1
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Rossi GR, Sun J, Lin CY, Wong JK, Alim L, Lam PY, Khosrotehrani K, Wolvetang E, Cheetham SW, Derrick EB, Amoako A, Lehner C, Brooks AJ, Beavis PA, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. A scalable, spin-free approach to generate enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Cell Biol 2024. [PMID: 39269338 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12820] [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: 08/17/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in innate immunity and show great promise in cancer immunotherapy. Traditional sources of NK cells, such as the peripheral blood, are limited by availability and donor variability. In addition, in vitro expansion can lead to functional exhaustion and gene editing challenges. This study aimed to harness induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to provide a consistent and scalable source of NK cells, overcoming the limitations of traditional sources and enhancing the potential for cancer immunotherapy applications. We developed human placental-derived iPSC lines using reprogramming techniques. Subsequently, an optimized two-step differentiation protocol was introduced to generate high-purity NK cells. Initially, iPSCs were differentiated into hematopoietic-like stem cells using spin-free embryoid bodies (EBs). Subsequently, the EBs were transferred to ultra-low attachment plates to induce NK cell differentiation. iPSC-derived NK (iNK) cells expressed common NK cell markers (NKp46, NKp30, NKp44, CD16 and eomesodermin) at both RNA and protein levels. iNK cells demonstrated significant resilience to cryopreservation and exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity. The incorporation of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct further augmented their cytotoxic potential. This study exemplifies the feasibility of generating iNK cells with high purity and enhanced functional capabilities, their improved resilience to cryopreservation and the potential to have augmented cytotoxicity through CAR expression. Our findings offer a promising pathway for the development of potential cellular immunotherapies, highlighting the critical role of iPSC technology in overcoming challenges associated with traditional NK cell sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo R Rossi
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Jane Sun
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Cheng-Yu Lin
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Joshua Km Wong
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Louisa Alim
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Pui Yeng Lam
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Kiarash Khosrotehrani
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Ernst Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Seth W Cheetham
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- BASE Facility, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Emily B Derrick
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Akwasi Amoako
- The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Christoph Lehner
- The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul A Beavis
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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2
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Taggart MS, Tchir A, Van Dieren L, Chen H, Hassan M, Taveras C, Lellouch AG, Toner M, Sandlin RD, Uygun K. Parallelized Droplet Vitrification Enables Single-Run Vitrification of the Whole Rat Liver Hepatocyte Yield. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.14.603471. [PMID: 39071342 PMCID: PMC11275928 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.14.603471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Drug discovery pipelines rely on the availability of isolated primary hepatocytes for investigating potential hepatotoxicity prior to clinical application. These hepatocytes are typically isolated from livers rejected for transplantation and subsequently cryopreserved for later usage. The gold-standard cryopreservation technique, slow-freezing, is a labor-intensive process, with significant post-storage viability loss. In this work, we introduce parallelized droplet vitrification, a technique for high-volumetric, rapid vitrification of suspended cells. We show the utility of this technique through the single-run vitrification of the whole-rate liver hepatocyte yield, resulting in a 1600% increase in single-batch vitrification and a 500% increase in droplet generation rate compared to previous droplet vitrification approaches. Additionally, we showed that these implementations maintained improved post-preservation outcomes in primary rat hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Taggart
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Tchir
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
| | - L Van Dieren
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - H Chen
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Hassan
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C Taveras
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A G Lellouch
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- INSERM UMRS 1140 Innovation Thérapeutique en Hémostase, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - M Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R D Sandlin
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - K Uygun
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Shriners Children's Boston, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Peng H, Endo Y, Wu WJ. Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2367. [PMID: 39001429 PMCID: PMC11240353 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of mAb-induced ADCC have been well established. However, the ADCC bioassays used to quantify mAb-induced ADCC require continued development/refinement to properly assess and compare the potency of newly developed therapeutic mAbs and biosimilars to meet regulatory requirements. We used trastuzumab and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based ADCC bioassay as a model to define critical parameters of the ADCC bioassay, describing how several bioassay parameters, including preparation of effector cells, E/T ratio, target cell selection, bioassay media components, and treatment time can influence the data quality of the ADCC activity. We confirm that a 4 to 24 h recovery cultivation is required to restore peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and natural killer (NK) cell activity toward ADCC when using cryopreserved PBMCs. Furthermore, we delineated the cellular mechanisms underlying the restored ADCC activity following the recovery cultivation. We observed that CD69, an early marker of NK cell activation, was upregulated and a new subset CD56dim/CD16dim population was dramatically increased in the recovered NK cells, which led to an increase in expression and secretion of perforin, granzyme B, and cytokine production. This study provides comprehensive technical insights into ADCC bioassay optimization to inform trastuzumab biosimilar development. The knowledge gained from this study can also be leveraged to guide bioassay development for therapeutic mAbs with ADCC as the primary mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjing Peng
- Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Research III (OPQR III), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Research (OPQR), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Yukinori Endo
- Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Research III (OPQR III), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Research (OPQR), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Wen Jin Wu
- Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Research III (OPQR III), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Research (OPQR), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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4
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Skeate JG, Pomeroy EJ, Slipek NJ, Jones BJ, Wick BJ, Chang JW, Lahr WS, Stelljes EM, Patrinostro X, Barnes B, Zarecki T, Krueger JB, Bridge JE, Robbins GM, McCormick MD, Leerar JR, Wenzel KT, Hornberger KM, Walker K, Smedley D, Largaespada DA, Otto N, Webber BR, Moriarity BS. Evolution of the clinical-stage hyperactive TcBuster transposase as a platform for robust non-viral production of adoptive cellular therapies. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1817-1834. [PMID: 38627969 PMCID: PMC11184336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.04.024] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular therapies for the treatment of human diseases, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T and natural killer (NK) cells have shown remarkable clinical efficacy in treating hematological malignancies; however, current methods mainly utilize viral vectors that are limited by their cargo size capacities, high cost, and long timelines for production of clinical reagent. Delivery of genetic cargo via DNA transposon engineering is a more timely and cost-effective approach, yet has been held back by less efficient integration rates. Here, we report the development of a novel hyperactive TcBuster (TcB-M) transposase engineered through structure-guided and in vitro evolution approaches that achieves high-efficiency integration of large, multicistronic CAR-expression cassettes in primary human cells. Our proof-of-principle TcB-M engineering of CAR-NK and CAR-T cells shows low integrated vector copy number, a safe insertion site profile, robust in vitro function, and improves survival in a Burkitt lymphoma xenograft model in vivo. Overall, TcB-M is a versatile, safe, efficient and open-source option for the rapid manufacture and preclinical testing of primary human immune cell therapies through delivery of multicistronic large cargo via transposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G Skeate
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Nicholas J Slipek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Bryce J Wick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jae-Woong Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Walker S Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Erin M Stelljes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | | | | | - Joshua B Krueger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jacob E Bridge
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Gabrielle M Robbins
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Madeline D McCormick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - David A Largaespada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Neil Otto
- Bio-Techne, Minneapolis, MN 55413, USA
| | - Beau R Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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5
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Berjis A, Muthumani D, Aguilar OA, Pomp O, Johnson O, Finck AV, Engel NW, Chen L, Plachta N, Scholler J, Lanier LL, June CH, Sheppard NC. Pretreatment with IL-15 and IL-18 rescues natural killer cells from granzyme B-mediated apoptosis after cryopreservation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3937. [PMID: 38729924 PMCID: PMC11087472 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47574-0] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Human natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies are under assessment for treating various cancers, but cryopreservation reduces both the recovery and function of NK cells, thereby limiting their therapeutic feasibility. Using cryopreservation protocols optimized for T cells, here we find that ~75% of NK cells die within 24 h post-thaw, with the remaining cells displaying reduced cytotoxicity. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and confocal microscopy, we find that cryopreserved NK cells largely die via apoptosis initiated by leakage of granzyme B from cytotoxic vesicles. Pretreatment of NK cells with a combination of Interleukins-15 (IL-15) and IL-18 prior to cryopreservation improves NK cell recovery to ~90-100% and enables equal tumour control in a xenograft model of disseminated Raji cell lymphoma compared to non-cryopreserved NK cells. The mechanism of IL-15 and IL-18-induced protection incorporates two mechanisms: a transient reduction in intracellular granzyme B levels via degranulation, and the induction of antiapoptotic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulla Berjis
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Deeksha Muthumani
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California; San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Oz Pomp
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Omar Johnson
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amanda V Finck
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nils W Engel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Linhui Chen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, the Bioinformatic Core, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicolas Plachta
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Scholler
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California; San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neil C Sheppard
