Abstract 2566: A TCL1-specific T-cell receptor redirects T cells against B-cell lymphomas and non-hematological tumors

T-cell leukemia/lymphoma Antigen1 (TCL1) is a B-cell oncoprotein that is overexpressed in multiple forms of B-cell lymphoma. In our previous study, we identified a HLA*A0201-restricted T cell epitope from TCL1 that stimulated CD8+ T cells to specifically lyse lymphoma cells. In this study, we have cloned the TCL170-79 peptide-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) gene that after lentivirus transduction into donor T cells can redirect the specificity of T cells to lyse T2 cells pulsed with TCL170-79 but not control peptide. The TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells efficiently lysed HLA-0201+, TCL1-expressing human lymphoma cell lines and primary lymphoma cells, but not normal B cells. Adoptive transfer of TCR-transduced T cells into a mantle cell lymphoma xenograft mouse model inhibited the tumor growth and significantly extended the survival of mice. In addition, we found that TCL1 is expressed in multiple solid tumors. The TCR-transduced T cells lysed colon and liver tumor cells but not normal human cells in vitro as well as in a mouse xenograft model. Collectively, our data demonstrate that TCL1-specific TCR-based immunotherapy is highly effective against human B-cell lymphomas and non-hematological tumors.

Citation Format: Jinsheng Weng, Kelsey E. Moriarty, Yong Pan, Flavio Egidio Baio, Hua Wang, Hiroki Torikai, Sourindra N. Maiti, Fuliang Chu, Xiaoyun Cheng, Swathi Karri, Deepshika Medapalli, Laurence J. N. Cooper, Sattva S. Neelapu. A TCL1-specific T-cell receptor redirects T cells against B-cell lymphomas and non-hematological tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2566.

Targeting the Leukemia Antigen PR1 with Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

Purpose: PR1 is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 nonameric peptide derived from neutrophil elastase (NE) and proteinase 3 (P3). We have previously shown that PR1 is cross-presented by solid tumors, leukemia, and antigen-presenting cells, including B cells. We have also shown that cross-presentation of PR1 by solid tumors renders them susceptible to killing by PR1-targeting immunotherapies. As multiple myeloma is derived from B cells, we investigated whether multiple myeloma is also capable of PR1 cross-presentation and subsequently capable of being targeted by using PR1 immunotherapies.Experimental Design: We tested whether multiple myeloma is capable of cross-presenting PR1 and subsequently becomes susceptible to PR1-targeting immunotherapies, using multiple myeloma cell lines, a xenograft mouse model, and primary multiple myeloma patient samples.Results: Here we show that multiple myeloma cells lack endogenous NE and P3, are able to take up exogenous NE and P3, and cross-present PR1 on HLA-A2. Cross-presentation by multiple myeloma utilizes the conventional antigen processing machinery, including the proteasome and Golgi, and is not affected by immunomodulating drugs (IMiD). Following PR1 cross-presentation, we are able to target multiple myeloma with PR1-CTL and anti-PR1/HLA-A2 antibody both in vitro and in vivoConclusions: Collectively, our data demonstrate that PR1 is a novel tumor-associated antigen target in multiple myeloma and that multiple myeloma is susceptible to immunotherapies that target cross-presented antigens. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3386-96. ©2018 AACR.

Metabolic changes in methomyl poisoned rats treated by vitamin E

In this study, we developed a serum and urine metabolomic method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combination with biomedical results to evaluate the effect of vitamin E treatment on methomyl poisoning rats. The rats were divided into three groups: the control group, methomyl poisoning group, and vitamin E treatment group. Partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) showed that methomyl poisoning induced metabolic perturbations. Compared to the control group, based on the urinary metabolomics data, the level of ribitol, l-proline, xylitol, hydrocinnamic acid, 11-cis-octadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid of methomyl poisoning group increased, while the level of 2,3,4-trihydroxybutyric acid, ethanimidic acid, pantothenic acid, and retinoic acid decreased. Vitamin E pretreatment effectively normalized the levels of metabolites in rat urine in vitamin E treatment group. There was no significant difference in rat plasma metabolomic data after acute methomyl poisoning. The results indicate that metabolomic method based on GC-MS may be useful to elucidate the vitamin E treatment for methomyl poisoning.

