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Wang Q, Yang Y, Chen Z, Li B, Niu Y, Li X. Lymph Node-on-Chip Technology: Cutting-Edge Advances in Immune Microenvironment Simulation. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:666. [PMID: 38794327 PMCID: PMC11124897 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip technology is attracting growing interest across various domains as a crucial platform for drug screening and testing and is set to play a significant role in precision medicine research. Lymph nodes, being intricately structured organs essential for the body's adaptive immune responses to antigens and foreign particles, are pivotal in assessing the immunotoxicity of novel pharmaceuticals. Significant progress has been made in research on the structure and function of the lymphatic system. However, there is still an urgent need to develop prospective tools and techniques to delve deeper into its role in various diseases' pathological and physiological processes and to develop corresponding immunotherapeutic therapies. Organ chips can accurately reproduce the specific functional areas in lymph nodes to better simulate the complex microstructure of lymph nodes and the interactions between different immune cells, which is convenient for studying specific biological processes. This paper reviews existing lymph node chips and their design approaches. It discusses the applications of the above systems in modeling immune cell motility, cell-cell interactions, vaccine responses, drug testing, and cancer research. Finally, we summarize the challenges that current research faces in terms of structure, cell source, and extracellular matrix simulation of lymph nodes, and we provide an outlook on the future direction of integrated immune system chips.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiaoqiong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Q.W.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (B.L.); (Y.N.)
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2
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Cohen JR, Brych SR, Prabhu S, Bi V, Elbaradei A, Tokuda JM, Xiang C, Hokom M, Cui X, Ly C, Amos N, Sun J, Calamba D, Herskovitz J, Capili A, Nourbakhsh K, Merlo A, Carreon J, Wypych J, Narhi LO, Jawa V, Joubert MK. A High Threshold of Biotherapeutic Aggregate Numbers is Needed to Induce an Immunogenic Response In Vitro, In Vivo, and in the Clinic. Pharm Res 2024; 41:651-672. [PMID: 38519817 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-024-03678-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is concern that subvisible aggregates in biotherapeutic drug products pose a risk to patient safety. We investigated the threshold of biotherapeutic aggregates needed to induce immunogenic responses. METHODS AND RESULTS Highly aggregated samples were tested in cell-based assays and induced cellular responses in a manner that depended on the number of particles. The threshold of immune activation varied by disease state (cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, allergy), concomitant therapies, and particle number. Compared to healthy donors, disease state patients showed an equal or lower response at the late phase (7 days), suggesting they may not have a higher risk of responding to aggregates. Xeno-het mice were used to assess the threshold of immune activation in vivo. Although highly aggregated samples (~ 1,600,000 particles/mL) induced a weak and transient immunogenic response in mice, a 100-fold dilution of this sample (~ 16,000 particles/mL) did not induce immunogenicity. To confirm this result, subvisible particles (up to ~ 18,000 particles/mL, containing aggregates and silicone oil droplets) produced under representative administration practices (created upon infusion of a drug product through an IV catheter) did not induce a response in cell-based assays or appear to increase the rate of adverse events or immunogenicity during phase 3 clinical trials. CONCLUSION The ability of biotherapeutic aggregates to elicit an immune response in vitro, in vivo, and in the clinic depends on high numbers of particles. This suggests that there is a high threshold for aggregates to induce an immunogenic response which is well beyond that seen in standard biotherapeutic drug products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Cohen
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA.
| | - Stephen R Brych
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Siddharth Prabhu
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Vivian Bi
- The Department of Biosimilars, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Ahmed Elbaradei
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Joshua M Tokuda
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Cathie Xiang
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Martha Hokom
- The Department of Clinical Immunology, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
- Department of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Xiaohong Cui
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Claudia Ly
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Nathan Amos
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Jilin Sun
- Translational Safety and Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Dominador Calamba
- Translational Safety and Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Jonathan Herskovitz
- The Department of Clinical Immunology, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Allyson Capili
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Kimya Nourbakhsh
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Anthony Merlo
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Julia Carreon
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Jette Wypych
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Linda O Narhi
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Vibha Jawa
- The Department of Clinical Immunology, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
- Department of Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, 08543, USA
| | - Marisa K Joubert
- The Department of Process Development, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA.
