A dormant TIL phenotype defines non-small cell lung carcinomas sensitive to immune checkpoint blockers.

The biological determinants of sensitivity and resistance to immune checkpoint blockers are not completely understood. To elucidate the role of intratumoral T-cells and their association with the tumor genomic landscape, we perform paired whole exome DNA sequencing and multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) in pre-treatment samples from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients treated with PD-1 axis blockers. QIF is used to simultaneously measure the level of CD3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), in situ T-cell proliferation (Ki-67 in CD3) and effector capacity (Granzyme-B in CD3). Elevated mutational load, candidate class-I neoantigens or intratumoral CD3 signal are significantly associated with favorable response to therapy. Additionally, a "dormant" TIL signature is associated with survival benefit in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockers characterized by elevated TILs with low activation and proliferation. We further demonstrate that dormant TILs can be reinvigorated upon PD-1 blockade in a patient-derived xenograft model.

Mutation profiles in early-stage lung squamous cell carcinoma with clinical follow-up and correlation with markers of immune function.

Background: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) accounts for 20­30% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). There are limited treatment strategies for LUSC in part due to our inadequate understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the disease. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and comprehensive immune profiling of a unique set of clinically annotated early-stage LUSCs to increase our understanding of the pathobiology of this malignancy. Methods: Matched pairs of surgically resected stage I-III LUSCs and normal lung tissues (n = 108) were analyzed by WES. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis-based profiling of 10 immune markers were done on a subset of LUSCs (n = 91). Associations among mutations, immune markers and clinicopathological variables were statistically examined using analysis of variance and Fisher's exact test. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for statistical analysis of clinical outcome. Results: This early-stage LUSC cohort displayed an average of 209 exonic mutations per tumor. Fourteen genes exhibited significant enrichment for somatic mutation: TP53, MLL2, PIK3CA, NFE2L2, CDH8, KEAP1, PTEN, ADCY8, PTPRT, CALCR, GRM8, FBXW7, RB1 and CDKN2A. Among mutated genes associated with poor recurrence-free survival, MLL2 mutations predicted poor prognosis in both TP53 mutant and wild-type LUSCs. We also found that in treated patients, FBXW7 and KEAP1 mutations were associated with poor response to adjuvant therapy, particularly in TP53-mutant tumors. Analysis of mutations with immune markers revealed that ADCY8 and PIK3CA mutations were associated with markedly decreased tumoral PD-L1 expression, LUSCs with PIK3CA mutations exhibited elevated CD45ro levels and CDKN2A-mutant tumors displayed an up-regulated immune response. Conclusion(s): Our findings pinpoint mutated genes that may impact clinical outcome as well as personalized strategies for targeted immunotherapies in early-stage LUSC.

Whole-exome sequencing and immune profiling of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma with fully annotated clinical follow-up.

Background: Lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) lead to the majority of deaths attributable to lung cancer. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and immune profiling analyses of a unique set of clinically annotated early-stage LUADs to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease and identify clinically relevant molecular markers. Methods: We performed WES of 108 paired stage I-III LUADs and normal lung tissues using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Ten immune markers (PD-L1, PD-1, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45ro, CD57, CD68, FOXP3 and Granzyme B) were profiled by imaging-based immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a subset of LUADs (n = 92). Associations among mutations, immune markers and clinicopathological variables were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's exact test. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for multivariate analysis of clinical outcome. Results: LUADs in this cohort exhibited an average of 243 coding mutations. We identified 28 genes with significant enrichment for mutation. SETD2-mutated LUADs exhibited relatively poor recurrence- free survival (RFS) and mutations in STK11 and ATM were associated with poor RFS among KRAS-mutant tumors. EGFR, KEAP1 and PIK3CA mutations were predictive of poor response to adjuvant therapy. Immune marker analysis revealed that LUADs in smokers and with relatively high mutation burdens exhibited increased levels of immune markers. Analysis of immunophenotypes revealed that LUADs with STK11 mutations exhibited relatively low levels of infiltrating CD4+/CD8+ T-cells indicative of a muted immune response. Tumoral PD-L1 was significantly elevated in TP53 mutant LUADs whereas PIK3CA mutant LUADs exhibited markedly down-regulated PD-L1 expression. LUADs with TP53 or KEAP1 mutations displayed relatively increased CD57 and Granzyme B levels indicative of augmented natural killer (NK) cell infiltration. Conclusion(s): Our study highlights molecular and immune phenotypes that warrant further analysis for their roles in clinical outcomes and personalized immune-based therapy of LUAD.

