UV Light-inactivated HSV-1 Stimulates Natural Killer Cell-induced Killing of Prostate Cancer Cells

J Immunother. 2019 Jun;42(5):162-174. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000261.

Abstract

Herein we demonstrate that ultraviolet light-inactivated Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (UV-HSV-1) stimulates peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to lyse both androgen-sensitive and androgen-independent prostate cancer (PrCA) cell lines, but not the benign prostatic hyperplastic epithelial cell line, BPH-1, and is 1000-10,000-fold more potent at stimulating this killing than ultraviolet light-inactivated Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, adenovirus, reovirus or cytomegalovirus. Among PBMCs, natural killer (NK) cells appear to be a major cell type involved in this killing and UV-HSV-1 appears to directly and potently stimulate NK cell expression of CD69, degranulation, cytokine production, and migration to IL-8 in PC3 conditioned medium. We also found that UV-HSV-1 stimulates glycolysis in PBMCs and NK cells, and that 2-deoxyglucose and the protein kinase C inhibitor, Go6976, and the NFκB inhibitor, Bay 11-7082, all abrogate UV-HSV-1 activated killing of PC3 cells by PBMCs and NK cells. Using neutralizing anti-Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) we found that UV-HSV-1, like HSV-1, activates NK cells via TLR2. Taken together, these results are consistent with Toll-like receptor 2 ligands on UV-HSV-1 stimulating TLR2 on NK cells to activate protein kinase C, leading to enhanced glycolysis and NFκB activation, both of which play a critical role in this anti-PrCA innate immune response. Importantly, UV-HSV-1 synergizes with IL-15 to increase the cytolytic activity of PBMCs against PC3 cells and there was considerable donor-to-donor variation in killing ability. These results support the preclinical development of UV-HSV-1 as an adjuvant, in combination with IL-15, for cell infusions of healthy, preselected NK cells to treat PrCA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Glycolysis
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Virus Inactivation / radiation effects*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2