The Proangiogenic Phenotype of Natural Killer Cells in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Bruno, Antonino; Focaccetti, Chiara; Pagani, Arianna; Imperatori, Andrea; Spagnoletti, Marco; Rotolo, Nicola; Cantelmo, Anna Rita; Franzi, Francesca; Capella, Carlo; Ferlazzo, Guido; Mortara, Lorenzo; Albini, Adriana; Noonan, Douglas M.

doi:10.1593/neo.121758

Cited by 202 publications

(253 citation statements)

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“…Overall, the data suggest that if we promote the development of NK cells in tumors, they could have greater impact on tumor destruction. To gain a better understanding 37 . This is similar to the functions that have been reported for uterine NK cells 38 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The breast tumor microenvironment alters the phenotype and function of natural killer cells

et al. 2015

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Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with the ability to identify and eliminate transformed cells. However, within tumors, many studies have described NK cells as non-functional. The developmental stage of tumor-associated NK cells and how this may relate to functionality has not been explored. We examined the developmental state of NK cells from polyoma middle T antigen (pyMT) transgenic mouse (MMTV-pMT) breast tumors. In pyMT tumors, NK cells were immature as evidenced by their decreased expression of DX5 and their CD27 low CD11b low phenotype. These immature NK cells also had increased expression of NKG2A and expressed low levels of NKp46, perforin, and granzyme B. In contrast, splenic NK cells isolated from the same mice maintained their maturity and their expression of activation markers. To delineate whether the tumor microenvironment directly alters NK cells, we adoptively transferred labeled NK cells and followed their activation status in both the spleen and the tumor. NK cells that arrived at the tumor had half the expression of NKp46 within three days of transfer in comparison to those which arrived at the spleen. In an effort to modify the tumor microenvironment and assess the plasticity of intratumoral NK cells, we treated pyMT tumors with IL-12 and anti-TGF-b. After one week of treatment, the maturity of tumor-associated NK cells was increased; thus, indicating that these cells possess the ability to mature and become activated. A better understanding of how NK cells are modified by the tumor microenvironment will help to develop strategies aimed at bolstering immune responses against tumors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The breast tumor microenvironment alters the phenotype and function of natural killer cells

et al. 2015

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“…Expression levels were normalized to the vehicle control. detected in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, breast tumors, and colon tumors ( 33,34 ). The presence of VEGFAproducing NK cells is associated with a poor prognosis, showing that NK-cell-derived VEGFA plays a part in human disease.…”

Section: Y694mentioning

confidence: 99%

STAT5 Is a Key Regulator in NK Cells and Acts as a Molecular Switch from Tumor Surveillance to Tumor Promotion

et al. 2016

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Natural killer (NK) cells are tightly regulated by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and cannot survive in the absence of STAT5. We now report that STAT5-defi cient NK cells can be rescued by overexpression of BCL2. Our experiments defi ne STAT5 as a master regulator of NK-cell proliferation and lytic functions. Although NK cells are generally responsible for killing tumor cells, the rescued STAT5-defi cient NK cells promote tumor formation by producing enhanced levels of the angiogenic factor VEGFA. The importance of VEGFA produced by NK cells was verifi ed by experiments with a conditional knockout of VEGFA in NK cells. We show that STAT5 normally represses the transcription of VEGFA in NK cells, in both mice and humans. These fi ndings reveal that STAT5-directed therapies may have negative effects: In addition to impairing NK-cell-mediated tumor surveillance, they may even promote tumor growth by enhancing angiogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE:The importance of the immune system in effective cancer treatment is widely recognized. We show that the new signal interceptors targeting the JAK-STAT5 pathway may have dangerous side effects that must be taken into account in clinical trials: inhibiting JAK-STAT5 has the potential to promote tumor growth by enhancing NK-cell-mediated angiogenesis. Cancer Discov; 6(4); ©2016 AACR . Ni and Cerwenka, p. 347. See related commentary by INTRODUCTIONNatural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that develop from a common lymphoid progenitor in the bone marrow ( 1 ). They represent the fi rst line of defense against infected, stressed, and malignant cells. Recent evidence has assigned distinct features and functions to tissue-specifi c NK cells ( 2 ). NK cells have organ-specifi c properties, such as distinct profi les of receptor expression or cytokine production ( 3 ). Uterine NK cells secrete high levels of VEGFA and are involved in placental vascularization. The physiologic functions of other organ-specifi c NK-cell subsets are less well understood ( 4 ). STAT5 Is a Key Regulator in NK Cells and Acts as a Molecular Switch from Tumor Surveillance to Tumor PromotionDagmarAll aspects of NK-cell development are regulated by cytokines, their downstream signaling pathways, and transcriptional regulators. These include key cytokines such as IL2, IL12, IL15, IL18, and IL21 ( 5 ), most of which signal via the common γ chain ( 5 ) and activate the JAK-STAT pathway ( 6 ). JAK kinases (JAK1-3 and TYK2) bind to cytokine receptors and are activated by ligand/receptor binding. The activated kinase phosphorylates STAT transcription factors refs. 6,7 ).Consistent with its function as the major STAT protein downstream of IL7, IL2, and IL15, STAT5 is absolutely essential for conventional NK-cell development and survival; Stat5 Δ / Δ Ncr1-iCre Tg mice lack NK cells ( 8 ). It is also important for lymphoid cell development ( 9 ): STAT5 is constitutively active in a plethora of lymphoid malignancies ( 10 ). Recent studies have described somatic Stat5b mutations as active drivers of lymphoid mali...

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“…13 Tumor-associated NK cells produce VEGF-A and CXCL8/IL-8. 55 Tumor-associated DCs release VEGF-A, CXCL8/IL-8 and osteopontin. 56 Human eosinophils promote angiogenesis 57 and eosinophilia can be observed in ATC patients.…”

Section: Angiogenic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The immune network in thyroid cancer

2016

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The immune system plays critical roles in tumor prevention, but also in its initiation and progression. Tumors are subjected to immunosurveillance, but cancer cells generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment that favors their escape from immune-mediated elimination. During chronic inflammation, immune cells can contribute to the formation and progression of tumors by producing mitogenic, prosurvival, proangiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors. Thyroid cancer is the most frequent type of endocrine neoplasia and is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the US. In this review, we discuss recent findings on how different immune cells and mediators can contribute to thyroid cancer development and progression.

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The Proangiogenic Phenotype of Natural Killer Cells in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Cited by 202 publications

References 50 publications

The breast tumor microenvironment alters the phenotype and function of natural killer cells

The breast tumor microenvironment alters the phenotype and function of natural killer cells

STAT5 Is a Key Regulator in NK Cells and Acts as a Molecular Switch from Tumor Surveillance to Tumor Promotion

The immune network in thyroid cancer

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