Anatomical localization and expression pattern for the NMDA-2D receptor subunit in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been implicated in the etiology of chronic pain. In this regard, this study sought to characterize the localization and expression pattern for the NMDAR-2D subunit in a rat model of neuropathic pain. To this end, one group of rats, 3 weeks post-dorsal root rhizotomy (DRR) and a second group, 3 weeks post-spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and sham surgery, were generated. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and/or lumbar spinal cord were excised from DRR, naïve, SNL and sham rats. Both immunohistochemical and real-time PCR analysis confirmed discrete NMDAR-2D subunit expression within the DRG and dorsal horn. However, no overt differences in staining intensity or expression were noted between DRG and spinal cord sections obtained from the different surgical groups. Results also demonstrated that the NMDAR-2D subunit was present within Neu N+ cells in the spinal cord and DRG, but excluded from cells labeled with the astrocytic marker, GFAP, and the microglial maker, OX-42. Lastly, the NMDAR-2D subunit was not co-expressed within neurokinin-1 (NK-1)+ or neurofilament-52 (N-52)+ neurons, but the antibody did co-label a number of isolectin B4+ (IB4) DRG cells. Together, these findings seem to suggest that the NMDAR-2D receptor subunit is present within the cell body region of a population of small diameter sensory afferents and post-synaptically within second order dorsal horn neurons. Although these data suggest that the NMDAR-2D subunit is well poised anatomically to modulate pain neurotransmission, the expression pattern for this subunit is not altered in rats demonstrating the presence of neuropathic-like pain behavior.

Mitochondria shape hormonally induced cytoplasmic calcium oscillations and modulate exocytosis.

Pituitary gonadotropes transduce hormonal input into cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) oscillations that drive rhythmic exocytosis of gonadotropins. Using Calcium Green-1 and rhod-2 as optical measures of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial free Ca(2+), we show that mitochondria sequester Ca(2+) and tune the frequency of [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillations in rat gonadotropes. Mitochondria accumulated Ca(2+) rapidly and in phase with elevations of [Ca(2+)](cyt) after GnRH stimulation or membrane depolarization. Inhibiting mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake by the protonophore CCCP reduced the frequency of GnRH-induced [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillations or, occasionally, stopped them. Much of the Ca(2+) that entered mitochondria is bound by intramitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering systems. The mitochondrial Ca(2+) binding ratio may be dynamic because [Ca(2+)](mit) appeared to reach a plateau as mitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation continued. Entry of Ca(2+) into mitochondria was associated with a small drop in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Ca(2+) was extruded from mitochondria more slowly than it entered, and much of this efflux could be blocked by CGP-37157, a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange. Plasma membrane capacitance changes in response to depolarizing voltage trains were increased when CCCP was added, showing that mitochondria lower the local [Ca(2+)](cyt) near sites that trigger exocytosis. Thus, we demonstrate a central role for mitochondria in a significant physiological response.

Reconstitution of muscarinic modulation of the KCNQ2/KCNQ3 K(+) channels that underlie the neuronal M current.

Channels from KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes have been suggested to underlie the neuronal M-type K(+) current. The M current is modulated by muscarinic agonists via G-proteins and an unidentified diffusible cytoplasmic messenger. Using whole-cell clamp, we studied tsA-201 cells in which cloned KCNQ2/KCNQ3 channels were coexpressed with M(1) muscarinic receptors. Heteromeric KCNQ2/KCNQ3 currents were modulated by the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine-M (oxo-M) in a manner having all of the characteristics of modulation of native M current in sympathetic neurons. Oxo-M also produced obvious intracellular Ca(2+) transients, observed by using indo-1 fluorescence. However, modulation of the current remained strong even when Ca(2+) signals were abolished by the combined use of strong intracellular Ca(2+) buffers, an inhibitor of IP(3) receptors, and thapsigargin to deplete Ca(2+) stores. Muscarinic modulation was not blocked by staurosporine, a broad-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor, arguing against involvement of protein kinases. The modulation was not associated with a shift in the voltage dependence of channel activation. Homomeric KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels also expressed well and were modulated individually by oxo-M, suggesting that the motifs for modulation are present on both channel subtypes. Homomeric KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 currents were blocked, respectively, at very low and at high concentrations of tetraethylammonium ion. Finally, when KCNQ2 subunits were overexpressed by intranuclear DNA injection in sympathetic neurons, total M current was fully modulated by the endogenous neuronal muscarinic signaling mechanism. Our data further rule out Ca(2+) as the diffusible messenger. The reconstitution of muscarinic modulation of the M current that uses cloned components should facilitate the elucidation of the muscarinic signaling mechanism.

