1
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Thomas OG, Bronge M, Tengvall K, Akpinar B, Nilsson OB, Holmgren E, Hessa T, Gafvelin G, Khademi M, Alfredsson L, Martin R, Guerreiro-Cacais AO, Grönlund H, Olsson T, Kockum I. Cross-reactive EBNA1 immunity targets alpha-crystallin B and is associated with multiple sclerosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg3032. [PMID: 37196088 PMCID: PMC10191428 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, for which and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a likely prerequisite. Due to the homology between Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and alpha-crystallin B (CRYAB), we examined antibody reactivity to EBNA1 and CRYAB peptide libraries in 713 persons with MS (pwMS) and 722 matched controls (Con). Antibody response to CRYAB amino acids 7 to 16 was associated with MS (OR = 2.0), and combination of high EBNA1 responses with CRYAB positivity markedly increased disease risk (OR = 9.0). Blocking experiments revealed antibody cross-reactivity between the homologous EBNA1 and CRYAB epitopes. Evidence for T cell cross-reactivity was obtained in mice between EBNA1 and CRYAB, and increased CRYAB and EBNA1 CD4+ T cell responses were detected in natalizumab-treated pwMS. This study provides evidence for antibody cross-reactivity between EBNA1 and CRYAB and points to a similar cross-reactivity in T cells, further demonstrating the role of EBV adaptive immune responses in MS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia G. Thomas
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Bronge
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Tengvall
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Birce Akpinar
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ola B. Nilsson
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Holmgren
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tara Hessa
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guro Gafvelin
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohsen Khademi
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Alfredsson
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roland Martin
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - André Ortlieb Guerreiro-Cacais
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans Grönlund
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Olsson
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Kockum
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Bronge M, Högelin KA, Thomas OG, Ruhrmann S, Carvalho-Queiroz C, Nilsson OB, Kaiser A, Zeitelhofer M, Holmgren E, Linnerbauer M, Adzemovic MZ, Hellström C, Jelcic I, Liu H, Nilsson P, Hillert J, Brundin L, Fink K, Kockum I, Tengvall K, Martin R, Tegel H, Gräslund T, Al Nimer F, Guerreiro-Cacais AO, Khademi M, Gafvelin G, Olsson T, Grönlund H. Identification of four novel T cell autoantigens and personal autoreactive profiles in multiple sclerosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn1823. [PMID: 35476434 PMCID: PMC9045615 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which pathological T cells, likely autoimmune, play a key role. Despite its central importance, the autoantigen repertoire remains largely uncharacterized. Using a novel in vitro antigen delivery method combined with the Human Protein Atlas library, we screened for T cell autoreactivity against 63 CNS-expressed proteins. We identified four previously unreported autoantigens in MS: fatty acid-binding protein 7, prokineticin-2, reticulon-3, and synaptosomal-associated protein 91, which were verified to induce interferon-γ responses in MS in two cohorts. Autoreactive profiles were heterogeneous, and reactivity to several autoantigens was MS-selective. Autoreactive T cells were predominantly CD4+ and human leukocyte antigen-DR restricted. Mouse immunization induced antigen-specific responses and CNS leukocyte infiltration. This represents one of the largest systematic efforts to date in the search for MS autoantigens, demonstrates the heterogeneity of autoreactive profiles, and highlights promising targets for future diagnostic tools and immunomodulatory therapies in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Bronge
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara Asplund Högelin
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olivia G. Thomas
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sabrina Ruhrmann
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudia Carvalho-Queiroz
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ola B. Nilsson
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Kaiser
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manuel Zeitelhofer
- Division of Vascular Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Holmgren
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Linnerbauer
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Milena Z. Adzemovic
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Hellström
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH–Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Ivan Jelcic
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section (NIMS), Neurology Clinic, University of Zürich, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Protein Science, KTH–Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Nilsson
- Division of Affinity Proteomics, Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH–Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Hillert
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lou Brundin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katharina Fink
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Kockum
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Tengvall
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Roland Martin
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section (NIMS), Neurology Clinic, University of Zürich, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hanna Tegel
- Human Protein Atlas, Department of Protein Science, KTH–Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Gräslund
- Department of Protein Science, KTH–Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Faiez Al Nimer
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - André Ortlieb Guerreiro-Cacais
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohsen Khademi
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guro Gafvelin
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Olsson
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans Grönlund
- Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Kiessling A, Ramanathan K, Nilsson OB, Notari L, Renken S, Kiessling R, Grönlund H, Wickström SL. Generation of Tumor-Specific Cytotoxic T Cells From Blood via In Vitro Expansion Using Autologous Dendritic Cells Pulsed With Neoantigen-Coupled Microbeads. Front Oncol 2022; 12:866763. [PMID: 35433456 PMCID: PMC9009257 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.866763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For the past decade, adoptive cell therapy including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, genetically modified cytotoxic lymphocytes expressing a chimeric antigen receptor, or a novel T-cell receptor has revolutionized the treatment of many cancers. Progress within exome sequencing and neoantigen prediction technologies provides opportunities for further development of personalized immunotherapies. In this study, we present a novel strategy to deliver in silico predicted neoantigens to autologous dendritic cells (DCs) using paramagnetic beads (EpiTCer beads). DCs pulsed with EpiTCer beads are superior in enriching for healthy donor and patient blood-derived tumor-specific CD8+ T cells compared to DC loaded with whole-tumor lysate or 9mer neoantigen peptides. A dose-dependent effect was observed, with higher EpiTCer bead per DC being favorable. We concluded that CD8+ T cells enriched by DC loaded with EpiTCer beads are tumor specific with limited tumor cross-reactivity and low recognition of autologous non-activated monocytes or CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, tumor specificity and recognition were improved and preserved after additional expansion using our Good Manufacturing Process (GMP)-compatible rapid expansion protocol. Phenotypic analysis of patient-derived EpiTCer DC expanded CD8+ T cells revealed efficient maturation, with high frequencies of central memory and effector memory T cells, similar to those observed in autologous expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. These results indicate that DC pulsed with EpiTCer beads enrich for a T-cell population with high capacity of tumor recognition and elimination, which are features needed for a T-cell product to be used for personalized adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Kiessling
