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Bataclan M, Leoni C, Moro SG, Pecoraro M, Wong EH, Heissmeyer V, Monticelli S. Crosstalk between Regnase-1 and -3 shapes mast cell survival and cytokine expression. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402784. [PMID: 38830770 PMCID: PMC11147952 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402784] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation of immune-related transcripts by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) impacts immune cell responses, including mast cell functionality. Despite their importance in immune regulation, the functional role of most RBPs remains to be understood. By manipulating the expression of specific RBPs in murine mast cells, coupled with mass spectrometry and transcriptomic analyses, we found that the Regnase family of proteins acts as a potent regulator of mast cell physiology. Specifically, Regnase-1 is required to maintain basic cell proliferation and survival, whereas both Regnase-1 and -3 cooperatively regulate the expression of inflammatory transcripts upon activation, with Tnf being a primary target in both human and mouse cells. Furthermore, Regnase-3 directly interacts with Regnase-1 in mast cells and is necessary to restrain Regnase-1 expression through the destabilization of its transcript. Overall, our study identifies protein interactors of endogenously expressed Regnase factors, characterizes the regulatory interplay between Regnase family members in mast cells, and establishes their role in the control of mast cell homeostasis and inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Bataclan
- https://ror.org/05gfswd81 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Leoni
- https://ror.org/05gfswd81 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Simone G Moro
- https://ror.org/05gfswd81 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Pecoraro
- https://ror.org/05gfswd81 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Elaine H Wong
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Vigo Heissmeyer
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Research Unit Molecular Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Silvia Monticelli
- https://ror.org/05gfswd81 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
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2
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Mog BJ, Marcou N, DiNapoli SR, Pearlman AH, Nichakawade TD, Hwang MS, Douglass J, Hsiue EHC, Glavaris S, Wright KM, Konig MF, Paul S, Wyhs N, Ge J, Miller MS, Azurmendi P, Watson E, Pardoll DM, Gabelli SB, Bettegowda C, Papadopoulos N, Kinzler KW, Vogelstein B, Zhou S. Preclinical studies show that Co-STARs combine the advantages of chimeric antigen and T cell receptors for the treatment of tumors with low antigen densities. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadg7123. [PMID: 38985855 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg7123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Two types of engineered T cells have been successfully used to treat patients with cancer, one with an antigen recognition domain derived from antibodies [chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)] and the other derived from T cell receptors (TCRs). CARs use high-affinity antigen-binding domains and costimulatory domains to induce T cell activation but can only react against target cells with relatively high amounts of antigen. TCRs have a much lower affinity for their antigens but can react against target cells displaying only a few antigen molecules. Here, we describe a new type of receptor, called a Co-STAR (for costimulatory synthetic TCR and antigen receptor), that combines aspects of both CARs and TCRs. In Co-STARs, the antigen-recognizing components of TCRs are replaced by high-affinity antibody fragments, and costimulation is provided by two modules that drive NF-κB signaling (MyD88 and CD40). Using a TCR-mimic antibody fragment that targets a recurrent p53 neoantigen presented in a common human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, we demonstrate that T cells equipped with Co-STARs can kill cancer cells bearing low densities of antigen better than T cells engineered with conventional CARs and patient-derived TCRs in vitro. In mouse models, we show that Co-STARs mediate more robust T cell expansion and more durable tumor regressions than TCRs similarly modified with MyD88 and CD40 costimulation. Our data suggest that Co-STARs may have utility for other peptide-HLA antigens in cancer and other targets where antigen density may limit the efficacy of engineered T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Mog
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Nikita Marcou
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sarah R DiNapoli
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Alexander H Pearlman
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tushar D Nichakawade
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Michael S Hwang
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jacqueline Douglass
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Emily Han-Chung Hsiue
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Stephanie Glavaris
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Katharine M Wright
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Maximilian F Konig
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Suman Paul
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Nicolas Wyhs
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jiaxin Ge
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michelle S Miller
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - P Azurmendi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Evangeline Watson
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Drew M Pardoll
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sandra B Gabelli
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chetan Bettegowda
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nickolas Papadopoulos
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kenneth W Kinzler
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Bert Vogelstein
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shibin Zhou
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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3
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Van der Vreken A, Vanderkerken K, De Bruyne E, De Veirman K, Breckpot K, Menu E. Fueling CARs: metabolic strategies to enhance CAR T-cell therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:66. [PMID: 38987856 PMCID: PMC11238373 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00535-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR T cells are widely applied for relapsed hematological cancer patients. With six approved cell therapies, for Multiple Myeloma and other B-cell malignancies, new insights emerge. Profound evidence shows that patients who fail CAR T-cell therapy have, aside from antigen escape, a more glycolytic and weakened metabolism in their CAR T cells, accompanied by a short lifespan. Recent advances show that CAR T cells can be metabolically engineered towards oxidative phosphorylation, which increases their longevity via epigenetic and phenotypical changes. In this review we elucidate various strategies to rewire their metabolism, including the design of the CAR construct, co-stimulus choice, genetic modifications of metabolic genes, and pharmacological interventions. We discuss their potential to enhance CAR T-cell functioning and persistence through memory imprinting, thereby improving outcomes. Furthermore, we link the pharmacological treatments with their anti-cancer properties in hematological malignancies to ultimately suggest novel combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Van der Vreken
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Elke De Bruyne
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Kim De Veirman
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Eline Menu
- Translational Oncology Research Center, Team Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.
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4
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Ramapriyan R, Vykunta VS, Vandecandelaere G, Richardson LGK, Sun J, Curry WT, Choi BD. Altered cancer metabolism and implications for next-generation CAR T-cell therapies. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 259:108667. [PMID: 38763321 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108667] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
This review critically examines the evolving landscape of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in treating solid tumors, with a particular focus on the metabolic challenges within the tumor microenvironment. CAR T-cell therapy has demonstrated remarkable success in hematologic malignancies, yet its efficacy in solid tumors remains limited. A significant barrier is the hostile milieu of the tumor microenvironment, which impairs CAR T-cell survival and function. This review delves into the metabolic adaptations of cancer cells and their impact on immune cells, highlighting the competition for nutrients and the accumulation of immunosuppressive metabolites. It also explores emerging strategies to enhance CAR T-cell metabolic fitness and persistence, including genetic engineering and metabolic reprogramming. An integrated approach, combining metabolic interventions with CAR T-cell therapy, has the potential to overcome these constraints and improve therapeutic outcomes in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishab Ramapriyan
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Vivasvan S Vykunta
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; ImmunoX Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Gust Vandecandelaere
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Leland G K Richardson
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jing Sun
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - William T Curry
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Bryan D Choi
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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5
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Wang X, Liu G, Shi X, Wang Y, Jiang B, Liu W, Dai A, Zhang X, Yu F. Overexpressing Bcl-2 enhances murine chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy against solid tumor. Hum Cell 2024; 37:1107-1119. [PMID: 38691335 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01066-x] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy has demonstrated promising potential in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, its application to solid tumors is limited due to the restrictive nature of the tumor microenvironment, resulting in functional failure and poor persistence of CART cells. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in human CART cells (hCART) has been found to significantly enhance their anti-apoptotic effects both in vitro and in vivo. Nevertheless, the evaluation of hCART cells in preclinical studies has predominantly relied on immunodeficient mice xenograft tumor models, making it challenging to assess the impact of hCART cells on normal tissues and the immune system. We established a murine CART (mCART) that overexpresses Bcl-2 and targets the epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), named EGFRvIII·mCART-Bcl2. It demonstrated superior proliferation, cytotoxicity, and anti-apoptotic capabilities in vitro. In an immunocompetent mouse model of abdominal metastasis of colorectal cancer, EGFRvIII·mCART-Bcl2 exhibited improved survival of CART in the abdomen, increased tumor clearance, and significantly prolonged overall mouse survival. In summary, our study provides evidence that the introduction of Bcl-2 into mCART cells can enhance their therapeutic efficacy against solid tumors while ensuring safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xianggang Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
| | - Yuxing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Anran Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Xiangzhi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Feng Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
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6
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Moraly J, Kondo T, Benzaoui M, DuSold J, Talluri S, Pouzolles MC, Chien C, Dardalhon V, Taylor N. Metabolic dialogues: regulators of chimeric antigen receptor T cell function in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:1695-1718. [PMID: 38922759 PMCID: PMC11223614 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13691] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have demonstrated remarkable success in the treatment of relapsed/refractory melanoma and hematological malignancies, respectively. These treatments have marked a pivotal shift in cancer management. However, as "living drugs," their effectiveness is dependent on their ability to proliferate and persist in patients. Recent studies indicate that the mechanisms regulating these crucial functions, as well as the T cell's differentiation state, are conditioned by metabolic shifts and the distinct utilization of metabolic pathways. These metabolic shifts, conditioned by nutrient availability as well as cell surface expression of metabolite transporters, are coupled to signaling pathways and the epigenetic landscape of the cell, modulating transcriptional, translational, and post-translational profiles. In this review, we discuss the processes underlying the metabolic remodeling of activated T cells, the impact of a tumor metabolic environment on T cell function, and potential metabolic-based strategies to enhance T cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josquin Moraly
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université Sorbonne Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Taisuke Kondo
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Mehdi Benzaoui
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
| | - Justyn DuSold
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Sohan Talluri
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Marie C. Pouzolles
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Christopher Chien
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Valérie Dardalhon
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
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7
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Pal SK, Tran B, Haanen JB, Hurwitz ME, Sacher A, Tannir NM, Budde LE, Harrison SJ, Klobuch S, Patel SS, Meza L, Dequeant ML, Ma A, He QA, Williams LM, Keegan A, Gurary EB, Dar H, Karnik S, Guo C, Heath H, Yuen RR, Morrow PK, Agarwal N, Srour SA. CD70-Targeted Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy for Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1176-1189. [PMID: 38583184 PMCID: PMC11215406 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic approaches for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain limited; however, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies may offer novel treatment options. CTX130, an allogeneic CD70-targeting CAR T-cell product, was developed for the treatment of advanced or refractory ccRCC. We report that CTX130 showed favorable preclinical proliferation and cytotoxicity profiles and completely regressed RCC xenograft tumors. We also report results from 16 patients with relapsed/refractory ccRCC who received CTX130 in a phase I, multicenter, first-in-human clinical trial. No patients encountered dose-limiting toxicity, and disease control was achieved in 81.3% of patients. One patient remains in a durable complete response at 3 years. Finally, we report on a next-generation CAR T construct, CTX131, in which synergistic potency edits to CTX130 confer improved expansion and efficacy in preclinical studies. These data represent a proof of concept for the treatment of ccRCC and other CD70+ malignancies with CD70- targeted allogeneic CAR T cells. Significance: Although the role of CAR T cells is well established in hematologic malignancies, the clinical experience in solid tumors has been disappointing. This clinical trial demonstrates the first complete response in a patient with RCC, reinforcing the potential benefit of CAR T cells in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta K. Pal
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California.
