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Ma J, Ayres CM, Brambley CA, Chandran SS, Rosales TJ, Corcelli SA, Kovrigin EL, Klebanoff CA, Baker BM. Dynamic allostery in the peptide/MHC complex enables TCR neoantigen selectivity. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4457195. [PMID: 38854019 PMCID: PMC11160895 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457195/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The inherent cross-reactivity of the T cell receptor (TCR) is balanced by high specificity, which often manifests in confounding ways not easily interpretable from static structures. We show here that TCR discrimination between an HLA-A*03:01 (HLA-A3)-restricted public neoantigen derived from mutant PIK3CA and its wild-type (WT) counterpart emerges from motions within the HLA binding groove that vary with the identity of the peptide's first primary anchor. The motions form a dynamic gate that in the complex with the WT peptide impedes a large conformational change required for TCR binding. The more rigid neoantigen is insusceptible to this limiting dynamic, and with the gate open, is able to transit its central tryptophan residue underneath the peptide backbone to the contralateral side of the HLA-A3 peptide binding groove, facilitating TCR binding. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism driving TCR specificity for a cancer neoantigen that is rooted in the dynamic and allosteric nature of peptide/MHC-I complexes, with implications for resolving long-standing and often confounding questions about the determinants of T cell specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Chad A Brambley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Smita S Chandran
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, USA
- Center for Cell Engineering, MSKCC, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tatiana J Rosales
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Steven A Corcelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Evgenii L Kovrigin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Christopher A Klebanoff
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, USA
- Center for Cell Engineering, MSKCC, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
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2
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Ferretti LP, Böhi F, Leslie Pedrioli DM, Cheng PF, Ferrari E, Baumgaertner P, Alvarado-Diaz A, Sella F, Cereghetti A, Turko P, Wright RH, De Bock K, Speiser DE, Ferrari R, Levesque MP, Hottiger MO. Combinatorial Treatment with PARP and MAPK Inhibitors Overcomes Phenotype Switch-Driven Drug Resistance in Advanced Melanoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3974-3988. [PMID: 37729428 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0485] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is either intrinsically resistant or rapidly acquires resistance to targeted therapy treatments, such as MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi). A leading cause of resistance to targeted therapy is a dynamic transition of melanoma cells from a proliferative to a highly invasive state, a phenomenon called phenotype switching. Mechanisms regulating phenotype switching represent potential targets for improving treatment of patients with melanoma. Using a drug screen targeting chromatin regulators in patient-derived three-dimensional MAPKi-resistant melanoma cell cultures, we discovered that PARP inhibitors (PARPi) restore sensitivity to MAPKis, independent of DNA damage repair pathways. Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic analyses demonstrated that PARPis induce lysosomal autophagic cell death, accompanied by enhanced mitochondrial lipid metabolism that ultimately increases antigen presentation and sensitivity to T-cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, transcriptomic and epigenetic rearrangements induced by PARP inhibition reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like phenotype switching, which redirected melanoma cells toward a proliferative and MAPKi-sensitive state. The combination of PARP and MAPKis synergistically induced cancer cell death both in vitro and in vivo in patient-derived xenograft models. Therefore, this study provides a scientific rationale for treating patients with melanoma with PARPis in combination with MAPKis to abrogate acquired therapy resistance. SIGNIFICANCE PARP inhibitors can overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors by activating autophagic cell death and reversing phenotype switching, suggesting that this synergistic combination could help improve the prognosis of patients with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza P Ferretti
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flurina Böhi
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Phil F Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Elena Ferrari
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Abdiel Alvarado-Diaz
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Federica Sella
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Alessandra Cereghetti
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Turko
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Roni H Wright
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
| | - Katrien De Bock
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Ferrari
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Mitchell P Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Michael O Hottiger
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Gibadullin R, Morris RK, Niu J, Sidney J, Sette A, Gellman SH. Thioamide Analogues of MHC I Antigen Peptides. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:25559-25569. [PMID: 37968794 PMCID: PMC10782604 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Short, synthetic peptides that are displayed by major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) can stimulate CD8 T cells in vivo to destroy virus-infected or cancer cells. The development of such peptides as vaccines that provide protective immunity, however, is limited by rapid proteolytic degradation. Introduction of unnatural amino acid residues can suppress MHC I antigen proteolysis, but the modified peptides typically display lower affinity for MHC I and/or diminished ability to activate CD8 T cells relative to native antigen. Here, we report a new strategy for modifying MHC I antigens to enhance resistance to proteolysis while preserving MHC I affinity and T cell activation properties. This approach, replacing backbone amide groups with thioamides, was evaluated in two well-characterized antigens presented by HLA-A2, a common human MHC I. For each antigen, singly modified thioamide analogues retained affinity for HLA-A2 and activated T cells specific for the native antigen, as measured via interferon-γ secretion. In each system, we identified a highly potent triply substituted thioamide antigen ("thio-antigen") that displayed substantial resistance to proteolytic cleavage. Collectively, our results suggest that thio-antigens may represent a general and readily accessible source of potent vaccine candidates that resist degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Gibadullin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Present address: Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Rylie K. Morris
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Jiani Niu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - John Sidney
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Samuel H. Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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4
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Gouttefangeas C, Klein R, Maia A. The good and the bad of T cell cross-reactivity: challenges and opportunities for novel therapeutics in autoimmunity and cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212546. [PMID: 37409132 PMCID: PMC10319254 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are main actors of the immune system with an essential role in protection against pathogens and cancer. The molecular key event involved in this absolutely central task is the interaction of membrane-bound specific T cell receptors with peptide-MHC complexes which initiates T cell priming, activation and recall, and thus controls a range of downstream functions. While textbooks teach us that the repertoire of mature T cells is highly diverse, it is clear that this diversity cannot possibly cover all potential foreign peptides that might be encountered during life. TCR cross-reactivity, i.e. the ability of a single TCR to recognise different peptides, offers the best solution to this biological challenge. Reports have shown that indeed, TCR cross-reactivity is surprisingly high. Hence, the T cell dilemma is the following: be as specific as possible to target foreign danger and spare self, while being able to react to a large spectrum of body-threatening situations. This has major consequences for both autoimmune diseases and cancer, and significant implications for the development of T cell-based therapies. In this review, we will present essential experimental evidence of T cell cross-reactivity, implications for two opposite immune conditions, i.e. autoimmunity vs cancer, and how this can be differently exploited for immunotherapy approaches. Finally, we will discuss the tools available for predicting cross-reactivity and how improvements in this field might boost translational approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Gouttefangeas
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reinhild Klein
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana Maia
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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5
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Murata K, Ly D, Saijo H, Matsunaga Y, Sugata K, Ihara F, Oryoji D, Ohashi Y, Saso K, Wang CH, Zheng EY, Burt BD, Butler MO, Hirano N. Modification of the HLA-A*24:02 Peptide Binding Pocket Enhances Cognate Peptide-Binding Capacity and Antigen-Specific T Cell Activation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 209:1481-1491. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The immunogenicity of a T cell Ag is correlated with the ability of its antigenic epitope to bind HLA and be stably presented to T cells. This presents a challenge for the development of effective cancer immunotherapies, as many self-derived tumor-associated epitopes elicit weak T cell responses, in part due to weak binding affinity to HLA. Traditional methods to increase peptide–HLA binding affinity involve modifying the peptide to reflect HLA allele binding preferences. Using a different approach, we sought to analyze whether the immunogenicity of wild-type peptides could be altered through modification of the HLA binding pocket. After analyzing HLA class I peptide binding pocket alignments, we identified an alanine 81 to leucine (A81L) modification within the F binding pocket of HLA-A*24:02 that was found to heighten the ability of artificial APCs to retain and present HLA-A*24:02–restricted peptides, resulting in increased T cell responses while retaining Ag specificity. This modification led to increased peptide exchange efficiencies for enhanced detection of low-avidity T cells and, when expressed on artificial APCs, resulted in greater expansion of Ag-specific T cells from melanoma-derived tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Our study provides an example of how modifications to the HLA binding pocket can enhance wild-type cognate peptide presentation to heighten T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Murata
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalam Ly
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hiroshi Saijo
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yukiko Matsunaga
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kenji Sugata
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fumie Ihara
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daisuke Oryoji
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yota Ohashi
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Kayoko Saso
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chung-Hsi Wang
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Evey Y.F. Zheng
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Brian D. Burt
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcus O. Butler
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
- ‡Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naoto Hirano
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
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6
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Tcyganov EN, Sanseviero E, Marvel D, Beer T, Tang HY, Hembach P, Speicher DW, Zhang Q, Donthireddy LR, Mostafa A, Tsyganova S, Pisarev V, Laufer T, Ignatov D, Ferrone S, Meyer C, Maby-El Hajjami H, Speiser DE, Altiok S, Antonia S, Xu X, Xu W, Zheng C, Schuchter LM, Amaravadi RK, Mitchell TC, Karakousis GC, Yuan Z, Montaner LJ, Celis E, Gabrilovich DI. Peroxynitrite in the tumor microenvironment changes the profile of antigens allowing escape from cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:1173-1189.e6. [PMID: 36220073 PMCID: PMC9566605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy often depends on recognition of peptide epitopes by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The tumor microenvironment (TME) is enriched for peroxynitrite (PNT), a potent oxidant produced by infiltrating myeloid cells and some tumor cells. We demonstrate that PNT alters the profile of MHC class I bound peptides presented on tumor cells. Only CTLs specific for PNT-resistant peptides have a strong antitumor effect in vivo, whereas CTLs specific for PNT-sensitive peptides are not effective. Therapeutic targeting of PNT in mice reduces resistance of tumor cells to CTLs. Melanoma patients with low PNT activity in their tumors demonstrate a better clinical response to immunotherapy than patients with high PNT activity. Our data suggest that intratumoral PNT activity should be considered for the design of neoantigen-based therapy and also may be an important immunotherapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii N Tcyganov
- Immunology, Microenvironment, and Metastasis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Douglas Marvel
- Immunology, Microenvironment, and Metastasis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Thomas Beer
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hsin-Yao Tang
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter Hembach
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David W Speicher
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Qianfei Zhang
- AstraZeneca, ICC, Early Oncology, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | | | - Ali Mostafa
- AstraZeneca, ICC, Early Oncology, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Sabina Tsyganova
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vladimir Pisarev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, Moscow 107031, Russia; Central Institute of Epidemiology, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Terri Laufer
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dmitriy Ignatov
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Christiane Meyer
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Xiaowei Xu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cathy Zheng
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lynn M Schuchter
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ravi K Amaravadi
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tara C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Giorgos C Karakousis
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhe Yuan
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Luis J Montaner
- Immunology, Microenvironment, and Metastasis Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Esteban Celis
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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7