Preliminary Study on HA Coating Percutaneously Implanted in Bone

A comparative investigation on the possibility of hydroxyapatite (HA) coating and pure Ti column to form biological sealing with skin tissue was completed in this study. HA coating and pure Ti column were percutaneously implanted in the tibia of rabbits. Compared with titanium (Ti) implant, HA coating forms epithelial sealing with skin tissue at 6 weeks postoperatively, while the Ti implant may loosen from the implanted site and be lost. The Ti column loosing rate at this time was 50%. However, once the Ti implant becomes fixed with the bone tissue, it can form epithelial sealing with skin tissue just like the HA coating, at 8 weeks postoperatively. At 8 weeks postoperatively, the epithelial sealing is not destroyed in spite of the fact that the HA coating is biodegraded. Our results show that the HA coating can become fixed with the bone faster than the Ti, which is beneficial for epithelial sealing formation. The main role of HA coating for epithelial sealing is beneficial for sealing at the initial period after it is implanted.

Identification of genes alternatively spliced in developing maize endosperm

The process of alternative splicing is critical for the regulation of growth and development of plants. Thus far, little is known about the role of alternative splicing in the regulation of maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm development. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of endosperms from two maize inbred lines, Mo17 and Ji419, at 15 and 25 days after pollination (DAP), respectively, were used to identify genes that were alternatively spliced during endosperm development. Intron retention (IR) in GRMZM2G005887 was further validated using PCR and re-sequencing technologies. In total, 49,000 alternatively spliced events and ca. 20,000 alternatively spliced genes were identified in the two maize inbred lines. Of these, 30 genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and starch biosynthesis were identified, with IR occurring only in a specific sample, and were significantly co-expressed with ten well-known genes related to maize endosperm development. Moreover, IR in GRMZM2G005887, which encodes a cysteine synthase, was confirmed to occur only in the endosperm of Mo17 at 15 DAP, resulting in the retention of a 121-bp fragment in its 5' untranslated region. Two cis-acting regulatory elements, CAAT-box and TATA-box were observed in the retained fragment in Mo17 at 15 DAP; this could regulate the expression of this gene and influence endosperm development. The results suggest that the 30 genes with IR identified herein might be associated with maize endosperm development, and are likely to play important roles in the developing maize endosperm.

Toll-like receptor 2 costimulation potentiates the antitumor efficacy of CAR T Cells

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapies have shown unprecedented success in treating leukemia but limited clinical efficacy in solid tumors. Here, we generated 1928zT2 and m28zT2, targeting CD19 and mesothelin, respectively, by introducing the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to 1928z and m28z. T cells expressing 1928zT2 or m28zT2 showed improved expansion, persistency and effector function against CD19⁺ leukemia or mesothelin⁺ solid tumors respectively in vitro and in vivo. In a patient with relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a single dose of 5 × 10⁴/kg 1928zT2 T cells resulted in robust expansion and leukemia eradication and led to complete remission. Hence, our results demonstrate that TLR2 signaling can contribute to the efficacy of CAR T cells. Further clinical trials are warranted to establish the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Differential increments of basal glucagon-like-1 peptide concentration among SLC47A1 rs2289669 genotypes were associated with inter-individual variability in glycaemic response to metformin in Chinese people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes

AIM

To elucidate the effects of rs2289669, an intron variant of the SLC47A1 gene, on glucose response to metformin in Chinese people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Rs2289669 was genotyped, using Sequenom, in 291 participants receiving 48 weeks of metformin monotherapy. The changes in HbA_1c were compared among rs2289669 genotypes, and associations with rs2289669 were evaluated using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

We found that, compared with participants with a homozygous G allele, those carrying the minor A allele had significantly greater HbA_1c reduction and greater increases in basal glucagon-like peptide-1 concentration. Regression analysis showed that there was a significant association between rs2289669 and the glucose response to metformin after adjusting for confounding factors, except for changes in basal glucagon-like peptide-1, for which an association was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that rs2289669 might help predict the glycaemic response to metformin in Chinese people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and that differential increases in basal glucagon-like peptide-1 concentration among rs2289669 genotypes might be associated with inter-individual response to metformin.