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Liu B, Jin M, Ma C, Zhang Z, Ma L, Zhang Y, Wang DA. An engineered lymph node comprising porous collagen scaffold with hybridized biological signals embedded in B cell membrane coatings. Biomaterials 2024; 304:122420. [PMID: 38048743 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Complications can arise from damaging or removing lymph nodes after surgeries for malignant tumours. Our team has developed an innovative solution to recreate lymph nodes via an engineering approach. Using a Type II collagen scaffold coated with B cell membranes for the sake of attracting T cells in different regions, we could mimic the thymus-dependent and thymus-independent areas in vitro. This engineering strategy based on biophysical mimicry has a great potential for clinical applications. By further conjugating biological signals, anti-CD3/28, onto the scaffold coated with the B cell membrane, we achieved an 11.6-fold expansion of T cells within 14 days of in vitro culture while ensuring their activity, phenotype homeostasis, and differentiation capacity kept intact. Artificial lymph nodes had excellent biocompatibility and caused no pathological or physiological adverse effects after implantation into C57BL6 mice. In vivo assays also demonstrated that this artificial lymph node system positively adhered to omental tissues, creating an environment that fostered T cell growth and prevented cellular failure and death. Additionally, it induced vascular and lymphatic vessel invasion, which was beneficial to the migration and circulation of T cells between this system and peripheral blood. Due to the porous collagen fibre structure, it also facilitated the infiltration of host immune cells. This work opens new avenues to immune organ regeneration via a tissue engineering approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangheng Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Min Jin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Cheng Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Engineering of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Dong-An Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, PR China.
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Jarvi NL, Balu-Iyer SV. A mechanistic marker-based screening tool to predict clinical immunogenicity of biologics. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:174. [PMID: 38066254 PMCID: PMC10709359 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of therapeutic proteins are undermined by immunogenicity driven by anti-drug antibodies. Immunogenicity risk assessment is critically necessary during drug development, but current methods lack predictive power and mechanistic insight into antigen uptake and processing leading to immune response. A key mechanistic step in T-cell-dependent immune responses is the migration of mature dendritic cells to T-cell areas of lymphoid compartments, and this phenomenon is most pronounced in the immune response toward subcutaneously delivered proteins. METHODS The migratory potential of monocyte-derived dendritic cells is proposed to be a mechanistic marker for immunogenicity screening. Following exposure to therapeutic protein in vitro, dendritic cells are analyzed for changes in activation markers (CD40 and IL-12) in combination with levels of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 to represent migratory potential. Then a transwell assay captures the intensity of dendritic cell migration in the presence of a gradient of therapeutic protein and chemokine ligands. RESULTS Here, we show that an increased ability of the therapeutic protein to induce dendritic cell migration along a gradient of chemokine CCL21 and CXCL12 predicts higher immunogenic potential. Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, in combination with activation markers CD40 and IL-12, strongly correlates with clinical anti-drug antibody incidence. CONCLUSIONS Mechanistic understanding of processes driving immunogenicity led to the development of a predictive tool for immunogenicity risk assessment of therapeutic proteins. These predictive markers could be adapted for immunogenicity screening of other biological modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Jarvi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Sathy V Balu-Iyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
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Kraus S, Lee E. A human initial lymphatic chip reveals distinct mechanisms of primary lymphatic valve dysfunction in acute and chronic inflammation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5180-5194. [PMID: 37981867 PMCID: PMC10908576 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00486d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Interstitial fluid uptake and retention by lymphatic vessels (LVs) play a role in maintaining interstitial fluid homeostasis. While it is well-established that intraluminal lymphatic valves in the collecting LVs prevent fluid backflow (secondary lymphatic valves), a separate valve system in the initial LVs that only permits interstitial fluid influx into the LVs, preventing fluid leakage back to the interstitium (primary lymphatic valves), remains incompletely understood. Although lymphatic dysfunction is commonly observed in inflammation and autoimmune diseases, how the primary lymphatic valves are affected by acute and chronic inflammation has scarcely been explored and even less so using in vitro lymphatic models. Here, we developed a human initial lymphatic vessel chip where interstitial fluid pressure and luminal fluid pressure are controlled to examine primary lymph valve function. In normal conditions, lymphatic drainage (fluid uptake) and permeability (fluid leakage) in engineered LVs were maintained high and low, respectively, which was consistent with our understanding of healthy primary lymph valves. Next, we examined the effects of acute and chronic inflammation. Under the acute inflammation condition with a TNF-α treatment (2 hours), degradation of fibrillin and impeded lymphatic drainage were observed, which were reversed by treatment with anti-inflammatory dexamethasone. Surprisingly, the chronic inflammation condition (repeated TNF-α treatments during 48 hours) deposited fibrillin to compensate for the fibrillin loss, showing no change in lymphatic drainage. Instead, the chronic inflammation condition led to cell death and disruption of lymphatic endothelial cell-cell junctions, increasing lymphatic permeability and fluid leakage. Our human lymphatic model shows two distinct mechanisms by which primary lymphatic valve dysfunction occurs in acute and chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Kraus
