1
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Knezevic L, Wachsmann TLA, Francis O, Dockree T, Bridgeman JS, Wouters A, de Wet B, Cole DK, Clement M, McLaren JE, Gostick E, Ladell K, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, van den Berg HA, Tabi Z, Sessions RB, Heemskerk MHM, Wooldridge L. High-affinity CD8 variants enhance the sensitivity of pMHCI antigen recognition via low-affinity TCRs. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104981. [PMID: 37390984 PMCID: PMC10432799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cell-mediated recognition of peptide-major histocompatibility complex class I (pMHCI) molecules involves cooperative binding of the T cell receptor (TCR), which confers antigen specificity, and the CD8 coreceptor, which stabilizes the TCR/pMHCI complex. Earlier work has shown that the sensitivity of antigen recognition can be regulated in vitro by altering the strength of the pMHCI/CD8 interaction. Here, we characterized two CD8 variants with moderately enhanced affinities for pMHCI, aiming to boost antigen sensitivity without inducing non-specific activation. Expression of these CD8 variants in model systems preferentially enhanced pMHCI antigen recognition in the context of low-affinity TCRs. A similar effect was observed using primary CD4+ T cells transduced with cancer-targeting TCRs. The introduction of high-affinity CD8 variants also enhanced the functional sensitivity of primary CD8+ T cells expressing cancer-targeting TCRs, but comparable results were obtained using exogenous wild-type CD8. Specificity was retained in every case, with no evidence of reactivity in the absence of cognate antigen. Collectively, these findings highlight a generically applicable mechanism to enhance the sensitivity of low-affinity pMHCI antigen recognition, which could augment the therapeutic efficacy of clinically relevant TCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Knezevic
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Department of Haematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Tassilo L A Wachsmann
- Department of Haematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ore Francis
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tamsin Dockree
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Anne Wouters
- Department of Haematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK; Immunocore, Abingdon, UK
| | - Mathew Clement
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - James E McLaren
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Emma Gostick
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sian Llewellyn-Lacey
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Zsuzsanna Tabi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Haematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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Souter MN, Awad W, Li S, Pediongco TJ, Meehan BS, Meehan LJ, Tian Z, Zhao Z, Wang H, Nelson A, Le Nours J, Khandokar Y, Praveena T, Wubben J, Lin J, Sullivan LC, Lovrecz GO, Mak JY, Liu L, Kostenko L, Kedzierska K, Corbett AJ, Fairlie DP, Brooks AG, Gherardin NA, Uldrich AP, Chen Z, Rossjohn J, Godfrey DI, McCluskey J, Pellicci DG, Eckle SB. CD8 coreceptor engagement of MR1 enhances antigen responsiveness by human MAIT and other MR1-reactive T cells. J Exp Med 2022; 219:213423. [PMID: 36018322 PMCID: PMC9424912 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells detect microbial infection via recognition of riboflavin-based antigens presented by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-related protein 1 (MR1). Most MAIT cells in human peripheral blood express CD8αα or CD8αβ coreceptors, and the binding site for CD8 on MHC-I molecules is relatively conserved in MR1. Yet, there is no direct evidence of CD8 interacting with MR1 or the functional consequences thereof. Similarly, the role of CD8αα in lymphocyte function remains ill-defined. Here, using newly developed MR1 tetramers, mutated at the CD8 binding site, and by determining the crystal structure of MR1-CD8αα, we show that CD8 engaged MR1, analogous to how it engages MHC-I molecules. CD8αα and CD8αβ enhanced MR1 binding and cytokine production by MAIT cells. Moreover, the CD8-MR1 interaction was critical for the recognition of folate-derived antigens by other MR1-reactive T cells. Together, our findings suggest that both CD8αα and CD8αβ act as functional coreceptors for MAIT and other MR1-reactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael N.T. Souter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wael Awad
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shihan Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Troi J. Pediongco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bronwyn S. Meehan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lucy J. Meehan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zehua Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhe Zhao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Huimeng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Adam Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jérôme Le Nours
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yogesh Khandokar
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - T. Praveena
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jacinta Wubben
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lucy C. Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - George O. Lovrecz
- Biomedical Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Y.W. Mak
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ligong Liu
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lyudmila Kostenko
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Katherine Kedzierska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexandra J. Corbett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David P. Fairlie
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew G. Brooks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Adam P. Uldrich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhenjun Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia,Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Dale I. Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel G. Pellicci
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia,Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sidonia B.G. Eckle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
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3