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Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Costa-Nunes CM, Bordry N, Guillaume P, Luescher I, Speiser DE, Rufer N, Hebeisen M. CD8 T cell function and cross-reactivity explored by stepwise increased peptide-HLA versus TCR affinity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:973986. [PMID: 36032094 PMCID: PMC9399405 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.973986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment and activation of CD8 T cells occur through specific triggering of T cell receptor (TCR) by peptide-bound human leucocyte antigen (HLA) ligands. Within the generated trimeric TCR-peptide:HLA complex, the molecular binding affinities between peptide and HLA, and between TCR and peptide:HLA both impact T cell functional outcomes. However, how their individual and combined effects modulate immunogenicity and overall T cell responsiveness has not been investigated systematically. Here, we established two panels of human tumor peptide variants differing in their affinity to HLA. For precise characterization, we developed the “blue peptide assay”, an upgraded cell-based approach to measure the peptide:HLA affinity. These peptide variants were then used to investigate the cross-reactivity of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cell clonotypes derived from blood of cancer patients after vaccination with either the native or an affinity-optimized Melan-A/MART-1 epitope, or isolated from tumor infiltrated lymph nodes (TILNs). Vaccines containing the native tumor epitope generated T cells with better functionality, and superior cross-reactivity against potential low affinity escape epitopes, as compared to T cells induced by vaccines containing an HLA affinity-optimized epitope. Comparatively, Melan-A/MART-1-specific TILN cells displayed functional and cross-reactive profiles that were heterogeneous and clonotype-dependent. Finally, we took advantage of a collection of T cells expressing affinity-optimized NY-ESO-1-specific TCRs to interrogate the individual and combined impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on overall CD8 T cell responses. We found profound and distinct effects of both biophysical parameters, with additive contributions and absence of hierarchical dominance. Altogether, the biological impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on T cell responses was carefully dissected in two antigenic systems, frequently targeted in human cancer immunotherapy. Our technology and stepwise comparison open new insights into the rational design and selection of vaccine-associated tumor-specific epitopes and highlight the functional and cross-reactivity profiles that endow T cells with best tumor control capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Carla-Marisa Costa-Nunes
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Bordry
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Guillaume
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Immanuel Luescher
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
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8
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Pyo HS, Hong CH, Choi H, Baek IC, Kim TG. Identification of Naturally Processed Epitope Region Using Artificial APC Expressing a Single HLA Class I Allotype and mRNA of HCMV pp65 Antigen Fragments. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050787. [PMID: 35632543 PMCID: PMC9143612 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, long synthetic peptides or in silico-predicted epitope peptides have been used to identify T cell epitopes, but these approaches may not be suitable for investigating naturally processed epitopes. Here, mRNAs, including fragments or predicted epitope sequences of HCMV pp65 antigen, were generated by in vitro transcription following transcriptionally active PCR. Then, artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) expressing a single HLA allotype were transfected with mRNAs to identify epitopes in donors with T cell responses that recognize pp65 antigen restricted to HLA-A*02:01, -A*02:06, or -B*07:02. T cells restricted to a particular HLA allotype showed positive responses in some of the 10 fragment antigens. Among predicted epitopes within these positive fragments, three epitopes of HLA-A*02:01, -A*02:06, and -B*07:02 were confirmed. In addition, T cells expanded by anti-CD3 stimulation for two weeks could also be effectively used for the identification of these T cell epitopes, although there were individual differences. These results demonstrated that fragment antigens and epitopes can be rapidly generated using mRNA, and naturally processed antigenic regions can be detected using aAPCs without a T cell cloning procedure. This method will help to identify novel T cell epitopes for developing immunotherapy and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Seon Pyo
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (H.-S.P.); (C.-H.H.); (H.C.)
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Cheol-Hwa Hong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (H.-S.P.); (C.-H.H.); (H.C.)
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Haeyoun Choi
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (H.-S.P.); (C.-H.H.); (H.C.)
| | - In-Cheol Baek
- Catholic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
| | - Tai-Gyu Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (H.-S.P.); (C.-H.H.); (H.C.)
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
- Catholic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2258-7341
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9
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Hopkins JR, MacLachlan BJ, Harper S, Sewell AK, Cole DK. Unconventional modes of peptide-HLA-I presentation change the rules of TCR engagement. DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 1:kyac001. [PMID: 38566908 PMCID: PMC10917088 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The intracellular proteome of virtually every nucleated cell in the body is continuously presented at the cell surface via the human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) antigen processing pathway. This pathway classically involves proteasomal degradation of intracellular proteins into short peptides that can be presented by HLA-I molecules for interrogation by T-cell receptors (TCRs) expressed on the surface of CD8+ T cells. During the initiation of a T-cell immune response, the TCR acts as the T cell's primary sensor, using flexible loops to mould around the surface of the pHLA-I molecule to identify foreign or dysregulated antigens. Recent findings demonstrate that pHLA-I molecules can also be highly flexible and dynamic, altering their shape according to minor polymorphisms between different HLA-I alleles, or interactions with different peptides. These flexible presentation modes have important biological consequences that can, for example, explain why some HLA-I alleles offer greater protection against HIV, or why some cancer vaccine approaches have been ineffective. This review explores how these recent findings redefine the rules for peptide presentation by HLA-I molecules and extend our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern TCR-mediated antigen discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade R Hopkins
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Bruce J MacLachlan
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
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10
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Dong YW, Jiang WD, Wu P, Liu Y, Kuang SY, Tang L, Tang WN, Zhou XQ, Feng L. Novel Insight Into Nutritional Regulation in Enhancement of Immune Status and Mediation of Inflammation Dynamics Integrated Study In Vivo and In Vitro of Teleost Grass Carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella): Administration of Threonine. Front Immunol 2022; 13:770969. [PMID: 35359991 PMCID: PMC8963965 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.770969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of threonine (Thr) on immunoregulation in vivo and in vitro of teleost grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Juveniles (9.53 ± 0.02 g) were reared for 8 weeks with respective Thr diet (3.99, 7.70, 10.72, 14.10, 17.96, and 21.66 g/kg) and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for in vivo study. Macrophages isolated from head kidney were treated in vitro for 48 h with L-Thr (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mM) after 6 h of lipopolysaccharide induction. The results showed that, compared with Thr deficiency (3.99 g/kg), the optimal dietary Thr (14.10g/kg) affected the immunocyte activation in the head kidney (HK) and spleen (SP) by downregulating the mRNA expressions of MHC-II and upregulating CD4 (not CD8), and it mediated the innate immune by enhancing the activities of lysozyme (LZ), acid phosphatase content of complement 3 (C3) and C4, increasing the mRNA abundances of hepcidin, liver expressed antimicrobial peptide-2A (LEAP-2A), LEAP-2B, β-defensin1, downregulating tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-17AF1, and IL-17D partly by attenuating RORγ1 transcriptional factor and nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κBp65) signaling cascades [IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κBp65] and upregulating transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), IL-4/13A, -4/13B, IL-10, and IL-22 partly by GATA-3. Besides these, the optimal dietary Thr regulated the adaptive immune by upregulating the mRNAs of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgZ (not IgD). Moreover, 2 mM Thr downregulated in vitro the mRNA abundances of colony stimulating factor-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, mannose receptor 1, matrix metalloproteinase2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 significantly (P < 0.05), indicating that Thr could attenuate the M1-type macrophages’ activation. Moreover, L-Thr downregulated the mRNA transcripts of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β associated with impairing the SOCS1/STAT1 signaling and upregulated IL-10 and TGF-β1 partly by accentuating the SOCS3/STAT3 pathway. The above-mentioned observations suggested that Thr improved the immune status in the immune organs of fish by enhancing the immune defense and mediating the inflammation process. Finally, based on the immune indices of LZ activity in HK and C3 content in SP, the optimal Thr for immune enhancement in juvenile grass carp (9.53–53.43 g) was determined to be 15.70 g/kg diet (4.85 g/100 g protein) and 14.49 g/kg diet (4.47 g/100 g protein), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wen Dong
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei-Dan Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Pei Wu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sheng-Yao Kuang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Tang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Wu-Neng Tang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-Qiu Zhou
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Feng
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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11
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Ashi MO, Mami-Chouaib F, Corgnac S. Mutant and non-mutant neoantigen-based cancer vaccines: recent advances and future promises. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:746-762. [PMID: 36654823 PMCID: PMC9834040 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00111] [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: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Major advances in cancer treatment have emerged with the introduction of immunotherapies using blocking antibodies that target T-cell inhibitory receptors, such as programmed death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), known as immune checkpoints. However, most cancer patients do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, suggesting the development of resistance mechanisms associated with either an insufficient number of preexisting tumor-specific T-cell precursors and/or inappropriate T-cell reactivation. To broaden clinical benefit, anti-PD-1/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) neutralizing antibodies have been combined with therapeutic cancer vaccines based on non-mutant and/or mutant tumor antigens, to stimulate and expand tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Although these combination treatments achieve the expected goal in some patients, relapse linked to alterations in antigen presentation machinery (APM) of cancer cells often occurs leading to tumor escape from CD8 T-cell immunity. Remarkably, an alternative antigenic peptide repertoire, referred to as T-cell epitopes associated with impaired peptide processing (TEIPP), arises on these malignant cells with altered APM. TEIPP are derived from ubiquitous non-mutant self-proteins and represent a unique resource to target immune-edited tumors that have acquired resistance to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) related to defects in transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and possibly also to ICB. The present review discusses tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and mutant neoantigens and their use as targets in peptide- and RNA-based therapeutic cancer vaccines. Finally, this paper highlights TEIPP as a promising immunogenic non-mutant neoantigen candidates for active cancer immunotherapy and combination with TAA and mutant neoantigens. Combining these polyepitope cancer vaccines with ICB would broaden T-cell specificity and reinvigorate exhausted antitumor CTL, resulting in the eradication of all types of neoplastic cells, including immune-escaped subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Omar Ashi
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Fathia Mami-Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France,Correspondence: Fathia Mami-Chouaib,
| | - Stéphanie Corgnac
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France,Stéphanie Corgnac, . INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France
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12
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Harari A, Sarivalasis A, de Jonge K, Thierry AC, Huber F, Boudousquie C, Rossier L, Orcurto A, Imbimbo M, Baumgaertner P, Bassani-Sternberg M, Kandalaft LE. A Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine in Combination with Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Induces a T-Cell Response Coinciding with a Complete Response in Endometrial Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5801. [PMID: 34830955 PMCID: PMC8616532 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecological malignancy and the fourth most common malignancy in European and North American women. Amongst EC, the advanced serous, p53-mutated, and pMMR subtypes have the highest risk of relapse despite optimal standard of care therapy. At present, there is no standard of care maintenance treatment to prevent relapse among these high-risk patients. Vaccines are a form of immunotherapy that can potentially increase the immunogenicity of pMMR, serous, and p53-mutated tumors to render them responsive to check point inhibitor-based immunotherapy. We demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of generating a personalized dendritic cell vaccine pulsed with peptide neoantigens in a patient with pMMR, p53-mutated, and serous endometrial adenocarcinoma (SEC). The personalized vaccine was administered in combination with systemic chemotherapy to treat an inoperable metastatic recurrence. This treatment association demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity of the personalized dendritic cell vaccine. Interestingly, a complete oncological response was obtained with respect to both radiological assessment and the tumor marker CA-125.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Harari
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Apostolos Sarivalasis
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; (A.S.); (A.O.); (M.I.)