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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6
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Valentini CG, Pellegrino C, Teofili L. Pros and Cons of Cryopreserving Allogeneic Stem Cell Products. Cells 2024; 13:552. [PMID: 38534396 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitously changed the practice of transplanting fresh allografts. The safety measures adopted during the pandemic prompted the near-universal graft cryopreservation. However, the influence of cryopreserving allogeneic grafts on long-term transplant outcomes has emerged only in the most recent literature. In this review, the basic principles of cell cryopreservation are revised and the effects of cryopreservation on the different graft components are carefully reexamined. Finally, a literature revision on studies comparing transplant outcomes in patients receiving cryopreserved and fresh grafts is illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Giovanna Valentini
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Pellegrino
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Luciana Teofili
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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7
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Lee S, Joo Y, Lee EJ, Byeon Y, Kim JH, Pyo KH, Kim YS, Lim SM, Kilbride P, Iyer RK, Li M, French MC, Lee JY, Kang J, Byun H, Cho BC. Successful expansion and cryopreservation of human natural killer cell line NK-92 for clinical manufacturing. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294857. [PMID: 38394177 PMCID: PMC10889882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have recently shown renewed promise as therapeutic cells for use in treating hematologic cancer indications. Despite this promise, NK cell manufacturing workflows remain largely manual, open, and disconnected, and depend on feeders, as well as outdated unit operations or processes, often utilizing research-grade reagents. Successful scale-up of NK cells critically depends on the availability and performance of nutrient-rich expansion media and cryopreservation conditions that are conducive to high cell viability and recovery post-thaw. In this paper we used Cytiva hardware and media to expand the NK92 cell line in a model process that is suitable for GMP and clinical manufacturing of NK cells. We tested a range of cryopreservation factors including cooling rate, a range of DMSO-containing and DMSO-free cryoprotectants, ice nucleation, and cell density. Higher post-thaw recovery was seen in cryobags over cryovials cooled in identical conditions, and cooling rates of 1°C/min or 2°C/min optimal for cryopreservation in DMSO-containing and DMSO-free cryoprotectants respectively. Higher cell densities of 5x107 cells/ml gave higher post-thaw viability than those cryopreserved at either 1x106 or 5x106 cells/ml. This enabled us to automate, close and connect unit operations within the workflow while demonstrating superior expansion and cryopreservation of NK92 cells. Cellular outputs and performance were conducive to clinical dosing regimens, serving as a proof-of-concept for future clinical and commercial manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seul Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yunjoo Joo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Ji Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Youngseon Byeon
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyoung-Ho Pyo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Seob Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun Min Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Peter Kilbride
- Global Life Sciences Solutions, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rohin K. Iyer
- Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC 100 Results Way, Marlborough, MA, United States of America
| | - Mingming Li
- Global Life Sciences Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., HarbourFront Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mandy C. French
- Global Life Sciences Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Jung-Yub Lee
- Global Life Sciences Solutions Korea Limited 5F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeeheon Kang
- Global Life Sciences Solutions Korea Limited 5F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyesin Byun
- Global Life Sciences Solutions Korea Limited 5F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byoung Chul Cho
- Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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8
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Das S, Niemeyer E, Leung ZA, Fritsch T, Matosevic S. Human Natural Killer Cells Cryopreserved without DMSO Sustain Robust Effector Responses. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:651-660. [PMID: 38230666 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00798] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has benefitted from the multiple strengths that NK cells offer in adoptive transfer settings, not the least of which is their safety and potential for allogeneic use. Such use, however, necessitates the cryopreservation of NK cell-based therapy products to support logistical efforts in deploying these cells in different locations, decentralized from the point of collection or manufacturing. DMSO, the most commonly used cryoprotective agent (CPA), has been effective in protecting immune cells during freezing and thawing, but its ability to induce molecular and genetic changes to immune cells as well as its toxicity has stimulated interest in alternative CPAs. However, replacing DMSO's ability to act intracellularly has been difficult, and the sensitivity of human peripheral blood-derived NK cells to freezing and thawing-induced damage has meant that investigations into the potential of replacing DMSO are lacking. As a first step toward establishing the feasibility of cryopreserving human NK cells with CPAs' alternative to DMSO, we investigate the potential of using noncell-penetrating and cell-penetrating CPAs to recover NK cells post-thaw without DMSO. Here, we find that cryoprotection using cell-penetrating CPAs can retain the viability of human peripheral blood-derived NK cells to a comparable degree to DMSO. In addition, non-DMSO-cryopreserved human NK cells were as cytotoxic as those cryopreserved with DMSO and displayed a comparable level of surface markers of activation. In summary, we present the first example of the potential of developing non-DMSO CPA formulations that could be deployed in future cell therapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyajit Das
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Emmett Niemeyer
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Zach A Leung
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Tyler Fritsch
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Sandro Matosevic
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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9
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Esmaeilzadeh A, Hadiloo K, Jabbari M, Elahi R. Current progress of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T versus CAR NK cell for immunotherapy of solid tumors. Life Sci 2024; 337:122381. [PMID: 38145710 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122381] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Equipping cancer-fighting immune cells with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has gained immense attention for cancer treatment. CAR-engineered T cells (CAR T cells) are the first immune-engineered cells that have achieved brilliant results in anti-cancer therapy. Despite promising anti-cancer features, CAR T cells could also cause fatal side effects and have shown inadequate efficacy in some studies. This has led to the introduction of other candidates for CAR transduction, e.g., Natural killer cells (NK cells). Regarding the better safety profile and anti-cancer properties, CAR-armored NK cells (CAR NK cells) could be a beneficial and suitable alternative to CAR T cells. Since introducing these two cells as anti-cancer structures, several studies have investigated their efficacy and safety, and most of them have focused on hematological malignancies. Solid tumors have unique properties that make them more resistant and less curable cancers than hematological malignancies. In this review article, we conduct a comprehensive review of the structure and properties of CAR NK and CAR T cells, compare the recent experience of immunotherapy with CAR T and CAR NK cells in various solid cancers, and overview current challenges and future solutions to battle solid cancers using CARNK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolreza Esmaeilzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center (CGRC), Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
| | - Kaveh Hadiloo
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Marjan Jabbari
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Reza Elahi
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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10
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Saultz JN, Otegbeye F. Optimizing the cryopreservation and post-thaw recovery of natural killer cells is critical for the success of off-the-shelf platforms. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1304689. [PMID: 38193082 PMCID: PMC10773738 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1304689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a promising allogeneic, off-the-shelf, cellular immunotherapy product. These cells can be manipulated ex vivo, genetically edited to enhance tumor targeting and expanded to produce large cell banks for multiple patient infusions. Therapeutic efficacy of these products depends on the recovery of viable and functional cells post-thaw. Post-thaw loss of viability and cytolytic activity results in large, and often variable, discrepancies between the intended cell dose (based on counts at cryopreservation) and the actual dose administered. Compared to their highly activated state in fresh culture, post-thaw NK cells demonstrate critical changes in cytokine production, cytotoxic activity, in vivo proliferation and migration. When these NK cells are introduced into the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the functional changes induced by cryopreservation further limits the clinical potential of these products. This report will review the impact of cryopreservation on ex vivo expanded NK cells and outlines strategies described in published studies to recover post-thaw function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Saultz
- Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Folashade Otegbeye
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
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11
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Dagher OK, Posey AD. Forks in the road for CAR T and CAR NK cell cancer therapies. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:1994-2007. [PMID: 38012406 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01659-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has resulted in unprecedented long-term clearance of relapse/refractory hematological malignancies in both pediatric and adult patients. However, severe toxicities, such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, associated with CAR T cells affect therapeutic utility; and treatment efficacies for solid tumors are still not impressive. As a result, engineering strategies that modify other immune cell types, especially natural killer (NK) cells have arisen. Owing to both CAR-dependent and CAR-independent (innate immune-mediated) antitumor killing capacity, major histocompatibility complex-independent cytotoxicity, reduced risk of alloreactivity and lack of major CAR T cell toxicities, CAR NK cells constitute one of the promising next-generation CAR immune cells that are also amenable as 'off-the-shelf' therapeutics. In this Review, we compare CAR T and CAR NK cell therapies, with particular focus on immunological synapses, engineering strategies and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oula K Dagher
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Avery D Posey
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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12