| | - Ben Tran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - John B.A.G. Haanen
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | | | - Adrian Sacher
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Nizar M. Tannir
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - Lihua E. Budde
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California.
| | - Simon J. Harrison
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | - Sagar S. Patel
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
| | - Luis Meza
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California.
| | | | - Anna Ma
- CRISPR Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | | | | | | | - Ellen B. Gurary
- Formerly employed by CRISPR Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Henia Dar
- CRISPR Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | | | - Changan Guo
- Formerly employed by CRISPR Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | | | | | - Phuong K. Morrow
- Formerly employed by CRISPR Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Neeraj Agarwal
- Division of Medical Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
| | - Samer A. Srour
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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8
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Pimentel H, Freimer JW, Arce MM, Garrido CM, Marson A, Pritchard JK. A model for accurate quantification of CRISPR effects in pooled FACS screens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.17.599448. [PMID: 38948774 PMCID: PMC11213010 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.17.599448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR screens are powerful tools to identify key genes that underlie biological processes. One important type of screen uses fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to sort perturbed cells into bins based on the expression level of marker genes, followed by guide RNA (gRNA) sequencing. Analysis of these data presents several statistical challenges due to multiple factors including the discrete nature of the bins and typically small numbers of replicate experiments. To address these challenges, we developed a robust and powerful Bayesian random effects model and software package called Waterbear. Furthermore, we used Waterbear to explore how various experimental design parameters affect statistical power to establish principled guidelines for future screens. Finally, we experimentally validated our experimental design model findings that, when using Waterbear for analysis, high power is maintained even at low cell coverage and a high multiplicity of infection. We anticipate that Waterbear will be of broad utility for analyzing FACS-based CRISPR screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold Pimentel
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Departments of Computational Medicine and Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jacob W Freimer
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Present address: Genentech Research and Early Development, South San Francisco, CA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Maya M Arce
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Christian M Garrido
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alexander Marson
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- These authors jointly supervised this work
| | - Jonathan K Pritchard
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- These authors jointly supervised this work
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9
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Sun X, Nagahama Y, Singh SK, Kozakai Y, Nabeshima H, Fukushima K, Tanaka H, Motooka D, Fukui E, Vivier E, Diez D, Akira S. Deletion of the mRNA endonuclease Regnase-1 promotes NK cell anti-tumor activity via OCT2-dependent transcription of Ifng. Immunity 2024; 57:1360-1377.e13. [PMID: 38821052 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Limited infiltration and activity of natural killer (NK) and T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) correlate with poor immunotherapy responses. Here, we examined the role of the endonuclease Regnase-1 on NK cell anti-tumor activity. NK cell-specific deletion of Regnase-1 (Reg1ΔNK) augmented cytolytic activity and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in vitro and increased intra-tumoral accumulation of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells in vivo, reducing tumor growth dependent on IFN-γ. Transcriptional changes in Reg1ΔNK-NK cells included elevated IFN-γ expression, cytolytic effectors, and the chemokine receptor CXCR6. IFN-γ induced expression of the CXCR6 ligand CXCL16 on myeloid cells, promoting further recruitment of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells. Mechanistically, Regnase-1 deletion increased its targets, the transcriptional regulators OCT2 and IκBζ, following interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 stimulation, and the resulting OCT2-IκBζ-NF-κB complex induced Ifng transcription. Silencing Regnase-1 in human NK cells increased the expression of IFNG and POU2F2. Our findings highlight NK cell dysfunction in the TME and propose that targeting Regnase-1 could augment active NK cell persistence for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Quantitative Immunology Unit, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Nagahama
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Host Defense Laboratory, Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Innovations, Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 5-1-35 Saito-aokita, Minoh, Osaka 562-0029, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shailendra Kumar Singh
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuuki Kozakai
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nabeshima
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Host Defense Laboratory, Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Innovations, Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 5-1-35 Saito-aokita, Minoh, Osaka 562-0029, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kiyoharu Fukushima
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- NGS Core Facility of the Genome Information Research Center, RIMD, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Eriko Fukui
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Eric Vivier
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France; Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Marseille, France; APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopole, Marseille, France
| | - Diego Diez
- Quantitative Immunology Unit, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shizuo Akira
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Center for Advanced Modalities and Drug Delivery System (CAMaD), Osaka University, 2-8 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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10
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Fang T, Chen G. Non-viral vector-based genome editing for cancer immunotherapy. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:3068-3085. [PMID: 38716572 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00286e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Despite the exciting promise of cancer immunotherapy in the clinic, immune checkpoint blockade therapy and T cell-based therapies are often associated with low response rates, intrinsic and adaptive immune resistance, and systemic side effects. CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing appears to be an effective strategy to overcome these unmet clinical needs. As a safer delivery platform for the CRISPR-Cas system, non-viral nanoformulations have been recently explored to target tumor cells and immune cells, aiming to improve cancer immunotherapy on a gene level. In this review, we summarized the efforts of non-viral vector-based CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing in tumor cells and immune cells for cancer immunotherapy. Their design rationale and specific applications were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxu Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
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11
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Naik S, Velasquez MP, Gottschalk S. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in childhood acute myeloid leukemia: how far are we from a clinical application? Haematologica 2024; 109:1656-1667. [PMID: 38832421 PMCID: PMC11141645 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent and/or refractory (R/R) pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a recalcitrant disease with poor outcomes. Cell therapy with genetically modified immune effector cells holds the promise to improve outcomes for R/R AML since it relies on cytotoxic mechanisms that are distinct from chemotherapeutic agents. While T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T cells) showed significant anti-AML activity in preclinical models, early phase clinical studies have demonstrated limited activity, irrespective of the targeted AML antigen. Lack of efficacy is most likely multifactorial, including: (i) a limited array of AML-specific targets and target antigen heterogeneity; (ii) the aggressive nature of R/R AML and heavy pretreatment of patients; (iii) T-cell product manufacturing, and (iv) limited expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells, which is in part driven by the immunosuppressive AML microenvironment. Here we review the results of early phase clinical studies with AML-specific CAR T cells, and avenues investigators are exploring to improve their effector function.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Child
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Animals
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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12
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Mowery CT, Freimer JW, Chen Z, Casaní-Galdón S, Umhoefer JM, Arce MM, Gjoni K, Daniel B, Sandor K, Gowen BG, Nguyen V, Simeonov DR, Garrido CM, Curie GL, Schmidt R, Steinhart Z, Satpathy AT, Pollard KS, Corn JE, Bernstein BE, Ye CJ, Marson A. Systematic decoding of cis gene regulation defines context-dependent control of the multi-gene costimulatory receptor locus in human T cells. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1156-1167. [PMID: 38811842 PMCID: PMC11176074 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01743-5] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) interact with trans regulators to orchestrate gene expression, but how transcriptional regulation is coordinated in multi-gene loci has not been experimentally defined. We sought to characterize the CREs controlling dynamic expression of the adjacent costimulatory genes CD28, CTLA4 and ICOS, encoding regulators of T cell-mediated immunity. Tiling CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens in primary human T cells, both conventional and regulatory subsets, uncovered gene-, cell subset- and stimulation-specific CREs. Integration with CRISPR knockout screens and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) profiling identified trans regulators influencing chromatin states at specific CRISPRi-responsive elements to control costimulatory gene expression. We then discovered a critical CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) boundary that reinforces CRE interaction with CTLA4 while also preventing promiscuous activation of CD28. By systematically mapping CREs and associated trans regulators directly in primary human T cell subsets, this work overcomes longstanding experimental limitations to decode context-dependent gene regulatory programs in a complex, multi-gene locus critical to immune homeostasis.