| | - Kaat de Jonge
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
| | - Anne-Christine Thierry
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
| | - Florian Huber
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Boudousquie
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
| | - Laetitia Rossier
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
| | - Angela Orcurto
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; (A.S.); (A.O.); (M.I.)
| | - Martina Imbimbo
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; (A.S.); (A.O.); (M.I.)
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
| | - Michal Bassani-Sternberg
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lana E. Kandalaft
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (K.d.J.); (A.-C.T.); (F.H.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (P.B.); (M.B.-S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; (A.S.); (A.O.); (M.I.)
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13
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Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have undergone a resurgence in the past decade. A better understanding of the breadth of tumour-associated antigens, the native immune response and development of novel technologies for antigen delivery has facilitated improved vaccine design. The goal of therapeutic cancer vaccines is to induce tumour regression, eradicate minimal residual disease, establish lasting antitumour memory and avoid non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumour-induced immunosuppression and immunoresistance pose significant challenges to achieving this goal. In this Review, we deliberate on how to improve and expand the antigen repertoire for vaccines, consider developments in vaccine platforms and explore antigen-agnostic in situ vaccines. Furthermore, we summarize the reasons for failure of cancer vaccines in the past and provide an overview of various mechanisms of resistance posed by the tumour. Finally, we propose strategies for combining suitable vaccine platforms with novel immunomodulatory approaches and standard-of-care treatments for overcoming tumour resistance and enhancing clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Saxena
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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14
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Alonso JA, Smith AR, Baker BM. Tumor rejection properties of gp100 209-specific T cells correlate with T cell receptor binding affinity towards the wild type rather than anchor-modified antigen. Mol Immunol 2021; 135:365-372. [PMID: 33990005 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Although there are exceptions and outliers, T cell functional responses generally correlate with the affinity of a TCR for a peptide/MHC complex. In one recently described outlier case, the most promising clinical candidate in a series of TCRs specific for the gp100209 melanoma antigen bound with the weakest solution affinity and produced the least amount of cytokine in vitro. Hypotheses for this outlier behavior included unusual cytokine expression patterns arising from an atypical TCR binding geometry. Studying this instance in more detail, we found here that outlier behavior is attributable not to unusual cytokine patterns or TCR binding, but the use of a position 2 anchor-modified peptide variant in in vitro experiments instead of the wild type antigen that is present in vivo. Although the anchor-modified variant has been widely used in basic and clinical immunology as a surrogate for the wild type peptide, prior work has shown that TCRs can clearly distinguish between the two. We show that when this differential recognition is accounted for, the functional properties of gp100209-specific TCRs track with their affinity towards the peptide/MHC complex. Beyond demonstrating the correlates with T cell function for a clinically relevant TCR, our results provide important considerations for selection of TCRs for immunotherapy and the use of modified peptides in immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Angela R Smith
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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15
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Gibadullin R, Randall CJ, Sidney J, Sette A, Gellman SH. Backbone Modifications of HLA-A2-Restricted Antigens Induce Diverse Binding and T Cell Activation Outcomes. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:6470-6481. [PMID: 33881854 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells express T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize short peptide antigens in the context of major histocompatibility class I (MHC I) molecules. This recognition process produces an array of cytokine-mediated signals that help to govern immunological responses. Design of biostable MHC I peptide vaccines containing unnatural subunits is desirable, and synthetic antigens in which a native α-amino acid residue is replaced by a homologous β-amino acid residue (native side chain but extended backbone) might be useful in this regard. We have evaluated the impact of α-to-β backbone modification at a single site on T cell-mediated recognition of six clinically important viral and tumor-associated antigens bound to an MHC I. Effects of this modification on MHC I affinity and T cell activation were measured. Many of these modifications diminish or prevent T cell response. However, a number of α/β-peptide antigens were found to mimic the activity of natural antigens or to enhance maximal T cell response, as measured by interferon-γ release. Results from this broad exploratory study advance our understanding of immunological responses to antigens bearing unnatural modifications and suggest that α/β-peptides could be a source of potent and proteolytically stable variants of native antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Gibadullin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Caleb J Randall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - John Sidney
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Samuel H Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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16
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Gilfillan CB, Hebeisen M, Rufer N, Speiser DE. Constant regulation for stable CD8 T-cell functional avidity and its possible implications for cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:1348-1360. [PMID: 33704770 PMCID: PMC8252569 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202049016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The functional avidity (FA) of cytotoxic CD8 T cells impacts strongly on their functional capabilities and correlates with protection from infection and cancer. FA depends on TCR affinity, downstream signaling strength, and TCR affinity-independent parameters of the immune synapse, such as costimulatory and inhibitory receptors. The functional impact of coreceptors on FA remains to be fully elucidated. Despite its importance, FA is infrequently assessed and incompletely understood. There is currently no consensus as to whether FA can be enhanced by optimized vaccine dose or boosting schedule. Recent findings suggest that FA is remarkably stable in vivo, possibly due to continued signaling modulation of critical receptors in the immune synapse. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and hypothesize that in vivo, codominant T cells constantly "equalize" their FA for similar function. We present a new model of constant FA regulation, and discuss practical implications for T-cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie B Gilfillan
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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17
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Mahnke YD, Devevre E, Baumgaertner P, Matter M, Rufer N, Romero P, Speiser DE. Human melanoma-specific CD8(+) T-cells from metastases are capable of antigen-specific degranulation and cytolysis directly ex vivo. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:467-530. [PMID: 22754765 PMCID: PMC3382891 DOI: 10.4161/onci.19856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The relatively low frequencies of tumor Ag-specific T-cells in PBMC and metastases from cancer patients have long precluded the analysis of their direct ex vivo cytolytic capacity. Using a new composite technique that works well with low cell numbers, we aimed at determining the functional competence of melanoma-specific CD8+ T-cells. A multiparameter flow cytometry based technique was applied to assess the cytolytic function, degranulation and IFNγ production by tumor Ag-specific CD8+ T-cells from PBMC and tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes (TILN) of melanoma patients. We found strong cytotoxicity by T-cells not only when they were isolated from PBMC but also from TILN. Cytotoxicity was observed against peptide-pulsed target cells and melanoma cells presenting the naturally processed endogenous antigen. However, unlike their PBMC-derived counterparts, T-cells from TILN produced only minimal amounts of IFNγ, while exhibiting similar levels of degranulation, revealing a critical functional dichotomy in metastatic lesions. Our finding of partial functional impairment fits well with the current knowledge that T-cells from cancer metastases are so-called exhausted, a state of T-cell hyporesponsiveness also found in chronic viral infections. The identification of responsible mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment is important for improving cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda D Mahnke
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research; University of Lausanne; Lausanne, Switzerland
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18
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Fridman A, Finnefrock AC, Peruzzi D, Pak I, La Monica N, Bagchi A, Casimiro DR, Ciliberto G, Aurisicchio L. An efficient T-cell epitope discovery strategy using in silico prediction and the iTopia assay platform. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:1258-1270. [PMID: 23243589 PMCID: PMC3518498 DOI: 10.4161/onci.21355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional T-cell epitope discovery is a key process for the development of novel immunotherapies, particularly for cancer immunology. In silico epitope prediction is a common strategy to try to achieve this objective. However, this approach suffers from a significant rate of false-negative results and epitope ranking lists that often are not validated by practical experience. A high-throughput platform for the identification and prioritization of potential T-cell epitopes is the iTopia(TM) Epitope Discovery System(TM), which allows measuring binding and stability of selected peptides to MHC Class I molecules. So far, the value of iTopia combined with in silico epitope prediction has not been investigated systematically. In this study, we have developed a novel in silico selection strategy based on three criteria: (1) predicted binding to one out of five common MHC Class I alleles; (2) uniqueness to the antigen of interest; and (3) increased likelihood of natural processing. We predicted in silico and characterized by iTopia 225 candidate T-cell epitopes and fixed-anchor analogs from three human tumor-associated antigens: CEA, HER2 and TERT. HLA-A2-restricted fragments were further screened for their ability to induce cell-mediated responses in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. The iTopia binding assay was only marginally informative while the stability assay proved to be a valuable experimental screening method complementary to in silico prediction. Thirteen novel T-cell epitopes and analogs were characterized and additional potential epitopes identified, providing the basis for novel anticancer immunotherapies. In conclusion, we show that combination of in silico prediction and an iTopia-based assay may be an accurate and efficient method for MHC Class I epitope discovery among tumor-associated antigens.
