Effective immunotherapy of glioblastoma (GBM) remains to be a significant challenge due to the strong immunosuppression induced by the tumor. Thus, inhibiting glioblastoma-induced immunosuppression is a critical strategy for the successful treatment of this deadly disease. Recent work from our laboratory has identified indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) as a strong candidate that is critically involved in regulating glioma-induced immunosuppression. IDO is an inducible enzyme that converts the essential amino acid, tryptophan, to the metabolite, kynurenine (Kyn.). Clinically-relevant, the upregulation of IDO in glioma is a strong prognostic factor for predicting decreased patient survival, when compared to downregulated IDO- expressing glioma specimens (p<0.005). Furthermore, our preliminary data show that IDO-competent brain tumors are infiltrated by significantly more regulatory T cells (Tregs;CD4+FoxP3+) with higher GITR expression, when compared to IDO-deficient brain tumors. Given the potent immunosuppressive function of Tregs, combined with GITR in mediating Treg function, we hypothesized that some aspect of IDO's enzymatic activity directly affects Treg homeostasis. Supporting this rationale is the recent in vitro finding that interaction of Kyn. with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) in CD4+ T cells leads to the expression of FoxP3. Based on these collective observations, we propose the central hypothesis that: glioma-derived IDO increases Kyn. levels resulting in Ahr-dependent Treg expansion and GITR-mediated Treg stability and/or recruitment. To investigate this hypothesis, we propose: (1) to confirm the relevance of IDO in a novel transgenic model of glioma, as well as (2) to study the regulation of IDO-mediated Kyn. production-, (3) to determine the impact of the Kyn.-Ahr interaction on Treg expansion and immunosuppression-, as well as (4) to investigate the role of GITR in intratumoral Tregs- using orthotopic mouse models of glioma.
The specific aims reflect an extension to the exciting direction of the applicant's previou NRSA-supported research. Mechanistic investigation will include the usage of therapeutic IDO- and GITR- immunomodulators, currently in clinical trials for patients, but not specifically for those diagnosed with glioblastoma. The proposed studies aim to investigate translationally- relevant approaches that reverse immunosuppression in glioma, which is the first step to the rational design of effective immunotherapy for patients with incurable brain cancer.

Public Health Relevance

Glioblastoma multiforme is an incurable form of brain cancer with an average survival of 14.6 months post- diagnosis. Recent and exciting work from our laboratory has demonstrated that upregulated expression of the immunomodulatory gene, indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), is associated with a poor prognosis in glioma patients, as well as in pre-clinical models that recapitulate brain tumors;suggesting IDO to be a critical target for future therapeutic consideration. This project aims to extend our previous observations by focusing on the mechanism that induces immunosuppression mediated by the interaction between IDO and Tregs in glioma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Career Transition Award (K99)
Project #
1K99NS082381-01
Application #
8487648
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Fountain, Jane W
Project Start
2013-04-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$86,293
Indirect Cost
$6,392
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005421136
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Binder, David C; Ladomersky, Erik; Lenzen, Alicia et al. (2018) Lessons learned from rindopepimut treatment in patients with EGFRvIII-expressing glioblastoma. Transl Cancer Res 7:S510-S513
Ladomersky, Erik; Zhai, Lijie; Lenzen, Alicia et al. (2018) IDO1 Inhibition Synergizes with Radiation and PD-1 Blockade to Durably Increase Survival Against Advanced Glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 24:2559-2573
Zhai, Lijie; Ladomersky, Erik; Dostal, Carlos R et al. (2017) Non-tumor cell IDO1 predominantly contributes to enzyme activity and response to CTLA-4/PD-L1 inhibition in mouse glioblastoma. Brain Behav Immun 62:24-29
Binder, David C; Wainwright, Derek A (2017) The Boosting Potential of Bacteria in Cancer Immunotherapy. Trends Mol Med 23:580-582
Zhai, Lijie; Ladomersky, Erik; Lauing, Kristen L et al. (2017) Infiltrating T Cells Increase IDO1 Expression in Glioblastoma and Contribute to Decreased Patient Survival. Clin Cancer Res 23:6650-6660
Lenzen, Alicia; Zhai, Lijie; Lauing, Kristen L et al. (2016) The Kynurenine/Tryptophan Ratio and Glioblastoma Patients Treated with Hsppc-96 Vaccine. Immunotherapy (Los Angel) 2:
Ladomersky, Erik; Zhai, Lijie; Gritsina, Galina et al. (2016) Advanced age negatively impacts survival in an experimental brain tumor model. Neurosci Lett 630:203-208
Zhai, Lijie; Spranger, Stefani; Binder, David C et al. (2015) Molecular Pathways: Targeting IDO1 and Other Tryptophan Dioxygenases for Cancer Immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 21:5427-33
Zhai, Lijie; Dey, Mahua; Lauing, Kristen L et al. (2015) The kynurenine to tryptophan ratio as a prognostic tool for glioblastoma patients enrolling in immunotherapy. J Clin Neurosci 22:1964-8
Zhai, Lijie; Lauing, Kristen L; Chang, Alan L et al. (2015) The role of IDO in brain tumor immunotherapy. J Neurooncol 123:395-403

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