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Cancer-associated fibroblasts serve as decoys to suppress NK cell anti-cancer cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT: Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most abundant components of the breast tumor microenvironment (TME) and major contributors to immune modulation in the TME. CAFs are well known to regulate the activity of diverse types of immune cells including T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells, however little is known about their interaction with Natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells constitute an important arm of anti-tumor immunity, yet the regulation of NK cell activity by CAFs in solid tumors is poorly understood. Here we find, using mouse models of cancer and ex-vivo cocultures, that immunosuppressive CAF subsets severely inhibit NK cell cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. We unravel the mechanism by which this suppression occurs, through CAF-mediated downregulation of the NK-surface receptors, Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) and DNAX Accessory Molecule-1 (DNAM-1). Ligands for these receptors are known to be expressed by cancer cells and minimally expressed in healthy tissue. Here we find that CAFs also upregulate ligands for NKG2D and DNAM-1. Ligand-receptor engagement between NK cells and CAFs leads to CAF cytolysis, which in turn diminishes the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1 on NK cells via a negative feedback loop, and promotes cancer escape from NK cell surveillance. These results reveal a CAF-mediated immunosuppressive mechanism with implications for treatment of solid tumors.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE247218 | GEO | 2023/11/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Natural Killer cells (NK), a major constituent of innate immune system, have the ability to kill the transformed and infected cells without prior sensitization; can be put to immunotherapeutic use against various malignancies. NK cells discriminate between normal cells and transformed cells via a balance of inhibitory and activating signals induced by interactions between NK cell receptors and target cell ligands. Present study investigates whether expansion of NK cells could augment their anti-myeloma (MM) activity. For NK cell expansion, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and myeloma patients were co-cultured with irradiated K562 cells transfected with 4-1BBL and membrane-bound IL15 (K562-mb15-41BBL). A genome-wide profiling approach was performed to identify gene expression signature in expanded NK (ENK) cells and non-expanded NK cells isolated from healthy donors and myeloma patients. A specific set of genes involved in proliferation, migration, adhesion, cytotoxicity, and activation were up regulated post expansion, also confirmed by flow cytometry. Exp-NK cells killed both allogeneic and autologous primary MM cells more avidly than non-exp-NK cells in vitro. Multiple receptors, particularly NKG2D, natural cytotoxicity receptors, and DNAM-1 contributed to target lysis, via a perforin mediated mechanism. In summary, vigorous expansion and high anti-MM activity both in vitro and in vivo provide the rationale for testing exp-NK cells in a clinical trial for high risk MM. Differential gene expression profile in expanded natural killer (ENK) cells and non-expanded natural killer (NK) cells from healthy donors and myeloma patients Eight healthy donor and eight myeloma patients were used in the study. Non-expanded natural killer (NK) cells were isolated from PBMCs of healthy donors and myeloma patients. Expanded natural killer (ENK) cells were generated from same set of samples as mentioned in expansion protocol. All ENK and NK cells were used for gene expression profiling.

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Cancer-associated fibroblasts serve as decoys to suppress NK cell anti-cancer cytotoxicity

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