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Fantini M, Arlen PM, Tsang KY. Potentiation of natural killer cells to overcome cancer resistance to NK cell-based therapy and to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275904. [PMID: 38077389 PMCID: PMC10704476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cellular components of the innate immune system that can recognize and suppress the proliferation of cancer cells. NK cells can eliminate cancer cells through direct lysis, by secreting perforin and granzymes, or through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC involves the binding of the Fc gamma receptor IIIa (CD16), present on NK cells, to the constant region of an antibody already bound to cancer cells. Cancer cells use several mechanisms to evade antitumor activity of NK cells, including the accumulation of inhibitory cytokines, recruitment and expansion of immune suppressor cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), modulation of ligands for NK cells receptors. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells with the goal of overcoming cancer cells resistance to NK cells. The three main strategies to engineer and boost NK cells cytotoxicity include boosting NK cells with modulatory cytokines, adoptive NK cell therapy, and the employment of engineered NK cells to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Although the first two strategies improved the efficacy of NK cell-based therapy, there are still some limitations, including immune-related adverse events, induction of immune-suppressive cells and further cancer resistance to NK cell killing. One strategy to overcome these issues is the combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that mediate ADCC and engineered NK cells with potentiated anti-cancer activity. The advantage of using mAbs with ADCC activity is that they can activate NK cells, but also favor the accumulation of immune effector cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Several clinical trials reported that combining engineered NK cells with mAbs with ADCC activity can result in a superior clinical response compared to mAbs alone. Next generation of clinical trials, employing engineered NK cells with mAbs with higher affinity for CD16 expressed on NK cells, will provide more effective and higher-quality treatments to cancer patients.
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13
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Vu SH, Pham HH, Pham TTP, Le TT, Vo MC, Jung SH, Lee JJ, Nguyen XH. Adoptive NK Cell Therapy - a Beacon of Hope in Multiple Myeloma Treatment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1275076. [PMID: 38023191 PMCID: PMC10656693 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1275076] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have been achieved by effective new agents such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, or monoclonal antibodies. Despite significant progress, MM remains still incurable and, recently, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for relapsed/refractory MM. The emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has transformed immunotherapy by enhancing the antitumor functions of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, leading to effective control of hematologic malignancies. Recent advancements in gene delivery to NK cells have paved the way for the clinical application of CAR-NK cell therapy. CAR-NK cell therapy strategies have demonstrated safety, tolerability, and substantial efficacy in treating B cell malignancies in various clinical settings. However, their effectiveness in eliminating MM remains to be established. This review explores multiple approaches to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, persistence, expansion, and manufacturing processes, and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with CAR-NK cell therapy against MM. By shedding light on these aspects, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy as a promising approach for improving the treatment outcomes of MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Son Hai Vu
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Ha Hong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thao Thi Phuong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thanh Thien Le
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Manh-Cuong Vo
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Jung Lee
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Xuan-Hung Nguyen
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
- College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
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14
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Zhao R, Yanamandra AK, Qu B. A high-throughput 3D kinetic killing assay. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350505. [PMID: 37501396 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Our work presents a high-throughput kinetic killing assay in the 3D matrix using high-content imaging that is a robust and powerful cytotoxicity assay for evaluating the killing efficiency of immune killer cells or conducting drug screening under physiologically and pathologically relevant scenarios, particularly in the context of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renping Zhao
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Archana K Yanamandra
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Bin Qu
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
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15
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Motallebnejad P, Kantardjieff A, Cichocki F, Azarin SM, Hu WS. Process engineering of natural killer cell-based immunotherapy. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1314-1326. [PMID: 37142447 PMCID: PMC10523923 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy offers the potential for curative treatment of cancers. Although T cells have been the predominantly used cell type, natural killer (NK) cells have attracted great attention owing to their ability to kill cancer cells and because they are naturally suitable for allogeneic applications. Upon stimulation by cytokines or activation by a target cell, NK cells proliferate and expand their population. These cytotoxic NK cells can be cryopreserved and used as an off-the-shelf medicine. The production process for NK cells thus differs from that of autologous cell therapies. We briefly outline key biological features of NK cells, review the manufacturing technologies for protein biologics, and discuss their adaptation for developing robust NK cell biomanufacturing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Motallebnejad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Samira M Azarin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Wei-Shou Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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16
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Zhang P, Zhang G, Wan X. Challenges and new technologies in adoptive cell therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:97. [PMID: 37596653 PMCID: PMC10439661 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01492-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs) have existed for decades. From the initial infusion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the subsequent specific enhanced T cell receptor (TCR)-T and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies, many novel strategies for cancer treatment have been developed. Owing to its promising outcomes, CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the field of ACTs, particularly for hematologic malignancies. Despite these advances, CAR-T cell therapy still has limitations in both autologous and allogeneic settings, including practicality and toxicity issues. To overcome these challenges, researchers have focused on the application of CAR engineering technology to other types of immune cell engineering. Consequently, several new cell therapies based on CAR technology have been developed, including CAR-NK, CAR-macrophage, CAR-γδT, and CAR-NKT. In this review, we describe the development, advantages, and possible challenges of the aforementioned ACTs and discuss current strategies aimed at maximizing the therapeutic potential of ACTs. We also provide an overview of the various gene transduction strategies employed in immunotherapy given their importance in immune cell engineering. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that strategies capable of creating a positive feedback immune circuit, as healthy immune systems do, could address the flaw of a single type of ACT, and thus serve as key players in future cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Guizhong Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Martin-Iglesias S, Herrera L, Santos S, Vesga MÁ, Eguizabal C, Lanceros-Mendez S, Silvan U. Analysis of the impact of handling and culture on the expansion and functionality of NK cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1225549. [PMID: 37638054 PMCID: PMC10451065 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1225549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that play a key role in the elimination of tumor and virus-infected cells. Unlike T cells, NK cell activation is governed by their direct interaction with target cells via the inhibitory and activating receptors present on their cytoplasmic membrane. The simplicity of this activation mechanism has allowed the development of immunotherapies based on the transduction of NK cells with CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) constructs for the treatment of cancer. Despite the advantages of CAR-NK therapy over CAR-T, including their inability to cause graft-versus-host disease in allogenic therapies, a deeper understanding of the impact of their handling is needed in order to increase their functionality and applicability. With that in mind, the present work critically examines the steps required for NK cell isolation, expansion and storage, and analyze the response of the NK cells to these manipulations. The results show that magnetic-assisted cell sorting, traditionally used for NK isolation, increases the CD16+ population of NK cultures only if the protocol includes both, antibody incubation and passage through the isolation column. Furthermore, based on the importance of surface potential on cellular responses, the influence of surfaces with different net surface charge on NK cells has been evaluated, showing that NK cells displayed higher proliferation rates on charged surfaces than on non-charged ones. The present work highlights the relevance of NK cells manipulation for improving the applicability and effectiveness of NK cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Martin-Iglesias
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, Spain
| | - Lara Herrera
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Research Unit, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Silvia Santos
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Research Unit, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
- Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV), Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS RD21/0017/0024), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Vesga
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Research Unit, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
- Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV), Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS RD21/0017/0024), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Research Unit, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
- Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV), Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS RD21/0017/0024), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Red de Inmunoterapia del Cáncer “REINCA” (RED2022-134831-T), Madrid, Spain
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, Spain
- Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV), Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS RD21/0017/0024), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Unai Silvan
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, Spain
- Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV), Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS RD21/0017/0024), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao, Spain
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18
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Wang J, Metheny L. Umbilical cord blood derived cellular therapy: advances in clinical development. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1167266. [PMID: 37274288 PMCID: PMC10232824 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1167266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
While cord blood (CB) is primarily utilized in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the development of novel cell therapy products from CB is a growing and developing field. Compared to adult blood, CB is characterized by a higher percentage of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitor cells, less mature immune cells that retain a high capacity of proliferation, and stronger immune tolerance that requires less stringent HLA-matching when used in the allogenic setting. Given that CB is an FDA regulated product and along with its unique cellular composition, CB lends itself as a readily available and safe starting material for the development of off-the-shelf cell therapies. Moreover, non-hematologic cells such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) residing in CB or CB tissue also have potential in regenerative medicine and inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In this review, we will focus on recent clinical development on CB-derived cellular therapies in the field of oncology, including T-cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, regulatory T-cells, and virus-specific T-cells; NK-cell therapies, such as NK cell engagers and CAR NK-cells; CB-HCT and various modifications; as well as applications of MSCs in HCT.
