Convergent Evolution by Cancer and Viruses in Evading the NKG2D Immune Response
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cancers Review Convergent Evolution by Cancer and Viruses in Evading the NKG2D Immune Response Richard Baugh , Hena Khalique and Leonard W. Seymour * Anticancer Viruses and Cancer Vaccines Research Group, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; [email protected] (R.B.); [email protected] (H.K.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-01865-617331 Received: 13 November 2020; Accepted: 16 December 2020; Published: 18 December 2020 Simple Summary: Cells undergoing stress, viral infection, and malignant transformation express natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) ligands on their surface, rendering them susceptible to immunosurveillance. Given this selective pressure exerted on viruses and cancer cells, many viruses and several cancers have evolved means of evading NKG2D recognition. This review highlights the various ways in which stresses, viruses and cancers induce the expression of NKG2D ligands, before comparing the similarities and differences between viral and cancer mechanisms to subsequently prevent recognition by the NKG2D system. Abstract: The natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor and its family of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) are key components in the innate immune system, triggering NK, γδ and CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses. While surface NKG2DL are rarely found on healthy cells, expression is significantly increased in response to various types of cellular stress, viral infection, and tumour cell transformation. In order to evade immune-mediated cytotoxicity, both pathogenic viruses and cancer cells have evolved various mechanisms of subverting immune defences and preventing NKG2DL expression. Comparisons of the mechanisms employed following virus infection or malignant transformation reveal a pattern of converging evolution at many of the key regulatory steps involved in NKG2DL expression and subsequent immune responses. Exploring ways to target these shared steps in virus- and cancer-mediated immune evasion may provide new mechanistic insights and therapeutic opportunities, for example, using oncolytic virotherapy to re-engage the innate immune system towards cancer cells. Keywords: NKG2D ligands; NKG2D receptor; NK cells; immune evasion; convergent evolution; cancer; viruses; immunotherapy 1. Introduction Cancer cells have long been defined with a set of characteristics, known as the ‘hallmarks of cancer’, with immune evasion rapidly emerging as a key player in cancer progression [1]. Viruses share several of these hallmarks with cancer cells to achieve a successful infection, as immune evasion is also critically important for viruses. 1.1. NKG2D Receptor and NK Cell Activation Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in the innate immunosurveillance of both virally infected cells and tumours. They possess an extensive repertoire of both activatory and inhibitory receptors that recognise a range of ligands on target cells [2]. In contrast to T cell activation by clonotypic T cell receptor (TCR) interacting with specific peptides presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), NK cells are inhibited by MHC molecules, and are instead activated Cancers 2020, 12, 3827; doi:10.3390/cancers12123827 www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers Cancers 2020, 12, 3827 2 of 27 by the lackCancers ofMHC, 2020, 12, x referred to as ‘missing-self’ [3]. NK cells also interpret other positive2 andof 27 negative signals fromactivated their by environment the lack of MHC, and referred the target to as ‘missing-self’ cell. Some [3]. of theNK cells activatory also interpret receptors other positive responsible for processingand positive negative signals signals includefrom their NKp46, environment NKp44 and andthe target NKp30 cell. [ 2Some]. One of ofthe the activatory most well-documentedreceptors activatoryresponsible receptors for is processing the natural positive killer signals group inclu 2 memberde NKp46, D NKp44 (NKG2D) and NKp30 receptor. [2]. One NKG2D of the most receptor and its ligandswell-documented (NKG2DLs) areactivatory part of receptors the early is the warning natural signalskiller group for 2 the member innate D immune(NKG2D) system;receptor. flagging NKG2D receptor and its ligands (NKG2DLs) are part of the early warning signals for the innate up cells thatimmune may system; represent flagging danger up cells to that the may host repres organism.ent danger NKG2D to the host receptor organism. is NKG2D an activatory receptor receptor + + expressedison an theactivatory surface receptor of NK expressed cells, CD8 on theT cells, surface natural of NK killercells, CD8 T (NKT)+ T cells, cells, naturalγδ T killer cells Tand (NKT) some CD4 T cell subsetscells, [γδ4– T6 ].cells NKG2D