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19
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Smith AR, Alonso JA, Ayres CM, Singh NK, Hellman LM, Baker BM. Structurally silent peptide anchor modifications allosterically modulate T cell recognition in a receptor-dependent manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2018125118. [PMID: 33468649 PMCID: PMC7848747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018125118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Presentation of peptides by class I MHC proteins underlies T cell immune responses to pathogens and cancer. The association between peptide binding affinity and immunogenicity has led to the engineering of modified peptides with improved MHC binding, with the hope that these peptides would be useful for eliciting cross-reactive immune responses directed toward their weak binding, unmodified counterparts. Increasing evidence, however, indicates that T cell receptors (TCRs) can perceive such anchor-modified peptides differently than wild-type (WT) peptides, although the scope of discrimination is unclear. We show here that even modifications at primary anchors that have no discernible structural impact can lead to substantially stronger or weaker T cell recognition depending on the TCR. Surprisingly, the effect of peptide anchor modification can be sensed by a TCR at regions distant from the site of modification, indicating a through-protein mechanism in which the anchor residue serves as an allosteric modulator for TCR binding. Our findings emphasize caution in the use and interpretation of results from anchor-modified peptides and have implications for how anchor modifications are accounted for in other circumstances, such as predicting the immunogenicity of tumor neoantigens. Our data also highlight an important need to better understand the highly tunable dynamic nature of class I MHC proteins and the impact this has on various forms of immune recognition.
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MESH Headings
- Allosteric Regulation
- Binding Sites
- Cloning, Molecular
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Vectors/chemistry
- Genetic Vectors/metabolism
- HLA-A2 Antigen/chemistry
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Jurkat Cells
- Kinetics
- Models, Molecular
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Th2 Cells/cytology
- Th2 Cells/immunology
- Thermodynamics
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Nishant K Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Lance M Hellman
- Department of Physical and Life Sciences, Nevada State College, Henderson, NV 89002
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556;
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
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20
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Kumbhari A, Egelston CA, Lee PP, Kim PS. Mature Dendritic Cells May Promote High-Avidity Tuning of Vaccine T Cell Responses. Front Immunol 2020; 11:584680. [PMID: 33193401 PMCID: PMC7662095 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.584680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines can elicit tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but durable reductions in tumor burden require vaccines that stimulate high-avidity CTLs. Recent advances in immunotherapy responses have led to renewed interest in vaccine approaches, including dendritic cell vaccine strategies. However, dendritic cell requirements for vaccines that generate potent anti-tumor T-cell responses are unclear. Here we use mathematical modeling to show that, counterintuitively, increasing levels of immature dendritic cells may lead to selective expansion of high-avidity CTLs. This finding is in contrast with traditional dendritic cell vaccine approaches that have sought to harness ex vivo generated mature dendritic cells. We show that the injection of vaccine antigens in the context of increased numbers of immature dendritic cells results in a decreased overall peptide:MHC complex load that favors high-avidity CTL activation and expansion. Overall, our results provide a firm basis for further development of this approach, both alone and in combination with other immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsh Kumbhari
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Colt A Egelston
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Peter P Lee
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Peter S Kim
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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21
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Identification of a superagonist variant of the immunodominant Yellow fever virus epitope NS4b 214-222 by combinatorial peptide library screening. Mol Immunol 2020; 125:43-50. [PMID: 32645549 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.06.025] [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: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The CD8 T cell response to the HLA-A2-restricted epitope LLWNGPMAV (LLW) of the non-structural protein 4b of Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) is remarkably immunodominant, highly prevalent and powerful in YFV-vaccinated humans. Here we used a combinatorial peptide library screening in the context of an A2/LLW-specific CD8 T cell clone to identify a superagonist that features a methionine to isoleucine substitution at position 7. Based on in silico modeling, the functional enhancement of this LLW-7I mutation was associated with alterations in the structural dynamics of the peptide in the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) binding with the T cell receptor (TCR). While the TCR off-rate of LLW-7I pMHC is comparable to the wild type peptide, the rigidity of the 7I peptide seems to confer less entropy loss upon TCR binding. This LLW-7I superagonist is an example of improved functionality in human CD8 T cells associated with optimized ligand rigidity for TCR binding and not with changes in TCR:pMHC off-rate kinetics.
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22
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Saeed M, Schooten E, van Brakel M, K. Cole D, ten Hagen TLM, Debets R. T Cells Expressing a TCR-Like Antibody Selected Against the Heteroclitic Variant of a Shared MAGE-A Epitope Do Not Recognise the Cognate Epitope. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051255. [PMID: 32429338 PMCID: PMC7281252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies-recognising peptides bound to the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) represent potentially valuable and promising targets for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to treat patients with cancer. Here, a human phage-Fab library has been selected using HLA-A2 complexed with a heteroclitic peptide variant from an epitope shared among multiple melanoma-associated antigens (MAGEs). DNA restriction analyses and phage ELISAs confirmed selection of unique antibody clones that specifically bind to HLA-A2 complexes or HLA-A2-positive target cells loaded with native or heteroclitic peptide. Antibodies selected against heteroclitic peptide, in contrast to native peptide, demonstrated significantly lower to even negligible binding towards native peptide or tumour cells that naturally expressed peptides. The binding to native peptide was not rescued by phage panning with antigen-positive tumour cells. Importantly, when antibodies directed against heteroclitic peptides were engineered into CARs and expressed by T cells, binding to native peptides and tumour cells was minimal to absent. In short, TCR-like antibodies, when isolated from a human Fab phage library using heteroclitic peptide, fail to recognise its native peptide. We therefore argue that peptide modifications to improve antibody selections should be performed with caution as resulting antibodies, either used directly or as CARs, may lose activity towards endogenously presented tumour epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mesha Saeed
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Erik Schooten
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (E.S.); (M.v.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Mandy van Brakel
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (E.S.); (M.v.B.); (R.D.)
| | - David K. Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK;
| | - Timo L. M. ten Hagen
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
| | - Reno Debets
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (E.S.); (M.v.B.); (R.D.)
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23
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Tarbe M, Miles JJ, Edwards ESJ, Miles KM, Sewell AK, Baker BM, Quideau S. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Hapten-Clicked Analogues of The Antigenic Peptide Melan-A/MART-1 26(27L)-35. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:799-807. [PMID: 32162475 PMCID: PMC7473458 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000038] [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: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A click-chemistry-based approach was implemented to prepare peptidomimetics designed in silico and made from aromatic azides and a propargylated GIGI-mimicking platform derived from the altered Melan-A/MART-126(27L)-35 antigenic peptide ELAGIGILTV. The CuI -catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition was carried out on solid support to generate rapidly a first series of peptidomimetics, which were evaluated for their capacity to dock at the interface between the major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 and T-cell receptors (TCRs). Despite being a weak HLA-A2 ligand, one of these 11 first synthetic compounds bearing a p-nitrobenzyl-triazole side chain was recognized by the receptor proteins of Melan-A/MART-1-specific T-cells. After modification of the N and C termini of this agonist, which was intended to enhance HLA-A2 binding, one of the resulting seven additional compounds triggered significant T-cell responses. Thus, these results highlight the capacity of naturally circulating human TCRs that are specific for the native Melan-A/MART-126-35 peptide to cross-react with peptidomimetics bearing organic motifs structurally different from the native central amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tarbe
- Université de Bordeaux, ISM (CNRS-UMR 5255), 351 cours de la Libération, 33405, Talence Cedex, France
| | - John J Miles
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Emily S J Edwards
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Level 6, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Kim M Miles
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Stéphane Quideau
- Université de Bordeaux, ISM (CNRS-UMR 5255), 351 cours de la Libération, 33405, Talence Cedex, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
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24
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Abstract
T cells recognize and respond to self antigens in both cancer and autoimmunity. One strategy to influence this response is to incorporate amino acid substitutions into these T cell-specific epitopes. This strategy is being reconsidered now with the goal of increasing time to regression with checkpoint blockade therapies in cancer and antigen-specific immunotherapies in autoimmunity. We discuss how these amino acid substitutions change the interactions with the MHC class I or II molecule and the responding T cell repertoire. Amino acid substitutions in epitopes that are the most effective in therapies bind more strongly to T cell receptor and/or MHC molecules and cross-react with the same repertoire of T cells as the natural antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Slansky
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12800 E. 19thAvenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Maki Nakayama
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12800 E. 19thAvenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 1775 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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25
