HLA-E protects glioma cells from NKG2D-mediated immune responses in vitro: implications for immune escape in vivo

The nonclassical MHC class I molecule HLA-E is the only known ligand for CD94/NKG2A and CD94/NKG2C expressed on NK and CD8+ alphabeta and gammadelta T cells. HLA-E may transmit either activating signals via CD94/NKG2C or inhibitory signals mediated by CD94/NKG2A. Here we show that HLA-E is expressed at mRNA and protein level in human long-term glioma cell lines, primary ex vivo polyclonal glioblastoma cell cultures and surgical glioblastoma specimens. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed an enhanced in vivo expression of HLA-E in gliomas of lower grades and a massive overexpression in grade IV glioblastomas compared with normal CNS tissue. An immune-inhibitory effect of HLA-E on tumor-specific CTL has already been described. We show that siRNA-mediated silencing of HLA-E or blocking of CD94/NKG2A enables NKG2D-mediated lysis of 51Cr-labeled tumor cells by NK cells. Thus, our study provides the first evidence that expression and interaction of HLA-E on cancer cells with CD94/NKG2A expressed on lymphocytes compromises innate anti-tumor immune responses.     

MiR-29a-Mediated CD133 Expression Contributes to Cisplatin Resistance in CD133<Superscript>+</Superscript> Glioblastoma Stem Cells

CD133 positive (CD133⁺) cells are cancer stem cells in glioblastoma that are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to radiotherapy. However, the role of CD133 in chemoresistance is inconclusive, although recent studies suggest that increased CD133 expression may lead to increased cisplatin resistance under certain circumstances. In this study, we further explored the mechanism underlying CD133-mediated cisplatin resistance in glioblastoma stem cells. We sorted human glioblastoma T98G and U87MG cells into CD133⁺ and CD133^? pools and measured apoptosis and CD133 expression levels in response to cisplatin treatment. We predicted candidate microRNAs that might target CD133 and assessed their levels in cisplatin-treated CD133⁺ cells. Finally, we overexpressed miR-29a in CD133⁺ cells and tested its effects in cisplatin-mediated apoptosis and survival of CD133⁺ tumor bearing mice receiving cisplatin treatment. We found that CD133⁺ glioblastoma stem cells showed more resistance to cisplatin treatment. Cisplatin increased CD133 expression by suppressing miR-29a levels. MiR-29a overexpression improved sensitivity of cisplatin in CD133⁺ cells and significantly suppressed tumor growth in CD133⁺ tumor bearing mice in response to cisplatin treatment. Our data show that miR-29a ameliorates CD133-mediated chemoresistance in glioblastoma stem cells, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for treating glioblastoma.     

Functional Differences of miR-125b on the Invasion of Primary Glioblastoma CD133-Negative Cells and CD133-Positive Cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs whose function as modulators of gene expression is crucial for the proper control of cell development, differentiation, and homeostasis. The total number and composition of miRNAs expressed per cell at different stages of development varies widely, and the same miRNA may function differently at different stages of development. In this prospective study, we evaluated the function of miR-125b at different developmental stages of glioblastoma cells, such as primary glioblastoma cells and the corresponding stem cells. CD133 is an important surface marker in glioblastoma stem cells. We found that the upregulation of miR-125b had no effects on the invasion of primary glioblastoma CD133-negative cells but that it could inhibit the invasion of corresponding CD133-positive cells; however, the downregulation of miR-125b also had no effects on the invasion of primary glioblastoma CD133-negative cells but promoted the invasion of CD133-positive cells. Further research into the underlying mechanism demonstrated that the effects of miR-125b on the invasion of glioblastoma CD133-positive cells were associated with the alteration of the expression of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and corresponding inhibitors (RECK and TIMP3). Our results demonstrate that miR-125b expression plays an essential role in the invasion of glioblastoma CD133-positive cells but not CD133-negative cells. Therefore, miR-125b may represent a novel target for therapy targeting the invasion of glioblastoma stem cells in the future.     