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Grants
- P30 DK063720 NIDDK NIH HHS
- R01 HG008140 NHGRI NIH HHS
- T32 GM007618 NIGMS NIH HHS
- S10 OD028511 NIH HHS
- F99 CA234842 NCI NIH HHS
- S10 OD021822 NIH HHS
- K00 CA234842 NCI NIH HHS
- P01 AI138962 NIAID NIH HHS
- U01 HL157989 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01 DK129364 NIDDK NIH HHS
- T32 DK007418 NIDDK NIH HHS
- R01 AI136972 NIAID NIH HHS
- F30 AI157167 NIAID NIH HHS
- R01 HG011239 NHGRI NIH HHS
- NIH grants 1R01DK129364-01A1, P01AI138962, and R01HG008140; the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation (grant no. 2020-D-002-NET); and Northern California JDRF Center of Excellence. A.M. is a member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), and has received funding from the Arc Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old STAR award, a gift from the Jordan Family, a gift from the Byers family and a gift from B. Bakar.
- UCSF ImmunoX Computational Immunology Fellow, is supported by NIH grant F30AI157167, and has received support from NIH grants T32DK007418 and T32GM007618
- NIH grant R01HG008140
- Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a Lloyd J. Old STAR Award from the Cancer Research Institute, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
- NIH grant U01HL157989
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody T Mowery
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacob W Freimer
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salvador Casaní-Galdón
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Umhoefer
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maya M Arce
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ketrin Gjoni
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bence Daniel
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next Generation Sequencing, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katalin Sandor
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin G Gowen
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF CoLabs, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dimitre R Simeonov
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christian M Garrido
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gemma L Curie
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ralf Schmidt
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zachary Steinhart
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ansuman T Satpathy
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub SF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacob E Corn
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bradley E Bernstein
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chun Jimmie Ye
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub SF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Rosalind Russell/Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alexander Marson
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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13
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Song P, Zhang Q, Xu Z, Shi Y, Jing R, Luo D. CRISPR/Cas-based CAR-T cells: production and application. Biomark Res 2024; 12:54. [PMID: 38816881 PMCID: PMC11140991 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00602-z] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment approach for cancer, autoimmune disease, and heart disease. The integration of CAR into T cells is typically facilitated by retroviral or lentiviral vectors. However, the random insertion of CARs can lead to issues like clonal expansion, oncogenic transformation, variegated transgene expression, and transcriptional silencing. The advent of precise gene editing technology, like Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), allows for controlled and precise genome modification, facilitating the translation of CAR-T research to the clinical applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the application of CRISPR gene editing techniques in the context of precise deletion and insertion methodologies, with a specific focus on their potential for enhancing the development and utilization of CAR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Song
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, No. 261, Huansha Road, Shangcheng district, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Qiqi Zhang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Yueli Shi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Ruirui Jing
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dingcun Luo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, No. 261, Huansha Road, Shangcheng district, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, P. R. China.
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, China.
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14
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Chen B, Deng Y, Ren X, Zhao J, Jiang C. CRISPR/Cas9 screening: unraveling cancer immunotherapy's 'Rosetta Stone'. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00102-3. [PMID: 38763850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.014] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based technology, a powerful toolset for the unbiased functional genomic screening of biological processes, has facilitated several scientific breakthroughs in the biomedical field. Cancer immunotherapy has advanced the treatment of numerous malignancies that previously had restricted treatment options or unfavorable outcomes. In the realm of cancer immunotherapy, the application of CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based genetic perturbation screening has enabled the identification of genes, biomarkers, and signaling pathways that govern various cancer immunoreactivities, as well as the development of effective immunotherapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based screening for cancer immunotherapy and outline the immunotherapeutic targets identified via CRISPR screening based on cancer-type classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoxiang Chen
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Yanrong Deng
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xianghai Ren
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Jianhong Zhao
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Congqing Jiang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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15
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Chapman NM, Chi H. Metabolic rewiring and communication in cancer immunity. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:862-883. [PMID: 38428418 PMCID: PMC11177544 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.02.001] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The immune system shapes tumor development and progression. Although immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, its overall efficacy remains limited, underscoring the need to uncover mechanisms to improve therapeutic effects. Metabolism-associated processes, including intracellular metabolic reprogramming and intercellular metabolic crosstalk, are emerging as instructive signals for anti-tumor immunity. Here, we first summarize the roles of intracellular metabolic pathways in controlling immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment. How intercellular metabolic communication regulates anti-tumor immunity, and the impact of metabolites or nutrients on signaling events, are also discussed. We then describe how targeting metabolic pathways in tumor cells or intratumoral immune cells or via nutrient-based interventions may boost cancer immunotherapies. Finally, we conclude with discussions on profiling and functional perturbation methods of metabolic activity in intratumoral immune cells, and perspectives on future directions. Uncovering the mechanisms for metabolic rewiring and communication in the tumor microenvironment may enable development of novel cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Chapman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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16
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Wang L, Jin G, Zhou Q, Liu Y, Zhao X, Li Z, Yin N, Peng M. Induction of immortal-like and functional CAR T cells by defined factors. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20232368. [PMID: 38530240 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20232368] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-term antitumor efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells depends on their functional persistence in vivo. T cells with stem-like properties show better persistence, but factors conferring bona fide stemness to T cells remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrate the induction of CAR T cells into an immortal-like and functional state, termed TIF. The induction of CARTIF cells depends on the repression of two factors, BCOR and ZC3H12A, and requires antigen or CAR tonic signaling. Reprogrammed CARTIF cells possess almost infinite stemness, similar to induced pluripotent stem cells while retaining the functionality of mature T cells, resulting in superior antitumor effects. Following the elimination of target cells, CARTIF cells enter a metabolically dormant state, persisting in vivo with a saturable niche and providing memory protection. TIF represents a novel state of T cells with unprecedented stemness, which confers long-term functional persistence of CAR T cells in vivo and holds broad potential in T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Gang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Qiuping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Xiaocui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Zhuoyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Na Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
| | - Min Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine , Taiyuan, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences , Beijing, China
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17
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Wu W, Wang X, He K, Li C, Li S. From mice to men: An assessment of preclinical model systems for the study of vitiligo. Clin Immunol 2024; 262:110171. [PMID: 38462156 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110171] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease of multiple etiology, for which there is no complete cure. This chronic depigmentation is characterized by epidermal melanocyte loss, and causes disfigurement and significant psychosocial distress. Mouse models have been extensively employed to further our understanding of complex disease mechanisms in vitiligo, as well as to provide a preclinical platform for clinical interventional research on potential treatment strategies in humans. The current mouse models can be categorized into three groups: spontaneous mouse models, induced mouse models, and transgenic mice. Despite their limitations, these models allow us to understand the pathology processes of vitiligo at molecule, cell, tissue, organ, and system levels, and have been used to test prospective drugs. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate existing murine systems of vitiligo and elucidate their respective characteristics, aiming to offer a panorama for researchers to select the appropriate mouse models for their study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changlexi Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xinju Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changlexi Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kaiqiao He
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changlexi Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chunying Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changlexi Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Shuli Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changlexi Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China.
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18
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Chi H, Pepper M, Thomas PG. Principles and therapeutic applications of adaptive immunity. Cell 2024; 187:2052-2078. [PMID: 38670065 PMCID: PMC11177542 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.037] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive immunity provides protection against infectious and malignant diseases. These effects are mediated by lymphocytes that sense and respond with targeted precision to perturbations induced by pathogens and tissue damage. Here, we review key principles underlying adaptive immunity orchestrated by distinct T cell and B cell populations and their extensions to disease therapies. We discuss the intracellular and intercellular processes shaping antigen specificity and recognition in immune activation and lymphocyte functions in mediating effector and memory responses. We also describe how lymphocytes balance protective immunity against autoimmunity and immunopathology, including during immune tolerance, response to chronic antigen stimulation, and adaptation to non-lymphoid tissues in coordinating tissue immunity and homeostasis. Finally, we discuss extracellular signals and cell-intrinsic programs underpinning adaptive immunity and conclude by summarizing key advances in vaccination and engineering adaptive immune responses for therapeutic interventions. A deeper understanding of these principles holds promise for uncovering new means to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Marion Pepper
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions and Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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19
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Song J, Cheng X, Zhou C, Huang S, Zhao W, Zong Z, Yang L. Targeting the "tumor microenvironment": RNA-binding proteins in the spotlight in colorectal cancer therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 131:111876. [PMID: 38493688 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111876] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and has the second highest mortality rate among cancers. The development of CRC involves both genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, and recent research has focused on exploring the ex-transcriptome, particularly post-transcriptional modifications. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are emerging epigenetic regulators that play crucial roles in post-transcriptional events. Dysregulation of RBPs can result in aberrant expression of downstream target genes, thereby affecting the progression of colorectal tumors and the prognosis of patients. Recent studies have shown that RBPs can influence CRC pathogenesis and progression by regulating various components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although previous research on RBPs has primarily focused on their direct regulation of colorectal tumor development, their involvement in the remodeling of the TME has not been systematically reported. This review aims to highlight the significant role of RBPs in the intricate interactions within the CRC tumor microenvironment, including tumor immune microenvironment, inflammatory microenvironment, extracellular matrix, tumor vasculature, and CRC cancer stem cells. We also highlight several compounds under investigation for RBP-TME-based treatment of CRC, including small molecule inhibitors such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNAs, agonists, gene manipulation, and tumor vaccines. The insights gained from this review may lead to the development of RBP-based targeted novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the TME, potentially inhibiting the progression and metastasis of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 MinDe Road, 330006 Nanchang, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Mingde Rd., Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China; Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, China
| | - Yujun Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 MinDe Road, 330006 Nanchang, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Mingde Rd., Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jingjing Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 MinDe Road, 330006 Nanchang, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Mingde Rd., Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China; School of Ophthalmology and Optometry of Nanchang University, China
| | - Xifu Cheng
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry of Nanchang University, China
| | - Chulin Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Shuo Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- The 3rd Clinical Department of China Medical University, 10159 Shenyang, China
| | - Zhen Zong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 MinDe Road, 330006 Nanchang, China.
| | - Lingling Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Mingde Rd., Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China.