IL-15 enhances the antitumor effect of human antigen-specific CD8+ T cells by cellular senescence delay

Optimal expansion protocols for adoptive human T-cell therapy often include interleukin (IL)-15; however, the mechanism by which IL-15 improves the in vivo antitumor effect of T cells remains to be elucidated. Using human T cells generated from HLA-A2+ donors against novel T-cell epitopes derived from the human U266 myeloma cell line Ig light chain V-region (idiotype) as a model, we found that T cells cultured with IL-15 provided superior resistance to tumor growth in vivo, compared with IL-2, after adoptive transfer into immunodeficient hosts. This effect of IL-15 was associated with delayed/reversed senescence in tumor antigen-specific memory CD8⁺ T cells mediated through downregulation of P21^WAF1, P16^INK4a, and P53 expression. Compared to IL-2, IL-15 stimulation dramatically activated JAK3-STAT5 signaling and inhibited the expression of DNA damage genes. Thus, our study elucidates a new mechanism for IL-15 in the regulation of STAT signaling pathways and CD8⁺ T-cell senescence.

Targeting B-cell malignancies through human B-cell receptor specific CD4+ T cells

The B-cell receptor (BCR) expressed by a clonal B cell tumor is a tumor specific antigen (idiotype). However, the T-cell epitopes within human BCRs which stimulate protective immunity still lack detailed characterization. In this study, we identified 17 BCR peptide-specific CD4⁺ T-cell epitopes derived from BCR heavy and light chain variable region sequences. Detailed analysis revealed these CD4⁺ T-cell epitopes stimulated normal donors' and patients' Th1 CD4⁺ T cells to directly recognize the autologous tumors by secretion of IFNγ, indicating the epitopes are processed and presented by tumor cells. One BCR peptide-specific CD4⁺ T cell line was also cytotoxic and lysed autologous tumor cells through the perforin pathway. Sequence analysis of the epitopes revealed that 10 were shared by multiple primary patients' tumors, and 16 had the capacity to bind to more than one HLA DRB1 allele. T cells stimulated by shared epitopes recognized primary tumors expressing the same sequences on multiple HLA DRB1 alleles. In conclusion, we identified 17 BCR-derived CD4⁺ T-cell epitopes with promiscuous HLA DRB1 binding affinity that are shared by up to 36% of patients, suggesting a strategy to overcome the requirement for individual preparation of therapeutic agents targeting idiotype.

Quality of care in patients with diabetic kidney disease in Asia: The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) Registry

AIMS

Diabetic kidney disease independently predicts cardiovascular disease and premature death. We examined the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD, defined as an estimated GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ) and quality of care in a cross-sectional survey of adults (age ≥ 18 years) with Type 2 diabetes across Asia.

METHODS

The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation programme is a disease-management programme implemented using an electronic portal that systematically captures clinical characteristics of all patients enrolled. Between July 2007 and December 2012, data on 28 110 consecutively enrolled patients (China: 3415, Hong Kong: 15 196, India: 3714, Korea: 1651, Philippines: 3364, Vietnam: 692, Taiwan: 78) were analysed.

RESULTS

In this survey, 15.9% of patients had CKD, 25.0% had microalbuminuria and 12.5% had macroalbuminuria. Patients with CKD were less likely to achieve HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%) (36.0% vs. 42.3%) and blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg (20.8% vs. 35.3%), and were more likely to have retinopathy (26.2% vs. 8.7%), sensory neuropathy (29.0% vs. 7.7%), cardiovascular disease (26.6% vs. 8.7%) and self-reported hypoglycaemia (18.9% vs. 8.2%). Despite high frequencies of albuminuria (74.8%) and dyslipidaemia (93.0%) among CKD patients, only 49.0% were using renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and 53.6% were on statins. On logistic regression, old age, male gender, tobacco use, long disease duration, high HbA1c , blood pressure and BMI, and low LDL cholesterol were independently associated with CKD (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The poor control of risk factors, suboptimal use of organ-protective drugs and high frequencies of hypoglycaemia highlight major treatment gaps in patients with diabetic kidney disease in Asia.

Neutralization of Interleukin-17 Attenuates Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Anti-inflammation strategy is one of the proposed therapeutic approaches to hepatic fibrosis. IL-17 is critical in inflammation, but the role of IL-17 in liver fibrosis has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we investigate the role of IL-17 on bile duct ligation-induced liver injury and fibrosis in C57BL/6 mice. Animals were sacrificed at designated times, and serum and liver tissues were collected for analysis of liver function and serum IL-6, IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels. IL-17 blockade with anti-IL-17A mAb significantly improved liver function and decreased hepatocellular necrosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines, neutrophils and macrophages influx. Furthermore, CD3 + and CD8 + lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages were found to express IL-17, and neutrophils are the principal IL-17-producing cells after BDL-induced liver injury. These data indicated that IL-17 signal contributes to the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver injury and blocked of IL-17 could potentially benefit patients with cholestatic liver disease.