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Coles CH, McMurran C, Lloyd A, Hock M, Hibbert L, Raman MCC, Hayes C, Lupardus P, Cole DK, Harper S. T cell receptor interactions with human leukocyte antigen govern indirect peptide selectivity for the cancer testis antigen MAGE-A4. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:11486-11494. [PMID: 32532817 PMCID: PMC7450119 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell-mediated immunity is governed primarily by T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) complexes and is essential for immunosurveillance and disease control. This interaction is generally stabilized by interactions between the HLA surface and TCR germline-encoded complementarity-determining region (CDR) loops 1 and 2, whereas peptide selectivity is guided by direct interactions with the TCR CDR3 loops. Here, we solved the structure of a newly identified TCR in complex with a clinically relevant peptide derived from the cancer testis antigen melanoma antigen-A4 (MAGE-A4). The TCR bound pHLA in a position shifted toward the peptide's N terminus. This enabled the TCR to achieve peptide selectivity via an indirect mechanism, whereby the TCR sensed the first residue of the peptide through HLA residue Trp-167, which acted as a tunable gateway. Amino acid substitutions at peptide position 1 predicted to alter the HLA Trp-167 side-chain conformation abrogated TCR binding, indicating that this indirect binding mechanism is essential for peptide recognition. These findings extend our understanding of the molecular rules that underpin antigen recognition by TCRs and have important implications for the development of TCR-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David K Cole
- Immunocore Ltd., Abingdon, United Kingdom .,Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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4
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Hopkins JR, Crean RM, Catici DAM, Sewell AK, Arcus VL, Van der Kamp MW, Cole DK, Pudney CR. Peptide cargo tunes a network of correlated motions in human leucocyte antigens. FEBS J 2020; 287:3777-3793. [PMID: 32134551 PMCID: PMC8651013 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Most biomolecular interactions are typically thought to increase the (local) rigidity of a complex, for example, in drug‐target binding. However, detailed analysis of specific biomolecular complexes can reveal a more subtle interplay between binding and rigidity. Here, we focussed on the human leucocyte antigen (HLA), which plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune system by presenting peptides for recognition by the αβ T‐cell receptor (TCR). The role that the peptide plays in tuning HLA flexibility during TCR recognition is potentially crucial in determining the functional outcome of an immune response, with obvious relevance to the growing list of immunotherapies that target the T‐cell compartment. We have applied high‐pressure/temperature perturbation experiments, combined with molecular dynamics simulations, to explore the drivers that affect molecular flexibility for a series of different peptide–HLA complexes. We find that different peptide sequences affect peptide–HLA flexibility in different ways, with the peptide cargo tuning a network of correlated motions throughout the pHLA complex, including in areas remote from the peptide‐binding interface, in a manner that could influence T‐cell antigen discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade R Hopkins
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Rory M Crean
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK.,Doctoral Training Centre in Sustainable Chemical Technologies, University of Bath, UK
| | | | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Vickery L Arcus
- School of Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | | | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Christopher R Pudney
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK.,Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, UK
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5
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Induction of influenza-specific local CD8 T-cells in the respiratory tract after aerosol delivery of vaccine antigen or virus in the Babraham inbred pig. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007017. [PMID: 29772011 PMCID: PMC5957346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that induction of local immune responses is a key component of effective vaccines. For respiratory pathogens, for example tuberculosis and influenza, aerosol delivery is being actively explored as a method to administer vaccine antigens. Current animal models used to study respiratory pathogens suffer from anatomical disparity with humans. The pig is a natural and important host of influenza viruses and is physiologically more comparable to humans than other animal models in terms of size, respiratory tract biology and volume. It may also be an important vector in the birds to human infection cycle. A major drawback of the current pig model is the inability to analyze antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, which are critical to respiratory immunity. Here we address this knowledge gap using an established in-bred pig model with a high degree of genetic identity between individuals, including the MHC (Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA)) locus. We developed a toolset that included long-term in vitro pig T-cell culture and cloning and identification of novel immunodominant influenza-derived T-cell epitopes. We also generated structures of the two SLA class I molecules found in these animals presenting the immunodominant epitopes. These structures allowed definition of the primary anchor points for epitopes in the SLA binding groove and established SLA binding motifs that were used to successfully predict other influenza-derived peptide sequences capable of stimulating T-cells. Peptide-SLA tetramers were constructed and used to track influenza-specific T-cells ex vivo in blood, the lungs and draining lymph nodes. Aerosol immunization with attenuated single cycle influenza viruses (S-FLU) induced large numbers of CD8+ T-cells specific for conserved NP peptides in the respiratory tract. Collectively, these data substantially increase the utility of pigs as an effective model for studying protective local cellular immunity against respiratory pathogens. Influenza virus infection in pigs represents a significant problem to industry and also carries substantial risks to human health. Pigs can be infected with both bird and human forms of influenza where these viruses can mix with swine influenza viruses to generate new pandemic strains that can spread quickly and kill many millions of people across the globe. To date, the study of immunology and vaccination against flu in pigs has been hampered by a lack of suitable tools and reagents. Here, we have built a complete molecular toolset that allows such study. These tools could also be applied to other important infections in pigs such as foot-and-mouth disease and the normally fatal African Swine Fever virus. Finally, pigs are set to become an important model organism for study of influenza A virus infection. Here, we make use of a new research toolset to study a Broadly Protective Influenza Vaccine (BPIV) candidate, S-FLU, which could offer protection against all influenza A viruses. These new tools have been used to demonstrate the induction of large numbers of antigen specific CD8+ T cells to conserved NP epitopes in the respiratory tract after aerosol immunization.
