNSC displays an ‘immune cold’ phenotype characterized by low infiltration of tumor-associated leukocytes, particularly macrophages and CD8+ T cells, as well as low expression of genes encoding the immunotherapy target PD-1 immune checkpoint receptor and its ligands. Using an in vivo model, we demonstrate that NSD1 inactivation results in reduced T cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, implicating NSD1 as a tumor cell-intrinsic driver of an immune cold phenotype. NSD1 inactivation therefore causes epigenetic deregulation across cancer sites, and has implications for immunotherapy.

Assessing the Impact of Targeting CEACAM1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective In conjunction with advances made in cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, immunotherapy has emerged as a fourth modality of treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Understanding the mechanisms by which HNSCC evades immune-mediated control will aid in the development of new therapies to augment an antitumor immune response. Carcinoembryonic antigen–related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is a cell surface receptor that is expressed on malignant cells and lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) cells. We sought to determine whether tumor-derived CEACAM1 inhibits NK cell cytotoxicity and whether blockade of CEACAM1 restores antitumor immunity. Study Design In vitro HNSCC cell line study. Setting Research laboratory. Subject and Methods We utilized a real-time cell analyzer to assess NK cell cytotoxicity against an oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line after modulating CEACAM1 expression by cytokines and shRNA knockdown of CEACAM1 expression. Results NK cells and HNSCC cells both demonstrated cytokine-inducible expression of CEACAM1. Coincubation of NK cells and HNSCC cells resulted in the upregulation of CEACAM1 on the tumor cells. When compared with CEACAM1- cells, CEACAM1+ tumor cells exhibited increased cell growth and increased size and number of organoids in 3-dimensional culture. Notably, CEACAM1+ HNSCC cells were more resistant to NK cell–mediated killing, but the inhibited expression of CEACAM1 by an shRNA construct restored NK cell cytotoxicity. Conclusion Together, these data indicate that CEACAM1 acts as an inducible checkpoint molecule, and they support the idea that targeting CEACAM1 could serve as a novel immunotherapy approach in HNSCC.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulates the function of human CD56bright NK cells

Human natural killer (NK) cells are divided into two subsets: CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells, which differ in maturation, function and distribution. Mechanisms regulating NK cell functions are not completely understood. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand‐activated transcription factor, that binds to a variety of endogenous and exogenous molecules, and that has recently been shown to modulate the function and differentiation of immune cells. Here, we studied the expression of AhR and its involvement in the regulation of NK cell functions. We found that AhR mRNA is highly expressed in peripheral CD56bright NK cells and that AhR mRNA expression gradually decreases as NK cells display a more mature phenotype. CD56bright NK cells were highly sensitive to AhR ligands. Specifically, AhR ligands modulated their activation and their expression of NK cell receptors, as well as cytokine secretion which is the major function of these cells. As CD56bright NK cells are highly enriched in tissues and in tumors, our observations point to a possible effect of local AhR ligands in the regulation of the function of CD56bright tissue‐resident or intratumoral NK cells.