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20
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Perez-Quintero LA, Abidin BM, Tremblay ML. Immunotherapeutic implications of negative regulation by protein tyrosine phosphatases in T cells: the emerging cases of PTP1B and TCPTP. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1364778. [PMID: 38707187 PMCID: PMC11066278 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1364778] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of inflammation, T cell activation occurs by the concerted signals of the T cell receptor (TCR), co-stimulatory receptors ligation, and a pro-inflammatory cytokine microenvironment. Fine-tuning these signals is crucial to maintain T cell homeostasis and prevent self-reactivity while offering protection against infectious diseases and cancer. Recent developments in understanding the complex crosstalk between the molecular events controlling T cell activation and the balancing regulatory cues offer novel approaches for the development of T cell-based immunotherapies. Among the complex regulatory processes, the balance between protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) and the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) controls the transcriptional and metabolic programs that determine T cell function, fate decision, and activation. In those, PTPs are de facto regulators of signaling in T cells acting for the most part as negative regulators of the canonical TCR pathway, costimulatory molecules such as CD28, and cytokine signaling. In this review, we examine the function of two close PTP homologs, PTP1B (PTPN1) and T-cell PTP (TCPTP; PTPN2), which have been recently identified as promising candidates for novel T-cell immunotherapeutic approaches. Herein, we focus on recent studies that examine the known contributions of these PTPs to T-cell development, homeostasis, and T-cell-mediated immunity. Additionally, we describe the signaling networks that underscored the ability of TCPTP and PTP1B, either individually and notably in combination, to attenuate TCR and JAK/STAT signals affecting T cell responses. Thus, we anticipate that uncovering the role of these two PTPs in T-cell biology may lead to new treatment strategies in the field of cancer immunotherapy. This review concludes by exploring the impacts and risks that pharmacological inhibition of these PTP enzymes offers as a therapeutic approach in T-cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alberto Perez-Quintero
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Belma Melda Abidin
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michel L. Tremblay
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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21
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Chen X, Zhong S, Zhan Y, Zhang X. CRISPR-Cas9 applications in T cells and adoptive T cell therapies. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:52. [PMID: 38609863 PMCID: PMC11010303 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00561-1] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell immunity is central to contemporary cancer and autoimmune therapies, encompassing immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell therapies. Their diverse characteristics can be reprogrammed by different immune challenges dependent on antigen stimulation levels, metabolic conditions, and the degree of inflammation. T cell-based therapeutic strategies are gaining widespread adoption in oncology and treating inflammatory conditions. Emerging researches reveal that clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing has enabled T cells to be more adaptable to specific microenvironments, opening the door to advanced T cell therapies in preclinical and clinical trials. CRISPR-Cas9 can edit both primary T cells and engineered T cells, including CAR-T and TCR-T, in vivo and in vitro to regulate T cell differentiation and activation states. This review first provides a comprehensive summary of the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in T cells and its applications in preclinical and clinical studies for T cell-based therapies. We also explore the application of CRISPR screen high-throughput technology in editing T cells and anticipate the current limitations of CRISPR-Cas9, including off-target effects and delivery challenges, and envisioned improvements in related technologies for disease screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute of Zhengzhou University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Shuhan Zhong
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yonghao Zhan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| | - Xuepei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
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22
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De Castro V, Galaine J, Loyon R, Godet Y. CRISPR-Cas gene knockouts to optimize engineered T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00771-x. [PMID: 38609574 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00771-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
While CAR-T and tgTCR-T therapies have exhibited noteworthy and promising outcomes in hematologic and solid tumors respectively, a set of distinct challenges remains. Consequently, the quest for novel strategies has become imperative to safeguard and more effectively release the full functions of engineered T cells. These factors are intricately linked to the success of adoptive cell therapy. Recently, CRISPR-based technologies have emerged as a major breakthrough for maintaining T cell functions. These technologies have allowed the discovery of T cells' negative regulators such as specific cell-surface receptors, cell-signaling proteins, and transcription factors that are involved in the development or maintenance of T cell dysfunction. By employing a CRISPR-genic invalidation approach to target these negative regulators, it has become possible to prevent the emergence of hypofunctional T cells. This review revisits the establishment of the dysfunctional profile of T cells before delving into a comprehensive summary of recent CRISPR-gene invalidations, with each invalidation contributing to the enhancement of engineered T cells' antitumor capacities. The narrative unfolds as we explore how these advancements were discovered and identified, marking a significant advancement in the pursuit of superior adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine De Castro
- Université de Franche-Comté, EFS, INSERM, UMR RIGHT, F-25000, Besançon, France
| | - Jeanne Galaine
- Université de Franche-Comté, EFS, INSERM, UMR RIGHT, F-25000, Besançon, France
| | - Romain Loyon
- Université de Franche-Comté, EFS, INSERM, UMR RIGHT, F-25000, Besançon, France
| | - Yann Godet
- Université de Franche-Comté, EFS, INSERM, UMR RIGHT, F-25000, Besançon, France.
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23
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Lin CP, Levy PL, Alflen A, Apriamashvili G, Ligtenberg MA, Vredevoogd DW, Bleijerveld OB, Alkan F, Malka Y, Hoekman L, Markovits E, George A, Traets JJH, Krijgsman O, van Vliet A, Poźniak J, Pulido-Vicuña CA, de Bruijn B, van Hal-van Veen SE, Boshuizen J, van der Helm PW, Díaz-Gómez J, Warda H, Behrens LM, Mardesic P, Dehni B, Visser NL, Marine JC, Markel G, Faller WJ, Altelaar M, Agami R, Besser MJ, Peeper DS. Multimodal stimulation screens reveal unique and shared genes limiting T cell fitness. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:623-645.e10. [PMID: 38490212 PMCID: PMC11003465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Genes limiting T cell antitumor activity may serve as therapeutic targets. It has not been systematically studied whether there are regulators that uniquely or broadly contribute to T cell fitness. We perform genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in primary CD8 T cells to uncover genes negatively impacting fitness upon three modes of stimulation: (1) intense, triggering activation-induced cell death (AICD); (2) acute, triggering expansion; (3) chronic, causing dysfunction. Besides established regulators, we uncover genes controlling T cell fitness either specifically or commonly upon differential stimulation. Dap5 ablation, ranking highly in all three screens, increases translation while enhancing tumor killing. Loss of Icam1-mediated homotypic T cell clustering amplifies cell expansion and effector functions after both acute and intense stimulation. Lastly, Ctbp1 inactivation induces functional T cell persistence exclusively upon chronic stimulation. Our results functionally annotate fitness regulators based on their unique or shared contribution to traits limiting T cell antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Pu Lin
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pierre L Levy
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Astrid Alflen
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Georgi Apriamashvili
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten A Ligtenberg
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David W Vredevoogd
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Onno B Bleijerveld
- Proteomics Facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ferhat Alkan
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yuval Malka
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Hoekman
- Proteomics Facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ettai Markovits
- Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-oncology and Melanoma, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 52612, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Austin George
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joleen J H Traets
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar Krijgsman
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alex van Vliet
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joanna Poźniak
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carlos Ariel Pulido-Vicuña
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Beaunelle de Bruijn
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susan E van Hal-van Veen
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julia Boshuizen
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pim W van der Helm
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Judit Díaz-Gómez
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hamdy Warda
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Leonie M Behrens
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Paula Mardesic
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bilal Dehni
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nils L Visser
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gal Markel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel; Davidoff Cancer Center and Samueli Integrative Cancer Pioneering Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - William J Faller
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Altelaar
- Proteomics Facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Reuven Agami
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michal J Besser
- Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-oncology and Melanoma, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 52612, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel; Davidoff Cancer Center and Samueli Integrative Cancer Pioneering Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel; Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Daniel S Peeper
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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24
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Xiang M, Li H, Zhan Y, Ma D, Gao Q, Fang Y. Functional CRISPR screens in T cells reveal new opportunities for cancer immunotherapies. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:73. [PMID: 38581063 PMCID: PMC10996278 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01987-z] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells are fundamental components in tumour immunity and cancer immunotherapies, which have made immense strides and revolutionized cancer treatment paradigm. However, recent studies delineate the predicament of T cell dysregulation in tumour microenvironment and the compromised efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. CRISPR screens enable unbiased interrogation of gene function in T cells and have revealed functional determinators, genetic regulatory networks, and intercellular interactions in T cell life cycle, thereby providing opportunities to revamp cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we briefly described the central roles of T cells in successful cancer immunotherapies, comprehensively summarised the studies of CRISPR screens in T cells, elaborated resultant master genes that control T cell activation, proliferation, fate determination, effector function, and exhaustion, and highlighted genes (BATF, PRDM1, and TOX) and signalling cascades (JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways) that extensively engage in multiple branches of T cell responses. In conclusion, this review bridged the gap between discovering element genes to a specific process of T cell activities and apprehending these genes in the global T cell life cycle, deepened the understanding of T cell biology in tumour immunity, and outlined CRISPR screens resources that might facilitate the development and implementation of cancer immunotherapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Xiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huayi Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhan
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yong Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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25
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Venz R, Goyala A, Soto-Gamez A, Yenice T, Demaria M, Ewald CY. In-vivo screening implicates endoribonuclease Regnase-1 in modulating senescence-associated lysosomal changes. GeroScience 2024; 46:1499-1514. [PMID: 37644339 PMCID: PMC10828269 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00909-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of senescent cells accelerates aging and age-related diseases, whereas preventing this accumulation extends the lifespan in mice. A characteristic of senescent cells is increased staining with β-galactosidase (β-gal) ex vivo. Here, we describe a progressive accumulation of β-gal staining in the model organism C. elegans during aging. We show that distinct pharmacological and genetic interventions targeting the mitochondria and the mTORC1 to the nuclear core complex axis, the non-canonical apoptotic, and lysosomal-autophagy pathways slow the age-dependent accumulation of β-gal. We identify a novel gene, rege-1/Regnase-1/ZC3H12A/MCPIP1, modulating β-gal staining via the transcription factor ets-4/SPDEF. We demonstrate that knocking down Regnase-1 in human cell culture prevents senescence-associated β-gal accumulation. Our data provide a screening pipeline to identify genes and drugs modulating senescence-associated lysosomal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Venz