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Ilan IS, Yslas AR, Peng Y, Lu R, Lee E. A 3D Human Lymphatic Vessel-on-Chip Reveals the Roles of Interstitial Flow and VEGF-A/C for Lymphatic Sprouting and Discontinuous Junction Formation. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:325-339. [PMID: 37811004 PMCID: PMC10550886 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lymphatic vessels (LVs) maintain fluid homeostasis by draining excess interstitial fluid, which is accomplished by two distinct LVs: initial LVs and collecting LVs. The interstitial fluid is first drained into the initial LVs through permeable "button-like" lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) junctions. Next, the drained fluid ("lymph") transports to lymph nodes through the collecting LVs with less permeable "zipper-like" junctions that minimize loss of lymph. Despite the significance of LEC junctions in lymphatic drainage and transport, it remains unclear how luminal or interstitial flow affects LEC junctions in vascular endothelial growth factors A and C (VEGF-A and VEGF-C) conditions. Moreover, it remains unclear how these flow and growth factor conditions impact lymphatic sprouting. Methods We developed a 3D human lymphatic vessel-on-chip that can generate four different flow conditions (no flow, luminal flow, interstitial flow, both luminal and interstitial flow) to allow an engineered, rudimentary LV to experience those flows and respond to them in VEGF-A/C. Results We examined LEC junction discontinuities, lymphatic sprouting, LEC junction thicknesses, and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters in the four different flow conditions in VEGF-A/C. We discovered that interstitial flow in VEGF-C generates discontinuous LEC junctions that may be similar to the button-like junctions with no lymphatic sprouting. However, interstitial flow or both luminal and interstitial flow stimulated lymphatic sprouting in VEGF-A, maintaining zipper-like LEC junctions. LEC junction thickness and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters were not changed by those conditions. Conclusions In this study, we provide an engineered lymphatic vessel platform that can generate four different flow regimes and reveal the roles of interstitial flow and VEGF-A/C for lymphatic sprouting and discontinuous junction formation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle S. Ilan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Aria R. Yslas
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yansong Peng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, 302 Weill Hall, 237 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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7
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Ozulumba T, Montalbine AN, Ortiz-Cárdenas JE, Pompano RR. New tools for immunologists: models of lymph node function from cells to tissues. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183286. [PMID: 37234163 PMCID: PMC10206051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The lymph node is a highly structured organ that mediates the body's adaptive immune response to antigens and other foreign particles. Central to its function is the distinct spatial assortment of lymphocytes and stromal cells, as well as chemokines that drive the signaling cascades which underpin immune responses. Investigations of lymph node biology were historically explored in vivo in animal models, using technologies that were breakthroughs in their time such as immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies, genetic reporters, in vivo two-photon imaging, and, more recently spatial biology techniques. However, new approaches are needed to enable tests of cell behavior and spatiotemporal dynamics under well controlled experimental perturbation, particularly for human immunity. This review presents a suite of technologies, comprising in vitro, ex vivo and in silico models, developed to study the lymph node or its components. We discuss the use of these tools to model cell behaviors in increasing order of complexity, from cell motility, to cell-cell interactions, to organ-level functions such as vaccination. Next, we identify current challenges regarding cell sourcing and culture, real time measurements of lymph node behavior in vivo and tool development for analysis and control of engineered cultures. Finally, we propose new research directions and offer our perspective on the future of this rapidly growing field. We anticipate that this review will be especially beneficial to immunologists looking to expand their toolkit for probing lymph node structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tochukwu Ozulumba
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Alyssa N. Montalbine
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Ortiz-Cárdenas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca R. Pompano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Carter Immunology Center and University of Virginia (UVA) Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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8