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6
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MacLachlan BJ, Greenshields-Watson A, Mason GH, Schauenburg AJ, Bianchi V, Rizkallah PJ, Sewell AK, Fuller A, Cole DK. Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens. J Vis Exp 2017:54991. [PMID: 28287509 PMCID: PMC5408581 DOI: 10.3791/54991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are known to play an important role in tumor control. In order to carry out this function, the cell surface-expressed T-cell receptor (TCR) must functionally recognize human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted tumor-derived peptides (pHLA). However, we and others have shown that most TCRs bind sub-optimally to tumor antigens. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms that define this poor recognition could aid in the development of new targeted therapies that circumnavigate these shortcomings. Indeed, present therapies that lack this molecular understanding have not been universally effective. Here, we describe methods that we commonly employ in the laboratory to determine how the nature of the interaction between TCRs and pHLA governs T-cell functionality. These methods include the generation of soluble TCRs and pHLA and the use of these reagents for X-ray crystallography, biophysical analysis, and antigen-specific T-cell staining with pHLA multimers. Using these approaches and guided by structural analysis, it is possible to modify the interaction between TCRs and pHLA and to then test how these modifications impact T-cell antigen recognition. These findings have already helped to clarify the mechanism of T-cell recognition of a number of cancer antigens and could direct the development of altered peptides and modified TCRs for new cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J MacLachlan
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | | | - Georgina H Mason
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Valentina Bianchi
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University; Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Ludwig Insitutue for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Anna Fuller
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University;
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7
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Cole DK, van den Berg HA, Lloyd A, Crowther MD, Beck K, Ekeruche-Makinde J, Miles JJ, Bulek AM, Dolton G, Schauenburg AJ, Wall A, Fuller A, Clement M, Laugel B, Rizkallah PJ, Wooldridge L, Sewell AK. Structural Mechanism Underpinning Cross-reactivity of a CD8+ T-cell Clone That Recognizes a Peptide Derived from Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase. J Biol Chem 2016; 292:802-813. [PMID: 27903649 PMCID: PMC5247654 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.741603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell cross-reactivity is essential for effective immune surveillance but has also been implicated as a pathway to autoimmunity. Previous studies have demonstrated that T-cell receptors (TCRs) that focus on a minimal motif within the peptide are able to facilitate a high level of T-cell cross-reactivity. However, the structural database shows that most TCRs exhibit less focused antigen binding involving contact with more peptide residues. To further explore the structural features that allow the clonally expressed TCR to functionally engage with multiple peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs), we examined the ILA1 CD8+ T-cell clone that responds to a peptide sequence derived from human telomerase reverse transcriptase. The ILA1 TCR contacted its pMHC with a broad peptide binding footprint encompassing spatially distant peptide residues. Despite the lack of focused TCR-peptide binding, the ILA1 T-cell clone was still cross-reactive. Overall, the TCR-peptide contacts apparent in the structure correlated well with the level of degeneracy at different peptide positions. Thus, the ILA1 TCR was less tolerant of changes at peptide residues that were at, or adjacent to, key contact sites. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control T-cell cross-reactivity with important implications for pathogen surveillance, autoimmunity, and transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Cole
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom,
| | - Hugo A van den Berg
- the Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Angharad Lloyd
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D Crowther
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Konrad Beck
- the Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Ekeruche-Makinde
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - John J Miles
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom.,the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia.,James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia, and
| | - Anna M Bulek
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Garry Dolton
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Wall
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Fuller
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Clement
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Laugel
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Wooldridge
- the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom,
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8