Regulation of type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-gated calcium channels by InsP3 and calcium: Simulation of single channel kinetics based on ligand binding and electrophysiological analysis.

Cytosolic calcium acts as both a coagonist and an inhibitor of the type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-gated Ca channel, resulting in a bell-shaped Ca dependence of channel activity (Bezprozvanny, I., J. Watras, and B.E. Ehrlich. 1991. Nature. 351:751-754; Finch, E.A., T.J. Turner, and S.M. Goldin. 1991. Science. 252: 443-446; Iino, M. 1990. J. Gen. Physiol. 95:1103-1122). The ability of Ca to inhibit channel activity, however, varies dramatically depending on InsP3 concentration (Combettes, L., Z. Hannaert-Merah, J.F. Coquil, C. Rousseau, M. Claret, S. Swillens, and P. Champeil. 1994. J. Biol. Chem. 269:17561-17571; Kaftan, E.J., B.E. Ehrlich, and J. Watras. 1997. J. Gen. Physiol. 110:529-538). In the present report, we have extended the characterization of the effect of cytosolic Ca on both InsP3 binding and InsP3-gated channel kinetics, and incorporated these data into a mathematical model capable of simulating channel kinetics. We found that cytosolic Ca increased the Kd of InsP3 binding approximately 3.5-fold, but did not influence the maximal number of binding sites. The ability of Ca to decrease InsP3 binding is consistent with the rightward shift in the bell-shaped Ca dependence of InsP3-gated Ca channel activity. High InsP3 concentrations are able to overcome the Ca-dependent inhibition of channel activity, apparently due to a low affinity InsP3 binding site (Kaftan, E.J., B.E. Ehrlich, and J. Watras. 1997. J. Gen. Physiol. 110:529-538). Constants from binding analyses and channel activity determinations were used to develop a mathematical model that fits the complex Ca-dependent regulation of the type 1 InsP3-gated Ca channel. This model accurately simulated both steady state data (channel open probability and InsP3 binding) and kinetic data (channel activity and open time distributions), and yielded testable predictions with regard to the regulation of this intracellular Ca channel. Information gained from these analyses, and our current molecular model of this Ca channel, will be important for understanding the basis and regulation of intracellular Ca waves and oscillations in intact cells.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and calcium interact to increase the dynamic range of InsP3 receptor-dependent calcium signaling.

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-gated Ca channel in cerebellum is tightly regulated by Ca (Bezprozvanny, I., J. Watras, and B.E. Ehrlich. 1991. Nature (Lond.). 351:751-754; Finch, E.A., T. J. Turner, and S.M. Goldin. 1991. Science (Wash. DC). 252:443-446; Hannaert-Merah, Z., J.F. Coquil, L. Combettes, M. Claret, J.P. Mauger, and P. Champeil. 1994. J. Biol. Chem. 269:29642-29649; Iino, M. 1990. J. Gen. Physiol. 95:1103-1122; Marshall, I., and C. Taylor. 1994. Biochem. J. 301:591-598). In previous single channel studies, the Ca dependence of channel activity, monitored at 2 microM InsP3, was described by a bell-shaped curve (Bezprozvanny, I., J. Watras, and B.E. Ehrlich. 1991. Nature (Lond.). 351:751-754). We report here that, when we used lower InsP3 concentrations, the peak of the Ca-dependence curve shifted to lower Ca concentrations. Unexpectedly, when we used high InsP3 concentrations, channel activity persisted at Ca concentrations as high as 30 microM. To explore this unexpected response of the channel, we measured InsP3 binding over a broad range of InsP3 concentrations. We found the well-characterized high affinity InsP3 binding sites (with Kd < 1 and 50 nM) (Maeda, N., M. Niinobe, and K. Mikoshiba. 1990. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 9:61-67; Mignery, G., T.C. Sudhof, K. Takei, and P. De Camilli. 1989. Nature (Lond.). 342:192-195; Ross, C.A., J. Meldolesi, T.A. Milner, T. Satoh, S. Supattapone, and S.H. Snyder. 1989. Nature (Lond.). 339:468-470) and a low affinity InsP3 binding site (Kd = 10 microM). Using these InsP3 binding sites, we developed a new model that accounts for the shift in the Ca-dependence curve at low InsP3 levels and the maintained channel activity at high Ca and InsP3 levels. The observed Ca dependence of the InsP3-gated Ca channel allows the cell to abbreviate the rise of intracellular Ca in the presence of low levels of InsP3, but also provides a means of maintaining high intracellular Ca during periods of prolonged stimulation.