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Swanson MD, Rios S, Mittal S, Soder G, Jawa V. Immunogenicity Risk Assessment of Spontaneously Occurring Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody Aggregates. Front Immunol 2022; 13:915412. [PMID: 35967308 PMCID: PMC9364768 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.915412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregates of therapeutic proteins have been associated with increased immunogenicity in pre-clinical models as well as in human patients. Recent studies to understand aggregates and their immunogenicity risks use artificial stress methods to induce high levels of aggregation. These methods may be less biologically relevant in terms of their quantity than those that occur spontaneously during processing and storage. Here we describe the immunogenicity risk due to spontaneously occurring therapeutic antibody aggregates using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a cell line with a reporter gene for immune activation: THP-1 BLUE NFκB. The spontaneously occurring therapeutic protein aggregates were obtained from process intermediates and final formulated drug substance from stability retains. Spontaneously occurring aggregates elicited innate immune responses for several donors in a PBMC assay with cytokine and chemokine production as a readout for immune activation. Meanwhile, no significant adaptive phase responses to spontaneously occurring aggregate samples were detected. While the THP-1 BLUE NFκB cell line and PBMC assays both responded to high stress induced aggregates, only the PBMC from a limited subset of donors responded to processing-induced aggregates. In this case study, levels of antibody aggregation occurring at process relevant levels are lower than those induced by stirring and may pose lower risk in vivo. Our methodologies can further inform additional immunogenicity risk assessments using a pre-clinical in vitro risk assessment approach utilizing human derived immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Swanson
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
- *Correspondence: Michael D. Swanson,
| | - Shantel Rios
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - Sarita Mittal
- Analytical R&D, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - George Soder
- Analytical R&D, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - Vibha Jawa
- Nonclinical Disposition and Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
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9
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Goyal G, Prabhala P, Mahajan G, Bausk B, Gilboa T, Xie L, Zhai Y, Lazarovits R, Mansour A, Kim MS, Patil A, Curran D, Long JM, Sharma S, Junaid A, Cohen L, Ferrante TC, Levy O, Prantil‐Baun R, Walt DR, Ingber DE. Ectopic Lymphoid Follicle Formation and Human Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Responses Recapitulated in an Organ-on-a-Chip. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103241. [PMID: 35289122 PMCID: PMC9109055 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Lymphoid follicles (LFs) are responsible for generation of adaptive immune responses in secondary lymphoid organs and form ectopically during chronic inflammation. A human model of ectopic LF formation will provide a tool to understand LF development and an alternative to non-human primates for preclinical evaluation of vaccines. Here, it is shown that primary human blood B- and T-lymphocytes autonomously assemble into ectopic LFs when cultured in a 3D extracellular matrix gel within one channel of a two-channel organ-on-a-chip microfluidic device. Superfusion via a parallel channel separated by a microporous membrane is required for LF formation and prevents lymphocyte autoactivation. These germinal center-like LFs contain B cells expressing Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase and exhibit plasma cell differentiation upon activation. To explore their utility for seasonal vaccine testing, autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells are integrated into LF Chips. The human LF chips demonstrate improved antibody responses to split virion influenza vaccination compared to 2D cultures, which are enhanced by a squalene-in-water emulsion adjuvant, and this is accompanied by increases in LF size and number. When inoculated with commercial influenza vaccine, plasma cell formation and production of anti-hemagglutinin IgG are observed, as well as secretion of cytokines similar to vaccinated humans over clinically relevant timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girija Goyal
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Pranav Prabhala
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Gautam Mahajan
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Bruce Bausk
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Department of PathologyBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Tal Gilboa
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Department of PathologyBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Liangxia Xie
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Department of PathologyBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Yunhao Zhai
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Roey Lazarovits
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Adam Mansour
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Min Sun Kim
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Aditya Patil
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Danielle Curran
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Jaclyn M. Long
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Abidemi Junaid
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Limor Cohen
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Department of PathologyBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Thomas C. Ferrante
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Oren Levy
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Rachelle Prantil‐Baun
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - David R. Walt
