CXCL9 explained

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG). The CXCL9 is one of the chemokine which plays role to induce chemotaxis, promote differentiation and multiplication of leukocytes, and cause tissue extravasation.[1]

The CXCL9/CXCR3 receptor regulates immune cell migration, differentiation, and activation. Immune reactivity occurs through recruitment of immune cells, such as cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells, and macrophages. Th1 polarization also activates the immune cells in response to IFN-γ. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are a key for clinical outcomes and prediction of the response to checkpoint inhibitors.[2] In vivo studies suggest the axis plays a tumorigenic role by increasing tumor proliferation and metastasis. CXCL9 predominantly mediates lymphocytic infiltration to the focal sites and suppresses tumor growth.[3]

It is closely related to two other CXC chemokines called CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located near the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4.[4] [5] CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 all elicit their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.[6]

Biomarkers

CXCL9, -10, -11 have proven to be valid biomarkers for the development of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, suggesting an underlining pathophysiological relation between levels of these chemokines and the development of adverse cardiac remodeling.[7] [8]

This chemokine has also been associated as a biomarker for diagnosing Q fever infections.[9]

Interactions

CXCL9 has been shown to interact with CXCR3.[10] [11]

CXCL9 in immune reactions

For immune cell differentiation, some reports show that CXCL9 lead to Th1 polarization through CXCR3.[12] In vivo model by Zohar et al. showed that CXCL9, drove increased transcription of T-bet and RORγ, leading to the polarization of Foxp3 type 1 regulatory (Tr1) cells or T helper 17 (Th17) from naive T cells via STAT1, STAT4, and STAT5 phosphorylation.

Several studies have shown that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play modulatory activities in the TME, and the CXCL9/CXCR3 axis impacts TAMs polarization. The TAMs have opposite effects; M1 for anti-tumor activities, and M2 for pro-tumor activities. Oghumu et al. clarified that CXCR3 deficient mice displayed increased IL-4 production and M2 polarization in a murine breast cancer model, and decreased innate and immune cell-mediated anti-tumor responses.[13]

For immune cell activation, CXCL9 stimulate immune cells through Th1 polarization and activation. Th1 cells produce IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and enhance anti-tumor immunity by stimulating CTLs, NK cells and macrophages.[14] The IFN-γ-dependent immune activation loop also promotes CXCL9 release.[1]

Immune cells, like Th1, CTLs, NK cells, and NKT cells, show anti-tumor effect against cancer cells through paracrine CXCL9/CXCR3 in tumor models.[3] The autocrine CXCL9/CXCR3 signaling in cancer cells increases cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

CXCL9/CXCR3 and the PDL-1/PD-1

The relationship between CXCL9/CXCR3 and the PDL-1/PD-1 is an important area of research. Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) shows increased expression on T cells at the tumor site compared to T cells present in the peripheral blood, and anti-PD-1 therapy can inhibit “immune escape” and the immune activation.[15] Peng et al. showed that anti-PD-1 could not only enhance T cell-mediated tumor regression but also increase the expression of IFN-γ but not CXCL9 by bone marrow–derived cells. Blockade of the PDL-1/PD-1 axis in T cells may trigger a positive feedback loop at the tumor site through the CXCL9/CXCR3 axis. Also using anti-CTLA4 antibody, this axis was significantly up-regulated in pretreatment melanoma lesions in patients with good clinical response after ipilimumab administration.[16]