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Anita Goyala
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Abel Soto-Gamez
- European Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA)/University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tugce Yenice
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Marco Demaria
- European Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA)/University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Collin Y Ewald
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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26
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Bell M, Lange S, Sejdiu BI, Ibanez J, Shi H, Sun X, Meng X, Nguyen P, Sutton M, Wagner J, Kc A, Langfitt D, Patil SL, Tan H, Pandey RV, Li Y, Yuan ZF, Anido AA, Ho M, Sheppard H, Vogel P, Yu J, Peng J, Chi H, Babu MM, Krenciute G, Gottschalk S. Modular chimeric cytokine receptors with leucine zippers enhance the antitumour activity of CAR T cells via JAK/STAT signalling. Nat Biomed Eng 2024; 8:380-396. [PMID: 38036617 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01143-w] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The limited availability of cytokines in solid tumours hinders maintenance of the antitumour activity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Cytokine receptor signalling pathways in CAR T cells can be activated by transgenic expression or injection of cytokines in the tumour, or by engineering the activation of cognate cytokine receptors. However, these strategies are constrained by toxicity arising from the activation of bystander cells, by the suboptimal biodistribution of the cytokines and by downregulation of the cognate receptor. Here we show that replacement of the extracellular domains of heterodimeric cytokine receptors in T cells with two leucine zipper motifs provides optimal Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling. Such chimeric cytokine receptors, which can be generated for common γ-chain receptors, interleukin-10 and -12 receptors, enabled T cells to survive cytokine starvation without induction of autonomous cell growth, and augmented the effector function of CAR T cells in vitro in the setting of chronic antigen exposure and in human tumour xenografts in mice. As a modular design, leucine zippers can be used to generate constitutively active cytokine receptors in effector immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bell
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shannon Lange
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Besian I Sejdiu
- Center of Excellence for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jorge Ibanez
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Sun
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Meng
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Morgan Sutton
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jessica Wagner
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anil Kc
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Deanna Langfitt
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sagar L Patil
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ram Vinay Pandey
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yuxin Li
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Zuo-Fei Yuan
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Alejandro Allo Anido
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peter Vogel
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M Madan Babu
- Center of Excellence for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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27
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Milling LE, Markson SC, Tjokrosurjo Q, Derosia NM, Streeter IS, Hickok GH, Lemmen AM, Nguyen TH, Prathima P, Fithian W, Schwartz MA, Hacohen N, Doench JG, LaFleur MW, Sharpe AH. Framework for in vivo T cell screens. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230699. [PMID: 38411617 PMCID: PMC10899089 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230699] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In vivo T cell screens are a powerful tool for elucidating complex mechanisms of immunity, yet there is a lack of consensus on the screen design parameters required for robust in vivo screens: gene library size, cell transfer quantity, and number of mice. Here, we describe the Framework for In vivo T cell Screens (FITS) to provide experimental and analytical guidelines to determine optimal parameters for diverse in vivo contexts. As a proof-of-concept, we used FITS to optimize the parameters for a CD8+ T cell screen in the B16-OVA tumor model. We also included unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) in our screens to (1) improve statistical power and (2) track T cell clonal dynamics for distinct gene knockouts (KOs) across multiple tissues. These findings provide an experimental and analytical framework for performing in vivo screens in immune cells and illustrate a case study for in vivo T cell screens with UMIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Milling
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel C. Markson
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qin Tjokrosurjo
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole M. Derosia
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ivy S.L. Streeter
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grant H. Hickok
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlyn M. Lemmen
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thao H. Nguyen
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Priyamvada Prathima
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William Fithian
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Marc A. Schwartz
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nir Hacohen
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John G. Doench
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin W. LaFleur
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arlene H. Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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28
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Yoshinaga M, Takeuchi O. Regulation of inflammatory diseases via the control of mRNA decay. Inflamm Regen 2024; 44:14. [PMID: 38491500 PMCID: PMC10941436 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-024-00326-5] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation orchestrates a finely balanced process crucial for microorganism elimination and tissue injury protection. A multitude of immune and non-immune cells, alongside various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, collectively regulate this response. Central to this regulation is post-transcriptional control, governing gene expression at the mRNA level. RNA-binding proteins such as tristetraprolin, Roquin, and the Regnase family, along with RNA modifications, intricately dictate the mRNA decay of pivotal mediators and regulators in the inflammatory response. Dysregulated activity of these factors has been implicated in numerous human inflammatory diseases, underscoring the significance of post-transcriptional regulation. The increasing focus on targeting these mechanisms presents a promising therapeutic strategy for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This review offers an extensive overview of post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms during inflammatory responses, delving into recent advancements, their implications in human diseases, and the strides made in therapeutic exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Yoshinaga
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
| | - Osamu Takeuchi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
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29
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McPhedran SJ, Carleton GA, Lum JJ. Metabolic engineering for optimized CAR-T cell therapy. Nat Metab 2024; 6:396-408. [PMID: 38388705 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-00976-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The broad effectiveness of T cell-based therapy for treating solid tumour cancers remains limited. This is partly due to the growing appreciation that immune cells must inhabit and traverse a metabolically demanding tumour environment. Accordingly, recent efforts have centred on using genome-editing technologies to augment T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by manipulating specific metabolic genes. However, solid tumours exhibit numerous characteristics restricting immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity, implying a need for metabolic engineering at the pathway level rather than single gene targets. This emerging concept has yet to be put into clinical practice as many questions concerning the complex interplay between metabolic networks and T cell function remain unsolved. This Perspective will highlight key foundational studies that examine the relevant metabolic pathways required for effective T cell cytotoxicity and persistence in the human tumour microenvironment, feasible strategies for metabolic engineering to increase the efficiency of chimeric antigen receptor T cell-based approaches, and the challenges lying ahead for clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J McPhedran
- Trev and Joyce Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gillian A Carleton
- Trev and Joyce Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julian J Lum
- Trev and Joyce Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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30
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Mueller J, Schimmer RR, Koch C, Schneiter F, Fullin J, Lysenko V, Pellegrino C, Klemm N, Russkamp N, Myburgh R, Volta L, Theocharides AP, Kurppa KJ, Ebert BL, Schroeder T, Manz MG, Boettcher S. Targeting the mevalonate or Wnt pathways to overcome CAR T-cell resistance in TP53-mutant AML cells. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:445-474. [PMID: 38355749 PMCID: PMC10940689 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00024-2] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are characterized by chemotherapy resistance and represent an unmet clinical need. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells might be a promising therapeutic option for TP53-mutant AML/MDS. However, the impact of TP53 deficiency in AML cells on the efficacy of CAR T-cells is unknown. We here show that CAR T-cells engaging TP53-deficient leukemia cells exhibit a prolonged interaction time, upregulate exhaustion markers, and are inefficient to control AML cell outgrowth in vitro and in vivo compared to TP53 wild-type cells. Transcriptional profiling revealed that the mevalonate pathway is upregulated in TP53-deficient AML cells under CAR T-cell attack, while CAR T-cells engaging TP53-deficient AML cells downregulate the Wnt pathway. In vitro rational targeting of either of these pathways rescues AML cell sensitivity to CAR T-cell-mediated killing. We thus demonstrate that TP53 deficiency confers resistance to CAR T-cell therapy and identify the mevalonate pathway as a therapeutic vulnerability of TP53-deficient AML cells engaged by CAR T-cells, and the Wnt pathway as a promising CAR T-cell therapy-enhancing approach for TP53-deficient AML/MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mueller
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman R Schimmer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Koch
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florin Schneiter
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Fullin
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Lysenko
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nancy Klemm
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norman Russkamp
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Renier Myburgh
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura Volta
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Pa Theocharides
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kari J Kurppa
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timm Schroeder
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus G Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Boettcher
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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31
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Tieu V, Sotillo E, Bjelajac JR, Chen C, Malipatlolla M, Guerrero JA, Xu P, Quinn PJ, Fisher C, Klysz D, Mackall CL, Qi LS. A versatile CRISPR-Cas13d platform for multiplexed transcriptomic regulation and metabolic engineering in primary human T cells. Cell 2024; 187:1278-1295.e20. [PMID: 38387457 PMCID: PMC10965243 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR technologies have begun to revolutionize T cell therapies; however, conventional CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing tools are limited in their safety, efficacy, and scope. To address these challenges, we developed multiplexed effector guide arrays (MEGA), a platform for programmable and scalable regulation of the T cell transcriptome using the RNA-guided, RNA-targeting activity of CRISPR-Cas13d. MEGA enables quantitative, reversible, and massively multiplexed gene knockdown in primary human T cells without targeting or cutting genomic DNA. Applying MEGA to a model of CAR T cell exhaustion, we robustly suppressed inhibitory receptor upregulation and uncovered paired regulators of T cell function through combinatorial CRISPR screening. We additionally implemented druggable regulation of MEGA to control CAR activation in a receptor-independent manner. Lastly, MEGA enabled multiplexed disruption of immunoregulatory metabolic pathways to enhance CAR T cell fitness and anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. MEGA offers a versatile synthetic toolkit for applications in cancer immunotherapy and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Tieu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elena Sotillo
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeremy R Bjelajac
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Crystal Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Meena Malipatlolla
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Justin A Guerrero
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peng Xu
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrick J Quinn
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chris Fisher
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dorota Klysz
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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32