CD133+ glioblastoma stem-like cells induce vascular mimicry in vivo

Glioblastoma is one of the most angiogenic malignancy, the neoplastic vessels of which are likely to arise by angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. An alternative mechanism of tumor vasculature is described, termed vasculogenic mimicry, by which highly aggressive tumor cells can form vessel-like structures themselves, by virtue of their high cellular plasticity. Evidence suggests that cancer stem cells acquire a multi-potent plastic phenotype and show vasculogenic potential. In this study, we report that glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) can form vasculogenic mimicry in tumor xenografts and express pro-vascular molecules. We isolated GSCs from resected human glioblastoma tissues and demonstrated their stemness, differentiation, and in vivo tumor-initiating potential. Through a limiting dilution assay, CD133+ (CD133(+)-GSC) and CD133- (CD133(-)-GSC) subpopulation of GSCs were obtained. Orthotopic xenotransplantation study revealed that these two subpopulations of GSCs shared similar efficacy in tumor formation but showed distinct intratumor vasculature. In comparison with CD133(-)-GSC, a highly vascularized anaplastic tumor, mimicking vasculogenic mimicry, was found in CD133(+)-GSC-derived tumor xenografts. Subsets of CD133(+)-GSC but not CD133(-)-GSC were capable of vascular smooth muscle-like cell differentiation, in vitro and in vivo. In tumor xenografts, endothelium-associated CD31 gene was detected in implanted CD133(-)-GSC and exclusively dispersed within the tumor tissues. Although the detailed action mechanisms required further investigation, this study demonstrated the vasculogenic capacity of brain GSCs and their cellular plasticity. The results of expression of pro-vascular molecules and differentiation of vascular-like cells suggest that GSCs may contribute to form vessel-like structures and provide a blood supply for glioblastoma cells.     

Elevated HLA-E levels in human glioblastomas but not in grade I to III astrocytomas correlate with infiltrating CD8+ cells

HLA-E is a ligand for the immune-inhibitory NKG2A receptor expressed on NK and T cells. To investigate HLA-E expression and immune cell infiltration in human astrocytic tumors in vivo, we analyzed normal CNS controls and astrocytomas of all WHO grades by immunohistochemistry. Both, CD8(+) immune cell infiltration and HLA-E expression were significantly higher in astrocytic tumors than in normal brain. Further, HLA-E expression levels and immune cell infiltration were significantly correlated in WHO grade IV glioblastomas. Thus, HLA-E overexpression in glioblastomas may be triggered by T and NK cell infiltration.     

Presence of pluripotent CD133+ cells correlates with malignancy of gliomas

BackgroundPresence of CD133⁺ cancer stem cells has been demonstrated within glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant phenotype of gliomas (WHO grade IV). Since GBM frequently develops from low grade gliomas (WHO grade II) we assessed a possible qualitative or quantitative correlation of CD133⁺ cells and glioma grade to get new insights in gliomagenesis.ResultsThe amount of CD133⁺ cells within the bulk tumor mass, analyzed by immunostaining and Western blotting, showed a clear quantitative correlation with glioma grade (WHO° II, III and IV). Most of CD133⁺ cells were arranged in clusters frequently associated to tumor vessels. Protein analysis revealed high cellular coexpression of CD133 with Musashi-I but not CD34 indicating a neural, i.e. local origin of these cells. In vitro, no differences in stem cell properties concerning self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation have been found for CD133⁺ cells isolated from gliomas of different grades.ConclusionsThese findings indicate a solely quantitative correlation of glioma grade with the presence of neural CD133⁺ cells within tumors supporting the concept of a CD133⁺ stem cell dependent gliomagenesis.     

人胶质瘤干细胞内在自我更新能力

目的 了解胶质瘤干细胞内在的自我更新和增殖能力。方法 观察原代胶质瘤细胞在单纯改良Eagle/F12培养液（DMEM/F12）中胶质瘤干细胞球的形成,并检测其CD133、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）、微管相关蛋白（MAP2）、髓磷脂碱性蛋白（MBP）的表达。通过二代球体形成、细胞增殖测定、分化实验分析其自我更新、增殖、多能分化能力。通过裸鼠移植瘤实验观察所分离细胞球细胞与原代培养胶质瘤细胞成瘤能力的差异。结果 在单纯DMEM/F12培养液中形成的胶质瘤细胞球细胞表达神经干细胞标记CD133,不表达分化标志GFAP、MAP2,少数细胞表达MBP。分离出的胶质瘤细胞球细胞可在单纯DMEM/F12培养基中增殖,并能形成CD133阳性的二代细胞球,可分化为GFAP、MAP2、MBP阳性表达的肿瘤细胞。裸鼠成瘤实验显示其成瘤能力显著高于原代胶质瘤细胞。结论 胶质瘤干细胞能在无血清、无外源性细胞因子培养基中形成肿瘤干细胞球,胶质瘤干细胞的自我更新和增殖不依赖于外源性生长因子,它可能拥有自我更新的自身活化机制。     

