靶向神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)作为增强免疫检查点抑制剂抗黑色素瘤活性的新方法。
Targeting Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) as a Novel Approach to Enhancing the Anti-Melanoma Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.
作者信息
Patel Anika, Tong Shirley, Lozada Kate, Awasthi Amardeep, Silverman Richard B, Totonchy Jennifer, Yang Sun
机构信息
Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, 9401 Jeronimo Road, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
出版信息
Pharmaceutics. 2025 May 24;17(6):691. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17060691.
: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) overexpressed in melanoma plays a critical role in disease progression. Our previous studies demonstrated that nNOS inhibitors exhibited potent anti-melanoma activity and regulated PD-L1 expressions in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). However, the role of nNOS in the melanoma immune response has not been well defined. : Changes in gene expression profiles after nNOS inhibitor treatment were determined by transcriptomic analysis. A melanoma mouse model was used to determine the effects of nNOS inhibition on peripheral T cells and the in vivo anti-tumor activity of combining nNOS inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade. Changes in human T cell activation through interleukin-2 (IL-2) production were investigated using an ex vivo co-culture system with human melanoma cells. : Cellular RNA analysis revealed significant changes in the genes involved in key signaling pathways after nNOS inhibitor HH044 treatment. Immunophenotyping of mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after prolonged HH044 treatment showed marked increases in CD4 and CD8PD-1 T cells. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that co-culturing human PBMCs with melanoma cells inhibited T cell activation, decreasing IL-2-secreting T cells both in the presence and absence of IFN-γ. PBMCs from a significant portion of donors (7/11, 64%), however, were reactivated by nNOS inhibitor pretreatment, displaying a significant increase in IL-2 T cells. Distinctive T cell characteristics were noted at baseline among the responders with increased CD4RORγt and reduced CD4 naïve T cells. In vivo mouse studies demonstrated that nNOS inhibitors, when combined with PD-1 blockade, significantly reduced tumor growth more effectively than monotherapy. Additionally, the median survival was extended from 43 days in the control mice to 176.5 days in mice co-treated with HH044 and anti-PD-1. : Targeting nNOS is a promising approach to enhancing the anti-melanoma activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors, not only interfering with melanoma biological activities but also regulating the tumor microenvironment, which subsequently affects T cell activation and tumor immune response.
神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)在黑色素瘤中过表达,在疾病进展中起关键作用。我们之前的研究表明,nNOS抑制剂在存在干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)的情况下表现出强大的抗黑色素瘤活性并调节PD-L1表达。然而,nNOS在黑色素瘤免疫反应中的作用尚未明确界定。
通过转录组分析确定nNOS抑制剂处理后基因表达谱的变化。使用黑色素瘤小鼠模型确定nNOS抑制对外周T细胞的影响以及将nNOS抑制剂与免疫检查点阻断联合使用的体内抗肿瘤活性。使用与人类黑色素瘤细胞的体外共培养系统研究通过白细胞介素-2(IL-2)产生引起的人类T细胞活化的变化。
细胞RNA分析显示,nNOS抑制剂HH044处理后,参与关键信号通路的基因发生了显著变化。长期HH044处理后小鼠外周血单核细胞(PBMC)的免疫表型分析显示CD4和CD8 PD-1 T细胞显著增加。体外研究表明,将人类PBMC与黑色素瘤细胞共培养可抑制T细胞活化,在存在和不存在IFN-γ的情况下均减少分泌IL-2的T细胞。然而,相当一部分供体(7/11,64%)的PBMC通过nNOS抑制剂预处理被重新激活,IL-2 T细胞显著增加。在基线时,应答者中观察到独特的T细胞特征,CD4 RORγt增加,CD4幼稚T细胞减少。体内小鼠研究表明,nNOS抑制剂与PD-1阻断联合使用时,比单一疗法更有效地显著降低肿瘤生长。此外,中位生存期从对照小鼠的43天延长至与HH044和抗PD-1联合治疗小鼠中的176.5天。
靶向nNOS是增强免疫检查点抑制剂抗黑色素瘤活性的一种有前景的方法,不仅干扰黑色素瘤的生物学活性,还调节肿瘤微环境,进而影响T细胞活化和肿瘤免疫反应。