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Pacesa M, Pelea O, Jinek M. Past, present, and future of CRISPR genome editing technologies. Cell 2024; 187:1076-1100. [PMID: 38428389 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing has been a transformative force in the life sciences and human medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to dissect complex biological processes and treat the underlying causes of many genetic diseases. CRISPR-based technologies, with their remarkable efficiency and easy programmability, stand at the forefront of this revolution. In this Review, we discuss the current state of CRISPR gene editing technologies in both research and therapy, highlighting limitations that constrain them and the technological innovations that have been developed in recent years to address them. Additionally, we examine and summarize the current landscape of gene editing applications in the context of human health and therapeutics. Finally, we outline potential future developments that could shape gene editing technologies and their applications in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pacesa
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oana Pelea
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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33
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Mai D, Boyce T, Mehta A, Reff J, Scholler J, Sheppard NC, June CH. ZFP36 disruption is insufficient to enhance the function of mesothelin-targeting human CAR-T cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3113. [PMID: 38326511 PMCID: PMC10850500 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53769-8] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Loss of inflammatory effector function, such as cytokine production and proliferation, is a fundamental driver of failure in T cell therapies against solid tumors. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to genetically disrupt ZFP36, an RNA binding protein that regulates the stability of mRNAs involved in T cell inflammatory function, such as the cytokines IL2 and IFNγ, in human T cells engineered with a clinical-stage mesothelin-targeting CAR to determine whether its disruption could enhance antitumor responses. ZFP36 disruption slightly increased antigen-independent activation and cytokine responses but did not enhance overall performance in vitro or in vivo in a xenograft tumor model with NSG mice. While ZFP36 disruption does not reduce the function of CAR-T cells, these results suggest that singular disruption of ZFP36 is not sufficient to improve their function and may benefit from a multiplexed approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Tifara Boyce
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Aakash Mehta
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jordan Reff
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Scholler
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neil C Sheppard
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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34
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Garcia J, Daniels J, Lee Y, Zhu I, Cheng K, Liu Q, Goodman D, Burnett C, Law C, Thienpont C, Alavi J, Azimi C, Montgomery G, Roybal KT, Choi J. Naturally occurring T cell mutations enhance engineered T cell therapies. Nature 2024; 626:626-634. [PMID: 38326614 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07018-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapies have produced exceptional responses in a subset of patients with cancer. However, therapeutic efficacy can be hindered by poor T cell persistence and function1. In human T cell cancers, evolution of the disease positively selects for mutations that improve fitness of T cells in challenging situations analogous to those faced by therapeutic T cells. Therefore, we reasoned that these mutations could be co-opted to improve T cell therapies. Here we systematically screened the effects of 71 mutations from T cell neoplasms on T cell signalling, cytokine production and in vivo persistence in tumours. We identify a gene fusion, CARD11-PIK3R3, found in a CD4+ cutaneous T cell lymphoma2, that augments CARD11-BCL10-MALT1 complex signalling and anti-tumour efficacy of therapeutic T cells in several immunotherapy-refractory models in an antigen-dependent manner. Underscoring its potential to be deployed safely, CARD11-PIK3R3-expressing cells were followed up to 418 days after T cell transfer in vivo without evidence of malignant transformation. Collectively, our results indicate that exploiting naturally occurring mutations represents a promising approach to explore the extremes of T cell biology and discover how solutions derived from evolution of malignant T cells can improve a broad range of T cell therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/genetics
- CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cytokines/biosynthesis
- Cytokines/immunology
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Evolution, Molecular
- Guanylate Cyclase/genetics
- Guanylate Cyclase/metabolism
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/genetics
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/immunology
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/pathology
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/therapy
- Mutation
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/transplantation
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Moonlight Bio, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Daniels
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Moonlight Bio, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yujin Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Iowis Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel Goodman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra Burnett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Calvin Law
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chloë Thienpont
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Josef Alavi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Camillia Azimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Garrett Montgomery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kole T Roybal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute for Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- UCSF Cell Design Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Jaehyuk Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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35
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Zhang Z, Baxter AE, Ren D, Qin K, Chen Z, Collins SM, Huang H, Komar CA, Bailer PF, Parker JB, Blobel GA, Kohli RM, Wherry EJ, Berger SL, Shi J. Efficient engineering of human and mouse primary cells using peptide-assisted genome editing. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:305-315. [PMID: 37095348 PMCID: PMC11230135 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01756-1] [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: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Simple, efficient and well-tolerated delivery of CRISPR genome editing systems into primary cells remains a major challenge. Here we describe an engineered Peptide-Assisted Genome Editing (PAGE) CRISPR-Cas system for rapid and robust editing of primary cells with minimal toxicity. The PAGE system requires only a 30-min incubation with a cell-penetrating Cas9 or Cas12a and a cell-penetrating endosomal escape peptide to achieve robust single and multiplex genome editing. Unlike electroporation-based methods, PAGE gene editing has low cellular toxicity and shows no significant transcriptional perturbation. We demonstrate rapid and efficient editing of primary cells, including human and mouse T cells, as well as human hematopoietic progenitor cells, with editing efficiencies upwards of 98%. PAGE provides a broadly generalizable platform for next-generation genome engineering in primary cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy E Baxter
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Diqiu Ren
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kunhua Qin
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sierra M Collins
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hua Huang
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chad A Komar
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter F Bailer
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jared B Parker
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerd A Blobel
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rahul M Kohli
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Junwei Shi
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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36
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Liao X, Li W, Zhou H, Rajendran BK, Li A, Ren J, Luan Y, Calderwood DA, Turk B, Tang W, Liu Y, Wu D. The CUL5 E3 ligase complex negatively regulates central signaling pathways in CD8 + T cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:603. [PMID: 38242867 PMCID: PMC10798966 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44885-0] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells play an important role in anti-tumor immunity. Better understanding of their regulation could advance cancer immunotherapies. Here we identify, via stepwise CRISPR-based screening, that CUL5 is a negative regulator of the core signaling pathways of CD8+ T cells. Knocking out CUL5 in mouse CD8+ T cells significantly improves their tumor growth inhibiting ability, with significant proteomic alterations that broadly enhance TCR and cytokine signaling and their effector functions. Chemical inhibition of neddylation required by CUL5 activation, also enhances CD8 effector activities with CUL5 validated as a major target. Mechanistically, CUL5, which is upregulated by TCR stimulation, interacts with the SOCS-box-containing protein PCMTD2 and inhibits TCR and IL2 signaling. Additionally, CTLA4 is markedly upregulated by CUL5 knockout, and its inactivation further enhances the anti-tumor effect of CUL5 KO. These results together reveal a negative regulatory mechanism for CD8+ T cells and have strong translational implications in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Liao
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Wenxue Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Hongyue Zhou
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Barani Kumar Rajendran
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Ao Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Jingjing Ren
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Yi Luan
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - David A Calderwood
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Benjamin Turk
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Wenwen Tang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Yansheng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Research Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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37
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Lei W, Zhao A, Liu H, Yang C, Wei C, Guo S, Chen Z, Guo Q, Li L, Zhao M, Wu G, Ouyang G, Liu M, Zhang J, Gao J, Qian W. Safety and feasibility of anti-CD19 CAR T cells expressing inducible IL-7 and CCL19 in patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Cell Discov 2024; 10:5. [PMID: 38191529 PMCID: PMC10774422 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00625-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Although CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are curative for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL), disease relapse with tumor antigen-positive remains a challenge. Cytokine/chemokine-expressing CAR-T cells could overcome a suppressive milieu, but the clinical safety and efficacy of this CAR-T therapy remain unclear. Here we report the preclinical development of CD19-specific CAR-T cells capable of expressing interleukin (IL)-7 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)-19 upon CD19 engagement (referred to as 7 × 19 CAR-T cells) and results from a phase 1 and expansion phase trial of 7 × 19 CAR-T cell therapy in patients with R/R LBCL (NCT03258047). In dose-escalation phase, there were no dose-limiting toxicities observed. 39 patients with R/R LBCL received 7 × 19 CAR-T with doses ranged from 0.5 × 106-4.0 × 106 cells per kg body weight. Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome occurred in 5 (12.8%) patients and ≥ grade 3 neurotoxicity in 4 (10.3%) patients. The overall response rate at 3 months post-single infusion was 79.5% (complete remission, 56.4%; partial response, 23.1%). With a median follow-up of 32 months, the median progression-free survival was 13 months, and median overall survival was not reached, with an estimated rate of 53.8% (95% CI, 40.3% to 72.0%) at two years. Together, these long-term follow-up data from the multicenter clinical study suggest that 7 × 19 CAR-T cells can induce durable responses with a median overall survival of greater than 2 years, and have a manageable safety profile in patients with R/R LBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Lei
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunmei Yang
- Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cheng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shanshan Guo
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhilu Chen
- Department of Hematology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qunyi Guo
- Department of Hematology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Linjie Li
- Department of Hematology, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingzhe Zhao
- Department of Hematology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gongqiang Wu
- Department of Hematology, Dongyang People's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guifang Ouyang
- Ningbo Clinical Research Center for Hematological Tumor Diseases, Department of hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinyi Zhang
- Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jimin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Hangzhou Qilan Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wenbin Qian
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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38
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Li X, Chen Z, Ye W, Yu J, Zhang X, Li Y, Niu Y, Ran S, Wang S, Luo Z, Zhao J, Hao Y, Zong J, Xia C, Xia J, Wu J. High-throughput CRISPR technology: a novel horizon for solid organ transplantation. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1295523. [PMID: 38239344 PMCID: PMC10794540 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295523] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Organ transplantation is the gold standard therapy for end-stage organ failure. However, the shortage of available grafts and long-term graft dysfunction remain the primary barriers to organ transplantation. Exploring approaches to solve these issues is urgent, and CRISPR/Cas9-based transcriptome editing provides one potential solution. Furthermore, combining CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing with an ex vivo organ perfusion system would enable pre-implantation transcriptome editing of grafts. How to determine effective intervention targets becomes a new problem. Fortunately, the advent of high-throughput CRISPR screening has dramatically accelerated the effective targets. This review summarizes the current advancements, utilization, and workflow of CRISPR screening in various immune and non-immune cells. It also discusses the ongoing applications of CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing in transplantation and the prospective applications of CRISPR screening in solid organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhang Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weicong Ye