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Carretero-Iglesia L, Couturaud B, Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Maby-El Hajjami H, Speiser DE, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. High Peptide Dose Vaccination Promotes the Early Selection of Tumor Antigen-Specific CD8 T-Cells of Enhanced Functional Competence. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3016. [PMID: 31969886 PMCID: PMC6960191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8 T-cell response efficiency critically depends on the TCR binding strength to peptide-MHC, i.e., the TCR binding avidity. A current challenge in onco-immunology lies in the evaluation of vaccine protocols selecting for tumor-specific T-cells of highest avidity, offering maximal immune protection against tumor cells and clinical benefit. Here, we investigated the impact of peptide and CpG/adjuvant doses on the quality of vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells in relation to binding avidity and functional responses in treated melanoma patients. Using TCR-pMHC binding avidity measurements combined to phenotype and functional assays, we performed a comprehensive study on representative tumor antigen-specific CD8 T-cell clones (n = 454) from seven patients vaccinated with different doses of Melan-A/ELA peptide (0.1 mg vs. 0.5 mg) and CpG-B adjuvant (1–1.3 mg vs. 2.6 mg). Vaccination with high peptide dose favored the early and strong in vivo expansion and differentiation of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells. Consistently, T-cell clones generated from those patients showed increased TCR binding avidity (i.e., slow off-rates and CD8 binding independency) readily after 4 monthly vaccine injections (4v). In contrast, the use of low peptide or high CpG-B doses required 8 monthly vaccine injections (8v) for the enrichment of anti-tumor T-cells with high TCR binding avidity and low CD8 binding dependency. Importantly, the CD8 binding-independent vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells displayed enhanced functional avidity, reaching a plateau of maximal function. Thus, T-cell functional potency following peptide/CpG/IFA vaccination may not be further improved beyond a certain TCR binding avidity limit. Our results also indicate that while high peptide dose vaccination induced the early selection of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells of increased functional competence, continued serial vaccinations also promoted such high-avidity T-cells. Overall, the systematic assessment of T-cell binding avidity may contribute to optimize vaccine design for improving clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carretero-Iglesia
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Couturaud
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Maby-El Hajjami
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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26
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Viborg N, Ramskov S, Andersen RS, Sturm T, Fugmann T, Bentzen AK, Rafa VM, Straten PT, Svane IM, Met Ö, Hadrup SR. T cell recognition of novel shared breast cancer antigens is frequently observed in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1663107. [PMID: 31741759 PMCID: PMC6844330 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1663107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances within cancer immunotherapy have fueled a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, resulting in increasing numbers of cancer types benefitting from novel treatment options. Despite originally being considered an immunologically silent malignancy, recent studies encourage the research of breast cancer immunogenicity to evaluate immunotherapy as a treatment strategy. However, the epitope landscape in breast cancer is minimally described, limiting the options for antigen-specific, targeted strategies. Aromatase, never in mitosis A-related kinase 3 (NEK3), protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3), and prolactin are known as upregulated proteins in breast cancer. In the present study, these four proteins are identified as novel T cell targets in breast cancer. From the four proteins, 147 peptides were determined to bind HLA-A*0201 and -B*0702 using a combined in silico/in vitro affinity screening. T cell recognition of all 147 peptide-HLA-A*0201/-B*0702 combinations was assessed through the use of a novel high-throughput method utilizing DNA barcode labeled multimers. T cell recognition of sequences within all four proteins was demonstrated in peripheral blood of patients, and significantly more T cell responses were detected in patients compared to healthy donors for both HLA-A*0201 and -B*0702. Notably, several of the identified responses were directed toward peptides, with a predicted low or intermediate binding affinity. This demonstrates the importance of including low-affinity binders in the search for epitopes within shared tumor associated antigens (TAAs), as these might be less subject to immune tolerance mechanisms. The study presents four novel TAAs containing multiple possible targets for immunotherapy of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Viborg
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sofie Ramskov
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rikke Sick Andersen
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | | | - Amalie Kai Bentzen
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vibeke Mindahl Rafa
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Per Thor Straten
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Özcan Met
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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27
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Neubert NJ, Schmittnaegel M, Bordry N, Nassiri S, Wald N, Martignier C, Tillé L, Homicsko K, Damsky W, Maby-El Hajjami H, Klaman I, Danenberg E, Ioannidou K, Kandalaft L, Coukos G, Hoves S, Ries CH, Fuertes Marraco SA, Foukas PG, De Palma M, Speiser DE. T cell-induced CSF1 promotes melanoma resistance to PD1 blockade. Sci Transl Med 2019; 10:10/436/eaan3311. [PMID: 29643229 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan3311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) is a key regulator of monocyte/macrophage differentiation that sustains the protumorigenic functions of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). We show that CSF1 is expressed in human melanoma, and patients with metastatic melanoma have increased CSF1 in blood compared to healthy subjects. In tumors, CSF1 expression correlated with the abundance of CD8+ T cells and CD163+ TAMs. Human melanoma cell lines consistently produced CSF1 after exposure to melanoma-specific CD8+ T cells or T cell-derived cytokines in vitro, reflecting a broadly conserved mechanism of CSF1 induction by activated CD8+ T cells. Mining of publicly available transcriptomic data sets suggested co-enrichment of CD8+ T cells with CSF1 or various TAM-specific markers in human melanoma, which was associated with nonresponsiveness to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) checkpoint blockade in a smaller patient cohort. Combination of anti-PD1 and anti-CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) antibodies induced the regression of BRAFV600E -driven, transplant mouse melanomas, a result that was dependent on the effective elimination of TAMs. Collectively, these data implicate CSF1 induction as a CD8+ T cell-dependent adaptive resistance mechanism and show that simultaneous CSF1R targeting may be beneficial in melanomas refractory to immune checkpoint blockade and, possibly, other T cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Neubert
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Martina Schmittnaegel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Bordry
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Sina Nassiri
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Noémie Wald
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Martignier
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Laure Tillé
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - William Damsky
- Departments of Dermatology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Hélène Maby-El Hajjami
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Irina Klaman
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Nonnenwald 2, D-82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Esther Danenberg
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kalliopi Ioannidou
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Lana Kandalaft
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.,Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Hoves
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Nonnenwald 2, D-82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Carola H Ries
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Nonnenwald 2, D-82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Silvia A Fuertes Marraco
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Periklis G Foukas
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michele De Palma
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.
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28
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Madura F, Rizkallah PJ, Legut M, Holland CJ, Fuller A, Bulek A, Schauenburg AJ, Trimby A, Hopkins JR, Wells SA, Godkin A, Miles JJ, Sami M, Li Y, Liddy N, Jakobsen BK, Loveridge EJ, Cole DK, Sewell AK. TCR-induced alteration of primary MHC peptide anchor residue. Eur J Immunol 2019; 49:1052-1066. [PMID: 31091334 PMCID: PMC6618058 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The HLA-A*02:01-restricted decapeptide EAAGIGILTV, derived from melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells-1 (MART-1) protein, represents one of the best-studied tumor associated T-cell epitopes, but clinical results targeting this peptide have been disappointing. This limitation may reflect the dominance of the nonapeptide, AAGIGILTV, at the melanoma cell surface. The decapeptide and nonapeptide are presented in distinct conformations by HLA-A*02:01 and TCRs from clinically relevant T-cell clones recognize the nonapeptide poorly. Here, we studied the MEL5 TCR that potently recognizes the nonapeptide. The structure of the MEL5-HLA-A*02:01-AAGIGILTV complex revealed an induced fit mechanism of antigen recognition involving altered peptide-MHC anchoring. This "flexing" at the TCR-peptide-MHC interface to accommodate the peptide antigen explains previously observed incongruences in this well-studied system and has important implications for future therapeutic approaches. Finally, this study expands upon the mechanisms by which molecular plasticity can influence antigen recognition by T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Anna Fuller
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Anna Bulek
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John J. Miles
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of TherapeuticsAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and MedicineJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Yi Li
- Immunocore Ltd.AbingdonUK
| | | | | | - E. Joel Loveridge
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Department of ChemistrySwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - David K. Cole
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Immunocore Ltd.AbingdonUK
| | - Andrew K. Sewell
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Systems Immunity Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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29
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Galloway SAE, Dolton G, Attaf M, Wall A, Fuller A, Rius C, Bianchi V, Theaker S, Lloyd A, Caillaud ME, Svane IM, Donia M, Cole DK, Szomolay B, Rizkallah P, Sewell AK. Peptide Super-Agonist Enhances T-Cell Responses to Melanoma. Front Immunol 2019; 10:319. [PMID: 30930889 PMCID: PMC6425991 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent immunotherapeutic approaches using adoptive cell therapy, or checkpoint blockade, have demonstrated the powerful anti-cancer potential of CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). While these approaches have shown great promise, they are only effective in some patients with some cancers. The potential power, and relative ease, of therapeutic vaccination against tumour associated antigens (TAA) present in different cancers has been a long sought-after approach for harnessing the discriminating sensitivity of CTL to treat cancer and has seen recent renewed interest following cancer vaccination successes using unique tumour neoantigens. Unfortunately, results with TAA-targeted “universal” cancer vaccines (UCV) have been largely disappointing. Infectious disease models have demonstrated that T-cell clonotypes that recognise the same antigen should not be viewed as being equally effective. Extrapolation of this notion to UCV would suggest that the quality of response in terms of the T-cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes induced might be more important than the quantity of the response. Unfortunately, there is little opportunity to assess the effectiveness of individual T-cell clonotypes in vivo. Here, we identified effective, persistent T-cell clonotypes in an HLA A2+ patient following successful tumour infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. One such T-cell clone was used to generate super-agonist altered peptide ligands (APLs). Further refinement produced an APL that was capable of inducing T-cells in greater magnitude, and with improved effectiveness, from the blood of all 14 healthy donors tested. Importantly, this APL also induced T-cells from melanoma patient blood that exhibited superior recognition of the patient's own tumour compared to those induced by the natural antigen sequence. These results suggest that use of APL to skew the clonotypic quality of T-cells induced by cancer vaccination could provide a promising avenue in the hunt for the UCV “magic bullet.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A E Galloway
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Garry Dolton
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Meriem Attaf
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Wall
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Fuller
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Rius
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Bianchi
