NKG2D‐mediated cytotoxicity improves after primary surgery for high‐grade serous ovarian cancer

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 89; no. 1; pp. e13647 - n/a
• Main Authors: Israelsson, Pernilla, Björk, Emma, Nagaev, Ivan, Nagaeva, Olga, Lundin, Eva, Mincheva‐Nilsson, Lucia, Ottander, Ulrika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell culture; Cytometry; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Electron microscopy; EOC/HGSC; epithelial ovarian cancer; Exosomes; Exosomes - metabolism; Female; Humans; immune suppression; Immune system; Immunological Factors in Reproduction; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocytes; Nanoparticles; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - metabolism; NKG2 antigen; NKG2D; NKG2D ligands; Original; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Ovarian Neoplasms - surgery; Surgery; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Tumors; Ultracentrifugation; NKG2D; NKG2D ligands; exosomes; epithelial ovarian cancer; immune suppression; cytotoxicity; EOC/HGSC; surgery
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/aji.13647

Problem Tumors compromise the patients’ immune system to promote their own survival. We have previously reported that HGSC exosomes play a central role, downregulating NKG2D cytotoxicity. Primary surgery's effect on tumor exosomes and NKG2D cytotoxicity in HGSC patients has not been studied before. The overall objective of this study was to explore the effect of surgery on the exosome‐induced impairment of NKG2D cytotoxicity in HGSC. Method of study Paired pre‐ and post‐operative blood samples were subjected to cell and exosome analyses regarding the NKG2D receptor and ligands, and NKG2D‐mediated cytotoxicity. Lymphocytes were phenotyped by immunoflow cytometry. Exosomes, isolated by ultracentrifugation, and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission and immune electron microscopy and western blot were used in functional cytotoxic experiments. HGSC explant culture‐derived exosomes, previously studied by us, were used for comparison. Results HGSC exosomes from patients’ sera downregulated NKG2D‐mediated cytotoxicity in NK cells of healthy donors. In a subgroup of subjects, NKG2D expression on CTLs and NK cells was upregulated after surgery, correlating to a decrease in the concentration of exosomes in postoperative sera. An overall significantly improved NKG2D‐mediated cytotoxic response of the HGSC patients’ own NK cells in postoperative compared to preoperative samples was noted. Conclusions Surgical removal of the primary tumor has a beneficial effect, relieving the exosome‐mediated suppression of NKG2D cytotoxicity in HGSC patients, thus boostering their ability to combat cancer.