Curated Optogenetic Publication Database

Abstract: Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from the pro-tumoral M2-like state to the immunostimulatory M1-like phenotype has emerged as a promising strategy for tumor therapy. However, most M2-like TAMs are preferentially located in hypoxic regions of the tumor, which are poorly accessible to many advanced drug delivery systems, posing a significant challenge to effective TAM reprogramming. Here, leveraging the tropism of facultative anaerobic bacteria to localize and propagate in the hypoxic tumor, an optogenetically engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain conjugated with murine STING agonist (EcNflaB@UPD) was developed for cancer-specific immunotherapy. Upon near-infrared light illumination, the blue and UV emissions from upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) simultaneously activate the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist, flaB, from EcNflaB, and the release of photocaged murine STING agonist, DMXAA, respectively. This spatiotemporally synchronized dual release ensures co-localized STING and TLR5 agonists inside the hypoxic niche, repolarizing TAMs from the M2 to the M1 phenotype via synergistic TLR5-MAPK1-NF-κB and STING-NF-κB signaling. The polarization of TAMs enhances their antigen-presenting capacity and, more importantly, activates the cytotoxic, stem-like and memory CD8+ T cells responses. This subsequently inhibits tumor growth, relapse, and metastasis in the murine 4T1 tumor model. Collectively, our work introduces the bacteria-based system that uses near-infrared light to dual-release immunotherapeutics for systemic anti-tumor immunity, opening new avenues for precise and effective cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: The efficacy of antitumor immunotherapy is closely associated with the expansion of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. However, within the tumor microenvironment, CD8+ T cells often exhibit reduced proliferation due to persistent exposure to tumor antigens. The cytokine IL-2 is a potent growth factor that can drive the expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. While its clinical application has been severely limited by systemic toxicity and in vivo instability. To address these challenges, we have developed a dual-responsive system (EcNIL-2@UCNP/Gel-CTX) leveraging the hypoxic tropisms of E. coli Nissle 1917(EcN). This system is capable of producing IL-2 in situ upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and releasing low-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) in response to matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the tumor microenvironment. The EcNIL-2@UCNP/Gel-CTX system not only drives the expansion of CD8+ T cells and boost the activity of NK cells but also reduces Treg cell populations, thereby remodeling the immune microenvironment and eliciting robust tumor-specific immune responses in H22 subcutaneous tumors in mice and confers long-term protection against tumor rechallenge by promoting the generation of durable memory T cells. Our findings provide an both light and tumor microenvironment responsive platform for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: Rationale: Optogenetically engineered facultative anaerobic bacteria exhibit a favorable tendency to colonize at solid tumor sites and spatiotemporally-programmable therapeutics release abilities, attracting extensive attention in precision tumor therapy. However, their therapeutic efficacy is moderate. Conventional photothermal agents with high tumor ablation capabilities exhibit low tumor targeting efficiency, resulting in significant off-target side effects. The combination of optogenetics and photothermal therapy may offer both tumor-targeting and excellent tumor-elimination capabilities, which unfortunately has rarely been investigated. Herein, we construct a bacteria-based cascade near-infrared optogentical-photothermal system (EcNαHL-UCNPs) for enhanced tumor therapy. Methods: EcNαHL-UCNPs consists of an optogenetically engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) conjugated with lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which are capable of locally secreting α-hemolysin (αHL), a pore-forming protein, in responsive to NIR irradiation. Anti-tumor effects of EcNαHL-UCNPs were determined in both H22 and 4T1 tumors. Results: The αHL not only eliminates tumor cells, but more importantly disrupts endothelium to form thrombosis as an in situ photothermal agent in tumors. The in situ formed thrombosis significantly potentiates the photothermic ablation of H22 tumors upon subsequent NIR light irradiation. Besides, αHL secreted by EcNαHL-UCNPs under NIR light irradiation not only inhibits 4T1 tumor growth, but also suppresses metastasis of 4T1 tumor via inducing the immune response. Conclusion: Our studies highlight bacteria-based cascade optogenetical-photothermal system for precise and effective tumor therapy.