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Raman MCC, Rizkallah PJ, Simmons R, Donnellan Z, Dukes J, Bossi G, Le Provost GS, Todorov P, Baston E, Hickman E, Mahon T, Hassan N, Vuidepot A, Sami M, Cole DK, Jakobsen BK. Direct molecular mimicry enables off-target cardiovascular toxicity by an enhanced affinity TCR designed for cancer immunotherapy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:18851. [PMID: 26758806 PMCID: PMC4725365 DOI: 10.1038/srep18851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural T-cell responses generally lack the potency to eradicate cancer. Enhanced affinity T-cell receptors (TCRs) provide an ideal approach to target cancer cells, with emerging clinical data showing significant promise. Nevertheless, the risk of off target reactivity remains a key concern, as exemplified in a recent clinical report describing fatal cardiac toxicity, following administration of MAGE-A3 specific TCR-engineered T-cells, mediated through cross-reactivity with an unrelated epitope from the Titin protein presented on cardiac tissue. Here, we investigated the structural mechanism enabling TCR cross-recognition of MAGE-A3 and Titin, and applied the resulting data to rationally design mutants with improved antigen discrimination, providing a proof-of-concept strategy for altering the fine specificity of a TCR towards an intended target antigen. This study represents the first example of direct molecular mimicry leading to clinically relevant fatal toxicity, mediated by a modified enhanced affinity TCR designed for cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that self-antigens that are expressed at high levels on healthy tissue should be treated with extreme caution when designing immuno-therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine C C Raman
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Simmons
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Zoe Donnellan
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Dukes
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Bossi
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Gabrielle S Le Provost
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Penio Todorov
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Baston
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Hickman
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Tara Mahon
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Namir Hassan
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Annelise Vuidepot
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Malkit Sami
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Bent K Jakobsen
- Immunocore Limited, 101 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
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9
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Holland CJ, Dolton G, Scurr M, Ladell K, Schauenburg AJ, Miners K, Madura F, Sewell AK, Price DA, Cole DK, Godkin AJ. Enhanced Detection of Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells Using Altered Peptide Flanking Residue Peptide-MHC Class II Multimers. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:5827-36. [PMID: 26553072 PMCID: PMC4671089 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fluorochrome-conjugated peptide–MHC (pMHC) class I multimers are staple components of the immunologist’s toolbox, enabling reliable quantification and analysis of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells irrespective of functional outputs. In contrast, widespread use of the equivalent pMHC class II (pMHC-II) reagents has been hindered by intrinsically weaker TCR affinities for pMHC-II, a lack of cooperative binding between the TCR and CD4 coreceptor, and a low frequency of Ag-specific CD4+ T cell populations in the peripheral blood. In this study, we show that peptide flanking regions, extending beyond the central nonamer core of MHC-II–bound peptides, can enhance TCR–pMHC-II binding and T cell activation without loss of specificity. Consistent with these findings, pMHC-II multimers incorporating peptide flanking residue modifications proved superior for the ex vivo detection, characterization, and manipulation of Ag-specific CD4+ T cells, highlighting an unappreciated feature of TCR–pMHC-II interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Holland
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Garry Dolton
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Martin Scurr
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Kelly Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Florian Madura
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrew J Godkin
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and Department of Integrated Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, Wales, United Kingdom
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10
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Stepanek O, Prabhakar AS, Osswald C, King CG, Bulek A, Naeher D, Beaufils-Hugot M, Abanto ML, Galati V, Hausmann B, Lang R, Cole DK, Huseby ES, Sewell AK, Chakraborty AK, Palmer E. Coreceptor scanning by the T cell receptor provides a mechanism for T cell tolerance. Cell 2014; 159:333-45. [PMID: 25284152 PMCID: PMC4304671 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the thymus, high-affinity, self-reactive thymocytes are eliminated from the pool of developing T cells, generating central tolerance. Here, we investigate how developing T cells measure self-antigen affinity. We show that very few CD4 or CD8 coreceptor molecules are coupled with the signal-initiating kinase, Lck. To initiate signaling, an antigen-engaged T cell receptor (TCR) scans multiple coreceptor molecules to find one that is coupled to Lck; this is the first and rate-limiting step in a kinetic proofreading chain of events that eventually leads to TCR triggering and negative selection. MHCII-restricted TCRs require a shorter antigen dwell time (0.2 s) to initiate negative selection compared to MHCI-restricted TCRs (0.9 s) because more CD4 coreceptors are Lck-loaded compared to CD8. We generated a model (Lck come&stay/signal duration) that accurately predicts the observed differences in antigen dwell-time thresholds used by MHCI- and MHCII-restricted thymocytes to initiate negative selection and generate self-tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Stepanek
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Arvind S Prabhakar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Celine Osswald