Antibody to α4 integrin suppresses natural killer cells infiltration in central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Glioma, the most common tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), currently results in a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The expression of CD133, a stem-like cell marker expressed in the glioma cells, is believed to lead to tumorigenesis in the human brain. Thus, it is necessary to find a proper method to specifically kill the CD133(+) glioma cells. Dendritic cell (DC)/tumor hybrids are proven to be able to induce an effective immune response, leading to killing of glioma cells in vitro. We isolated CD133(+) cells from a population of primary glioma cells, and cultured autologous DCs and T cells at the same time. Next, we electrofused the DCs with the CD133(+) glioma cells and with CD133- ones, in order to explore a new strategy for glioma therapy. We then exposed the T cells to five separate groups of cells: DC/CD133(+) hybrids, DC/CD133(-) hybrids, DCs alone, unsorted glioma cells alone and mixed DCs-glioma cells. A cytotoxicity assay showed that T cells stimulated by either type of hybrid were able to kill cultured autologous glioma cells significantly more effectively than those stimulated by the other three cell types (P<0.05). The amounts of IFN-γ secreted by T cells stimulated by the two types of fused cells were obviously increased compared to those stimulated by the other three cell types (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted between the effects of the two hybrids, neither in the cytotoxicity assay nor in the IFN-γ release assay (P>0.05). Therefore, both DC/CD133(+) and DC/CD133(-) hybrids can cause significant T cell immune responses in vitro. There were no significant differences between the immune responses caused by the two types of hybrids.     

Type 1 collagen as a potential niche component for CD133‐positive glioblastoma cells

Cancer stem cells are thought to be closely related to tumor progression and recurrence, making them attractive therapeutic targets. Stem cells of various tissues exist within niches maintaining their stemness. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are located at tumor capillaries and the perivascular niche, which are considered to have an important role in maintaining GSCs. There were some extracellular matrices (ECM) on the perivascular connective tissue, including type 1 collagen. We here evaluated whether type 1 collagen has a potential niche for GSCs. Imunohistochemical staining of type 1 collagen and CD133, one of the GSCs markers, on glioblastoma (GBM) tissues showed CD133‐positive cells were located in immediate proximity to type 1 collagen around tumor vessels. We cultured human GBM cell lines, U87MG and GBM cells obtained from fresh surgical tissues, T472 and T555, with serum‐containing medium (SCM) or serum‐free medium with some growth factors (SFM) and in non‐coated (Non‐coat) or type 1 collagen‐coated plates (Col). The RNA expression levels of CD133 and Nestin as stem cell markers in each condition were examined. The Col condition not only with SFM but SCM made GBM cells more enhanced in RNA expression of CD133, compared to Non‐coat/SCM. Semi‐quantitative measurement of CD133‐positive cells by immunocytochemistry showed a statistically significant increase of CD133‐positive cells in Col/SFM. In addition, T472 cell line cultured in the Col/SFM had capabilities of sphere formation and tumorigenesis. Type 1 collagen was found in the perivascular area and showed a possibility to maintain GSCs. These findings suggest that type 1 collagen could be one important niche component for CD133‐positive GSCs and maintain GSCs in adherent culture.     

恶性胶质瘤中干细胞分离与细胞周期检测

目的从多形性胶质母细胞瘤组织标本中分离、培养、鉴定胶质瘤干细胞,并检测其所处的细胞周期。方法采用逐步递减培养基中血清含量的方式从多形性胶质母细胞瘤组织标本中获得悬浮生长的肿瘤球,应用免疫荧光染色检测胶质瘤干细胞及其分化细胞表面标志物的表达,免疫组化检测裸鼠颅内移植瘤表型。免疫磁珠分选多形性胶质母细胞瘤组织标本中的CD133阳性细胞后立即检测细胞周期。结果在多形性胶质母细胞瘤组织标本中成功分离出胶质瘤干细胞,在无血清培养液中呈悬浮生长,具有很强的自我更新与繁殖能力,免疫荧光染色显示该细胞表达CD133和巢蛋白,诱导分化后可分化成为神经元、星形胶质细胞与少突胶质细胞,裸鼠颅内移植后可重现亲本肿瘤表型。位于其中的胶质瘤干细胞大多处于G0～G1期。结论多形性胶质母细胞瘤组织中存在胶质瘤干细胞,相对处于静止状态。     

胶质母细胞瘤肿瘤干细胞体外分离培养鉴定及生物学特性的研究

目的:探讨人脑胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)肿瘤干细胞的培养方法,观察其体外增殖、分化等生物学特性。方法:应用改良神经干细胞培养基,11例人脑GBM标本中悬浮培养GBM的肿瘤细胞。采用有限稀释法筛选分离具有连续克隆能力的单细胞。通过免疫组化及电镜观察的方法,确定其干细胞特征;通过核型分析探讨该细胞的肿瘤性质;将确定的脑肿瘤干细胞(BTSCs)接种于不含生长因子的干细胞培养基,观察其在体外条件下分化的特点。结果:本组样本中10例(1例污染)获得具有连续克隆和增殖能力及干细胞特征的肿瘤细胞。结论:人脑GBM中存在具有自我更新和增殖潜能的BTSCs,在体外可将其分离、培养和纯化。     