and some is anCD4 invariant+ T cell subsets homodimeric [4–6]. NKG2D receptor, is an invariant with each homodimeric monomer receptor, consisting of a type-II transmembranewith each monomer domain consisting and aof C-type a type-II lectin-like transmembrane extracellular domain domain,and a C-type and islectin-like associated with extracellular domain, and is associated with DNAX activating protein 10 (DAP10) or DAP12 in mice, DNAX activating protein 10 (DAP10) or DAP12 in mice, and DAP10 only in humans [4] (Figure1a). and DAP10 only in humans [4] (Figure 1a). Figure 1.FigureNKG2D 1. NKG2D receptor receptor and ligands.and ligands (a. )(a The) The natural natural killer group group 2 member 2 member D (NKG2D) D (NKG2D) receptor receptor is expressedis byexpressed natural by killernatural (NK) killer cells,(NK) cells,γδ T γδ cells, T cells, CD8 CD8++ T cells, cells, and and some some CD4 CD4+ T cells.+ T The cells. NKG2D The NKG2D receptor isreceptor associated is associated with with DNAX DNAX activating activating protein protein (DAP) (DAP) 10 10in humans, in humans, but DAP10 but DAP10 and DAP12 and in DAP12 in mice. (b) NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) include MHC-class-I-polypeptide-related sequence (MIC) A mice. (b) NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) include MHC-class-I-polypeptide-related sequence (MIC) A and and MICB, and UL16 binding protein (ULBP) 1-6 in humans, and retinoic acid early inducible (RAE- MICB, and1) α UL16-ε, H60a-c, binding and proteinmurine UL16 (ULBP) binding 1-6 inprotein-like humans, transcript and retinoic (MULT) acid 1 in early mice. inducible All NKG2DLs (RAE-1) α-", H60a-c, andfeature murine MHC-class-I-like UL16 binding α1 and protein-likeα2 domains, whilst transcript MICA and (MULT) MICB 1also in have mice. an Allα3-like NKG2DLs domain feature MHC-class-I-likebut do notα bind1 and to βα2-microglobulin.2 domains, whilst Some NKG2DLs MICA and are MICBtransmembrane also have proteins an α 3-like(TM), while domain others but do not bind to βare2-microglobulin. linked to the membrane Some NKG2DLs via glycophosphatidy are transmembranelinositol (GPI) proteins anchors.(TM), Diagram while created others with are linked BioRender.com. to the membrane via glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors. Diagram created with BioRender.com. NKG2D binding to NKG2DLs can directly activate NK cells that have already been stimulated NKG2Dwith interleukin binding to (IL) NKG2DLs -2 or IL-15 can [7,8], directly wherea activates additional NK costimulatory cells that have signals already are required been stimulatedto with interleukinactivate T (IL)cells -2and or freshly IL-15 isolated [7,8], whereasNK cells [9,10]. additional Binding costimulatoryof NKG2D to its signals ligands arerecruits required to activate Tphosphatidylinositol cells and freshly 3-kinase isolated (PI3K) NK and cellsgrowth [9 fa,10ctor]. receptor-bound Binding of protein NKG2D 2 (GRB2), to its triggering ligands recruits phosphatidylinositola subsequent phosphorylation 3-kinase (PI3K) cascade. and growth If the factorbalance receptor-boundof the overall signalling protein favours 2 (GRB2), NK cell triggering a subsequent phosphorylation cascade. If the balance of the overall signalling favours NK cell activation, it can stimulate effector functions including cytokine release and perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity [11]. 1.2. NKG2D Ligands Although the NKG2D receptor is germline-encoded, it can recognise a diverse range of MHC-class-I-related ligands. In humans, these NKG2DLs include MHC-class-I-polypeptide-related Cancers 2020, 12, 3827 3 of 27 sequence A (MIC) A and MICB, and UL16 binding protein (ULBP) 1-6, also known as retinoic acid early inducible transcript 1 (RAET1) proteins [6,12–17]. In contrast, murine NKG2DLs include retinoic acid early inducible (RAE-1) α-", H60a-c, and murine UL16 binding protein-like transcript (MULT) 1 [18,19]. All NKG2DLs share homology with MHC class I molecules, featuring α1 and α2 domains, while MICA and MICB also have an α3 domain. However, unlike MHC class I molecules, they cannot bind and present antigenic peptides and are not associated with β2-microglobulin. Despite their overall similarities, NKG2DLs vary from each other in sequence; binding affinity to NKG2D; and membrane anchorage, either transmembrane proteins or glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked [20] (Figure1b). NKG2DLs also display a high degree of polymorphism in humans, with 104 and 37 distinct alleles currently assigned for MICA and MICB genes, respectively [21]. These polymorphisms can vary certain properties of the NKG2DLs, such as binding affinity to NKG2D receptor [22,23] or protein length [24,25]. The expression of NKG2DLs on normal, healthy cells is low or absent. However,expression dramatically increases during events of cellular stress, virus infection or malignant transformation.