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carolyn G King
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Bulek
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Dieter Naeher
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marina Beaufils-Hugot
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael L Abanto
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Galati
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Hausmann
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosemarie Lang
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David K Cole
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Eric S Huseby
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Arup K Chakraborty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ed Palmer
- Departments of Biomedicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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11
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Hwang I, Park S. Computational design of protein therapeutics. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2014; 5:e43-8. [PMID: 24981090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2008.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Computation is increasingly used to guide protein therapeutic designs. Some of the potential applications for computational, structure-based protein design include antibody affinity maturation, modulation of protein-protein interaction, stability improvement and minimization of protein aggregation. The versatility of a computational approach is that different biophysical properties can be analyzed on a common framework. Developing a coherent strategy to address various protein engineering objectives will promote synergy and exploration. Advances in computational structural analysis will thus have a transformative impact on how protein therapeutics are engineered in the future.:
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Affiliation(s)
- Inseong Hwang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Sheldon Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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12
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Motozono C, Kuse N, Sun X, Rizkallah PJ, Fuller A, Oka S, Cole DK, Sewell AK, Takiguchi M. Molecular basis of a dominant T cell response to an HIV reverse transcriptase 8-mer epitope presented by the protective allele HLA-B*51:01. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:3428-34. [PMID: 24600035 PMCID: PMC3962895 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ CTL responses directed toward the HLA-B*51:01–restricted HIV-RT128–135 epitope TAFTIPSI (TI8) are associated with long-term nonprogression to AIDS. Clonotypic analysis of responses to B51-TI8 revealed a public clonotype using TRAV17/TRBV7-3 TCR genes in six out of seven HLA-B*51:01+ patients. Structural analysis of a TRAV17/TRBV7-3 TCR in complex with HLA–B51-TI8, to our knowledge the first human TCR complexed with an 8-mer peptide, explained this bias, as the unique combination of residues encoded by these genes was central to the interaction. The relatively featureless peptide-MHC (pMHC) was mainly recognized by the TCR CDR1 and CDR2 loops in an MHC-centric manner. A highly conserved residue Arg97 in the CDR3α loop played a major role in recognition of peptide and MHC to form a stabilizing ball-and-socket interaction with the MHC and peptide, contributing to the selection of the public TCR clonotype. Surface plasmon resonance equilibrium binding analysis showed the low affinity of this public TCR is in accordance with the only other 8-mer interaction studied to date (murine 2C TCR–H-2Kb-dEV8). Like pMHC class II complexes, 8-mer peptides do not protrude out the MHC class I binding groove like those of longer peptides. The accumulated evidence suggests that weak affinity might be a common characteristic of TCR binding to featureless pMHC landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Motozono
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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13
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van den Berg HA, Ladell K, Miners K, Laugel B, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Clement M, Cole DK, Gostick E, Wooldridge L, Sewell AK, Bridgeman JS, Price DA. Cellular-level versus receptor-level response threshold hierarchies in T-cell activation. Front Immunol 2013; 4:250. [PMID: 24046768 PMCID: PMC3763380 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide-MHC (pMHC) ligand engagement by T-cell receptors (TCRs) elicits a variety of cellular responses, some of which require substantially more TCR-mediated stimulation than others. This threshold hierarchy could reside at the receptor level, where different response pathways branch off at different stages of the TCR/CD3 triggering cascade, or at the cellular level, where the cumulative TCR signal registered by the T-cell is compared to different threshold values. Alternatively, dual-level thresholds could exist. In this study, we show that the cellular hypothesis provides the most parsimonious explanation consistent with data obtained from an in-depth analysis of distinct functional responses elicited in a clonal T-cell system by a spectrum of biophysically defined altered peptide ligands across a range of concentrations. Further, we derive a mathematical model that describes how ligand density, affinity, and off-rate all affect signaling in distinct ways. However, under the kinetic regime prevailing in the experiments reported here, the TCR/pMHC class I (pMHCI) dissociation rate was found to be the main governing factor. The CD8 coreceptor modulated the TCR/pMHCI interaction and altered peptide ligand potency. Collectively, these findings elucidate the relationship between TCR/pMHCI kinetics and cellular function, thereby providing an integrated mechanistic understanding of T-cell response profiles.
