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Tuomela K, Salim K, Levings MK. Eras of designer Tregs: Harnessing synthetic biology for immune suppression. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:250-267. [PMID: 37522861 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery, CD4+ CD25hi FOXP3hi regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been firmly established as a critical cell type for regulating immune homeostasis through a plethora of mechanisms. Due to their immunoregulatory power, delivery of polyclonal Tregs has been explored as a therapy to dampen inflammation in the settings of transplantation and autoimmunity. Evidence shows that Treg therapy is safe and well-tolerated, but efficacy remains undefined and could be limited by poor persistence in vivo and lack of antigen specificity. With the advent of new genetic engineering tools, it is now possible to create bespoke "designer" Tregs that not only overcome possible limitations of polyclonal Tregs but also introduce new features. Here, we review the development of designer Tregs through the perspective of three 'eras': (1) the era of FOXP3 engineering, in which breakthroughs in the biological understanding of this transcription factor enabled the conversion of conventional T cells to Tregs; (2) the antigen-specificity era, in which transgenic T-cell receptors and chimeric antigen receptors were introduced to create more potent and directed Treg therapies; and (3) the current era, which is harnessing advanced genome-editing techniques to introduce and refine existing and new engineering approaches. The year 2022 marked the entry of "designer" Tregs into the clinic, with exciting potential for application and efficacy in a wide variety of immune-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoliina Tuomela
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kevin Salim
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Nicola Candia AJ, Garcia Fallit M, Peña Agudelo JA, Pérez Küper M, Gonzalez N, Moreno Ayala MA, De Simone E, Giampaoli C, Casares N, Seilicovich A, Lasarte JJ, Zanetti FA, Candolfi M. Targeting FOXP3 Tumor-Intrinsic Effects Using Adenoviral Vectors in Experimental Breast Cancer. Viruses 2023; 15:1813. [PMID: 37766222 PMCID: PMC10537292 DOI: 10.3390/v15091813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulatory T cell master transcription factor, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), has been detected in cancer cells; however, its role in breast tumor pathogenesis remains controversial. Here we assessed Foxp3 tumor intrinsic effects in experimental breast cancer using a Foxp3 binder peptide (P60) that impairs Foxp3 nuclear translocation. Cisplatin upregulated Foxp3 expression in HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Foxp3 inhibition with P60 enhanced chemosensitivity and reduced cell survival and migration in human and murine breast tumor cells. We also developed an adenoviral vector encoding P60 (Ad.P60) that efficiently transduced breast tumor cells, reduced cell viability and migration, and improved the cytotoxic response to cisplatin. Conditioned medium from transduced breast tumor cells contained lower levels of IL-10 and improved the activation of splenic lymphocytes. Intratumoral administration of Ad.P60 in breast-tumor-bearing mice significantly reduced tumor infiltration of Tregs, delayed tumor growth, and inhibited the development of spontaneous lung metastases. Our results suggest that Foxp3 exerts protumoral intrinsic effects in breast cancer cells and that gene-therapy-mediated blockade of Foxp3 could constitute a therapeutic strategy to improve the response of these tumors to standard treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro J. Nicola Candia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Matías Garcia Fallit
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Jorge A. Peña Agudelo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Melanie Pérez Küper
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Nazareno Gonzalez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Mariela A. Moreno Ayala
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Emilio De Simone
- Cátedra de Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428BFA, Argentina
| | - Carla Giampaoli
- Cátedra de Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428BFA, Argentina
| | - Noelia Casares
- Program Immunology and Immunotherapy, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA, CUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (N.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IDISNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Adriana Seilicovich
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Program Immunology and Immunotherapy, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA, CUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (N.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IDISNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Flavia A. Zanetti
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología “Dr. Cesar Milstein”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Saladillo C1440FFX, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
| | - Marianela Candolfi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina; (A.J.N.C.); (A.S.)
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3
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Molecular and therapeutic insights of rapamycin: a multi-faceted drug from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:3815-3833. [PMID: 36696023 PMCID: PMC9875782 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08283-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The advancement in pharmaceutical research has led to the discovery and development of new combinatorial life-saving drugs. Rapamycin is a macrolide compound produced from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Rapamycin and its derivatives are one of the promising sources of drug with broad spectrum applications in the medical field. In recent times, rapamycin has gained significant attention as of its activity against cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Rapamycin and its derivatives have more potency when compared to other prevailing drugs. Initially, it has been used exclusively as an anti-fungal drug. Currently rapamycin has been widely used as an immunosuppressant. Rapamycin is a multifaceted drug; it has anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-aging potentials. Rapamycin has its specific action on mTOR signaling pathway. mTOR has been identified as a key regulator of different pathways. There will be an increased demand for rapamycin, because it has lesser adverse effects when compared to steroids. Currently researchers are focused on the production of effective rapamycin derivatives to combat the growing demand of this wonder drug. The main focus of the current review is to explore the origin, development, molecular mechanistic action, and the current therapeutic aspects of rapamycin. Also, this review article revealed the potential of rapamycin and the progress of rapamycin research. This helps in understanding the exact potency of the drug and could facilitate further studies that could fill in the existing knowledge gaps. The study also gathers significant data pertaining to the gene clusters and biosynthetic pathways involved in the synthesis and production of this multi-faceted drug. In addition, an insight into the mechanism of action of the drug and important derivatives of rapamycin has been expounded. The fillings of the current review, aids in understanding the underlying molecular mechanism, strain improvement, optimization and production of rapamycin derivatives.
