Perla Filippini

Revving up Natural Killer Cells and Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells Against Hematological Malignancies

Natural killer (NK) cells belong to innate immunity and exhibit cytolytic activity against infectious pathogens and tumor cells. NK-cell function is finely tuned by receptors that transduce inhibitory or activating signals, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors, NK Group 2 member D (NKG2D), NKG2A/CD94, NKp46, and others, and recognize both foreign and self-antigens expressed by NK-susceptible targets. Recent insights into NK-cell developmental intermediates have translated into a more accurate definition of culture conditions for the in vitro generation and propagation of human NK cells. In this respect, interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-21 are instrumental in driving NK-cell differentiation and maturation, and hold great promise for the design of optimal NK-cell culture protocols. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells possess phenotypic and functional hallmarks of both T cells and NK cells. Similar to T cells, they express CD3 and are expandable in culture, while not requiring functional priming for in vivo activity, like NK cells. CIK cells may offer some advantages over other cell therapy products, including ease of in vitro propagation and no need for exogenous administration of IL-2 for in vivo priming. NK cells and CIK cells can be expanded using a variety of clinical-grade approaches, before their infusion into patients with cancer. Herein, we discuss GMP-compliant strategies to isolate and expand human NK and CIK cells for immunotherapy purposes, focusing on clinical trials of adoptive transfer to patients with hematological malignancies.

The Yin and Yang of Non-Neuronal α7-Nicotinic Receptors in Inflammation and Autoimmunity

The alkaloid nicotine, a major addictive component of tobacco, exerts anti-inflammatory and immunemodulating activities on multiple cell types, such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, mononuclear phagocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in lung, spleen, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. In addition, nicotine may blunt pro-inflammatory cytokine release, with prominent effects on T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cytokines. The nonneuronal α7-nicotinic cholinergic receptors are a primary target for nicotine through the JAK2 and STAT3/NF-κB pathways, ultimately mediating the inhibition of pro-inflammatory gene transcription. The present paper reviews the growing evidence in favor of detrimental as well as beneficial effects of nicotine and other α7-nicotininc receptor agonists in pre-clinical models of organ-specific and systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These data may portend favorable implications for the targeted treatment of chronic and debilitating human disorders, such as diabetes, arthritis, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease, with α7-selective ligands.

Mobilization of healthy donors with plerixafor affects the cellular composition of T-cell receptor (TCR)-αβ/CD19-depleted haploidentical stem cell grafts

BackgroundHLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is suitable for patients lacking related or unrelated HLA-matched donors. Herein, we investigated whether plerixafor (MZ), as an adjunct to G-CSF, facilitated the collection of mega-doses of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for TCR-αβ/CD19-depleted haploidentical HSCT, and how this agent affects the cellular graft composition.MethodsNinety healthy donors were evaluated. Single-dose MZ was given to 30 ‘poor mobilizers’ (PM) failing to attain ≥40 CD34+ HSCs/μL after 4 daily G-CSF doses and/or with predicted apheresis yields ≤12.0x106 CD34+ cells/kg recipient’s body weight.ResultsMZ significantly increased CD34+ counts in PM. Naïve/memory T and B cells, as well as natural killer (NK) cells, myeloid/plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs), were unchanged compared with baseline. MZ did not further promote the G-CSF-induced mobilization of CD16+ monocytes and the down-regulation of IFN-γ production by T cells. HSC grafts harvested after G-CSF + MZ were enriched in myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs, but contained low numbers of pro-inflammatory 6-sulfo-LacNAc+ (Slan)-DCs. Finally, children transplanted with G-CSF + MZ-mobilized grafts received greater numbers of monocytes, myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs, but lower numbers of NK cells, NK-like T cells and Slan-DCs.ConclusionsMZ facilitates the collection of mega-doses of CD34+ HSCs for haploidentical HSCT, while affecting graft composition.

Granulocyte transfusions in children and adults with hematological malignancies: benefits and controversies

Bacterial and fungal infections continue to pose a major clinical challenge in patients with prolonged severe neutropenia after chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). With the advent of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize neutrophils in healthy donors, granulocyte transfusions have been broadly used to prevent and/or treat life-threatening infections in patients with severe febrile neutropenia and/or neutrophil dysfunction. Although the results of randomized controlled trials are inconclusive, there are suggestions from pilot and retrospective studies that granulocyte transfusions may benefit selected categories of patients. We will critically appraise the evidence related to the use of therapeutic granulocyte transfusions in children and adults, highlighting current controversies in the field and discussing complementary approaches to modulate phagocyte function in the host.

