Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade

The potent immunostimulatory effects of toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonism in combination with PD-1 blockade have resulted in various preclinical investigations, yet the mechanism of action in humans remains unknown. To decipher the combinatory mode of action of TLR8 agonism and PD-1 blockade, we e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres, Jillian F. Wise, Brian Yinge Zhao, Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa, Sara Cavallaro, Peter M. Sadow, Jacy Fang, Osman Yilmaz, Amar Patel, Christopher Loosbroock, Moshe Sade-Feldman, Daniel L. Faden, Shannon L. Stott
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1440530/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850138573066469376
author Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Brian Yinge Zhao
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Peter M. Sadow
Peter M. Sadow
Jacy Fang
Jacy Fang
Osman Yilmaz
Amar Patel
Christopher Loosbroock
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
author_facet Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Brian Yinge Zhao
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Peter M. Sadow
Peter M. Sadow
Jacy Fang
Jacy Fang
Osman Yilmaz
Amar Patel
Christopher Loosbroock
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
author_sort Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
collection DOAJ
description The potent immunostimulatory effects of toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonism in combination with PD-1 blockade have resulted in various preclinical investigations, yet the mechanism of action in humans remains unknown. To decipher the combinatory mode of action of TLR8 agonism and PD-1 blockade, we employed a unique, open-label, phase 1b pre-operative window of opportunity clinical trial (NCT03906526) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Matched pre- and post-treatment tumor biopsies from the same lesion were obtained. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and custom multiplex staining to leverage the unique advantage of same-lesion longitudinal sampling. Patients receiving dual TLR8 agonism and anti-PD-1 blockade exhibited marked upregulation of innate immune effector genes and cytokines, highlighted by increased CLEC9A+ dendritic cell and CLEC7A/SYK expression. This was revealed via comparison with a previous cohort from an anti-PD-1 blockade monotherapy single-cell RNA sequencing study. Furthermore, in dual therapy patients, post-treatment mature dendritic cells increased in adjacency to CD8+ T-cells. Increased tumoral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte densities and expanded CXCL13+CD8+ T-cell populations were observed in responders, with increased tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) across all three patients. This study provides key insights into the mode of action of TLR8 agonism and anti-PD-1 blockade immune targeting in HNSCC patients.
format Article
id doaj-art-35fa217099bf401997c467b0569a1902
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-35fa217099bf401997c467b0569a19022025-08-20T02:30:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-12-011510.3389/fimmu.2024.14405301440530Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockadeDaniel A. Ruiz-Torres0Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres1Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres2Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres3Jillian F. Wise4Jillian F. Wise5Jillian F. Wise6Jillian F. Wise7Jillian F. Wise8Brian Yinge Zhao9Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa10Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa11Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa12Sara Cavallaro13Sara Cavallaro14Sara Cavallaro15Peter M. Sadow16Peter M. Sadow17Jacy Fang18Jacy Fang19Osman Yilmaz20Amar Patel21Christopher Loosbroock22Moshe Sade-Feldman23Moshe Sade-Feldman24Moshe Sade-Feldman25Daniel L. Faden26Daniel L. Faden27Daniel L. Faden28Shannon L. Stott29Shannon L. Stott30Shannon L. Stott31Shannon L. Stott32Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBristol Myers Squibb, Seattle, WA, United StatesBristol Myers Squibb, Seattle, WA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, United StatesBroad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United StatesCenter for Engineering in Medicine and Bio MicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) Resource Center, Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United StatesThe potent immunostimulatory effects of toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonism in combination with PD-1 blockade have resulted in various preclinical investigations, yet the mechanism of action in humans remains unknown. To decipher the combinatory mode of action of TLR8 agonism and PD-1 blockade, we employed a unique, open-label, phase 1b pre-operative window of opportunity clinical trial (NCT03906526) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Matched pre- and post-treatment tumor biopsies from the same lesion were obtained. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and custom multiplex staining to leverage the unique advantage of same-lesion longitudinal sampling. Patients receiving dual TLR8 agonism and anti-PD-1 blockade exhibited marked upregulation of innate immune effector genes and cytokines, highlighted by increased CLEC9A+ dendritic cell and CLEC7A/SYK expression. This was revealed via comparison with a previous cohort from an anti-PD-1 blockade monotherapy single-cell RNA sequencing study. Furthermore, in dual therapy patients, post-treatment mature dendritic cells increased in adjacency to CD8+ T-cells. Increased tumoral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte densities and expanded CXCL13+CD8+ T-cell populations were observed in responders, with increased tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) across all three patients. This study provides key insights into the mode of action of TLR8 agonism and anti-PD-1 blockade immune targeting in HNSCC patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1440530/fullimmune responsedendritic cellscheckpoint blockadeimmunotherapycancer
spellingShingle Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Daniel A. Ruiz-Torres
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Jillian F. Wise
Brian Yinge Zhao
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Joao Paulo Oliveira-Costa
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Sara Cavallaro
Peter M. Sadow
Peter M. Sadow
Jacy Fang
Jacy Fang
Osman Yilmaz
Amar Patel
Christopher Loosbroock
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Moshe Sade-Feldman
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Daniel L. Faden
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Shannon L. Stott
Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
Frontiers in Immunology
immune response
dendritic cells
checkpoint blockade
immunotherapy
cancer
title Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
title_full Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
title_fullStr Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
title_full_unstemmed Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
title_short Dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define TLR8 modulation and PD-1 blockade
title_sort dendritic cell effector mechanisms and tumor immune microenvironment infiltration define tlr8 modulation and pd 1 blockade
topic immune response
dendritic cells
checkpoint blockade
immunotherapy
cancer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1440530/full
work_keys_str_mv AT danielaruiztorres dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT danielaruiztorres dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT danielaruiztorres dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT danielaruiztorres dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jillianfwise dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jillianfwise dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jillianfwise dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jillianfwise dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jillianfwise dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT brianyingezhao dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT joaopaulooliveiracosta dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT joaopaulooliveiracosta dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT joaopaulooliveiracosta dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT saracavallaro dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT saracavallaro dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT saracavallaro dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT petermsadow dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT petermsadow dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jacyfang dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT jacyfang dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT osmanyilmaz dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT amarpatel dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT christopherloosbroock dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT moshesadefeldman dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT moshesadefeldman dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT moshesadefeldman dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT daniellfaden dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT daniellfaden dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT daniellfaden dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT shannonlstott dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT shannonlstott dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT shannonlstott dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade
AT shannonlstott dendriticcelleffectormechanismsandtumorimmunemicroenvironmentinfiltrationdefinetlr8modulationandpd1blockade