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jizhang Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuqing Niu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuan Ran
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Song Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zilong Luo
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiulu Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanglin Hao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junjie Zong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengkun Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahong Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
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39
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Zhao Y, Chen J, Andreatta M, Feng B, Xie YQ, Wenes M, Wang Y, Gao M, Hu X, Romero P, Carmona S, Sun J, Guo Y, Tang L. IL-10-expressing CAR T cells resist dysfunction and mediate durable clearance of solid tumors and metastases. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-023-02060-8. [PMID: 38168996 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in treating several hematopoietic malignancies has been difficult to replicate in solid tumors, in part because of T cell exhaustion and eventually dysfunction. To counter T cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment, we metabolically armored CAR T cells by engineering them to secrete interleukin-10 (IL-10). We show that IL-10 CAR T cells preserve intact mitochondrial structure and function in the tumor microenvironment and increase oxidative phosphorylation in a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier-dependent manner. IL-10 secretion promoted proliferation and effector function of CAR T cells, leading to complete regression of established solid tumors and metastatic cancers across several cancer types in syngeneic and xenograft mouse models, including colon cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. IL-10 CAR T cells also induced stem cell-like memory responses in lymphoid organs that imparted durable protection against tumor rechallenge. Our results establish a generalizable approach to counter CAR T cell dysfunction through metabolic armoring, leading to solid tumor eradication and long-lasting immune protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jiangqing Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Massimo Andreatta
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bing Feng
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Qing Xie
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Wenes
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yi Wang
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Min Gao
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xiaomeng Hu
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pedro Romero
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Santiago Carmona
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jie Sun
- Department of Cell Biology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yugang Guo
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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40
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Podszywalow-Bartnicka P, Neugebauer KM. Multiple roles for AU-rich RNA binding proteins in the development of haematologic malignancies and their resistance to chemotherapy. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-17. [PMID: 38798162 PMCID: PMC11135835 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2346688] [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] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation by RNA binding proteins can determine gene expression levels and drive changes in cancer cell proteomes. Identifying mechanisms of protein-RNA binding, including preferred sequence motifs bound in vivo, provides insights into protein-RNA networks and how they impact mRNA structure, function, and stability. In this review, we will focus on proteins that bind to AU-rich elements (AREs) in nascent or mature mRNA where they play roles in response to stresses encountered by cancer cells. ARE-binding proteins (ARE-BPs) specifically impact alternative splicing, stability, decay and translation, and formation of RNA-rich biomolecular condensates like cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs). For example, recent findings highlight the role of ARE-BPs - like TIAR and HUR - in chemotherapy resistance and in translational regulation of mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines. We will discuss emerging evidence that different modes of ARE-BP activity impact leukaemia and lymphoma development, progression, adaptation to microenvironment and chemotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Podszywalow-Bartnicka
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karla M. Neugebauer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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41
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Freen-van Heeren JJ. Employing CRISPR-Cas9 to Enhance T Cell Effector Function. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2782:195-208. [PMID: 38622404 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3754-8_16] [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: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
As part of the adaptive immune system, T cells are critical to maintain immune homeostasis. T cells provide protective immunity by killing infected cells and combatting cancerous cells. To do so, T cells produce and secrete effector molecules, such as granzymes, perforin, and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ. However, in immune suppressive environments, such as tumors, T cells gradually lose the capacity to perform their effector function. One way T cell effector function can be enhanced is through genetic engineering with tools such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9). This protocol explains in a step-by-step fashion how to perform a controlled electroporation-based CRISPR experiment to enhance human T cell effector function. Of note, these steps are suitable for CRISPR-mediated genome editing in T cells in general and can thus also be used to study proteins of interest that do not influence T cell effector function.
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42
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Yoshinaga M, Takeuchi O. RNA Metabolism Governs Immune Function and Response. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:145-161. [PMID: 38467978 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation is a complex process that protects our body from various insults such as infection, injury, and stress. Proper inflammation is beneficial to eliminate the insults and maintain organ homeostasis, however, it can become detrimental if uncontrolled. To tightly regulate inflammation, post-transcriptional mechanisms governing RNA metabolism play a crucial role in monitoring the expression of immune-related genes, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These mechanisms involve the coordinated action of various RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), including the Regnase family, Roquin, and RNA methyltransferases, which are responsible for mRNA decay and/or translation regulation. The collaborative efforts of these RBPs are essential in preventing aberrant immune response activation and consequently safeguarding against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation within the immune system and explores the specific roles of individual RBPs in RNA metabolism and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Yoshinaga
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Osamu Takeuchi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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43
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Wiencke JK, Nissen E, Koestler DC, Tamaki SJ, Tamaki CM, Hansen HM, Warrier G, Hadad S, McCoy L, Rice T, Clarke J, Taylor JW, Salas LA, Christensen BC, Kelsey KT, Butler R, Molinaro AM. Enrichment of a neutrophil-like monocyte transcriptional state in glioblastoma myeloid suppressor cells. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3793353. [PMID: 38234734 PMCID: PMC10793488 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3793353/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBM) are lethal central nervous system cancers associated with tumor and systemic immunosuppression. Heterogeneous monocyte myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) are implicated in the altered immune response in GBM, but M-MDSC ontogeny and definitive phenotypic markers are unknown. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we revealed heterogeneity in blood M-MDSC from GBM subjects and an enrichment in a transcriptional state reminiscent of neutrophil-like monocytes (NeuMo), a newly described pathway of monopoiesis in mice. Human NeuMo gene expression and Neu-like deconvolution fraction algorithms were created to quantitate the enrichment of this transcriptional state in GBM subjects. NeuMo populations were also observed in M-MDSCs from lung and head and neck cancer subjects. Dexamethasone (DEX) and prednisone exposures increased the usage of Neu-like states, which were inversely associated with tumor purity and survival in isocitrate dehydrogenase wildtype (IDH WT) gliomas. Anti-inflammatory ZC3HA12/Regnase-1 transcripts were highly correlated with NeuMo expression in tumors and in blood M-MDSC from GBM, lung, and head and neck cancer subjects. Additional novel transcripts of immune-modulating proteins were identified. Collectively, these findings provide a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of M-MDSCs in GBM as cells with different clonal histories and may reshape approaches to study and therapeutically target these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Wiencke
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Emily Nissen
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Devin C Koestler
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Stan J Tamaki
- Parnassus Flow Cytometry CoLab, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0511, USA
| | - Courtney M Tamaki
- Parnassus Flow Cytometry CoLab, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0511, USA
| | - Helen M Hansen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Gayathri Warrier
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sara Hadad
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lucie McCoy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Terri Rice
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jennifer Clarke
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jennie W Taylor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lucas A Salas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH
| | - Karl T Kelsey
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Rondi Butler
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Annette M Molinaro
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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44
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Li YR, Lyu Z, Tian Y, Fang Y, Zhu Y, Chen Y, Yang L. Advancements in CRISPR screens for the development of cancer immunotherapy strategies. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 31:100733. [PMID: 37876793 PMCID: PMC10591018 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.100733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR screen technology enables systematic and scalable interrogation of gene function by using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to perturb gene expression. In the field of cancer immunotherapy, this technology has empowered the discovery of genes, biomarkers, and pathways that regulate tumor development and progression, immune reactivity, and the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions. By conducting large-scale genetic screens, researchers have successfully identified novel targets to impede tumor growth, enhance anti-tumor immune responses, and surmount immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we present an overview of CRISPR screens conducted in tumor cells for the purpose of identifying novel therapeutic targets. We also explore the application of CRISPR screens in immune cells to propel the advancement of cell-based therapies, encompassing T cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. Furthermore, we outline the crucial components necessary for the successful implementation of immune-specific CRISPR screens and explore potential directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zibai Lyu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yanxin Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yuning Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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45
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Schlabach MR, Lin S, Collester ZR, Wrocklage C, Shenker S, Calnan C, Xu T, Gannon HS, Williams LJ, Thompson F, Dunbar PR, LaMothe RA, Garrett TE, Colletti N, Hohmann AF, Tubo NJ, Bullock CP, Le Mercier I, Sofjan K, Merkin JJ, Keegan S, Kryukov GV, Dugopolski C, Stegmeier F, Wong K, Sharp FA, Cadzow L, Benson MJ. Rational design of a SOCS1-edited tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy using CRISPR/Cas9 screens. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e163096. [PMID: 38099496 PMCID: PMC10721144 DOI: 10.1172/jci163096] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy have shown promise in the treatment of patients with refractory solid tumors, with improvement in response rates and durability of responses nevertheless sought. To identify targets capable of enhancing the antitumor activity of T cell therapies, large-scale in vitro and in vivo clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 screens were performed, with the SOCS1 gene identified as a top T cell-enhancing target. In murine CD8+ T cell-therapy models, SOCS1 served as a critical checkpoint in restraining the accumulation of central memory T cells in lymphoid organs as well as intermediate (Texint) and effector (Texeff) exhausted T cell subsets derived from progenitor exhausted T cells (Texprog) in tumors. A comprehensive CRISPR tiling screen of the SOCS1-coding region identified sgRNAs targeting the SH2 domain of SOCS1 as the most potent, with an sgRNA with minimal off-target cut sites used to manufacture KSQ-001, an engineered TIL therapy with SOCS1 inactivated by CRISPR/Cas9. KSQ-001 possessed increased responsiveness to cytokine signals and enhanced in vivo antitumor function in mouse models. These data demonstrate the use of CRISPR/Cas9 screens in the rational design of T cell therapies.