Effects of rapamycin on ryanodine receptor/Ca(2+)-release channels from cardiac muscle.

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are intracellular channels that regulate the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum of many cell types. The RyRs are physically associated with FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs); immunophilins, with cis-trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity. FKBP12 copurifies with RyR1 (skeletal isoform) and modulates its gating. A different form of FKBP with a slightly higher molecular weight copurifies with RyR2 (cardiac isoform). Previous studies have demonstrated that FKBP stablizes gating of the skeletal Ca(2+)-release channel. In the present study, we measured the activity of cardiac RyRs incorporated into planar lipid bilayers to show that rapamycin, a drug that inhibits the prolyl isomerase activity of FKBP and dissociates FKBP from the RyR, increases the open probability and reduces the current amplitude of cardiac muscle Ca(2+)-release channels. These experiments show for the first time that submicromolar concentrations of rapamycin can alter channel function. Our results provide support for the hypotheses that FKBP functionally associates with the RyR and that the immunosuppressant drug, rapamycin, alters the function of both cardiac and skeletal muscle isoforms of the Ca(2+)-release channel. Our findings suggest that FKBP-dependent modulation of channel function may be generally applicable to all members of the intracellular Ca(2+)-release channel family and that FKBPs may play important regulatory roles in many cell processes, ranging from long-term depression in neurons to contractility in cardiomyocytes.

The pharmacology of intracellular Ca(2+)-release channels.

Two classes of intracellular Ca(2+)-release channels, the ryanodine receptor and the inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor, are essential for spatio-temporal Ca2+ signalling in cells. Heparin and caffeine have been widely used to study these channels. It was originally thought that caffeine acts solely as an agonist for the ryanodine receptor and heparin acts solely as an inhibitor for the IP3 receptor. However, recent experiments indicate that these compounds have multiple effects, and are discussed in this review by Barbara Ehrlich and colleagues. In the same concentration range, caffeine activates the ryanodine receptor and inhibits the IP3 receptor, and heparin inhibits the IP3 receptor and activates the ryanodine receptor. More specific pharmacological tools that are suitable for studies of ryanodine and IP3 receptors are now beginning to emerge.

Activation of the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) by heparin and other polyanions is calcium dependent.

Heparin has been used as a potent competitive inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-binding to IP3 receptors and to block IP3-gated calcium channels in bilayer experiments. In contrast to the effect on the IP3-gated channel, heparin (0.1-1 micrograms/ml) opened the Ca release channel (ryanodine receptor). Other polyanions such as pentosan polysulfate and polyvinyl sulfate also activated the Ca release channel. The effect of polyanions on the Ca release channel was Ca dependent. Polyanion addition activated the Ca release channel when free Ca was > 80 nM, but was ineffective when free Ca was < 20 nM. The level of channel activation could be altered by manipulating the free Ca concentration. These results suggest that the polyanions act by increasing the local concentration of Ca near regulatory sites on the channel complex. As most cells have both types of intracellular channels, the opposite effects of the polyanions on the two channel types suggests that addition of polyanions to intact cells may produce multiple effects.

A mitochondrial protein fraction catalyzing transport of the K+ analog T1+.

A protein fraction has been obtained from detergent-solubilized mitochondrial membranes by its affinity for quinine, an inhibitor of K+ transport. A peptide derived from the predominant 53 kDa protein in this fraction is found to be identical in sequence to a portion of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Antigenically unrelated bands at 97, 77, 57, and 31 kDa are also seen on polyacrylamide gels. Observations utilizing a fluorescent probe entrapped in the lumen of membrane vesicles indicate that the reconstituted protein fraction imparts permeability to the K+ analog Tl+. These and other findings suggest that the affinity purified fraction includes a cation transport catalyst.