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14
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Madura F, Rizkallah PJ, Miles KM, Holland CJ, Bulek AM, Fuller A, Schauenburg AJA, Miles JJ, Liddy N, Sami M, Li Y, Hossain M, Baker BM, Jakobsen BK, Sewell AK, Cole DK. T-cell receptor specificity maintained by altered thermodynamics. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:18766-75. [PMID: 23698002 PMCID: PMC3696650 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.464560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes peptides bound to major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and allows T-cells to interrogate the cellular proteome for internal anomalies from the cell surface. The TCR contacts both MHC and peptide in an interaction characterized by weak affinity (KD = 100 nM to 270 μM). We used phage-display to produce a melanoma-specific TCR (α24β17) with a 30,000-fold enhanced binding affinity (KD = 0.6 nM) to aid our exploration of the molecular mechanisms utilized to maintain peptide specificity. Remarkably, although the enhanced affinity was mediated primarily through new TCR-MHC contacts, α24β17 remained acutely sensitive to modifications at every position along the peptide backbone, mimicking the specificity of the wild type TCR. Thermodynamic analyses revealed an important role for solvation in directing peptide specificity. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that can govern the exquisite peptide specificity characteristic of TCR recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Madura
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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15
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Cole DK, Laugel B, Clement M, Price DA, Wooldridge L, Sewell AK. The molecular determinants of CD8 co-receptor function. Immunology 2012; 137:139-48. [PMID: 22804746 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03625.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8(+) T cells respond to signals mediated through a specific interaction between the T-cell receptor (TCR) and a composite antigen in the form of an epitopic peptide bound between the polymorphic α1 and α2 helices of an MHC class I (MHCI) molecule. The CD8 glycoprotein 'co-receives' antigen by binding to an invariant region of the MHCI molecule and can enhance ligand recognition by up to 1 million-fold. In recent years, a number of structural and biophysical investigations have shed light on the role of the CD8 co-receptor during T-cell antigen recognition. Here, we provide a collated resource for these data, and discuss how the structural and biophysical parameters governing CD8 co-receptor function further our understanding of T-cell cross-reactivity and the productive engagement of low-affinity antigenic ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Cole
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
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16
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Zhang J, Chen Y, Qi J, Gao F, Liu Y, Liu J, Zhou X, Kaufman J, Xia C, Gao GF. Narrow groove and restricted anchors of MHC class I molecule BF2*0401 plus peptide transporter restriction can explain disease susceptibility of B4 chickens. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:4478-87. [PMID: 23041567 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The MHC has genetic associations with many diseases, often due to differences in presentation of antigenic peptides by polymorphic MHC molecules to T lymphocytes of the immune system. In chickens, only a single classical class I molecule in each MHC haplotype is expressed well due to coevolution with the polymorphic TAPs which means that resistance and susceptibility to infectious pathogens are particularly easy to observe. Previously, structures of chicken MHC class I molecule BF2*2101 from B21 haplotype showed an unusually large peptide-binding groove that accommodates a broad spectrum of peptides to present as epitopes to CTLs, explaining the MHC-determined resistance of B21 chickens to Marek's disease. In this study, we report the crystal structure of BF2*0401 from the B4 (also known as B13) haplotype, showing a highly positively charged surface hitherto unobserved in other MHC molecules, as well as a remarkably narrow groove due to the allele-specific residues with bulky side chains. Together, these properties limit the number of epitope peptides that can bind this class I molecule. However, peptide-binding assays show that in vitro, BF2*0401 can bind a wider variety of peptides than are found on the surface of B4 cells. Thus, a combination of the specificities of the polymorphic TAP and the MHC results in a very limited set of BF2*0401 peptides with negatively charged anchors to be presented to T lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
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17
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Ekeruche-Makinde J, Clement M, Cole DK, Edwards ESJ, Ladell K, Miles JJ, Matthews KK, Fuller A, Lloyd KA, Madura F, Dolton GM, Pentier J, Lissina A, Gostick E, Baxter TK, Baker BM, Rizkallah PJ, Price DA, Wooldridge L, Sewell AK. T-cell receptor-optimized peptide skewing of the T-cell repertoire can enhance antigen targeting. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:37269-81. [PMID: 22952231 PMCID: PMC3481325 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.386409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered peptide antigens that enhance T-cell immunogenicity have been used to improve peptide-based vaccination for a range of diseases. Although this strategy can prime T-cell responses of greater magnitude, the efficacy of constituent T-cell clonotypes within the primed population can be poor. To overcome this limitation, we isolated a CD8+ T-cell clone (MEL5) with an enhanced ability to recognize the HLA A*0201-Melan A27–35 (HLA A*0201-AAGIGILTV) antigen expressed on the surface of malignant melanoma cells. We used combinatorial peptide library screening to design an optimal peptide sequence that enhanced functional activation of the MEL5 clone, but not other CD8+ T-cell clones that recognized HLA A*0201-AAGIGILTV poorly. Structural analysis revealed the potential for new contacts between the MEL5 T-cell receptor and the optimized peptide. Furthermore, the optimized peptide was able to prime CD8+ T-cell populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolates from multiple HLA A*0201+ individuals that were capable of efficient HLA A*0201+ melanoma cell destruction. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that it is possible to design altered peptide antigens for the selection of superior T-cell clonotypes with enhanced antigen recognition properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ekeruche-Makinde
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
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18
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Minimal conformational plasticity enables TCR cross-reactivity to different MHC class II heterodimers. Sci Rep 2012; 2:629. [PMID: 22953050 PMCID: PMC3432979 DOI: 10.1038/srep00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful immunity requires that a limited pool of αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs) provide cover for a vast number of potential foreign peptide antigens presented by ‘self’ major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecules. Structures of unligated and ligated MHC class-I-restricted TCRs with different ligands, supplemented with biophysical analyses, have revealed a number of important mechanisms that govern TCR mediated antigen recognition. HA1.7 TCR binding to the influenza hemagglutinin antigen (HA306–318) presented by HLA-DR1 or HLA-DR4 represents an ideal system for interrogating pMHC-II antigen recognition. Accordingly, we solved the structure of the unligated HA1.7 TCR and compared it to both complex structures. Despite a relatively rigid binding mode, HA1.7 T-cells could tolerate mutations in key contact residues within the peptide epitope. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that limited plasticity and extreme favorable entropy underpinned the ability of the HA1.7 T-cell clone to cross-react with HA306–318 presented by multiple MHC-II alleles.