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19
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Kao CY, Mills JA, Burke CJ, Morse B, Marques BF. Role of Cytokines and Growth Factors in the Manufacturing of iPSC-Derived Allogeneic Cell Therapy Products. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050677. [PMID: 37237491 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines and other growth factors are essential for cell expansion, health, function, and immune stimulation. Stem cells have the additional reliance on these factors to direct differentiation to the appropriate terminal cell type. Successful manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires close attention to the selection and control of cytokines and factors used throughout the manufacturing process, as well as after administration to the patient. This paper employs iPSC-derived natural killer cell/T cell therapeutics to illustrate the use of cytokines, growth factors, and transcription factors at different stages of the manufacturing process, ranging from the generation of iPSCs to controlling of iPSC differentiation into immune-effector cells through the support of cell therapy after patient administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yuan Kao
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jason A Mills
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carl J Burke
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Barry Morse
- Research and Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruno F Marques
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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20
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Lizana-Vasquez GD, Torres-Lugo M, Dixon R, Powderly JD, Warin RF. The application of autologous cancer immunotherapies in the age of memory-NK cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1167666. [PMID: 37205105 PMCID: PMC10185894 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1167666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy has revolutionized the oncology field, yielding improved results against hematological and solid malignancies. NK cells have become an attractive alternative due to their capacity to activate upon recognition of "stress" or "danger" signals independently of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) engagement, thus making tumor cells a perfect target for NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy even as an allogeneic solution. While this allogeneic use is currently favored, the existence of a characterized memory function for NK cells ("memory-like" NK cells) advocates for an autologous approach, that would benefit from the allogeneic setting discoveries, but with added persistence and specificity. Still, both approaches struggle to exert a sustained and high anticancer effect in-vivo due to the immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment and the logistical challenges of cGMP production or clinical deployment. Novel approaches focused on the quality enhancement and the consistent large-scale production of highly activated therapeutic memory-like NK cells have yielded encouraging but still unconclusive results. This review provides an overview of NK biology as it relates to cancer immunotherapy and the challenge presented by solid tumors for therapeutic NKs. After contrasting the autologous and allogeneic NK approaches for solid cancer immunotherapy, this work will present the current scientific focus for the production of highly persistent and cytotoxic memory-like NK cells as well as the current issues with production methods as they apply to stress-sensitive immune cells. In conclusion, autologous NK cells for cancer immunotherapy appears to be a prime alternative for front line therapeutics but to be successful, it will be critical to establish comprehensives infrastructures allowing the production of extremely potent NK cells while constraining costs of production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby D. Lizana-Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Madeline Torres-Lugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - R. Brent Dixon
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - John D. Powderly
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Renaud F. Warin
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
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21
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Müller TM, Liu LJ, Czerwinski T, Wiesinger M, Dedden M, Paap EM, Ullrich KAM, Atreya I, Siegmund B, Atreya R, Fabry B, Berking C, Neurath MF, Zundler S, Voskens CJ. Increased Motility and Suppression of Ex Vivo-Expanded Regulatory T Cells Designed for Adoptive Transfer Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:183-187.e2. [PMID: 37085136 PMCID: PMC10285232 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja M Müller
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Li-Juan Liu
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tina Czerwinski
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manuel Wiesinger
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mark Dedden
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Paap
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Karen A-M Ullrich
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Imke Atreya
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Britta Siegmund
- Medical Department, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raja Atreya
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ben Fabry
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carola Berking
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus F Neurath
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Zundler
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Caroline J Voskens
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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22
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Mutsenko V, Anastassopoulos E, Zaragotas D, Simaioforidou A, Tarusin D, Lauterboeck L, Sydykov B, Brunotte R, Brunotte K, Rozanski C, Petrenko AY, Braslavsky I, Glasmacher B, Gryshkov O. Monitoring of freezing patterns within 3D collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffolds using infrared thermography. Cryobiology 2023:S0011-2240(23)00007-X. [PMID: 37062517 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The importance of cryopreservation in tissue engineering is unceasingly increasing. Preparation, cryopreservation, and storage of tissue-engineered constructs (TECs) at an on-site location offer a convenient way for their clinical application and commercialization. Partial freezing initiated at high sub-zero temperatures using ice-nucleating agents (INAs) has recently been applied in organ cryopreservation. It is anticipated that this freezing technique may be efficient for the preservation of both scaffold mechanical properties and cell viability of TECs. Infrared thermography is an instrumental method to monitor INAs-mediated freezing of various biological entities. In this paper, porous collagen-hydroxyapatite (HAP) scaffolds were fabricated and characterized as model TECs, whereas infrared thermography was proposed as a method for monitoring the crystallization-related events on their partial freezing down to -25 °C. Intra- and interscaffold latent heat transmission were descriptively evaluated. Nucleation, freezing points as well as the degree of supercooling and duration of crystallization were calculated based on inspection of respective thermographic curves. Special consideration was given to the cryoprotective agent (CPA) composition (Snomax®, crude leaf extract from Hippophae rhamnoides, dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and recombinant type-III antifreeze protein (AFP)) and freezing conditions ('in air' or 'in bulk CPA'). For CPAs without ice nucleation activity, thermographic measurements demonstrated that the supercooling was significantly milder in the case of scaffolds present in a CPA solution compared to that without them. This parameter (ΔT, °C) altered with the following tendency: 10 Me2SO (2.90 ± 0.54 ('in air') vs. 7.71 ± 0.43 ('in bulk CPA', P < 0.0001)) and recombinant type-III AFP, 0.5 mg/ml (2.65 ± 0.59 ('in air') vs. 7.68 ± 0.34 ('in bulk CPA', P < 0.0001)). At the same time, in CPA solutions with ice nucleation activity the least degree of supercooling and the longest crystallization duration (Δt, min) for scaffolds frozen 'in air' were documented for crude leaf homogenate (CLH) from Hippophae rhamnoides (1.57 ± 0.37 °C and 21.86 ± 2.93 min compared to Snomax, 5 μg/ml (2.14 ± 0.33 °C and 23.09 ± 0.05), respectively). The paper offers evidence that infrared thermography provides insightful information for monitoring partial freezing events in TECs when using different freezing containers, CPAs and conditions. This may further TEC-specific cryopreservation and optimization of CPA compositions with slow-nucleating properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitalii Mutsenko
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Hannover, Germany.