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Theaker
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Angharad Lloyd
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Immunocore LTD, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marine E Caillaud
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - David K Cole
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Immunocore LTD, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Szomolay
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Rizkallah
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- T-Cell Modulation Group, Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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30
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Marx M, Zumpe M, Troschke-Meurer S, Shah D, Lode HN, Siebert N. Co-expression of IL-15 enhances anti-neuroblastoma effectivity of a tyrosine hydroxylase-directed DNA vaccination in mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207320. [PMID: 30452438 PMCID: PMC6242328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term survival of high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients still remains under 50%. Here, we report the generation, in vitro characterization and anti-tumor effectivity of a new bicistronic xenogenic DNA vaccine encoding tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) that is highly expressed in NB tumors, and the immune stimulating cytokine interleukin 15 (IL-15) that induces cytotoxic but not regulatory T cells. The DNA sequences of TH linked to ubiquitin and of IL-15 were integrated into the bicistronic expression vector pIRES. Successful production and bioactivity of the vaccine-derived IL-15- and TH protein were shown by ELISA, bioactivity assay and western blot analysis. Further, DNA vaccine-driven gene transfer to the antigen presenting cells of Peyer’s patches using attenuated Salmonella typhimurium that served as oral delivery system was shown by immunofluorescence analysis. The anti-tumor effect of the generated vaccine was evaluated in a syngeneic mouse model (A/J mice, n = 12) after immunization with S. typhimurium (3× prior and 3× after tumor implantation). Importantly, TH-/IL-15-based DNA vaccination resulted in an enhanced tumor remission in 45.5% of mice compared to controls (TH (16.7%), IL-15 (0%)) and reduced spontaneous metastasis (30.0%) compared to controls (TH (63.6%), IL-15 (70.0%)). Interestingly, similar levels of tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells were observed among all experimental groups. Finally, co-expression of IL-15 did not result in elevated regulatory T cell levels in tumor environment measured by flow cytometry. In conclusion, co-expression of the stimulatory cytokine IL-15 enhanced the NB-specific anti-tumor effectivity of a TH-directed vaccination in mice and may provide a novel immunological approach for NB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlen Marx
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Maxi Zumpe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sascha Troschke-Meurer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Diana Shah
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Holger N. Lode
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nikolai Siebert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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31
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Durgeau A, Virk Y, Corgnac S, Mami-Chouaib F. Recent Advances in Targeting CD8 T-Cell Immunity for More Effective Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:14. [PMID: 29403496 PMCID: PMC5786548 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer treatment have emerged from new immunotherapies targeting T-cell inhibitory receptors, including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen (CTLA)-4 and programmed cell death (PD)-1. In this context, anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies have demonstrated survival benefits in numerous cancers, including melanoma and non-small-cell lung carcinoma. PD-1-expressing CD8+ T lymphocytes appear to play a major role in the response to these immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) eliminate malignant cells through recognition by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of specific antigenic peptides presented on the surface of cancer cells by major histocompatibility complex class I/beta-2-microglobulin complexes, and through killing of target cells, mainly by releasing the content of secretory lysosomes containing perforin and granzyme B. T-cell adhesion molecules and, in particular, lymphocyte-function-associated antigen-1 and CD103 integrins, and their cognate ligands, respectively, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and E-cadherin, on target cells, are involved in strengthening the interaction between CTL and tumor cells. Tumor-specific CTL have been isolated from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with varied cancers. TCRβ-chain gene usage indicated that CTL identified in vitro selectively expanded in vivo at the tumor site compared to autologous PBL. Moreover, functional studies indicated that these CTL mediate human leukocyte antigen class I-restricted cytotoxic activity toward autologous tumor cells. Several of them recognize truly tumor-specific antigens encoded by mutated genes, also known as neoantigens, which likely play a key role in antitumor CD8 T-cell immunity. Accordingly, it has been shown that the presence of T lymphocytes directed toward tumor neoantigens is associated with patient response to immunotherapies, including ICI, adoptive cell transfer, and dendritic cell-based vaccines. These tumor-specific mutation-derived antigens open up new perspectives for development of effective second-generation therapeutic cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Durgeau
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,ElyssaMed, Paris Biotech Santé, Paris, France
| | - Yasemin Virk
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Stéphanie Corgnac
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Fathia Mami-Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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32
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Holder KA, Grant MD. Modulation of the strength and character of HIV-specific CD8 + T cell responses with heteroclitic peptides. AIDS Res Ther 2017; 14:41. [PMID: 28893274 PMCID: PMC5594471 DOI: 10.1186/s12981-017-0170-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes HIV-specific CD8+ T cell dysfunction and exhaustion. The strong association between non-progression and maintenance of HIV-specific CD8+ T cell cytokine production and proliferative capacities suggests that invigorating CD8+ T cell immune responses would reduce viremia and slow disease progression. A series of studies have demonstrated that sequence variants of native immunogenic peptides can generate more robust CD8+ T cell responses and that stimulation with these ‘heteroclitic’ peptides can steer responses away from the phenotypic and functional attributes of exhaustion acquired during chronic HIV infection. Incorporation of heteroclitic peptide stimulation within therapeutic vaccines could favour induction of more effective cellular antiviral responses, and in combination with ‘shock and kill’ strategies, contribute towards HIV cure.
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33
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Vocanson M, Mutez V, Esser PR, Bachtanian E, Cluzel M, Nosbaum A, Martin SF, Nicolas JF. Contact hypersensitivity: T-cell based assay. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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34
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Allard M, Couturaud B, Carretero-Iglesia L, Duong MN, Schmidt J, Monnot GC, Romero P, Speiser DE, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. TCR-ligand dissociation rate is a robust and stable biomarker of CD8+ T cell potency. JCI Insight 2017; 2:92570. [PMID: 28724801 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.92570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite influencing many aspects of T cell biology, the kinetics of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to peptide-major histocompatibility molecules (pMHC) remain infrequently determined in patient monitoring or for adoptive T cell therapy. Using specifically designed reversible fluorescent pMHC multimeric complexes, we performed a comprehensive study of TCR-pMHC off-rates combined with various functional assays on large libraries of self/tumor- and virus-specific CD8+ T cell clones from melanoma patients and healthy donors. We demonstrate that monomeric TCR-pMHC dissociation rates accurately predict the extent of cytotoxicity, cytokine production, polyfunctionality, cell proliferation, activating/inhibitory receptor expression, and in vivo antitumor potency of naturally occurring antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Our data also confirm the superior binding avidities of virus-specific T cells as compared with self/tumor-specific T cell clonotypes (n > 300). Importantly, the TCR-pMHC off-rate is a more stable and robust biomarker of CD8+ T cell potency than the frequently used functional assays/metrics that depend on the T cell's activation state, and therefore show major intra- and interexperimental variability. Taken together, our data show that the monomeric TCR-pMHC off-rate is highly useful for the ex vivo high-throughput functional assessment of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses and a strong candidate as a biomarker of T cell therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Allard
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Couturaud
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Laura Carretero-Iglesia
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Minh Ngoc Duong
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Pedro Romero
- Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.,Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.,Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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35
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Heterogeneity assessment of functional T cell avidity. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44320. [PMID: 28287160 PMCID: PMC5347081 DOI: 10.1038/srep44320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The potency of cellular immune responses strongly depends on T cell avidity to antigen. Yet, functional avidity measurements are rarely performed in patients, mainly due to the technical challenges of characterizing heterogeneous T cells. The mean functional T cell avidity can be determined by the IFN-γ Elispot assay, with titrated amounts of peptide. Using this assay, we developed a method revealing the heterogeneity of functional avidity, represented by the steepness/hillslope of the peptide titration curve, documented by proof of principle experiments and mathematical modeling. Our data show that not only natural polyclonal CD8 T cell populations from cancer patients, but also monoclonal T cells differ strongly in their heterogeneity of functional avidity. Interestingly, clones and polyclonal cells displayed comparable ranges of heterogeneity. We conclude that besides the mean functional avidity, it is feasible and useful to determine its heterogeneity (hillslope) for characterizing T cell responses in basic research and patient investigation.
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36
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Rationale for stimulator of interferon genes-targeted cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Cancer 2017; 75:86-97. [PMID: 28219022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor therapy illustrates that cancer immunotherapy, which aims to foster the host immune response against cancer to achieve durable anticancer responses, can be successfully implemented in a routine clinical practice. However, a substantial proportion of patients does not benefit from this treatment, underscoring the need to identify alternative strategies to defeat cancer. Despite the demonstration in the 1990's that the detection of danger signals, including the nucleic acids DNA and RNA, by dendritic cells (DCs) in a cancer setting is essential for eliciting host defence, the molecular sensors responsible for recognising these danger signals and eliciting anticancer immune responses remain incompletely characterised, possibly explaining the disappointing results obtained so far upon the clinical implementation of DC-based cancer vaccines. In 2008, STING (stimulator of interferon genes), was identified as a protein that is indispensable for the recognition of cytosolic DNA. The central role of STING in controlling anticancer immune responses was exemplified by observations that spontaneous and radiation-induced adaptive anticancer immunity was reduced in the absence of STING, illustrating the potential of STING-targeting for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we will discuss the relevance of manipulating the STING signalling pathway for cancer treatment and integrating STING-targeting based strategies into combinatorial therapies to obtain long-lasting anticancer immune responses.