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19
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Laugel B, Cole DK, Clement M, Wooldridge L, Price DA, Sewell AK. The multiple roles of the CD8 coreceptor in T cell biology: opportunities for the selective modulation of self-reactive cytotoxic T cells. J Leukoc Biol 2011; 90:1089-99. [PMID: 21954283 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0611316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Short peptide fragments generated by intracellular protein cleavage are presented on the surface of most nucleated cells bound to highly polymorphic MHCI molecules. These pMHCI complexes constitute an interface that allows the immune system to identify and eradicate anomalous cells, such as those that harbor infectious agents, through the activation of CTLs. Molecular recognition of pMHCI complexes is mediated primarily by clonally distributed TCRs expressed on the surface of CTLs. The coreceptor CD8 contributes to this antigen-recognition process by binding to a largely invariant region of the MHCI molecule and by promoting intracellular signaling, the effects of which serve to enhance TCR stimuli triggered by cognate ligands. Recent investigations have shed light on the role of CD8 in the activation of MHCI-restricted, antigen-experienced T cells and in the processes of T cell selection and lineage commitment in the thymus. Here, we review these data and discuss their implications for the development of potential therapeutic strategies that selectively target pathogenic CTL responses erroneously directed against self-derived antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Laugel
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN Wales, UK.
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20
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Shi Y, Qi J, Iwamoto A, Gao GF. Plasticity of human CD8αα binding to peptide-HLA-A*2402. Mol Immunol 2011; 48:2198-202. [PMID: 21645925 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2011.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Revised: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The human CD8 functions as a co-receptor for specific T cell recognition, and only one complex structure of human CD8αα binding to HLA-A*0201 has been solved, revealing the molecular basis of CD8 interacting with its ligand pHLA. Here, we present the complex structures of human CD8αα bound to HLA-A*2402, which demonstrate two opposite α3 domain CD loop shifts (either pull or push) in the HLA heavy chain upon CD8 engagement. Taking the previously reported mouse CD8-pMHC complex structures into account, from the structural view, all of the data indicate the plasticity of CD8 binding to pMHC/HLA, which facilitates its co-receptor function for T cells. The plasticity of CD8 binding appears not to affect the specificity of TCR recognition, as no peptide conformation change extends to the pMHC interface for TCR contacting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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21
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Miles KM, Miles JJ, Madura F, Sewell AK, Cole DK. Real time detection of peptide-MHC dissociation reveals that improvement of primary MHC-binding residues can have a minimal, or no, effect on stability. Mol Immunol 2010; 48:728-32. [PMID: 21130497 PMCID: PMC3032881 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2010.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Revised: 11/01/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The majority of known major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI)-associated tumor-derived peptide antigens do not contain an optimal motif for MHCI binding. As a result, anchor residue-modified ‘heteroclitic’ peptides have been widely used in therapeutic cancer vaccination trials in order to enhance immune responsiveness. In general, the improved stability of these heteroclitic complexes has been inferred from their improved immunogenicity but has not been formally assessed. Here, we investigated the binding of 4 HLA A*0201-restricted tumor-derived peptides and their commonly used heteroclitic variants. We utilized a cell surface binding assay and a novel robust method for testing the durability of soluble recombinant pMHCI in real time by surface plasmon resonance. Surprisingly, we show that heteroclitic peptides designed with optimal MHC binding motifs do not always form pMHCs that are substantially more stable than their wildtype progenitors. These findings, combined with our recent discovery that TCRs can distinguish between wildtype peptides and those altered at a primary buried MHC anchor residue, suggest that altered TCR binding may account for a large part of the increased immune response that can be generated by anchor residue-modified ligands. Our results further highlight the fact that heteroclitic peptide-based immune interventions require careful evaluation to ensure that wildtype antigen specificity is maintained in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M. Miles
- Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - John J. Miles
- Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Florian Madura
- Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - David K. Cole
- Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
- Corresponding author at: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. Tel.: +442920687006; fax: +4402920687007.