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Department of PathologyBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Donald E. Ingber
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Vascular Biology Program and Department of SurgeryBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMA02139USA
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10
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Shanti A, Hallfors N, Petroianu GA, Planelles L, Stefanini C. Lymph Nodes-On-Chip: Promising Immune Platforms for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:711307. [PMID: 34483920 PMCID: PMC8415712 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.711307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Organs-on-chip are gaining increasing attention as promising platforms for drug screening and testing applications. However, lymph nodes-on-chip options remain limited although the lymph node is one of the main determinants of the immunotoxicity of newly developed pharmacological drugs. In this review, we describe existing biomimetic lymph nodes-on-chip, their design, and their physiological relevance to pharmacology and shed the light on future directions associated with lymph node-on-chip design and implementation in drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Shanti
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Biomedical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nicholas Hallfors
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Biomedical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Georg A Petroianu
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lourdes Planelles
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Biomedical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Cesare Stefanini
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Biomedical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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11
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Hammel JH, Cook SR, Belanger MC, Munson JM, Pompano RR. Modeling Immunity In Vitro: Slices, Chips, and Engineered Tissues. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 23:461-491. [PMID: 33872520 PMCID: PMC8277680 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-082420-124920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Modeling immunity in vitro has the potential to be a powerful tool for investigating fundamental biological questions, informing therapeutics and vaccines, and providing new insight into disease progression. There are two major elements to immunity that are necessary to model: primary immune tissues and peripheral tissues with immune components. Here, we systematically review progress made along three strategies to modeling immunity: ex vivo cultures, which preserve native tissue structure; microfluidic devices, which constitute a versatile approach to providing physiologically relevant fluid flow and environmental control; and engineered tissues, which provide precise control of the 3D microenvironment and biophysical cues. While many models focus on disease modeling, more primary immune tissue models are necessary to advance the field. Moving forward, we anticipate that the expansion of patient-specific models may inform why immunity varies from patient to patient and allow for the rapid comprehension and treatment of emerging diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H Hammel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, USA;
| | - Sophie R Cook
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Maura C Belanger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Jennifer M Munson
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, USA;
| | - Rebecca R Pompano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
- Carter Immunology Center and UVA Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA
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12
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Immunogenicity Challenges Associated with Subcutaneous Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins. BioDrugs 2021; 35:125-146. [PMID: 33523413 PMCID: PMC7848667 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-020-00465-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The subcutaneous route of administration has provided convenient and non-inferior delivery of therapeutic proteins compared to intravenous infusion, but there is potential for enhanced immunogenicity toward subcutaneously administered proteins in a subset of patients. Unwanted anti-drug antibody response toward proteins or monoclonal antibodies upon repeated administration is shown to impact the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of multiple biologics. Unique immunogenicity challenges of the subcutaneous route have been realized through various preclinical and clinical examples, although subcutaneous delivery has often demonstrated comparable immunogenicity to intravenous administration. Beyond route of administration as a treatment-related factor of immunogenicity, certain product-related risk factors are particularly relevant to subcutaneously administered proteins. This review attempts to provide an overview of the mechanism of immune response toward proteins administered subcutaneously (subcutaneous proteins) and comments on product-related risk factors related to protein structure and stability, dosage form, and aggregation. A two-wave mechanism of antigen presentation in the immune response toward subcutaneous proteins is described, and interaction with dynamic antigen-presenting cells possessing high antigen processing efficiency and migratory activity may drive immunogenicity. Mitigation strategies for immunogenicity are discussed, including those in general use clinically and those currently in development. Mechanistic insights along with consideration of risk factors involved inspire theoretical strategies to provide antigen-specific, long-lasting effects for maintaining the safety and efficacy of therapeutic proteins.