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4
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Moreau JM, Velegraki M, Bolyard C, Rosenblum MD, Li Z. Transforming growth factor-β1 in regulatory T cell biology. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabi4613. [PMID: 35302863 PMCID: PMC10552796 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi4613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is inextricably linked to regulatory T cell (Treg) biology. However, precisely untangling the role for TGF-β1 in Treg differentiation and function is complicated by the pleiotropic and context-dependent activity of this cytokine and the multifaceted biology of Tregs. Among CD4+ T cells, Tregs are the major producers of latent TGF-β1 and are uniquely able to activate this cytokine via expression of cell surface docking receptor glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP) and αv integrins. Although a preponderance of evidence indicates no essential roles for Treg-derived TGF-β1 in Treg immunosuppression, TGF-β1 signaling is crucial for Treg development in the thymus and periphery. Furthermore, active TGF-β1 instructs the differentiation of other T cell subsets, including TH17 cells. Here, we will review TGF-β1 signaling in Treg development and function and discuss knowledge gaps, future research, and the TGF-β1/Treg axis in the context of cancer immunotherapy and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Moreau
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria Velegraki
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chelsea Bolyard
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael D. Rosenblum
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zihai Li
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
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5
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Cook L, Reid KT, Häkkinen E, de Bie B, Tanaka S, Smyth DJ, White MP, Wong MQ, Huang Q, Gillies JK, Ziegler SF, Maizels RM, Levings MK. Induction of stable human FOXP3 + Tregs by a parasite-derived TGF-β mimic. Immunol Cell Biol 2021; 99:833-847. [PMID: 33929751 PMCID: PMC8453874 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune homeostasis in the intestine is tightly controlled by FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), defects of which are linked to the development of chronic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As a mechanism of immune evasion, several species of intestinal parasites boost Treg activity. The parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus is known to secrete a molecule (Hp-TGM) that mimics the ability of TGF-β to induce FOXP3 expression in CD4+ T cells. The study aimed to investigate whether Hp-TGM could induce human FOXP3+ Tregs as a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases. CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers were expanded in the presence of Hp-TGM or TGF-β. Treg induction was measured by flow cytometric detection of FOXP3 and other Treg markers, such as CD25 and CTLA-4. Epigenetic changes were detected using ChIP-Seq and pyrosequencing of FOXP3. Treg phenotype stability was assessed following inflammatory cytokine challenge and Treg function was evaluated by cellular co-culture suppression assays and cytometric bead arrays for secreted cytokines. Hp-TGM efficiently induced FOXP3 expression (> 60%), in addition to CD25 and CTLA-4, and caused epigenetic modification of the FOXP3 locus to a greater extent than TGF-β. Hp-TGM-induced Tregs had superior suppressive function compared with TGF-β-induced Tregs, and retained their phenotype following exposure to inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Hp-TGM induced a Treg-like phenotype in in vivo differentiated Th1 and Th17 cells, indicating its potential to re-program memory cells to enhance immune tolerance. These data indicate Hp-TGM has potential to be used to generate stable human FOXP3+ Tregs to treat IBD and other inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cook
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kyle T Reid
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elmeri Häkkinen
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brett de Bie
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shigeru Tanaka
- Department of Translational Research, Benaroya Research Institute, Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Danielle J Smyth
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Madeleine Pj White
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - May Q Wong
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Qing Huang
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jana K Gillies
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Steven F Ziegler
- Department of Translational Research, Benaroya Research Institute, Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Megan K Levings
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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6
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Giang S, Horwitz DA, Bickerton S, La Cava A. Nanoparticles Engineered as Artificial Antigen-Presenting Cells Induce Human CD4 + and CD8 + Tregs That Are Functional in Humanized Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:628059. [PMID: 34122401 PMCID: PMC8189151 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.628059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) are synthetic versions of naturally occurring antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that, similar to natural APCs, promote efficient T effector cell responses in vitro. This report describes a method to produce acellular tolerogenic aAPCs made of biodegradable poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and encapsulating IL-2 and TGF-β for a paracrine release to T cells. We document that these aAPCs can induce both human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to become FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs). The aAPC NP-expanded human Tregs are functional in vitro and can modulate systemic autoimmunity in vivo in humanized NSG mice. These findings establish a proof-of-concept to use PLGA NPs as aAPCs for the induction of human Tregs in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the immunotherapeutic potential of this targeted approach to repair IL-2 and/or TGF-β defects documented in certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Graft vs Host Disease/genetics
- Graft vs Host Disease/immunology
- Graft vs Host Disease/metabolism
- Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control
- Humans
- Interleukin-2/chemistry
- Interleukin-2/pharmacology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/transplantation
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Nanoparticles
- Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer/chemistry
- Proof of Concept Study
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/chemistry
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Giang
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David A. Horwitz
- General Nanotherapeutics, Santa Monica, CA, United States
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sean Bickerton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Antonio La Cava
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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