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22
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Haidar JN, Pierce B, Yu Y, Tong W, Li M, Weng Z. Structure-based design of a T-cell receptor leads to nearly 100-fold improvement in binding affinity for pepMHC. Proteins 2009; 74:948-60. [PMID: 18767161 DOI: 10.1002/prot.22203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
T-cell receptors (TCRs) are proteins that recognize peptides from foreign proteins bound to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell. This interaction enables the T cells to initiate a cell-mediated immune response to terminate cells displaying the foreign peptide on their MHC. Naturally occurring TCRs have high specificity but low affinity toward the peptide-MHC (pepMHC) complex. This prevents the usage of solubilized TCRs for diagnosis and treatment of viral infections or cancers. Efforts to enhance the binding affinity of several TCRs have been reported in recent years, through randomized libraries and in vitro selection. However, there have been no reported efforts to enhance the affinity via structure-based design, which allows more control and understanding of the mechanism of improvement. Here, we have applied structure-based design to a human TCR to improve its pepMHC binding. Our design method evolved based on iterative steps of prediction, testing, and generating more predictions based on the new data. The final design function, named ZAFFI, has a correlation of 0.77 and average error of 0.35 kcal/mol with the binding free energies of 26 point mutations for this system that we measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Applying the filter that we developed to remove nonbinding predictions, this correlation increases to 0.85, and the average error decreases to 0.3 kcal/mol. Using this algorithm, we predicted and tested several point mutations that improved binding, with one giving over sixfold binding improvement. Four of the point mutations that improved binding were then combined to give a mutant TCR that binds the pepMHC 99 times more strongly than the wild-type TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaafar N Haidar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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23
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Rich RL, Myszka DG. Survey of the year 2007 commercial optical biosensor literature. J Mol Recognit 2008; 21:355-400. [DOI: 10.1002/jmr.928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Cole DK, Dunn SM, Sami M, Boulter JM, Jakobsen BK, Sewell AK. T cell receptor engagement of peptide-major histocompatibility complex class I does not modify CD8 binding. Mol Immunol 2008; 45:2700-9. [PMID: 18243322 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2007.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Accepted: 12/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Activation of cytotoxic T cells is initiated by engagement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) with peptide-major histocompatibility class I complexes (pMHCI). The CD8 co-receptor also binds to pMHCI, but at a distinct site, and allows the potential for tripartite TCR/pMHCI/CD8 interactions, which can increase T cell antigen sensitivity. There has been a substantial interest in the effect of the pMHCI/CD8 interaction upon TCR/pMHCI engagement, and several conflicting studies have examined this event, using the soluble extracellular domains of CD8 and the TCR, by surface plasmon resonance. However, the evidence to date suggests that the TCR engages cognate pMHCI before CD8 recruitment, so the question of whether TCR engagement alters CD8 binding is likely to be more relevant to the biological order of T cell antigen encounter. Here, we have examined the binding of CD8 to several variants of the HLA A2-restricted telomerase(540-548) antigen (ILAKFLHWL) and the HLA A2-restricted NY-ESO-1(157-165) antigen (SLLMWITQC) that bind to their cognate TCRs with distinct affinities and kinetics. These interactions represent a range of agonists that exhibit different CD8 dependency for activation of their respective T cells. By using engineered affinity enhanced TCRs to these ligands, which have extended off-rates of approximately 1h compared to seconds for the wildtype TCRs, we have examined pMHCI/CD8 binding before and during TCR-engagement. Here we show that the binding of the extracellular domain of the TCR to pMHCI does not transmit structural changes to the pMHCI-CD8 binding site that would alter the subsequent pMHCI/CD8 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Cole
- Department of Medical Biochemistry & Immunology, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
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Chen Y, Chu F, Gao F, Zhou B, Gao GF. Stability engineering, biophysical, and biological characterization of the myeloid activating receptor immunoglobulin-like transcript 1 (ILT1/LIR-7/LILRA2). Protein Expr Purif 2007; 56:253-60. [PMID: 17920929 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2007.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2007] [Revised: 07/27/2007] [Accepted: 08/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin-like transcript 1 (ILT1/LIR-7/LILRA2/CD85h) is one of the activating receptors in the ILT family whose members have been reported to regulate a broad range of cells involved in the immune response. Although inhibitory ILT receptors have been extensively studied, however, functions and structures of ILT activating receptors have yet to be elucidated. Obtaining of sufficient amount of recombinant proteins is a requisite for the functional and structural studies of a given protein. As a technical bottleneck of the study, extracellular domains of the ILT1 form aggregation during recombinant production in the past efforts. Here, we report the large-scale stable production of ILT1 D1D2 domains through engineering of site-directed mutagenesis (R142C) that introduces a cysteine at amino acid position 142 to form a disulfide bond with the spare cys132 without topological influences of the native protein based on the known structures of the homologous ILT 2/4/11. The recombinant ILT1 D1D2 domains behave as an equilibrium of both stable dimer and monomer in solution and yield ideal crystals for structural determination. The availability of quantities of soluble ILT1 D1D2 domains provides useful reagent for further studies of its detailed structure and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chen
- China-Japan Joint Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Center for Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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