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13
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The Impact of Product and Process Related Critical Quality Attributes on Immunogenicity and Adverse Immunological Effects of Biotherapeutics. J Pharm Sci 2020; 110:1025-1041. [PMID: 33316242 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry has experienced great successes with protein therapeutics in the last two decades and with novel modalities, including cell therapies and gene therapies, more recently. Biotherapeutics are complex in structure and present challenges for discovery, development, regulatory, and life cycle management. Biotherapeutics can interact with the immune system that may lead to undesired immunological responses, including immunogenicity, hypersensitivity reactions (HSR), injection site reactions (ISR), and others. Many product and process related critical quality attributes (CQAs) have the potential to trigger or augment such immunological responses to the product. Tremendous efforts, both clinically and preclinically, have been invested to understand the impact of product and process related CQAs on adverse immunological effects. The information and knowledge are critical for the implementation of Quality by Design (QbD), which requires risk assessment and establishment of specifications and control strategies for CQAs. A quality target product profile (QTPP) that identifies the key CQAs through process development can help assign severity scores based on safety, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of the molecule. Gaps and future directions related to biotherapeutics and emerging novel modalities are presented.
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14
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Jawa V, Terry F, Gokemeijer J, Mitra-Kaushik S, Roberts BJ, Tourdot S, De Groot AS. T-Cell Dependent Immunogenicity of Protein Therapeutics Pre-clinical Assessment and Mitigation-Updated Consensus and Review 2020. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1301. [PMID: 32695107 PMCID: PMC7338774 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune responses to protein and peptide drugs can alter or reduce their efficacy and may be associated with adverse effects. While anti-drug antibodies (ADA) are a standard clinical measure of protein therapeutic immunogenicity, T cell epitopes in the primary sequences of these drugs are the key drivers or modulators of ADA response, depending on the type of T cell response that is stimulated (e.g., T helper or Regulatory T cells, respectively). In a previous publication on T cell-dependent immunogenicity of biotherapeutics, we addressed mitigation efforts such as identifying and reducing the presence of T cell epitopes or T cell response to protein therapeutics prior to further development of the protein therapeutic for clinical use. Over the past 5 years, greater insight into the role of regulatory T cell epitopes and the conservation of T cell epitopes with self (beyond germline) has improved the preclinical assessment of immunogenic potential. In addition, impurities contained in therapeutic drug formulations such as host cell proteins have also attracted attention and become the focus of novel risk assessment methods. Target effects have come into focus, given the emergence of protein and peptide drugs that target immune receptors in immuno-oncology applications. Lastly, new modalities are entering the clinic, leading to the need to revise certain aspects of the preclinical immunogenicity assessment pathway. In addition to drugs that have multiple antibody-derived domains or non-antibody scaffolds, therapeutic drugs may now be introduced via viral vectors, cell-based constructs, or nucleic acid based therapeutics that may, in addition to delivering drug, also prime the immune system, driving immune response to the delivery vehicle as well as the encoded therapeutic, adding to the complexity of assessing immunogenicity risk. While it is challenging to keep pace with emerging methods for the preclinical assessment of protein therapeutics and new biologic therapeutic modalities, this collective compendium provides a guide to current best practices and new concepts in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibha Jawa
- Predictive and Clinical Immunogenicity, PPDM, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | | | - Jochem Gokemeijer
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Sophie Tourdot
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Andover, MA, United States
| | - Anne S De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, United States.,Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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15
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Current In Vitro Assays for Prediction of T Cell Mediated Immunogenicity of Biotherapeutics and Manufacturing Impurities. J Pharm Innov 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12247-019-09412-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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