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ola B. Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- NEOGAP Therapeutics AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luigi Notari
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- NEOGAP Therapeutics AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefanie Renken
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rolf Kiessling
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Cancer, Patient Area Head and Neck, Lung and Skin, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans Grönlund
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- NEOGAP Therapeutics AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stina L. Wickström
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- NEOGAP Therapeutics AB, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Cancer, Patient Area Head and Neck, Lung and Skin, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Stina L. Wickström,
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4
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Docampo MJ, Lutterotti A, Sospedra M, Martin R. Mechanistic and Biomarker Studies to Demonstrate Immune Tolerance in Multiple Sclerosis. Front Immunol 2022; 12:787498. [PMID: 35069562 PMCID: PMC8766750 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.787498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of specific immunological tolerance represents an important therapeutic goal for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. Sound knowledge of the target antigens, the underlying pathomechanisms of the disease and the presumed mechanisms of action of the respective tolerance-inducing approach are essential for successful translation. Furthermore, suitable tools and assays to evaluate the induction of immune tolerance are key aspects for the development of such treatments. However, investigation of the mechanisms of action underlying tolerance induction poses several challenges. The optimization of sensitive, robust methods which allow the assessment of low frequency autoreactive T cells and the long-term reduction or change of their responses, the detection of regulatory cell populations and their immune mediators, as well as the validation of specific biomarkers indicating reduction of inflammation and damage, are needed to develop tolerance-inducing approaches successfully to patients. This short review focuses on how to demonstrate mechanistic proof-of-concept in antigen-specific tolerance-inducing therapies in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roland Martin
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research Section, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Lutterotti A, Hayward-Koennecke H, Sospedra M, Martin R. Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance in Multiple Sclerosis-Promising Approaches and How to Bring Them to Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:640935. [PMID: 33828551 PMCID: PMC8019937 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.640935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antigen-specific tolerance induction aims at treating multiple sclerosis (MS) at the root of its pathogenesis and has the prospect of personalization. Several promising tolerization approaches using different technologies and modes of action have already advanced to clinical testing. The prerequisites for successful tolerance induction include the knowledge of target antigens, core pathomechanisms, and how to pursue a clinical development path that is distinct from conventional drug development. Key aspects including patient selection, outcome measures, demonstrating the mechanisms of action as well as the positioning in the rapidly growing spectrum of MS treatments have to be considered to bring this therapy to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Lutterotti
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helen Hayward-Koennecke
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mireia Sospedra
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland Martin
- Neuroimmunology and MS Research Section, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Abstract
Enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot (Elispot) is a quantitative method for measuring relevant parameters of T-cell activation. The sensitivity of Elispot allows the detection of low-frequency antigen-specific T-cells that secrete cytokines and effector molecules, such as granzyme B and perforin. Cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) studies have taken advantage with this high-throughput technology by providing insights of quantity and immune kinetics. Accuracy, sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness of Elispot resulted in a wide range of applications in research as well as in diagnostic field. Actually, CTL monitoring by Elispot is a gold standard for the evaluation of antigen-specific T-cell immunity in clinical trials and vaccine candidates where the ability to detect rare antigen-specific T-cells is of relevance for immune diagnostic. The most utilized Elispot assay is the Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) test, a marker for CD8+ CTL activation, but Elispot can be also used to distinguish different subsets of activated T-cells by using other cytokines such as T-helper (Th) 1 type cells (characterized by the production of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-21 and TNF-α), Th2 (producing cytokines like IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13), and Th17 (IL-17) cells.The reliability of Elispot generated data, by the evaluation of T-cell frequency recognizing individual antigen/peptide, is the core of this method currently applied widely to investigate specific immune responses in cancer, infections, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. The Elispot Assay is competing with other methods measuring single-cell cytokine production, e.g., intracellular cytokine by FACS or Milteny cytokine secretion assay. Other types of lymphocyte frequency and function assays include limiting dilution assay (LDA), cytotoxic T-cell assay (CTL), and tetramer staining. Compared with respect to sensitivity the Elispot Assay is outranking other methods to define frequency of antigen-specific lymphocytes. The method described herein would like to offer helpful and clear protocols for researchers that apply Elispot. IFN-γ and Perforin Elispot assays will be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Ranieri
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Stefano Netti
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Margherita Gigante
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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