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37
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MacLachlan BJ, Greenshields-Watson A, Mason GH, Schauenburg AJ, Bianchi V, Rizkallah PJ, Sewell AK, Fuller A, Cole DK. Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens. J Vis Exp 2017:54991. [PMID: 28287509 PMCID: PMC5408581 DOI: 10.3791/54991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are known to play an important role in tumor control. In order to carry out this function, the cell surface-expressed T-cell receptor (TCR) must functionally recognize human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted tumor-derived peptides (pHLA). However, we and others have shown that most TCRs bind sub-optimally to tumor antigens. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms that define this poor recognition could aid in the development of new targeted therapies that circumnavigate these shortcomings. Indeed, present therapies that lack this molecular understanding have not been universally effective. Here, we describe methods that we commonly employ in the laboratory to determine how the nature of the interaction between TCRs and pHLA governs T-cell functionality. These methods include the generation of soluble TCRs and pHLA and the use of these reagents for X-ray crystallography, biophysical analysis, and antigen-specific T-cell staining with pHLA multimers. Using these approaches and guided by structural analysis, it is possible to modify the interaction between TCRs and pHLA and to then test how these modifications impact T-cell antigen recognition. These findings have already helped to clarify the mechanism of T-cell recognition of a number of cancer antigens and could direct the development of altered peptides and modified TCRs for new cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J MacLachlan
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | | | - Georgina H Mason
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Valentina Bianchi
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University; Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Ludwig Insitutue for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - Anna Fuller
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University;
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38
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Neubert NJ, Tillé L, Barras D, Soneson C, Baumgaertner P, Rimoldi D, Gfeller D, Delorenzi M, Fuertes Marraco SA, Speiser DE. Broad and Conserved Immune Regulation by Genetically Heterogeneous Melanoma Cells. Cancer Res 2017; 77:1623-1636. [PMID: 28104684 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-2680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although mutations drive cancer, it is less clear to what extent genetic defects control immune mechanisms and confer resistance to T-cell-based immunotherapy. Here, we studied the reactions of malignant and benign melanocyte lines to cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTL) using flow cytometry and gene expression analyses. We found rapid and broad upregulation of immune-regulatory genes, essentially triggered by CTL-derived IFNγ and augmented by TNFα. These reactions were predominantly homogenous, independent of oncogenic driver mutations, and similar in benign and malignant cells. The reactions exhibited both pro- and antitumorigenic potential and primarily corresponded to mechanisms that were conserved, rather than acquired, by mutations. Similar results were obtained from direct ex vivo analysis of the tumor microenvironment. Thus, immune regulation in the tumor landscape may often be driven by conserved mechanisms, which may explain why T-cell-based immunotherapy can provide durable benefits with relatively infrequent escape. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1623-36. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Neubert
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laure Tillé
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Barras
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Donata Rimoldi
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Gfeller
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Delorenzi
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Silvia A Fuertes Marraco
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Ludwig Cancer Research and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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39
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Rapid and Continued T-Cell Differentiation into Long-term Effector and Memory Stem Cells in Vaccinated Melanoma Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 23:3285-3296. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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40
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Perspectives in immunotherapy: meeting report from the “Immunotherapy Bridge”, Napoli, December 5th 2015. J Immunother Cancer 2016. [PMCID: PMC5067891 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-016-0168-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Harnessing the immune system and preventing immune escape, the immunotherapy of cancer provides great potential for clinical application, in broad patient populations, achieving both conventional and unconventional clinical responses. After the substantial advances in melanoma, the focus of cancer immunotherapy has expanded to include many other cancers. Targeting immune checkpoints and further mechanisms used by tumors to avoid anticancer immunity, different approaches are under evaluation, including combination therapies. The first Immunotherapy Bridge meeting focused on various cancer types including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell, breast and ovarian carcinoma, and discussed mechanisms of action of single agents and combination strategies, and the prediction of clinical responses.
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41
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Bentzen AK, Marquard AM, Lyngaa R, Saini SK, Ramskov S, Donia M, Such L, Furness AJS, McGranahan N, Rosenthal R, Straten PT, Szallasi Z, Svane IM, Swanton C, Quezada SA, Jakobsen SN, Eklund AC, Hadrup SR. Large-scale detection of antigen-specific T cells using peptide-MHC-I multimers labeled with DNA barcodes. Nat Biotechnol 2016; 34:1037-1045. [PMID: 27571370 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Identification of the peptides recognized by individual T cells is important for understanding and treating immune-related diseases. Current cytometry-based approaches are limited to the simultaneous screening of 10-100 distinct T-cell specificities in one sample. Here we use peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) multimers labeled with individual DNA barcodes to screen >1,000 peptide specificities in a single sample, and detect low-frequency CD8 T cells specific for virus- or cancer-restricted antigens. When analyzing T-cell recognition of shared melanoma antigens before and after adoptive cell therapy in melanoma patients, we observe a greater number of melanoma-specific T-cell populations compared with cytometry-based approaches. Furthermore, we detect neoepitope-specific T cells in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood from patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Barcode-labeled pMHC multimers enable the combination of functional T-cell analysis with large-scale epitope recognition profiling for the characterization of T-cell recognition in various diseases, including in small clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalie Kai Bentzen
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea Marion Marquard
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rikke Lyngaa
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sunil Kumar Saini
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie Ramskov
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lina Such
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrew J S Furness
- CRUK Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Immunology Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- CRUK Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Translational Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Rachel Rosenthal
- CRUK Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Translational Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Per Thor Straten
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zoltan Szallasi
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charles Swanton
- CRUK Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Translational Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- CRUK Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Immunology Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Søren Nyboe Jakobsen
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Immudex, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aron Charles Eklund
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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42
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Neubert NJ, Soneson C, Barras D, Baumgaertner P, Rimoldi D, Delorenzi M, Fuertes Marraco SA, Speiser DE. A Well-Controlled Experimental System to Study Interactions of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes with Tumor Cells. Front Immunol 2016; 7:326. [PMID: 27625650 PMCID: PMC5003846 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While T cell-based immunotherapies are steadily improving, there are still many patients who progress, despite T cell-infiltrated tumors. Emerging evidence suggests that T cells themselves may provoke immune escape of cancer cells. Here, we describe a well-controlled co-culture system for studying the dynamic T cell - cancer cell interplay, using human melanoma as a model. We explain starting material, controls, and culture parameters to establish reproducible and comparable cultures with highly heterogeneous tumor cells. Low passage melanoma cell lines and melanoma-specific CD8+ T cell clones generated from patient blood were cultured together for up to 3 days. Living melanoma cells were isolated from the co-culture system by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We demonstrate that the characterization of isolated melanoma cells is feasible using flow cytometry for protein expression analysis as well as an Agilent whole human genome microarray and the NanoString technology for differential gene expression analysis. In addition, we identify five genes (ALG12, GUSB, RPLP0, KRBA2, and ADAT2) that are stably expressed in melanoma cells independent of the presence of T cells or the T cell-derived cytokines IFNγ and TNFα. These genes are essential for correct normalization of gene expression data by NanoString. Further to the characterization of melanoma cells after exposure to CTLs, this experimental system might be suitable to answer a series of questions, including how the affinity of CTLs for their target antigen influences the melanoma cell response and whether CTL-induced gene expression changes in melanoma cells are reversible. Taken together, our human T cell - melanoma cell culture system is well suited to characterize immune-related mechanisms in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Neubert
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Soneson
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics , Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - David Barras
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics , Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Donata Rimoldi
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Mauro Delorenzi
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Silvia A Fuertes Marraco
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
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43
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Menez-Jamet J, Gallou C, Rougeot A, Kosmatopoulos K. Optimized tumor cryptic peptides: the basis for universal neo-antigen-like tumor vaccines. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2016; 4:266. [PMID: 27563653 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2016.05.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The very impressive clinical results recently obtained in cancer patients treated with immune response checkpoint inhibitors boosted the interest in immunotherapy as a therapeutic choice in cancer treatment. However, these inhibitors require a pre-existing tumor specific immune response and the presence of tumor infiltrating T cells to be efficient. This immune response can be triggered by cancer vaccines. One of the main issues in tumor vaccination is the choice of the right antigen to target. All vaccines tested to date targeted tumor associated antigens (TAA) that are self-antigens and failed to show a clinical efficacy because of the immune self-tolerance to TAA. A new class of tumor antigens has recently been described, the neo-antigens that are created by point mutations of tumor expressing proteins and are recognized by the immune system as non-self. Neo-antigens exhibit two main properties: they are not involved in the immune self-tolerance process and are immunogenic. However, the majority of the neo-antigens are patient specific and their use as cancer vaccines requires their previous identification in each patient individualy that can be done only in highly specialized research centers. It is therefore evident that neo-antigens cannot be used for patient vaccination worldwide. This raises the question of whether we can find neo-antigen like vaccines, which would not be patient specific. In this review we show that optimized cryptic peptides from TAA are neo-antigen like peptides. Optimized cryptic peptides are recognized by the immune system as non-self because they target self-cryptic peptides that escape self-tolerance; in addition they are strongly immunogenic because their sequence is modified in order to enhance their affinity for the HLA molecule. The first vaccine based on the optimized cryptic peptide approach, Vx-001, which targets the widely expressed tumor antigen telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), has completed a large phase I clinical study and is currently being tested in a randomized phase II trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aude Rougeot
- Vaxon Biotech, 3 rue de l'Arrivée 75015, Paris, France
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44