RNAi抑制STAT3表达、活化诱导人胶质瘤干细胞凋亡与分化

目的抑制人胶质瘤干细胞(GSCs)信号转导活化转录因子3(STAT3)表达、活化,了解STAT3在细胞凋亡、分化调节中的作用。方法 RNAi抑制人GSCs中STAT3表达、活化,流式细胞分析检测细胞凋亡和干细胞比例变化;实时定量多聚酶链反应(PCR)和Weastern-blot检测Bcl-2、BAX、Caspase-3表达;干扰组和对照组GSCs接种裸鼠,观察成瘤情况。结果干扰组人GSCs凋亡比例(16.03%)显著高于空白组(2.03%)和阴性对照组(3.19%)(P<0.05),CD133+细胞比例(5.7%)显著低于空白组(92.2%)和阴性对照组(87.7%);干扰组Bcl-2表达显著低于空白组和阴性对照组(P<0.05);裸鼠移植瘤实验中,阴性对照组3只成瘤,而干扰组均未成瘤。结论抑制人GSCs中STAT3表达、活化,可诱导凋亡,促进分化,抑制其成瘤能力。细胞凋亡增加可能与Bcl-2表达下调有关。     

Cytotoxicity of rat marrow stromal cells against malignant glioma cells

Objects Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to have the capacity of orthodox and unorthodox plasticity. In this study, the authors tried to access in vitro cytotoxicity of MSCs from rat and also to differentiate MSCs into immune effector cell.Methods Rat MSCs (rMSCs) were isolated by standard methodology and were activated by interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-15 (IL-15), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, and combinations, which were effector cells. Cytotoxicity of rMSCs and activated rMSCs against the target cells (9L rat glioma cell line) was estimated using visual survival cell assay. Phenotypes of these various activated cells were determined using flow cytometry. The secreted protein from effector cells was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of immune response-related genes in activated cells was measured.Results There was a significant cytotoxicity of rMSCs activated with various cytokine combinations. After various cytokine activations of rMSCs, the population of immune effector cells (CD8, CD161a) and immune reaction-related proteins (IL-4, -INF) might increase. Apoptosis may be one of the lysis mechanisms of target cells by activated rMSCs. The contributing genes could be -INF, FasL, and perforin.Conclusion This study suggests that rMSC may be used as adoptive transfer therapy in patients suffering from malignant brain tumor, but we have to investigate orthotopic animal study for the proper translation.     

Inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 by cucurbitacin I enhances chemoradiosensitivity in medulloblastoma-derived cancer stem cells

Introduction

CD133 (PROM1) is a potential marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs), including those found in brain tumors. Recently, medulloblastoma (MB)-derived CD133-positive cells were found to have CSC-like properties and were proposed to be important contributors to tumorigenicity, cancer progression, and chemoradioresistance. However, the biomolecular pathways and therapeutic targets specific to MB-derived CSCs remain unresolved.

Materials and methods

In the present study, we isolated CD133⁺ cells from MB cell lines and determined that they showed increased tumorigenicity, radioresistance, and higher expression of both embryonic stem cell-related and drug resistance-related genes compared to CD133^? cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the STAT3 pathway might be important in MB and CD133⁺ cells. To evaluate the effects of inhibiting the STAT3 pathway, MB-derived CD133^+/? cells were treated with the potent STAT3 inhibitor, cucurbitacin I. Treatment with cucurbitacin I significantly suppressed the CSC-like properties and stemness gene signature of MB-derived CD133⁺ cells. Furthermore, cucurbitacin I treatment increased the apoptotic sensitivity of MB-derived CD133⁺ cells to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. Notably, cucurbitacin I demonstrated synergistic effects with ionizing radiation to inhibit tumorigenicity in MB-CD133⁺-inoculated mice.

Results

These results indicate that the STAT3 pathway plays a key role in mediating CSC properties in MB-derived CD133⁺ cells. Targeting STAT3 with cucurbitacin I may therefore represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating malignant brain tumors.     