Emerging concepts on inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in rheumatic diseases.

The enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) finely regulates both innate and adaptive immune responses through the degradation of the essential amino acid tryptophan into kynurenine and other downstream metabolites, which suppress effector T-cell function and promote the differentiation of regulatory T cells. A novel role for IDO1 as a signaling molecule and a modifier of innate inflammatory responses is now emerging. In particular, IDO1 can either support or antagonize inflammation in a context- and tissuedependent manner. Studies in experimental arthritis have unravelled a previously unappreciated role for IDO in controlling B-cell activation and autoantibody production. IDO dysregulation has been documented in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and Sjogrens syndrome, as well as in severe sepsis and chronic kidney disease. This article summarizes the contribution of IDO to the pathophysiology of inflammatory/autoimmune disorders, and discusses whether strategies to restore metabolic equilibrium in the kynurenine pathway might be pursued in diseases states such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.

Recent advances on cellular therapies and immune modulators for graft-versus- host disease

The efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is counterbalanced by the occurrence of life-threatening immune-mediated complications, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a multistep disease which is reportedly fatal to approximately 15% of transplant recipients. It is now established that T-cell–dendritic cell interactions, T-cell activation, release of proinflammatory cytokines and T-cell trafficking partake in GVHD pathogenesis. This article will focus on the most recent strategies aimed at preventing/treating GVHD by manipulating components of the innate and adaptive immune response from both the donor and the host.

Integrative systems medicine approaches to identify molecular targets in lymphoid malignancies

Although survival rates for lymphoproliferative disorders are steadily increasing both in the US and in Europe, there is need for optimizing front-line therapies and developing more effective salvage strategies. Recent advances in molecular genetics have highlighted the biological diversity of lymphoproliferative disorders. In particular, integrative approaches including whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, and transcriptome or RNA sequencing have been instrumental to the identification of molecular targets for treatment. Herein, we will discuss how genomic, epigenomic and proteomic approaches in lymphoproliferative disorders have supported the discovery of molecular lesions and their therapeutic targeting in the clinic.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) expression by childhood acute myeloid leukemias inhibits T-cell production of IFN-γ and confers an unfavorable prognosis

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) degrades tryptophan into kynurenine (KYN) and other immune suppressive molecules that inhibit effector T cells and promote regulatory T-cell differentiation. We have previously shown that IDO1 mRNA and protein are detectable in blast cells from 52% of adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Herein, we investigated IDO1 expression and function in 41 children with AML (median age=10 years, range 1-17). In 20/41 cases, leukemia blast cells up-regulated IDO1 after in vitro challenge with IFN-γ. Of interest, microenvironmental IFN-γ was higher in IDO(pos) compared with IDO(neg) patients. In line with these results, bone marrow (BM)-resident T cells produced more IFN-γ, but not IL-4 or IL-17, compared with T cells from normal BM samples. KYN levels significantly increased in supernatants of IFN-γ-stimulated AML cells (21.0 μM/L, range 6.1-36.0) compared with unstimulated cultures (0.85 μM/L, range 0.4-1.7; p=0.0022), in parallel with tryptophan consumption (2.95 μM/L, range 1.0-37.0, after challenge with IFN-γ compared with 38.1 μM, range 18.2-50.0, in unstimulated cultures; p<0.0001). In a mixed tumor cell lymphocyte culture, AML blasts primed with IFN-γ inhibited Th1 cytokine production by allogeneic CD8+ and, to a lesser extent, CD4+ T cells, while enhancing Th2 cytokine release. The provision of D,L-1-methyl-tryptophan (1MT), an IDO inhibitor, to T-cell/AML co-cultures partially restored IFN-γ production by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, IDO-expressing AML blasts inhibited NK-cell degranulation, as measured through CD107a expression. Finally, 5-year overall survival was significantly better for IDO(neg) patients (34 months) compared with IDO(pos) ones (64.7 months; p=0.0438; Figure ​Figure1).1). In conclusion, IDO suppresses Th1 responses/NK activity and may portend an unfavorable prognosis in childhood AML. Figure 1 The 5-year overall survival of IDO-positive and IDO-negative patients with AML is shown.