CXCL9 and melanoma

CXCL9 has also been identified as candidate biomarker of adoptive T cell transfer therapy in metastatic melanoma.[17] The role of CXCL9/CXCR3 in TME and immune response - this plays a critical role in immune activation through paracrine signaling, impacting efficacy of cancer treatments.[1]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Tokunaga R, Zhang W, Naseem M, Puccini A, Berger MD, Soni S, McSkane M, Baba H, Lenz HJ . CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11/CXCR3 axis for immune activation - A target for novel cancer therapy . Cancer Treatment Reviews . 63 . 40–47 . February 2018 . 29207310 . 5801162 . 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.11.007 .
  2. Fernandez-Poma SM, Salas-Benito D, Lozano T, Casares N, Riezu-Boj JI, Mancheño U, Elizalde E, Alignani D, Zubeldia N, Otano I, Conde E, Sarobe P, Lasarte JJ, Hervas-Stubbs S . + T cells Expressing PD-1 Improves the Efficacy of Adoptive T-cell Therapy . Cancer Research . 77 . 13 . 3672–3684 . July 2017 . 28522749 . 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-0236 . free .
  3. Gorbachev. A. V.. Kobayashi. H.. Kudo. D.. Tannenbaum. C. S.. Finke. J. H.. Shu. S.. Farber. J. M.. Fairchild. R. L.. 2007-02-15. CXC Chemokine Ligand 9/Monokine Induced by IFN- Production by Tumor Cells Is Critical for T Cell-Mediated Suppression of Cutaneous Tumors. The Journal of Immunology. 178. 4. 2278–2286. 10.4049/jimmunol.178.4.2278. 17277133. 0022-1767. free.
  4. Lee HH, Farber JM . Localization of the gene for the human MIG cytokine on chromosome 4q21 adjacent to INP10 reveals a chemokine "mini-cluster" . Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics . 74 . 4 . 255–8 . 1996 . 8976378 . 10.1159/000134428 .
  5. O'Donovan N, Galvin M, Morgan JG . Physical mapping of the CXC chemokine locus on human chromosome 4 . Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics . 84 . 1–2 . 39–42 . 1999 . 10343098 . 10.1159/000015209 . 8087808 .
  6. Tensen CP, Flier J, Van Der Raaij-Helmer EM, Sampat-Sardjoepersad S, Van Der Schors RC, Leurs R, Scheper RJ, Boorsma DM, Willemze R . Human IP-9: A keratinocyte-derived high affinity CXC-chemokine ligand for the IP-10/Mig receptor (CXCR3) . The Journal of Investigative Dermatology . 112 . 5 . 716–22 . May 1999 . 10233762 . 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00581.x . free .
  7. Altara R, Gu YM, Struijker-Boudier HA, Thijs L, Staessen JA, Blankesteijn WM . Left Ventricular Dysfunction and CXCR3 Ligands in Hypertension: From Animal Experiments to a Population-Based Pilot Study . PLOS ONE . 10 . 10 . e0141394 . 2015 . 26506526 . 4624781 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0141394 . 2015PLoSO..1041394A . free .
  8. Altara R, Manca M, Hessel MH, Gu Y, van Vark LC, Akkerhuis KM, Staessen JA, Struijker-Boudier HA, Booz GW, Blankesteijn WM . CXCL10 Is a Circulating Inflammatory Marker in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: a Pilot Study . Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research . 9 . 4 . 302–14 . August 2016 . 27271043 . 10.1007/s12265-016-9703-3 . 41188765 .
  9. Jansen AF, Schoffelen T, Textoris J, Mege JL, Nabuurs-Franssen M, Raijmakers RP, Netea MG, Joosten LA, Bleeker-Rovers CP, van Deuren M . CXCL9, a promising biomarker in the diagnosis of chronic Q fever . BMC Infectious Diseases . 17 . 1 . 556 . August 2017 . 28793883 . 5551022 . 10.1186/s12879-017-2656-6 . free .
  10. Lasagni L, Francalanci M, Annunziato F, Lazzeri E, Giannini S, Cosmi L, Sagrinati C, Mazzinghi B, Orlando C, Maggi E, Marra F, Romagnani S, Serio M, Romagnani P . An alternatively spliced variant of CXCR3 mediates the inhibition of endothelial cell growth induced by IP-10, Mig, and I-TAC, and acts as functional receptor for platelet factor 4 . The Journal of Experimental Medicine . 197 . 11 . 1537–49 . June 2003 . 12782716 . 2193908 . 10.1084/jem.20021897 .
  11. Weng Y, Siciliano SJ, Waldburger KE, Sirotina-Meisher A, Staruch MJ, Daugherty BL, Gould SL, Springer MS, DeMartino JA . Binding and functional properties of recombinant and endogenous CXCR3 chemokine receptors . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 273 . 29 . 18288–91 . July 1998 . 9660793 . 10.1074/jbc.273.29.18288 . free .
  12. Zohar Y, Wildbaum G, Novak R, Salzman AL, Thelen M, Alon R, Barsheshet Y, Karp CL, Karin N . CXCL11-dependent induction of FOXP3-negative regulatory T cells suppresses autoimmune encephalomyelitis . The Journal of Clinical Investigation . 124 . 5 . 2009–22 . May 2014 . 24713654 . 4001543 . 10.1172/JCI71951 .
  13. Oghumu S, Varikuti S, Terrazas C, Kotov D, Nasser MW, Powell CA, Ganju RK, Satoskar AR . CXCR3 deficiency enhances tumor progression by promoting macrophage M2 polarization in a murine breast cancer model . Immunology . 143 . 1 . 109–19 . September 2014 . 24679047 . 4137960 . 10.1111/imm.12293 .
  14. Mosser DM, Edwards JP . Exploring the full spectrum of macrophage activation . Nature Reviews. Immunology . 8 . 12 . 958–69 . December 2008 . 19029990 . 2724991 . 10.1038/nri2448 .
  15. Peng W, Liu C, Xu C, Lou Y, Chen J, Yang Y, Yagita H, Overwijk WW, Lizée G, Radvanyi L, Hwu P . PD-1 blockade enhances T-cell migration to tumors by elevating IFN-γ inducible chemokines . Cancer Research . 72 . 20 . 5209–18 . October 2012 . 22915761 . 3476734 . 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-1187 .
  16. Ji RR, Chasalow SD, Wang L, Hamid O, Schmidt H, Cogswell J, Alaparthy S, Berman D, Jure-Kunkel M, Siemers NO, Jackson JR, Shahabi V . An immune-active tumor microenvironment favors clinical response to ipilimumab . Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy . 61 . 7 . 1019–31 . July 2012 . 22146893 . 10.1007/s00262-011-1172-6 . 8464711 . 11028506 .
  17. Bedognetti D, Spivey TL, Zhao Y, Uccellini L, Tomei S, Dudley ME, Ascierto ML, De Giorgi V, Liu Q, Delogu LG, Sommariva M, Sertoli MR, Simon R, Wang E, Rosenberg SA, Marincola FM . CXCR3/CCR5 pathways in metastatic melanoma patients treated with adoptive therapy and interleukin-2 . British Journal of Cancer . 109 . 9 . 2412–23 . October 2013 . 24129241 . 3817317 . 10.1038/bjc.2013.557 .