BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)targeting programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3(TIM-3)are beneficial to the resumption of anti-tumor immunity...BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)targeting programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3(TIM-3)are beneficial to the resumption of anti-tumor immunity response and hold extreme potential as efficient therapies for certain malignancies.However,ICIs with a single target exhibit poor overall response rate in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients due to the complex pathological mechanisms of HCC.AIM To investigate the effects of combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade on tumor development in an HCC mouse model,aiming to identify more effective immunotherapies and provide more treatment options for HCC patients.METHODS The levels of PD-1 and TIM-3 on CD4+and CD8+T cells from tumor tissues,ascites,and matched adjacent tissues from HCC patients were determined with flow cytometry.An HCC xenograft mouse model was established and treated with anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody(mAb)and/or anti-PD-1 mAb.Tumor growth in each group was measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate T cell infiltration in tumors.The percentage of CD4+and CD8+T cells in tissue samples from mice was tested with flow cytometry.The percentages of PD-1+CD8+,TIM-3+CD8+,and PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+T cells was accessed by flow cytometry.The levels of the cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-10 in tumor tissues were gauged with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.RESULTS We confirmed that PD-1 and TIM-3 expression was substantially upregulated in CD4+and CD8+T cells isolated from tumor tissues and ascites of HCC patients.TIM-3 mAb and PD-1 mAb treatment both reduced tumor volume and weight,while combined blockade had more substantial anti-tumor effects than individual treatment.Then we showed that combined therapy increased T cell infiltration into tumor tissues,and downregulated PD-1 and TIM-3 expression on CD8+T cells in tumor tissues.Moreover,combined treatment facilitated the production of T cell effector cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ,and reduced the production of immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and IL-6 in tumor tissues.Thus,we implicated that combined blockade could ameliorate T cell exhaustion in HCC mouse model.CONCLUSION Combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade restrains HCC development by facilitating CD4+ and CD8+T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses.展开更多
基金Supported by the First-Class Discipline Construction Founded Project of Ningxia Medical University and the School of Clinical Medicine,No.2020008.
文摘BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)targeting programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3(TIM-3)are beneficial to the resumption of anti-tumor immunity response and hold extreme potential as efficient therapies for certain malignancies.However,ICIs with a single target exhibit poor overall response rate in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients due to the complex pathological mechanisms of HCC.AIM To investigate the effects of combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade on tumor development in an HCC mouse model,aiming to identify more effective immunotherapies and provide more treatment options for HCC patients.METHODS The levels of PD-1 and TIM-3 on CD4+and CD8+T cells from tumor tissues,ascites,and matched adjacent tissues from HCC patients were determined with flow cytometry.An HCC xenograft mouse model was established and treated with anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody(mAb)and/or anti-PD-1 mAb.Tumor growth in each group was measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate T cell infiltration in tumors.The percentage of CD4+and CD8+T cells in tissue samples from mice was tested with flow cytometry.The percentages of PD-1+CD8+,TIM-3+CD8+,and PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+T cells was accessed by flow cytometry.The levels of the cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-10 in tumor tissues were gauged with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.RESULTS We confirmed that PD-1 and TIM-3 expression was substantially upregulated in CD4+and CD8+T cells isolated from tumor tissues and ascites of HCC patients.TIM-3 mAb and PD-1 mAb treatment both reduced tumor volume and weight,while combined blockade had more substantial anti-tumor effects than individual treatment.Then we showed that combined therapy increased T cell infiltration into tumor tissues,and downregulated PD-1 and TIM-3 expression on CD8+T cells in tumor tissues.Moreover,combined treatment facilitated the production of T cell effector cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ,and reduced the production of immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and IL-6 in tumor tissues.Thus,we implicated that combined blockade could ameliorate T cell exhaustion in HCC mouse model.CONCLUSION Combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade restrains HCC development by facilitating CD4+ and CD8+T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses.
文摘目的 研究T细胞免疫球蛋白黏蛋白3(TIM-3)及乳腺癌易感基因相关蛋白1(BAP1)、泛素特异性蛋白酶39(USP39)与早期胃癌免疫浸润的关系。方法 选取2019年4月至2021年12月于我院行内镜下黏膜剥离术(ESD)治疗的87例早期胃癌患者,收集其术后病理组织及其癌旁组织;采用免疫组织化学法检测组织TIM-3、BAP1、USP39及CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)、CD68^(+)阳性表达,实时荧光定量PCR法检测其mRNA表达;采用Spearman法分析相关性;并比较TIM-3、BAP1、USP39阳性表达的病理参数,随访统计阴阳性表达者生存时间,COX回归分析影响预后的危险因素。结果 TIM-3、BAP1、USP39在胃癌组织中阳性表达率高于癌旁组织(P<0.05)。胃癌组织TIM-3 m RNA、BAP1 m RNA、USP39 mRNA表达量高于癌旁组织(P<0.05)。胃癌组织中CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)阳性率高于癌旁组织,CD8^(+)、CD68^(+)阳性表达率低于癌旁组织(P<0.05)。TIM-3、BAP1、USP39阳性表达在年龄、性别方面,无统计学意义(P>0.05);在分化程度、淋巴结转移方面,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。经Spearman分析显示,TIM-3、BAP1、USP39表达与CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)浸润量呈正相关(P<0.05),与CD8^(+)、CD68^(+)浸润量呈负相关(P<0.05)。术后随访1年,TIM-3、BAP1、USP39阳性表达者生存率分别为75.68%(56/74)、73.33%(44/60)、71.43%(40/56),阴性表达者分别为100.00%(13/13)、92.59%(25/27)、93.55%(29/31);阴阳性表达患者生存率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。经COX多因素分析显示,分化程度对胃癌预后无显著影响(P>0.05),淋巴结转移、TIM-3、BAP1、USP39阳性表达为影响预后的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论 TIM-3、BAP1、USP39在胃癌组织中阳性表达率高,其表达与组织免疫浸润有关,且TIM-3、BAP1、USP39阳性表达者预后差。