| | | | - Dimitris Zaragotas
- Department of Agricultural Engineering Technologists, TEI Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | | | - Dmytro Tarusin
- Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Lothar Lauterboeck
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bulat Sydykov
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany
| | - Ricarda Brunotte
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany
| | - Kai Brunotte
- Institute of Forming Technology and Forming Machines, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany
| | - Corinna Rozanski
- Institute of Building Materials Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Y Petrenko
- Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Ido Braslavsky
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Birgit Glasmacher
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Hannover, Germany
| | - Oleksandr Gryshkov
- Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Garbsen, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Hannover, Germany
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23
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Addressing Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction and Plasticity in Cell-Based Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061743. [PMID: 36980629 PMCID: PMC10046032 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC), known for their role as killers of stressed, cancerous, and virally infected cells. Beyond this cytotoxic function, NK cell subsets can influence broader immune responses through cytokine production and have been linked to central roles in non-immune processes, such as the regulation of vascular remodeling in pregnancy and cancer. Attempts to exploit the anti-tumor functions of NK cells have driven the development of various NK cell-based therapies, which have shown promise in both pre-clinical disease models and early clinical trials. However, certain elements of the tumor microenvironment, such as elevated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, hypoxia, and indoalemine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), are known to suppress NK cell function, potentially limiting the longevity and activity of these approaches. Recent studies have also identified these factors as contributors to NK cell plasticity, defined by the conversion of classical cytotoxic NK cells into poorly cytotoxic, tissue-resident, or ILC1-like phenotypes. This review summarizes the current approaches for NK cell-based cancer therapies and examines the challenges presented by tumor-linked NK cell suppression and plasticity. Ongoing efforts to overcome these challenges are discussed, along with the potential utility of NK cell therapies to applications outside cancer.
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24
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Charvátová S, Motais B, Czapla J, Cichoń T, Smolarczyk R, Walek Z, Giebel S, Hájek R, Bagó JR. Novel Local "Off-the-Shelf" Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Myeloma Bone Disease. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030448. [PMID: 36766789 PMCID: PMC9914109 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloma bone disease (MBD) is one of the major complications in multiple myeloma (MM)-the second most frequent hematologic malignancy. It is characterized by the formation of bone lesions due to the local action of proliferating MM cells, and to date, no effective therapy has been developed. In this study, we propose a novel approach for the local treatment of MBD with a combination of natural killer cells (NKs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within a fibrin scaffold, altogether known as FINM. The unique biological properties of the NKs and MSCs, joined to the injectable biocompatible fibrin, permitted to obtain an efficient "off-the-shelf" ready-to-use composite for the local treatment of MBD. Our in vitro analyses demonstrate that NKs within FINM exert a robust anti-tumor activity against MM cell lines and primary cells, with the capacity to suppress osteoclast activity (~60%) within in vitro 3D model of MBD. Furthermore, NKs' post-thawing cytotoxic activity is significantly enhanced (~75%) in the presence of MSCs, which circumvents the decrease of NKs cytotoxicity after thawing, a well-known issue in the cryopreservation of NKs. To reduce the tumor escape, we combined FINM with other therapeutic agents (bortezomib (BZ), and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)), observing a clear therapeutic synergistic effect in vitro. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of FINM in combination with BZ and TRAIL was assessed in a mouse model of MM, achieving 16-fold smaller tumors compared to the control group without treatment. These results suggest the potential of FINM to serve as an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" approach to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from MBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Charvátová
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 70300 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 70100 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Benjamin Motais
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 70300 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 70100 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Justyna Czapla
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44102 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Tomasz Cichoń
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44102 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ryszard Smolarczyk
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44102 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Zuzana Walek
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 70300 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Sebastian Giebel
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Onco-Hematology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44102 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Roman Hájek
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 70300 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Juli R. Bagó
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 70300 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +42-(05)-97372092
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25
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Sánchez Martínez D, Tirado N, Mensurado S, Martínez-Moreno A, Romecín P, Gutiérrez Agüera F, Correia DV, Silva-Santos B, Menéndez P. Generation and proof-of-concept for allogeneic CD123 CAR-Delta One T (DOT) cells in acute myeloid leukemia. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005400. [PMID: 36162920 PMCID: PMC9516293 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have emerged as a breakthrough treatment for relapse/refractory hematological tumors, showing impressive complete remission rates. However, around 50% of the patients relapse before 1-year post-treatment. T-cell ‘fitness’ is critical to prolong CAR-T persistence and activity. Allogeneic T cells from healthy donors are less dysfunctional or exhausted than autologous patient-derived T cells; in this context, Delta One T cells (DOTs), a recently described cellular product based on MHC/HLA-independent Vδ1+γδ T cells, represent a promising allogeneic platform. Methods Here we generated and preclinically validated, for the first time, 4-1BB-based CAR-DOTs directed against the interleukin-3α chain receptor (CD123), a target antigen widely expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts. Results CD123CAR-DOTs showed vigorous, superior to control DOTs, cytotoxicity against AML cell lines and primary samples both in vitro and in vivo, even on tumor rechallenge. Conclusions Our results provide the proof-of-concept for a DOT-based next-generation allogeneic CAR-T therapy for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sánchez Martínez
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain .,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029)
| | - Néstor Tirado
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029)
| | - Sofia Mensurado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alba Martínez-Moreno
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029)
| | - Paola Romecín
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029)
| | - Francisco Gutiérrez Agüera
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029)
| | - Daniel V Correia
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Bruno Silva-Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pablo Menéndez
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain .,Red Española de Terapias Avanzadas (TERAV) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII) (RICORS, RD21/0017/0029).,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Oncología (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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26
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Guzzeloni V, Veschini L, Pedica F, Ferrero E, Ferrarini M. 3D Models as a Tool to Assess the Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies: Advantages and Limitations. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11030046. [PMID: 35892706 PMCID: PMC9326665 DOI: 10.3390/antib11030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an emerging and very active frontier in clinical oncology, with hundred molecules currently in use or being tested. These treatments have already revolutionized clinical outcomes in both solid and hematological malignancies. However, identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from mAbs treatment is currently challenging and limiting the impact of such therapies. To overcome this issue, and to fulfill the expectations of mAbs therapies, it is urgently required to develop proper culture models capable of faithfully reproducing the interactions between tumor and its surrounding native microenvironment (TME). Three-dimensional (3D) models which allow the assessment of the impact of drugs on tumors within its TME in a patient-specific context are promising avenues to progressively fill the gap between conventional 2D cultures and animal models, substantially contributing to the achievement of personalized medicine. This review aims to give a brief overview of the currently available 3D models, together with their specific exploitation for therapeutic mAbs testing, underlying advantages and current limitations to a broader use in preclinical oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Guzzeloni
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (E.F.)
| | - Lorenzo Veschini
- Academic Centre of Reconstructive Science, Faculty of Dentistry Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK;
| | - Federica Pedica
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Ferrero
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (E.F.)
| | - Marina Ferrarini
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy; (V.G.); (E.F.)