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46
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Wang Y, Khalil A, Kamar A, Du M, Dinh T, McFarland C, Wang Z. Unveiling immune checkpoint regulation: exploring the power of in vivo CRISPR screenings in cancer immunotherapy. Front Genet 2023; 14:1304425. [PMID: 38162677 PMCID: PMC10755878 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1304425] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer immunotherapy by reinvigorating antitumor immune responses, but their efficacy remains limited in most patients. To address this challenge and optimize Immune check inhibitor treatment, understanding the underlying molecular intricacies involved is crucial. The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has empowered researchers to precisely investigate gene function and has introduced transformative shifts in identifying key genes for various physiological and pathological processes. CRISPR screenings, particularly in vivo CRISPR screenings, have become invaluable tools in deciphering molecular networks and signaling pathways governing suppressive immune checkpoint molecules. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of in vivo CRISPR screenings in cancer immunotherapy, exploring how this cutting-edge technology has unraveled potential novel therapeutic targets and combination strategies. We delve into the latest findings and advancements, shedding light on immune checkpoint regulation and offering exciting prospects for the development of innovative and effective treatments for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Athar Khalil
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Amina Kamar
- Centre for Digital Transformation, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mengyan Du
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Trang Dinh
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher McFarland
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Zhenghe Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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47
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Talleur AC, Naik S, Gottschalk S. Preventing relapse after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric ALL: the role of transplant and enhanced CAR T cells. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2023; 2023:91-96. [PMID: 38066941 PMCID: PMC10727085 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2023000424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has become an integral part of our treatment armamentarium for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, despite initial remission rates of greater than 80%, durable remission occurs in only 40% to 50% of patients. In this review we summarize our current knowledge of the role of consolidative hematopoietic cell transplantation in the management of pediatric patients who achieved a minimal residual disease-negative complete response post CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. In addition, we review approaches to enhance effector function CD19 CAR T cells, focusing on how to improve persistence and prevent the emergence of CD19- B-ALL blasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee C Talleur
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Swati Naik
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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48
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Yang C, Li Y, Yang Y, Ni Q, Zhang Z, Chai Y, Li J. Synthetic High-Density Lipoprotein-Based Nanomedicine to Silence SOCS1 in Tumor Microenvironment and Trigger Antitumor Immunity against Glioma. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202312603. [PMID: 37847126 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202312603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies have shed light on the treatment of many cancers, but have not improved the outcomes of glioma (GBM). Here, we demonstrated that suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) was associated with the GBM-associated immunosuppression and developed a multifunctional nanomedicine, which silenced SOCS1 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of GBM and triggered strong antitumor immunity against GBM. Synthetic high-density lipoprotein (sHDL) was selected as the nanocarrier and a peptide was used to facilitate the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) penetration. The nanocarrier was loaded with a small interfering RNA (siRNA), a peptide, and an adjuvant to trigger antitumor immunity. The nanomedicine concentrated on the TME in vivo, further promoting dendritic cell maturation and T cell proliferation, triggering strong cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, and inhibiting tumor growth. Our work provides an alternative strategy to simultaneously target and modulate the TME in GBM patients and points to an avenue for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunrong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yujie Li
- Center for Bioanalytical Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory of Physical Science at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiankun Ni
- Department of Chemistry, Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yi Chai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jinghong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Center for Bioanalytical Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory of Physical Science at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518054, China
- Beijing Institute of Life Science and Technology, Beijing, 102206, China
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49
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Schenkel JM, Pauken KE. Localization, tissue biology and T cell state - implications for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:807-823. [PMID: 37253877 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Tissue localization is a critical determinant of T cell immunity. CD8+ T cells are contact-dependent killers, which requires them to physically be within the tissue of interest to kill peptide-MHC class I-bearing target cells. Following their migration and extravasation into tissues, T cells receive many extrinsic cues from the local microenvironment, and these signals shape T cell differentiation, fate and function. Because major organ systems are variable in their functions and compositions, they apply disparate pressures on T cells to adapt to the local microenvironment. Additional complexity arises in the context of malignant lesions (either primary or metastatic), and this has made understanding the factors that dictate T cell function and longevity in tumours challenging. Moreover, T cell differentiation state influences how cues from the microenvironment are interpreted by tissue-infiltrating T cells, highlighting the importance of T cell state in the context of tissue biology. Here, we review the intertwined nature of T cell differentiation state, location, survival and function, and explain how dysfunctional T cell populations can adopt features of tissue-resident memory T cells to persist in tumours. Finally, we discuss how these factors have shaped responses to cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Schenkel
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Kristen E Pauken
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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50
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Zhou P, Shi H, Huang H, Sun X, Yuan S, Chapman NM, Connelly JP, Lim SA, Saravia J, Kc A, Pruett-Miller SM, Chi H. Single-cell CRISPR screens in vivo map T cell fate regulomes in cancer. Nature 2023; 624:154-163. [PMID: 37968405 PMCID: PMC10700132 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06733-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) orchestrate antitumour immunity and exhibit inherent heterogeneity1,2, with precursor exhausted T (Tpex) cells but not terminally exhausted T (Tex) cells capable of responding to existing immunotherapies3-7. The gene regulatory network that underlies CTL differentiation and whether Tex cell responses can be functionally reinvigorated are incompletely understood. Here we systematically mapped causal gene regulatory networks using single-cell CRISPR screens in vivo and discovered checkpoints for CTL differentiation. First, the exit from quiescence of Tpex cells initiated successive differentiation into intermediate Tex cells. This process is differentially regulated by IKAROS and ETS1, the deficiencies of which dampened and increased mTORC1-associated metabolic activities, respectively. IKAROS-deficient cells accumulated as a metabolically quiescent Tpex cell population with limited differentiation potential following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Conversely, targeting ETS1 improved antitumour immunity and ICB efficacy by boosting differentiation of Tpex to intermediate Tex cells and metabolic rewiring. Mechanistically, TCF-1 and BATF are the targets for IKAROS and ETS1, respectively. Second, the RBPJ-IRF1 axis promoted differentiation of intermediate Tex to terminal Tex cells. Accordingly, targeting RBPJ enhanced functional and epigenetic reprogramming of Tex cells towards the proliferative state and improved therapeutic effects and ICB efficacy. Collectively, our study reveals that promoting the exit from quiescence of Tpex cells and enriching the proliferative Tex cell state act as key modalities for antitumour effects and provides a systemic framework to integrate cell fate regulomes and reprogrammable functional determinants for cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhou
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongling Huang
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Sun
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sujing Yuan
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole M Chapman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jon P Connelly
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Seon Ah Lim
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jordy Saravia
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anil Kc
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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