Enhancing NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity to cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells via MEK/Erk signaling inhibition

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 11;7(1):7958. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08483-z.

Abstract

Major progress has been made clinically in inhibiting the programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 interaction to enhance T cell-mediated immune function, yet the effectiveness of anti-PD-L1/PD-1 agents in enhancing natural killer (NK) cell's function remains largely unknown. Susceptibilities of cisplatin-resistant A549CisR and H157CisR cells vs. parental cells to the cytotoxic action of NK cells were examined. We found cisplatin-resistant cells more resistant to NK cell cytotoxicity than parental cells. There were constitutively higher expressions of PD-L1 in A549CisR and H157CisR cells than in parental cells in vitro, as well as in H157CisR cell-derived tumors than H157P cell-derived tumors. In contrast, we observed that the expression of PD-1 in NK cells was induced after co-culture with cisplatin-resistant cells. We also observed increased susceptibility of cisplatin-resistant cells to NK cell cytotoxicity when neutralizing antibody of PD-1 or PD-L1 was added. Further, we found that the NK group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligand levels were lower in A549CisR and H157CisR cells than in parental cells. Meanwhile, we discovered that the MEK/Erk signaling pathway played a significant role in this regulation, and the addition of a MEK/Erk pathway inhibitor significantly enhanced the PD-L1 Ab effect in enhancing NK cell cytotoxicity to cisplatin-resistant cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / pharmacology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms, Experimental

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Cisplatin