Modulation of the host immune system represents a promising therapeutic approach against
cancer, including
multiple myeloma. Recent findings indicate that the NK group 2D (NKG2D)- and
DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1)-activating receptors play a prominent role in
tumor recognition and elimination by cytotoxic lymphocytes, suggesting that the levels of NKG2D and DNAM-1
ligand expression on
tumor cells may be a critical factor to improve the immune response against
cancer. In this study, we tested the effect of
17-allylaminogeldanamycin and
radicicol, drugs targeting the heat shock protein-90 (HSP-90) chaperone
protein and displaying antimyeloma activity, on the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1
ligands in human myeloma cell lines. We demonstrate that HSP-90 inhibitors are able to up-regulate both MHC class I chain-related (MIC) A and MICB
protein surface and
mRNA expression in human myeloma cell lines, without any significant effect on the basal expression of the DNAM-1
ligand poliovirus receptor CD155, or induction of
nectin-2 and UL16-binding
proteins. Activation of the
transcription factor heat shock factor-1 by HSP-90 inhibitors is essential for the up-regulation of
MICA/MICB expression and knockdown of heat shock factor-1 using
small hairpin RNA interference blocks this effect. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo binding of heat shock factor-1 to
MICA and MICB promoters indicates that it may enhance NKG2D
ligand expression at the transcriptional level. Finally, exposure to HSP-90 inhibitors renders myeloma cells more efficient to activate NK cell degranulation and a blocking Ab specific for NKG2D significantly reduces this effect. Thus, these results provide evidence that targeting NKG2D
ligands expression may be an additional mechanism supporting the antimyeloma activity of HSP-90 inhibitors and suggest their possible immunotherapeutic value.