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Panikkar A, Lineburg KE, Raju J, Chew KY, Ambalathingal GR, Rehan S, Swaminathan S, Crooks P, Le Texier L, Beagley L, Best S, Solomon M, Matthews KK, Srihari S, Neller MA, Short KR, Khanna R, Smith C. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells generated for adoptive immunotherapy are capable of recognizing multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010339. [PMID: 35157735 PMCID: PMC8880869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy has provided promising results in the treatment of viral complications in humans, particularly in the context of immunocompromised patients who have exhausted all other clinical options. The capacity to expand T cells from healthy immune individuals is providing a new approach to anti-viral immunotherapy, offering rapid off-the-shelf treatment with tailor-made human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched T cells. While most of this research has focused on the treatment of latent viral infections, emerging evidence that SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells play an important role in protection against COVID-19 suggests that the transfer of HLA-matched allogeneic off-the-shelf virus-specific T cells could provide a treatment option for patients with active COVID-19 or at risk of developing COVID-19. We initially screened 60 convalescent individuals and based on HLA typing and T-cell response profile, 12 individuals were selected for the development of a SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell bank. We demonstrate that these T cells are specific for up to four SARS-CoV-2 antigens presented by a broad range of both HLA class I and class II alleles. These T cells show consistent functional and phenotypic properties, display cytotoxic potential against HLA-matched targets and can recognize HLA-matched cells infected with different SARS-CoV-2 variants. These observations demonstrate a robust approach for the production of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells and provide the impetus for the development of a T-cell repository for clinical assessment. Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants that reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, it is evident that other interventional strategies will be needed to treat COVID-19, particularly in patients with a compromised immune system who are at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapy is proving to be a powerful tool to treat viral disease in patients with a compromised immune system. Here, we report here that a small number of SARS-CoV-2 exposed individuals can be used generate a bank of specific T cells that provide broad population coverage. Importantly, we demonstrate that most of the epitopes recognized by these T cells remain unchanged in different variants and that the T cells can recognize cells infected with three different variants of SARS-CoV-2. We believe these observations provide critical proof-of-concept that T-cell based immunotherapy may offer an option for the future treatment of immunocompromised patients who remain susceptible to the severe complications associated with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Panikkar
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katie E. Lineburg
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jyothy Raju
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Keng Yih Chew
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Queensland, Australia
| | - George R. Ambalathingal
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sweera Rehan
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Srividhya Swaminathan
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pauline Crooks
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laetitia Le Texier
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leone Beagley
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shannon Best
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matthew Solomon
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katherine K. Matthews
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sriganesh Srihari
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michelle A. Neller
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kirsty R. Short
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Queensland, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Queensland, Australia
| | - Rajiv Khanna
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Corey Smith
- QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Vitiello GAF, Ferreira WAS, Cordeiro de Lima VC, Medina TDS. Antiviral Responses in Cancer: Boosting Antitumor Immunity Through Activation of Interferon Pathway in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:782852. [PMID: 34925363 PMCID: PMC8674309 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.782852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, it became apparent that cancers either associated with viral infections or aberrantly expressing endogenous retroviral elements (EREs) are more immunogenic, exhibiting an intense intra-tumor immune cell infiltration characterized by a robust cytolytic apparatus. On the other hand, epigenetic regulation of EREs is crucial to maintain steady-state conditions and cell homeostasis. In line with this, epigenetic disruptions within steady-state cells can lead to cancer development and trigger the release of EREs into the cytoplasmic compartment. As such, detection of viral molecules by intracellular innate immune sensors leads to the production of type I and type III interferons that act to induce an antiviral state, thus restraining viral replication. This knowledge has recently gained momentum due to the possibility of triggering intratumoral activation of interferon responses, which could be used as an adjuvant to elicit strong anti-tumor immune responses that ultimately lead to a cascade of cytokine production. Accordingly, several therapeutic approaches are currently being tested using this rationale to improve responses to cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the immune mechanisms operating in viral infections, show evidence that exogenous viruses and endogenous retroviruses in cancer may enhance tumor immunogenicity, dissect the epigenetic control of EREs, and point to interferon pathway activation in the tumor milieu as a promising molecular predictive marker and immunotherapy target. Finally, we briefly discuss current strategies to modulate these responses within tumor tissues, including the clinical use of innate immune receptor agonists and DNA demethylating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wallax Augusto Silva Ferreira
- Translational Immuno-Oncology Group, International Research Center, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Cytogenomics and Environmental Mutagenesis, Environment Section (SAMAM), Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | | | - Tiago da Silva Medina
- Translational Immuno-Oncology Group, International Research Center, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Oncogenomics and Therapeutic Innovation, São Paulo, Brazil
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Saini G, Aneja R. Cancer as a prospective sequela of long COVID-19. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2000331. [PMID: 33914346 PMCID: PMC8206711 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) continues to surge worldwide, our knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is rapidly expanding. Although most COVID‐19 patients recover within weeks of symptom onset, some experience lingering symptoms that last for months (“long COVID‐19”). Early reports of COVID‐19 sequelae, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological conditions, have raised concerns about the long‐term effects of COVID‐19, especially in hard‐hit communities. It is becoming increasingly evident that cancer patients are more susceptible to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and are at a higher risk of severe COVID‐19 than the general population. Nevertheless, whether long COVID‐19 increases the risk of cancer in those with no prior malignancies, remains unclear. Given, the disproportionate impact of the disease on the African American community, yet another unanswered question is whether racial disparities are to be expected in COVID‐19 sequelae. Herein, we propose that long COVID‐19 may predispose recovered patients to cancer development and accelerate cancer progression. This hypothesis is based on growing evidence of the ability of SARS‐CoV‐2 to modulate oncogenic pathways, promote chronic low‐grade inflammation, and cause tissue damage. Comprehensive studies are urgently required to elucidate the effects of long COVID‐19 on cancer susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Saini
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts and SciencesGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Ritu Aneja
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts and SciencesGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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Abstract
Purpose of Review Virus-associated malignancies are a global health burden, constituting 10-12% of cancers worldwide. As these tumors express foreign viral antigens that can elicit specific T cell responses, virus-directed immunotherapies are a promising treatment strategy. Specifically, adoptive cell transfer of virus-specific T cells (VSTs) has demonstrated the potential to eradicate cancers associated with certain viruses. Recent Findings Initial studies in 1990s first showed that VSTs specific for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBVSTs) can induce complete remissions in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Since then, studies have validated the specificity and safety of VSTs in multiple lymphomas and solid malignancies. However, challenges remain to optimize this platform for widespread use, including enhancing potency and persistence, overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and streamlining manufacturing processes that comply with regulatory requirements. Summary This review focuses on data from clinical trials evaluating VSTs directed against three viruses (EBV, HPV and MCPyV), as well as recent preclinical and clinical advances, and potential future directions.
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