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Bianchi V, Bulek A, Fuller A, Lloyd A, Attaf M, Rizkallah PJ, Dolton G, Sewell AK, Cole DK. A Molecular Switch Abrogates Glycoprotein 100 (gp100) T-cell Receptor (TCR) Targeting of a Human Melanoma Antigen. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:8951-9. [PMID: 26917722 PMCID: PMC4861463 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.707414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes can mediate tumor regression in melanoma through the specific recognition of HLA-restricted peptides. Because of the relatively weak affinity of most anti-cancer T-cell receptors (TCRs), there is growing emphasis on immunizing melanoma patients with altered peptide ligands in order to induce strong anti-tumor immunity capable of breaking tolerance toward these self-antigens. However, previous studies have shown that these immunogenic designer peptides are not always effective. The melanocyte differentiation protein, glycoprotein 100 (gp100), encodes a naturally processed epitope that is an attractive target for melanoma immunotherapies, in particular peptide-based vaccines. Previous studies have shown that substitutions at peptide residue Glu(3) have a broad negative impact on polyclonal T-cell responses. Here, we describe the first atomic structure of a natural cognate TCR in complex with this gp100 epitope and highlight the relatively high affinity of the interaction. Alanine scan mutagenesis performed across the gp100(280-288) peptide showed that Glu(3) was critically important for TCR binding. Unexpectedly, structural analysis demonstrated that the Glu(3) → Ala substitution resulted in a molecular switch that was transmitted to adjacent residues, abrogating TCR binding and T-cell recognition. These findings help to clarify the mechanism of T-cell recognition of gp100 during melanoma responses and could direct the development of altered peptides for vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bianchi
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Bulek
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Fuller
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Angharad Lloyd
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Meriem Attaf
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Garry Dolton
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - David K Cole
- From the Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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45
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Ophir E, Bobisse S, Coukos G, Harari A, Kandalaft LE. Personalized approaches to active immunotherapy in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2015; 1865:72-82. [PMID: 26241169 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising anti-cancer curative modality. However, in contrast to recent advances obtained employing checkpoint blockade agents and T cell therapies, clinical efficacy of therapeutic cancer vaccines is still limited. Most vaccination attempts in the clinic represent "off-the shelf" approaches since they target common "self" tumor antigens, shared among different patients. In contrast, personalized approaches of vaccination are tailor-made for each patient and in spite being laborious, hold great potential. Recent technical advancement enabled the first steps in the clinic of personalized vaccines that target patient-specific mutated neo-antigens. Such vaccines could induce enhanced tumor-specific immune response since neo-antigens are mutation-derived antigens that can be recognized by high affinity T cells, not limited by central tolerance. Alternatively, the use of personalized vaccines based on whole autologous tumor cells, overcome the need for the identification of specific tumor antigens. Whole autologous tumor cells could be administered alone, pulsed on dendritic cells as lysate, DNA, RNA or delivered to dendritic cells in-vivo through encapsulation in nanoparticle vehicles. Such vaccines may provide a source for the full repertoire of the patient-specific tumor antigens, including its private neo-antigens. Furthermore, combining next-generation personalized vaccination with other immunotherapy modalities might be the key for achieving significant therapeutic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran Ophir
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Bobisse
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ovarian Cancer Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lana E Kandalaft
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ovarian Cancer Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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46
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Adegoke AO, Grant MD. Enhancing Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8(+) T Cell Responses with Heteroclitic Peptides. Front Immunol 2015; 6:377. [PMID: 26257743 PMCID: PMC4512150 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific CD8(+) T cells play a critical role in containing HIV replication and delaying disease progression. However, HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells become progressively more "exhausted" as chronic HIV infection proceeds. Symptoms of T cell exhaustion range from expression of inhibitory receptors and selective loss of cytokine production capacity through reduced proliferative potential, impaired differentiation into effector cells and increased susceptibility to apoptosis. While effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) durably reduces HIV viremia to undetectable levels, this alone does not restore the full pluripotency of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells. In a number of studies, a subset of peptide epitope variants categorized as heteroclitic, restimulated more potent cellular immune responses in vitro than did the native, immunizing peptides themselves. This property of heteroclitic peptides has been exploited in experimental cancer and chronic viral infection models to promote clearance of transformed cells and persistent viruses. In this review, we consider the possibility that heteroclitic peptides could improve the efficacy of therapeutic vaccines as part of HIV immunotherapy or eradication strategies. We review literature on heteroclitic peptides and illustrate their potential to beneficially modulate the nature of HIV-specific T cell responses toward those found in the small minority of HIV-infected, aviremic cART-naïve persons termed elite controllers or long-term non-progressors. Our review suggests that the efficacy of HIV vaccines could be improved by identification, testing, and incorporation of heteroclitic variants of native HIV peptide epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeolu Oyemade Adegoke
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases Program, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Michael David Grant
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases Program, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
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47
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Gannon PO, Wieckowski S, Baumgaertner P, Hebeisen M, Allard M, Speiser DE, Rufer N. Quantitative TCR:pMHC Dissociation Rate Assessment by NTAmers Reveals Antimelanoma T Cell Repertoires Enriched for High Functional Competence. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:356-66. [PMID: 26002978 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Experimental models demonstrated that therapeutic induction of CD8 T cell responses may offer protection against tumors or infectious diseases providing that T cells have sufficiently high TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity for efficient Ag recognition and consequently strong immune functions. However, comprehensive characterization of TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity in clinically relevant situations has remained elusive. In this study, using the novel NTA-His tag-containing multimer technology, we quantified the TCR:pMHC dissociation rates (koff) of tumor-specific vaccine-induced CD8 T cell clones (n = 139) derived from seven melanoma patients vaccinated with IFA, CpG, and the native/EAA or analog/ELA Melan-A(MART-1)(26-35) peptide, binding with low or high affinity to MHC, respectively. We observed substantial correlations between koff and Ca(2+) mobilization (p = 0.016) and target cell recognition (p < 0.0001), with the latter independently of the T cell differentiation state. Our strategy was successful in demonstrating that the type of peptide impacted on TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity, as tumor-reactive T cell clones derived from patients vaccinated with the low-affinity (native) peptide expressed slower koff rates than those derived from patients vaccinated with the high-affinity (analog) peptide (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, we observed that the low-affinity peptide promoted the selective differentiation of tumor-specific T cells bearing TCRs with high TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity (p < 0.0001). Altogether, TCR:pMHC interaction kinetics correlated strongly with T cell functions. Our study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity assessment by NTA-His tag-containing multimers of naturally occurring polyclonal T cell responses, which represents a strong asset for the development of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe O Gannon
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Sébastien Wieckowski
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michaël Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Mathilde Allard
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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48
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He Y, Hong Y, Mizejewski GJ. Engineering α-fetoprotein-based gene vaccines to prevent and treat hepatocellular carcinoma: review and future prospects. Immunotherapy 2015; 6:725-36. [PMID: 25041030 DOI: 10.2217/imt.14.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of a patient's immune system offers an attractive approach to prevent and treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the antitumor efficacy of current HCC vaccines was weak owing to insufficient immune activation of targeting self/tumor antigens. We recently found that epitope-optimized α-fetoprotein effectively activated CD8 T cells and generated potent antitumor effects in the carcinogen-induced autochthonous HCC mouse model. We predict that the same antigen engineering approach of epitope-optimization will enable us to develop effective human vaccines to prevent HCC recurrence after liver resection. The engineered human HCC vaccines may also allow us to identify high-affinity T-cell receptors and antibodies that can be used to reprogram T cells to treat HCC tumors via adoptive transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukai He
- Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, Cancer Immunology, Inflammation & Tolerance Program, Augusta, GA 30907, USA
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49
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Dyson J. T-cell receptors: tugging on the anchor for a tighter hold on the tumor-associated peptide. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:380-2. [PMID: 25581444 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2015] [Revised: 01/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although it has been shown that human tumor-associated, HLA anchor residue modified "heteroclitic" peptides may induce stronger immune responses than wild-type peptides in cancer vaccine trials, it has also been shown that some T cells primed with these heteroclitic peptides subsequently fail to recognize the natural, tumor-expressed peptide efficiently. This may provide a molecular reason for why clinical trials of these peptides have been thus far unsuccessful. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Madura et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2015. 45: 584-591] highlight a novel twist on T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of HLA-peptide complexes. Tumor-associated peptides often lack canonical anchor residues, which can be substituted for the optimal residue to improve their antigenicity. T-cell cross-reactivity between the natural and modified (heteroclitic) peptides is essential for this approach to work and depends on whether the anchor residue substitution influences peptide conformation. The Melan-A/MART-126-35 peptide epitope is an example where T cells can make this distinction, with the natural peptide stimulating higher affinity CD8(+) T cells than the heteroclitic peptide, despite the heteroclitic peptide's more stable association with HLA-A2. The molecular basis for peptide discrimination is identified through the structure of the TCR bound to the natural peptide; TCR engagement of the natural peptide "lifts" its amino-terminus partly away from the HLA peptide binding groove, forming a higher affinity interface with the TCR than is formed with the anchor residue "optimized" heteroclitic peptide, which cannot be "pulled" from the HLA groove.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Dyson
- Section of Molecular Immunology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
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50
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Madura F, Rizkallah PJ, Holland CJ, Fuller A, Bulek A, Godkin AJ, Schauenburg AJ, Cole DK, Sewell AK. Structural basis for ineffective T-cell responses to MHC anchor residue-improved "heteroclitic" peptides. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:584-91. [PMID: 25471691 PMCID: PMC4357396 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
MHC anchor residue-modified "heteroclitic" peptides have been used in many cancer vaccine trials and often induce greater immune responses than the wild-type peptide. The best-studied system to date is the decamer MART-1/Melan-A26-35 peptide, EAAGIGILTV, where the natural alanine at position 2 has been modified to leucine to improve human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 anchoring. The resulting ELAGIGILTV peptide has been used in many studies. We recently showed that T cells primed with the ELAGIGILTV peptide can fail to recognize the natural tumor-expressed peptide efficiently, thereby providing a potential molecular reason for why clinical trials of this peptide have been unsuccessful. Here, we solved the structure of a TCR in complex with HLA-A*0201-EAAGIGILTV peptide and compared it with its heteroclitic counterpart , HLA-A*0201-ELAGIGILTV. The data demonstrate that a suboptimal anchor residue at position 2 enables the TCR to "pull" the peptide away from the MHC binding groove, facilitating extra contacts with both the peptide and MHC surface. These data explain how a TCR can distinguish between two epitopes that differ by only a single MHC anchor residue and demonstrate how weak MHC anchoring can enable an induced-fit interaction with the TCR. Our findings constitute a novel demonstration of the extreme sensitivity of the TCR to minor alterations in peptide conformation.
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MESH Headings
- Alanine/chemistry
- Alanine/genetics
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- HLA-A2 Antigen/chemistry
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Leucine/chemistry
- Leucine/genetics
- MART-1 Antigen/chemistry
- MART-1 Antigen/genetics
- MART-1 Antigen/immunology
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Madura
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Christopher J Holland
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anna Fuller
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anna Bulek
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrew J Godkin
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of MedicineHeath Park, Cardiff, UK
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