Presence of autoantibodies against complement regulatory proteins in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Complement was proposed to play an important role in the onset of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesions by inducing physical damage to myelin-producing cells. Every somatic cell is however endowed with a repertoire of membrane-bound molecules which normally down-regulate the complement activation cascade (Regulators of Complement Activation, RCA) and therefore protect cells from complement-dependent lysis. We show here that antibodies against two complement regulatory molecules expressed in the membrane of human cells (CD46 and CD59) are present in sera from relapsing-remitting MS patients in the acute phase, that they are directed against the active site of the RCA molecules and that they inactivate their regulatory function, thus providing a mechanism by which cells of the nervous system might be damaged in a complement-dependent fashion during the acute MS phase. Moreover, we found that most of these sera also contain antibodies reacting with an epitope of the transmembrane glycoprotein of HIV which is conserved in most retroviruses; this may support the hypothesis that self-reacting antibodies might have arisen in these patients as an immune response after retroviral infection or expression of endogenous retroviral proteins.     

胶质母细胞瘤肿瘤干细胞的分离培养与生物学特性研究

目的从人脑胶质母细胞瘤中分离培养脑肿瘤干细胞（brain tumorstem cells,BTSC）,并研究其生物学特性。方法利用无血清培养基和悬浮培养方法,从6例人胶质母细胞瘤标本中分离培养BTSC,并通过单克隆形成实验观察脑肿瘤干细胞球（brain tumor sphere,BTS）的形成过程。将BTSC接种于含血清培养基,观察其在体外的分化特点。将BTSC子代分化细胞更换培养条件,观察其在无血清培养基中的逆向分化现象。应用细胞免疫荧光染色对BTSC及其分化细胞进行鉴定。结果在人胶质母细胞瘤中成功分离出BTSC,其在无血清培养基中呈悬浮球状生长,具有很强的自我更新和增殖能力;免疫荧光显示其表达CD133。BTSC在含血清培养基中发生贴壁分化。分化后的子代细胞可表达CD133、神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）。BTSC子代分化细胞在无血清条件下培养,能够再次增殖形成BTS,呈逆向分化现象。结论人胶质母细胞瘤中存在BTSC,其具有自我更新、无限增殖、多向分化以及逆向分化等生物学特性。     

The presence of stem cell marker‐expressing cells is not prognostically significant in glioblastomas

Glioblastoma is one of the most frequent primary brain tumors and is characterized by aggressive clinical behavior and biologic heterogeneity. To evaluate the prognostic implication of cancer stem cell markers in glioblastoma, the expression of these markers was investigated in a large series of glioblastoma patients in relation to the survival rate. This series includes 88 cases of glioblastoma that were diagnosed at the Chonnam University Hwasun Hospital from 2004 to 2009. The expression of newly established stem cell markers (nestin, CD133 and CD15) was detected using immunohistochemical analysis. The presence of immunopositive tumor cells was evaluated and interpreted in comparison with the patients' survival data. The expression of nestin was high in 60 cases (68.2%). CD133 and CD15 were positive in 52 cases (59.1%) and 40 cases (45.5%), respectively. No statistically significant difference in patient survival according to stem cell marker expression was observed (P > 0.05). However, gross total resection or combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy significantly prolonged survival (P = 0.04 and P = 0.04). Cox's proportional hazards model showed that the gross total resection and combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. Although the correlation of stem cell marker expression with clinical outcome in glioma is of considerable interest, the data do not support their prognostic value in glioblastoma. Identification of the key cells in the glioblastoma population in the context of clinical outcomes will provide insight into the mechanism of brain tumorigenesis and will be of paramount importance in determining therapeutically appropriate targets.     

Opioid maintenance therapy restores CD4+ T cell function by normalizing CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cell frequencies in heroin user

There is an increasing body of evidence that heroin addiction is associated with severe alterations in immune function, which might contribute to an increased risk to contract infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C or HIV. However, the impact of heroin consumption on the CD4(+) T cell compartment is not well understood. Therefore, we analyzed the frequency and functional phenotype of CD4(+) T cells as well as immune-suppressive CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Tregs) isolated from the peripheral blood of opiate addicts currently abusing heroin (n=27) in comparison to healthy controls (n=25) and opiate addicts currently in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT; n=27). Interestingly, we detected a significant increase in the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high) Tregs in the peripheral blood of heroin addicted patients in contrast to patients in OMT. The proliferative response of CD4(+) T cells upon stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies was significantly decreased in heroin users, but could be restored by depletion of CD25(high) regulatory T cells from CD4(+) T cells to similar values as observed from healthy controls and patients in OMT. These results suggest that impaired immune responses observed in heroin users are related to the expansion of CD4(+)CD25(high) Tregs and more importantly, can be restored by OMT.