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Navarro F, Casares N, Martín-Otal C, Lasarte-Cía A, Gorraiz M, Sarrión P, Llopiz D, Reparaz D, Varo N, Rodriguez-Madoz JR, Prosper F, Hervás-Stubbs S, Lozano T, Lasarte JJ. Overcoming T cell dysfunction in acidic pH to enhance adoptive T cell transfer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2070337. [PMID: 35529677 PMCID: PMC9067511 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2070337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The high metabolic activity and insufficient perfusion of tumors leads to the acidification of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that may inhibit the antitumor T cell activity. We found that pharmacological inhibition of the acid loader chloride/bicarbonate anion exchanger 2 (Ae2), with 4,4’-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2’-disulfonicacid (DIDS) enhancedCD4+ andCD8+ T cell function upon TCR activation in vitro, especially under low pH conditions. In vivo, DIDS administration delayed B16OVA tumor growth in immunocompetent mice as monotherapy or when combined with adoptive T cell transfer of OVA-specificT cells. Notably, genetic Ae2 silencing in OVA-specificT cells improvedCD4+/CD8+ T cell function in vitro as well as their antitumor activity in vivo. Similarly, genetic modification of OVA-specificT cells to overexpress Hvcn1, a selectiveH+ outward current mediator that prevents cell acidification, significantly improved T cell function in vitro, even at low pH conditions. The adoptive transfer of OVA-specificT cells overexpressing Hvcn1 exerted a better antitumor activity in B16OVA tumor-bearingmice. Hvcn1 overexpression also improved the antitumor activity of CAR T cells specific for Glypican 3 (GPC3) in mice bearing PM299L-GPC3tumors. Our results suggest that preventing intracellular acidification by regulating the expression of acidifier ion channels such as Ae2 or alkalinizer channels like Hvcn1 in tumor-specificlymphocytes enhances their antitumor response by making them more resistant to the acidic TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flor Navarro
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Noelia Casares
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Martín-Otal
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aritz Lasarte-Cía
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Gorraiz
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Patricia Sarrión
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Diana Llopiz
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - David Reparaz
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Varo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, CIBERONC, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan Roberto Rodriguez-Madoz
- Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, IdiSNAHemato-Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, IdiSNAHemato-Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, CIBERONC, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sandra Hervás-Stubbs
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Teresa Lozano
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
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