- Correspondence:
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27
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Chen J, Zhao Y, Zhou A, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Ning X. Alginate functionalized biomimetic 3D scaffold improves cell culture and cryopreservation for cellular therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 211:159-169. [PMID: 35568149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The clinical translation of cellular therapy is hampered by the scarcity of reliable and consistent cell sources. In this study, we developed an exquisite scaffold featuring the hierarchical structure and biofunctions of silkworm cocoons (CryoSiCo), for boosting cell manufacture and cryopreservation. CryoSiCo was constructed by a creative bottom-up fabrication technique integrating electrospinning, in situ surface functionalization and freeze-shaping, generating a 3D cocoon-mimicking fibrous scaffold composed of graphene oxide-incorporated polylactic acid/gelatin inner fiber core and alginate outer fiber shell. CryoSiCo provided rapid and uniform rewarming for cryopreserved cells, and maximally maintained cell viability and proliferation capability, allowing for effective cryopreservation. Importantly, CryoSiCo could cryopreserve stem cell-scaffold constructs with high cell survival and functions, which can be directly implanted to restore tissue defects. Thus, CryoSiCo represents an appealing biomimetic strategy for storing precious cells and tissue engineered constructs, showing a broad application for fundamental research and applied medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmei Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yinfeng Zhao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Anwei Zhou
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Physics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yurui Xu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
| | - Xinghai Ning
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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28
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Oyer JL, Croom-Perez TJ, Dieffenthaller TA, Robles-Carillo LD, Gitto SB, Altomare DA, Copik AJ. Cryopreserved PM21-Particle-Expanded Natural Killer Cells Maintain Cytotoxicity and Effector Functions In Vitro and In Vivo. Front Immunol 2022; 13:861681. [PMID: 35464440 PMCID: PMC9022621 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.861681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a great interest in developing natural killer (NK) cells as adoptive cancer immunotherapy. For off-the-shelf approaches and to conduct multicenter clinical trials, cryopreserved NK cells are the preferred product. However, recent studies reported that cryopreservation of NK cells results in loss of cell motility and, as a consequence, cytotoxicity which limits the clinical utility of such products. This study assessed the impact of cryopreservation on the recovery and function of PM21-particle expanded NK cells (PM21-NK cells) as well as their antitumor activity in vitro using 2D and 3D cancer models and in vivo in ovarian cancer models, including patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Viable PM21-NK cells were consistently recovered from cryopreservation and overnight rest with a mean recovery of 73 ± 22% (N = 19). Thawed and rested NK cells maintained the expression of activating receptors when compared to expansion-matched fresh NK cells. Cryopreserved NK cells that were thawed and rested showed no decrease in cytotoxicity when co-incubated with tumor cells at varying effector-to-target (NK:T) ratios compared to expansion-matched fresh NK cells. Moreover, no differences in cytotoxicity were observed between expansion-matched cryopreserved and fresh NK cells in 3D models of tumor killing. These were analyzed by kinetic, live-cell imaging assays co-incubating NK cells with tumor spheroids. When exposed to tumor cells, or upon cytokine stimulation, cryopreserved NK cells that were thawed and rested showed no significant differences in surface expression of degranulation marker CD107a or intracellular expression of TNFα and IFNγ. In vivo antitumor activity was also assessed by measuring the extension of survival of SKOV-3-bearing NSG mice treated with fresh vs. cryopreserved NK cells. Cryopreserved NK cells caused a statistically significant survival extension of SKOV-3-bearing NSG mice that was comparable to that observed with fresh NK cells. Additionally, treatment of NSG mice bearing PDX tumor with cryopreserved PM21-NK cells resulted in nearly doubling of survival compared to untreated mice. These data suggest that PM21-NK cells can be cryopreserved and recovered efficiently without appreciable loss of viability or activity while retaining effector function both in vitro and in vivo. These findings support the use of cryopreserved PM21-NK cells as a cancer immunotherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah L. Oyer
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Tayler J. Croom-Perez
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Thomas A. Dieffenthaller
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Liza D. Robles-Carillo
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Sarah B. Gitto
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Deborah A. Altomare
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Alicja J. Copik
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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29
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Ruppel KE, Fricke S, Köhl U, Schmiedel D. Taking Lessons from CAR-T Cells and Going Beyond: Tailoring Design and Signaling for CAR-NK Cells in Cancer Therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:822298. [PMID: 35371071 PMCID: PMC8971283 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.822298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies utilize the capabilities of the immune system to efficiently target malignant cells. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) equipped T cells showed promising results against B cell lymphomas. Autologous CAR-T cells require patient-specific manufacturing and thus extensive production facilities, resulting in high priced therapies. Along with potentially severe side effects, these are the major drawbacks of CAR-T cells therapies. Natural Killer (NK) cells pose an alternative for CAR equipped immune cells. Since NK cells can be safely transferred from healthy donors to cancer patients, they present a suitable platform for an allogeneic “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy. However, administration of activated NK cells in cancer therapy has until now shown poor anti-cancer responses, especially in solid tumors. Genetic modifications such as CARs promise to enhance recognition of tumor cells, thereby increasing anti-tumor effects and improving clinical efficacy. Although the cell biology of T and NK cells deviates in many aspects, the development of CAR-NK cells frequently follows within the footsteps of CAR-T cells, meaning that T cell technologies are simply adopted to NK cells. In this review, we underline the unique properties of NK cells and their potential in CAR therapies. First, we summarize the characteristics of NK cell biology with a focus on signaling, a fine-tuned interaction of activating and inhibitory receptors. We then discuss why tailored NK cell-specific CAR designs promise superior efficacy compared to designs developed for T cells. We summarize current findings and developments in the CAR-NK landscape: different CAR formats and modifications to optimize signaling, to target a broader pool of antigens or to increase in vivo persistence. Finally, we address challenges beyond NK cell engineering, including expansion and manufacturing, that need to be addressed to pave the way for CAR-NK therapies from the bench to the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Eva Ruppel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmiedel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Department for GMP Process Development & ATMP Design, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Dominik Schmiedel,
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Karvouni M, Vidal-Manrique M, Lundqvist A, Alici E. Engineered NK Cells Against Cancer and Their Potential Applications Beyond. Front Immunol 2022; 13:825979. [PMID: 35242135 PMCID: PMC8887605 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.825979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy is an innovative therapeutic concept where viable cells are implanted, infused, or grafted into a patient to treat impaired or malignant tissues. The term was first introduced circa the 19th century and has since resulted in multiple breakthroughs in different fields of medicine, such as neurology, cardiology, and oncology. Lately, cell and gene therapy are merging to provide cell products with additional or enhanced properties. In this context, adoptive transfer of genetically modified cytotoxic lymphocytes has emerged as a novel treatment option for cancer patients. To this day, five cell therapy products have been FDA approved, four of which for CD19-positive malignancies and one for B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-positive malignancies. These are personalized immunotherapies where patient T cells are engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with the aim to redirect the cells against tumor-specific antigens. CAR-T cell therapies show impressive objective response rates in clinical trials that, in certain instances, may reach up to 80%. However, the life-threatening side effects associated with T cell toxicity and the manufacturing difficulties of developing personalized therapies hamper their widespread use. Recent literature suggests that Natural Killer (NK) cells, may provide a safer alternative and an 'off-the-shelf' treatment option thanks to their potent antitumor properties and relatively short lifespan. Here, we will discuss the potential of NK cells in CAR-based therapies focusing on the applications of CAR-NK cells in cancer therapy and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Karvouni
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcos Vidal-Manrique
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lundqvist
- Department of Oncology‐Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evren Alici
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Makkouk A, Yang XC, Barca T, Lucas A, Turkoz M, Wong JTS, Nishimoto KP, Brodey MM, Tabrizizad M, Gundurao SRY, Bai L, Bhat A, An Z, Abbot S, Satpayev D, Aftab BT, Herrman M. Off-the-shelf Vδ1 gamma delta T cells engineered with glypican-3 (GPC-3)-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and soluble IL-15 display robust antitumor efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003441. [PMID: 34916256 PMCID: PMC8679077 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glypican-3 (GPC-3) is an oncofetal protein that is highly expressed in various solid tumors, but rarely expressed in healthy adult tissues and represents a rational target of particular relevance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) αβ T cell therapies have established significant clinical benefit in hematologic malignancies, although efficacy in solid tumors has been limited due to several challenges including T cell homing, target antigen heterogeneity, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. Gamma delta (γδ) T cells are highly cytolytic effectors that can recognize and kill tumor cells through major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent antigens upregulated under stress. The Vδ1 subset is preferentially localized in peripheral tissue and engineering with CARs to further enhance intrinsic antitumor activity represents an attractive approach to overcome challenges for conventional T cell therapies in solid tumors. Allogeneic Vδ1 CAR T cell therapy may also overcome other hurdles faced by allogeneic αβ T cell therapy, including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). METHODS We developed the first example of allogeneic CAR Vδ1 T cells that have been expanded from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and genetically modified to express a 4-1BB/CD3z CAR against GPC-3. The CAR construct (GPC-3.CAR/secreted interleukin-15 (sIL)-15) additionally encodes a constitutively-secreted form of IL-15, which we hypothesized could sustain proliferation and antitumor activity of intratumoral Vδ1 T cells expressing GPC-3.CAR. RESULTS GPC-3.CAR/sIL-15 Vδ1 T cells expanded from PBMCs on average 20,000-fold and routinely reached >80% purity. Expanded Vδ1 T cells showed a primarily naïve-like memory phenotype with limited exhaustion marker expression and displayed robust in vitro proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxic activity against HCC cell lines expressing low (PLC/PRF/5) and high (HepG2) GPC-3 levels. In a subcutaneous HepG2 mouse model in immunodeficient NSG mice, GPC-3.CAR/sIL-15 Vδ1 T cells primarily accumulated and proliferated in the tumor, and a single dose efficiently controlled tumor growth without evidence of xenogeneic GvHD. Importantly, compared with GPC-3.CAR Vδ1 T cells lacking sIL-15, GPC-3.CAR/sIL-15 Vδ1 T cells displayed greater proliferation and resulted in enhanced therapeutic activity. CONCLUSIONS Expanded Vδ1 T cells engineered with a GPC-3 CAR and sIL-15 represent a promising platform warranting further clinical evaluation as an off-the-shelf treatment of HCC and potentially other GPC-3-expressing solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Taylor Barca
