Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents

Background CD73 is an ectonucleotidase producing the immunosuppressor mediator adenosine. Elevated levels of circulating CD73 in patients with cancer have been associated with disease progression and poor response to immunotherapy. Immunosuppressive pathways associated with exosomes can affect T-cel...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mariaelena Capone, Gabriele Madonna, Ester Simeone, Paolo A Ascierto, Antonio Sorrentino, Roberta Turiello, Elva Morretta, Maria Chiara Monti, Rosa Azzaro, Silvana Morello, Pasquale Del Gaudio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022-03-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/10/3/e004043.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850203365764497408
author Mariaelena Capone
Gabriele Madonna
Ester Simeone
Paolo A Ascierto
Antonio Sorrentino
Roberta Turiello
Elva Morretta
Maria Chiara Monti
Rosa Azzaro
Silvana Morello
Pasquale Del Gaudio
author_facet Mariaelena Capone
Gabriele Madonna
Ester Simeone
Paolo A Ascierto
Antonio Sorrentino
Roberta Turiello
Elva Morretta
Maria Chiara Monti
Rosa Azzaro
Silvana Morello
Pasquale Del Gaudio
author_sort Mariaelena Capone
collection DOAJ
description Background CD73 is an ectonucleotidase producing the immunosuppressor mediator adenosine. Elevated levels of circulating CD73 in patients with cancer have been associated with disease progression and poor response to immunotherapy. Immunosuppressive pathways associated with exosomes can affect T-cell function and the therapeutic efficacy of anti-programmed cell-death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Here, we conducted a retrospective pilot study to evaluate levels of exosomal CD73 before and early during treatment with anti-PD-1 agents in patients with melanoma and its potential contribution to affect T-cell functions and to influence the clinical outcomes of anti-PD-1 monotherapy.Methods Exosomes were isolated by mini size exclusion chromatography from serum of patients with melanoma (n=41) receiving nivolumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy. Expression of CD73 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were evaluated on exosomes enriched for CD63 by on-bead flow cytometry. The CD73 AMPase activity was evaluated by mass spectrometry, also in the presence of selective inhibitors of CD73. Interferon (IFN)-γ production and granzyme B expression were measured in CD3/28 activated T cells incubated with exosomes in presence of the CD73 substrate AMP. Levels of CD73 and PD-L1 on exosomes were correlated with therapy response. Exosomes isolated from healthy subjects were used as control.Results Isolated exosomes carried CD73 on their surface, which is enzymatically active in producing adenosine. Incubation of exosomes with CD3/28 activated T cells in the presence of AMP resulted in a significant reduction of IFN-γ release, which was reversed by the CD73 inhibitor APCP or by the selective A2A adenosine receptor antagonist ZM241385. Expression levels of exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma were not significantly different from those in healthy subjects. Early on-treatment, expression levels of both CD73 and PD-L1 on exosomes isolated from patients receiving pembrolizumab or nivolumab monotherapy were significantly increased compared with baseline. Early during therapy exosomal PD-L1 increased in responders, while exosomal CD73 resulted significantly increased in non-responders.Conclusions CD73 expressed on exosomes from serum of patients with melanoma produces adenosine and contributes to suppress T-cell functions. Early on-treatment, elevated expression levels of exosomal CD73 might affect the response to anti-PD-1 agents in patients with melanoma who failed to respond to therapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-16eb3e6d99c6479e82f78953f59e5073
institution OA Journals
issn 2051-1426
language English
publishDate 2022-03-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
spelling doaj-art-16eb3e6d99c6479e82f78953f59e50732025-08-20T02:11:33ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262022-03-0110310.1136/jitc-2021-004043Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agentsMariaelena Capone0Gabriele Madonna1Ester Simeone2Paolo A Ascierto3Antonio Sorrentino4Roberta Turiello5Elva Morretta6Maria Chiara Monti7Rosa Azzaro8Silvana Morello9Pasquale Del Gaudio101Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS – Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, ItalyIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy4Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione ‘G.Pascale’, Naples, ItalyIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G Pascale, Napoli, ItalyLunaphore Technologies, Tolochenaz, Vaud, SwitzerlandDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, ItalyIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G Pascale, Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, ItalyBackground CD73 is an ectonucleotidase producing the immunosuppressor mediator adenosine. Elevated levels of circulating CD73 in patients with cancer have been associated with disease progression and poor response to immunotherapy. Immunosuppressive pathways associated with exosomes can affect T-cell function and the therapeutic efficacy of anti-programmed cell-death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Here, we conducted a retrospective pilot study to evaluate levels of exosomal CD73 before and early during treatment with anti-PD-1 agents in patients with melanoma and its potential contribution to affect T-cell functions and to influence the clinical outcomes of anti-PD-1 monotherapy.Methods Exosomes were isolated by mini size exclusion chromatography from serum of patients with melanoma (n=41) receiving nivolumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy. Expression of CD73 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were evaluated on exosomes enriched for CD63 by on-bead flow cytometry. The CD73 AMPase activity was evaluated by mass spectrometry, also in the presence of selective inhibitors of CD73. Interferon (IFN)-γ production and granzyme B expression were measured in CD3/28 activated T cells incubated with exosomes in presence of the CD73 substrate AMP. Levels of CD73 and PD-L1 on exosomes were correlated with therapy response. Exosomes isolated from healthy subjects were used as control.Results Isolated exosomes carried CD73 on their surface, which is enzymatically active in producing adenosine. Incubation of exosomes with CD3/28 activated T cells in the presence of AMP resulted in a significant reduction of IFN-γ release, which was reversed by the CD73 inhibitor APCP or by the selective A2A adenosine receptor antagonist ZM241385. Expression levels of exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma were not significantly different from those in healthy subjects. Early on-treatment, expression levels of both CD73 and PD-L1 on exosomes isolated from patients receiving pembrolizumab or nivolumab monotherapy were significantly increased compared with baseline. Early during therapy exosomal PD-L1 increased in responders, while exosomal CD73 resulted significantly increased in non-responders.Conclusions CD73 expressed on exosomes from serum of patients with melanoma produces adenosine and contributes to suppress T-cell functions. Early on-treatment, elevated expression levels of exosomal CD73 might affect the response to anti-PD-1 agents in patients with melanoma who failed to respond to therapy.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/10/3/e004043.full
spellingShingle Mariaelena Capone
Gabriele Madonna
Ester Simeone
Paolo A Ascierto
Antonio Sorrentino
Roberta Turiello
Elva Morretta
Maria Chiara Monti
Rosa Azzaro
Silvana Morello
Pasquale Del Gaudio
Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
title_full Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
title_fullStr Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
title_full_unstemmed Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
title_short Exosomal CD73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti-PD-1 agents
title_sort exosomal cd73 from serum of patients with melanoma suppresses lymphocyte functions and is associated with therapy resistance to anti pd 1 agents
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/10/3/e004043.full
work_keys_str_mv AT mariaelenacapone exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT gabrielemadonna exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT estersimeone exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT paoloaascierto exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT antoniosorrentino exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT robertaturiello exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT elvamorretta exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT mariachiaramonti exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT rosaazzaro exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT silvanamorello exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents
AT pasqualedelgaudio exosomalcd73fromserumofpatientswithmelanomasuppresseslymphocytefunctionsandisassociatedwiththerapyresistancetoantipd1agents