- Adicet Therapeutics, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lu Bai
- Adicet Therapeutics, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Arun Bhat
- Adicet Therapeutics, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Zili An
- Adicet Therapeutics, Menlo Park, California, USA
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Heipertz EL, Zynda ER, Stav-Noraas TE, Hungler AD, Boucher SE, Kaur N, Vemuri MC. Current Perspectives on "Off-The-Shelf" Allogeneic NK and CAR-NK Cell Therapies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:732135. [PMID: 34925314 PMCID: PMC8671166 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.732135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells (NK cells) are the first line of the innate immune defense system, primarily located in peripheral circulation and lymphoid tissues. They kill virally infected and malignant cells through a balancing play of inhibitory and stimulatory receptors. In pre-clinical investigational studies, NK cells show promising anti-tumor effects and are used in adoptive transfer of activated and expanded cells, ex-vivo. NK cells express co-stimulatory molecules that are attractive targets for the immunotherapy of cancers. Recent clinical trials are investigating the use of CAR-NK for different cancers to determine the efficiency. Herein, we review NK cell therapy approaches (NK cell preparation from tissue sources, ways of expansion ex-vivo for "off-the-shelf" allogeneic cell-doses for therapies, and how different vector delivery systems are used to engineer NK cells with CARs) for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L. Heipertz
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Evan R. Zynda
- BioProduction, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Grand Island, NY, United States
| | | | - Andrew D. Hungler
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Shayne E. Boucher
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Navjot Kaur
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Mohan C. Vemuri
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick, MD, United States
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Horses for Courses in the Era of CARs: Advancing CAR T and CAR NK Cell Therapies. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11111182. [PMID: 34834534 PMCID: PMC8621371 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of allogeneic CAR NK cells holds great promise as an anticancer modality due to the relative ease of manufacturing and genetic modification of NK cells, which translates into affordable pricing. Compared to the pronounced efficacy of CAR T cell therapy in the treatment of B cell malignancies, rigorous clinical and preclinical assessment of the antitumor properties of CAR NK cells has been lagging behind. In this brief review, we summarize the biological features of NK cells that may help define the therapeutic niche of CAR NK cells as well as create more potent NK cell-based anticancer products. In addition, we compare T cells and NK cells as the carriers of CARs using the data of single-cell transcriptomic analysis.
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34
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Jung D, Baek YS, Lee IJ, Kim KY, Jang H, Hwang S, Jung J, Moon YW, Park KS, Choi YS, An HJ. Ex vivo expanded allogeneic natural killer cells have potent cytolytic activity against cancer cells through different receptor-ligand interactions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:333. [PMID: 34686187 PMCID: PMC8539797 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Recently, allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells have gained considerable attention as promising immunotherapeutic tools due to their unique biological functions and characteristics. Although many NK expansion strategies have been reported previously, a deeper understanding of cryopreserved allogeneic NK cells is needed for specific therapeutic approaches. Methods We isolated CD3−CD56+ primary natural killer (pNK) cells from healthy donors and expanded them ex vivo using a GMP-compliant method without any feeder to generate large volumes of therapeutic pNK cells and cryopreserved stocks. After validation for high purity and activating phenotypes, we performed RNA sequencing of the expanded and cryopreserved pNK cells. The pNK cells were used against various cancer cell lines in 7-AAD/CFSE cytotoxicity assay. For in vivo efficacy study, NSG mice bearing subcutaneous cisplatin-resistant A2780cis xenografts were treated with our pNK cells or cisplatin. Antitumor efficacy was assessed by measuring tumor volume and weight. Results Compared to the pNK cells before expansion, pNK cells after expansion showed 2855 upregulated genes, including genes related to NK cell activation, cytotoxicity, chemokines, anti-apoptosis, and proliferation. Additionally, the pNK cells showed potent cytolytic activity against various cancer cell lines. Interestingly, our activated pNK cells showed a marked increase in NKp44 (1064-fold), CD40L (12,018-fold), and CCR5 (49-fold), and did not express the programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1). We also demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo efficacies of pNK cells against cisplatin-resistant A2780cis ovarian cancer cells having a high programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) and low HLA-C expression. Conclusions Taken together, our study provides the first comprehensive genome wide analysis of ex vivo-expanded cryopreserved pNK cells. It also indicates the potential use of expanded and cryopreserved pNK cells as a highly promising immunotherapy for anti-cancer drug resistant patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02089-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daun Jung
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatapro Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Seok Baek
- Immunotherapy Team, New Biological Entity (NBE) Research, R&D Division, CHA Biotech, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - In Jee Lee
- Immunotherapy Team, New Biological Entity (NBE) Research, R&D Division, CHA Biotech, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Yeon Kim
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatapro Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejoo Jang
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatapro Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyun Hwang
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatapro Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Jung
- Center for Research & Development, CHA Advanced Research Institute, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Wha Moon
- Department of Medical Oncology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Soo Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jung An
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatapro Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
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35
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Leem G, Cheon S, Lee H, Choi SJ, Jeong S, Kim ES, Jeong HW, Jeong H, Park SH, Kim YS, Shin EC. Abnormality in the NK-cell population is prolonged in severe COVID-19 patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:996-1006.e18. [PMID: 34339730 PMCID: PMC8324384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our understanding of adaptive immune responses in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly evolving, but information on the innate immune responses by natural killer (NK) cells is still insufficient. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the phenotypic and functional status of NK cells and their changes during the course of mild and severe COVID-19. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing and flow cytometric analysis of NK cells from patients with mild and severe COVID-19 at multiple time points in the course of the disease using cryopreserved PBMCs. RESULTS In RNA-sequencing analysis, the NK cells exhibited distinctive features compared with healthy donors, with significant enrichment of proinflammatory cytokine-mediated signaling pathways. Intriguingly, we found that the unconventional CD56dimCD16neg NK-cell population expanded in cryopreserved PBMCs from patients with COVID-19 regardless of disease severity, accompanied by decreased NK-cell cytotoxicity. The NK-cell population was rapidly normalized alongside the disappearance of unconventional CD56dimCD16neg NK cells and the recovery of NK-cell cytotoxicity in patients with mild COVID-19, but this occurred slowly in patients with severe COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS The current longitudinal study provides a deep understanding of the NK-cell biology in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galam Leem
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shinhye Cheon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hoyoung Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seong Jin Choi
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seongju Jeong
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eui-Soon Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hye Won Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hyeongseok Jeong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Su-Hyung Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Yeon-Sook Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
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36
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Cryopreservation of NK and T Cells Without DMSO for Adoptive Cell-Based Immunotherapy. BioDrugs 2021; 35:529-545. [PMID: 34427899 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-021-00494-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Dimethylsufoxide (DMSO) being universally used as a cryoprotectant in clinical adoptive cell-therapy settings to treat hematological malignancies and solid tumors is a growing concern, largely due to its broad toxicities. Its use has been associated with significant clinical side effects-cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and allergic-in patients receiving infusions of cell-therapy products. DMSO has also been associated with altered expression of natural killer (NK) and T-cell markers and their in vivo function, not to mention difficulties in scaling up DMSO-based cryoprotectants, which introduce manufacturing challenges for autologous and allogeneic cellular therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T and CAR-NK cell therapies. Interest in developing alternatives to DMSO has resulted in the evaluation of a variety of sugars, proteins, polymers, amino acids, and other small molecules and osmolytes as well as modalities to efficiently enable cellular uptake of these cryoprotectants. However, the DMSO-free cryopreservation of NK and T cells remains difficult. They represent heterogeneous cell populations that are sensitive to freezing and thawing. As a result, clinical use of cryopreserved cell-therapy products has not moved past the use of DMSO. Here, we present the state of the art in the development and use of cryopreservation options that do not contain DMSO toward clinical solutions to enable the global deployment of safer adoptively transferred cell-based therapies.
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37
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Metzner C, Hörsch F, Mark C, Czerwinski T, Winterl A, Voskens C, Fabry B. Detecting long-range interactions between migrating cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15031. [PMID: 34294808 PMCID: PMC8298713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94458-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotaxis enables cells to systematically approach distant targets that emit a diffusible guiding substance. However, the visual observation of an encounter between a cell and a target does not necessarily indicate the presence of a chemotactic approach mechanism, as even a blindly migrating cell can come across a target by chance. To distinguish between the chemotactic approach and blind migration, we present an objective method that is based on the analysis of time-lapse recorded cell migration trajectories: For each movement step of a cell relative to the position of a potential target, we compute a p value that quantifies the likelihood of the movement direction under the null-hypothesis of blind migration. The resulting distribution of p values, pooled over all recorded cell trajectories, is then compared to an ensemble of reference distributions in which the positions of targets are randomized. First, we validate our method with simulated data, demonstrating that it reliably detects the presence or absence of remote cell-cell interactions. In a second step, we apply the method to data from three-dimensional collagen gels, interspersed with highly migratory natural killer (NK) cells that were derived from two different human donors. We find for one of the donors an attractive interaction between the NK cells, pointing to a cooperative behavior of these immune cells. When adding nearly stationary K562 tumor cells to the system, we find a repulsive interaction between K562 and NK cells for one of the donors. By contrast, we find attractive interactions between NK cells and an IL-15-secreting variant of K562 tumor cells. We therefore speculate that NK cells find wild-type tumor cells only by chance, but are programmed to leave a target quickly after a close encounter. We provide a freely available Python implementation of our p value method that can serve as a general tool for detecting long-range interactions in collective systems of self-driven agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Metzner
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - F Hörsch
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Mark
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - T Czerwinski
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A Winterl
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Voskens
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen - European Metropolitan Area of Nürnberg (CCC-ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Erlangen, Germany
| | - B Fabry
- Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Luo L, Zang G, Liu B, Qin X, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Zhang H, Wu W, Wang G. Bioengineering CXCR4-overexpressing cell membrane functionalized ROS-responsive nanotherapeutics for targeting cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:8043-8056. [PMID: 34335979 PMCID: PMC8315061 DOI: 10.7150/thno.60785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: As a potentially life-threatening disorder, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with significantly high mortality, especially the irreversible brain tissue damage associated with increased reactive oxygen radical production and excessive inflammation. Currently, the insufficiency of targeted drug delivery and “on-demand” drug release remain the greatest challenges for cerebral I/R injury therapy. Bioengineered cell membrane-based nanotherapeutics mimic and enhance natural membrane functions and represent a potentially promising approach, relying on selective interactions between receptors and chemokines and increase nanomedicine delivery efficiency into the target tissues. Methods: We employed a systematic method to synthesize biomimetic smart nanoparticles. The CXCR4-overexpressing primary mouse thoracic aorta endothelial cell (PMTAEC) membranes and RAPA@HOP were extruded through a 200 nm polycarbonate porous membrane using a mini-extruder to harvest the RAPA@BMHOP. The bioengineered CXCR4-overexpressing cell membrane-functionalized ROS-responsive nanotherapeutics, loaded with rapamycin (RAPA), were fabricated to enhance the targeted delivery to lesions with pathological overexpression of SDF-1. Results: RAPA@BMHOP exhibited a three-fold higher rate of target delivery efficacy via the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis than its non-targeting counterpart in an in vivo model. Additionally, in response to the excessive pathological ROS, nanotherapeutics could be degraded to promote “on-demand” cargo release and balance the ROS level by p-hydroxy-benzyl alcohol degradation, thereby scavenging excessive ROS and suppressing the free radical-induced focal damage and local inflammation. Also, the stealth effect of cell membrane coating functionalization on the surface resulted in extended circulation time and high stability of nanoparticles. Conclusion: The biomimetic smart nanotherapeutics with active targeting, developed in this study, significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy and biosafety profiles. Thus, these nanoparticles could be a candidate for efficient therapy of cerebral I/R injury.
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A Novel off-the-Shelf Trastuzumab-Armed NK Cell Therapy (ACE1702) Using Antibody-Cell-Conjugation Technology. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112724. [PMID: 34072864 PMCID: PMC8199224 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy has shown its potency against hematologic malignancies in autologous settings but also limited success against solid tumors with severe adverse events, including fatal cases of cytokine releasing syndrome. The aim of this research is to develop a novel off-the-shelf natural killer cell therapy against HER2-expressing cancers using Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) technology and the endogenous CD16-expressing oNK cell line. ACE1702, trastuzumab-armed oNK cells with γ irradiation and cryopreservation, present superior in vitro and in vivo potency against HER2-expressing cancer cells and shows no tumorigenic potential, indicating the clinical application fighting HER2-expressing solid tumors. These findings suggest that ACC technology can be applied to allogeneic immune cells to provide off-the-shelf therapies for cancer patients. Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells harbor efficient cytotoxicity against tumor cells without causing life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). When compared to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology, Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) technology has been developed to provide an efficient platform to arm immune cells with cancer-targeting antibodies to recognize and attack cancer cells. Recently, we established an endogenous CD16-expressing oNK cell line (oNK) with a favorable expression pattern of NK activation/inhibitory receptors. In this study, we applied ACC platform to conjugate oNK with trastuzumab and an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody. Trastuzumab-conjugated oNK, ACE-oNK-HER2, executed in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity against HER2-expressing cancer cells and secretion of IFNγ. The irradiated and cryopreserved ACE-oNK-HER2, designated as ACE1702, retained superior HER2-specific in vitro and in vivo potency with no tumorigenic potential. In conclusion, this study provides the evidence to support the potential clinical application of ACE1702 as a novel off-the-shelf NK cell therapy against HER2-expressing solid tumors.
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Fitzgerald AA, Li E, Weiner LM. 3D Culture Systems for Exploring Cancer Immunology. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:cancers13010056. [PMID: 33379189 PMCID: PMC7795162 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary To study any disease, researchers need convenient and relevant disease models. In cancer, the most commonly used models are two-dimensional (2D) culture models, which grow cells on hard, rigid, plastic surfaces, and mouse models. Cancer immunology is especially difficult to model because the immune system is exceedingly complex; it contains multiple types of cells, and each cell type has several subtypes and a spectrum of activation states. These many immune cell types interact with cancer cells and other components of the tumor, ultimately influencing disease outcomes. 2D culture methods fail to recapitulate these complex cellular interactions. Mouse models also suffer because the murine and human immune systems vary significantly. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems therefore provide an alternative method to study cancer immunology and can fill the current gaps in available models. This review will describe common 3D culture models and how those models have been used to advance our understanding of cancer immunology. Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, spurring extensive investigation into cancer immunology and how to exploit this biology for therapeutic benefit. Current methods to investigate cancer-immune cell interactions and develop novel drug therapies rely on either two-dimensional (2D) culture systems or murine models. However, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems provide a potentially superior alternative model to both 2D and murine approaches. As opposed to 2D models, 3D models are more physiologically relevant and better replicate tumor complexities. Compared to murine models, 3D models are cheaper, faster, and can study the human immune system. In this review, we discuss the most common 3D culture systems—spheroids, organoids, and microfluidic chips—and detail how these systems have advanced our understanding of cancer immunology.
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