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Alhosseini MN, Ebadi P, Karimi MH, Migliorati G, Cari L, Nocentini G, Heidari M, Soleimanian S. Therapy with regulatory T-cell infusion in autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation: A review of the strengths and limitations. Transpl Immunol 2024; 85:102069. [PMID: 38844002 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2024.102069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/17/2024]
Abstract
In the last decade, cell therapies have revolutionized the treatment of some diseases, earning the definition of being the "third pillar" of therapeutics. In particular, the infusion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is explored for the prevention and control of autoimmune reactions and acute/chronic allograft rejection. Such an approach represents a promising new treatment for autoimmune diseases to recover an immunotolerance against autoantigens, and to prevent an immune response to alloantigens. The efficacy of the in vitro expanded polyclonal and antigen-specific Treg infusion in the treatment of a large number of autoimmune diseases has been extensively demonstrated in mouse models. Similarly, experimental work documented the efficacy of Treg infusions to prevent acute and chronic allograft rejections. The Treg therapy has shown encouraging results in the control of type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis and delaying graft rejection in clinical trials. However, the best method for Treg expansion and the advantages and pitfalls with the different types of Tregs are not fully understood in terms of how these therapeutic treatments can be applied in the clinical setting. This review provides an up-to-date overview of Treg infusion-based treatments in autoimmune diseases and allograft transplantation, the current technical challenges, and the highlights and disadvantages of this therapeutic approaches."
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Padideh Ebadi
- Islamic Azad University, Department of Biochemistry, Kazerun, Iran
| | | | - Graziella Migliorati
- University of Perugia, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luigi Cari
- University of Perugia, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Nocentini
- University of Perugia, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, Perugia, Italy
| | - Mozhdeh Heidari
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeede Soleimanian
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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2
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Chen Q, Zhang X, Yang H, Luo G, Zhou X, Xu Z, Xu A. CD8 + CD103 + iTregs protect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney Injury by inhibiting pyroptosis. Apoptosis 2024:10.1007/s10495-024-02001-z. [PMID: 39068624 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-024-02001-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is elevated, one of the main causes is ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). However, no specific therapy is currently available to treat I/R-induced AKI (I/R-AKI). Treg cells have been demonstrated to perform an anti-inflammatory role in a range of autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses. However, there is limited available information about the possible functions of CD8 + CD103 + iTregs in I/R-AKI. We utilized renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) and I/R-AKI mouse model to investigate whether CD8 + CD103 + iTregs could attenuate AKI and the underlying mechanism. In vitro, co-cultured with CD8 + CD103 + iTregs alleviated H/R-induced cell injury. After treatment of CD8 + CD103 + iTregs rather than control cells, a significant improvement of I/R-AKI was observed in vivo, including decreased serum creatinine (sCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, reduced renal pathological injury, lowered tubular apoptosis and inhibition of the transition from AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Mechanically, CD8 + CD103 + iTregs alleviated H/R-induced cell injury and I/R-AKI partly by suppressing RTECs pyroptosis via inhibiting the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis. Our study provides a novel perspective on the possibility of CD8 + CD103 + iTregs for the treatment of I/R-AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuju Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Guangxuan Luo
- Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhenjian Xu
- Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Anping Xu
- Department of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Department of Nephrology, PengPai Memorial Hospital, Shanwei, 516400, China.
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Zhong Y, Stauss HJ. Targeted Therapy of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case for Antigen-Specific Tregs. Cells 2024; 13:797. [PMID: 38786021 PMCID: PMC11119434 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is an autoinflammatory condition that results in damage to myelinated neurons in affected patients. While disease-modifying treatments have been successful in slowing the progression of relapsing-remitting disease, most patients still progress to secondary progressive disease that is largely unresponsive to disease-modifying treatments. Similarly, there is currently no effective treatment for patients with primary progressive MS. Innate and adaptive immune cells in the CNS play a critical role in initiating an autoimmune attack and in maintaining the chronic inflammation that drives disease progression. In this review, we will focus on recent insights into the role of T cells with regulatory function in suppressing the progression of MS, and, more importantly, in promoting the remyelination and repair of MS lesions in the CNS. We will discuss the exciting potential to genetically reprogram regulatory T cells to achieve immune suppression and enhance repair locally at sites of tissue damage, while retaining a fully competent immune system outside the CNS. In the future, reprogramed regulatory T cells with defined specificity and function may provide life medicines that can persist in patients and achieve lasting disease suppression after one cycle of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hans J. Stauss
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PP, UK;
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Su QY, Li HC, Jiang XJ, Jiang ZQ, Zhang Y, Zhang HY, Zhang SX. Exploring the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cell in rheumatoid arthritis: Insights into subsets, markers, and signaling pathways. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116440. [PMID: 38518605 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by an imbalance between immunological reactivity and immune tolerance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play a crucial role in controlling ongoing autoimmunity and maintaining peripheral tolerance, have shown great potential for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as RA. This review aims to provide an updated summary of the latest insights into Treg-targeting techniques in RA. We focus on current therapeutic strategies for targeting Tregs based on discussing their subsets, surface markers, suppressive function, and signaling pathways in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Yi Su
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Department of Rheumatology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Huan-Cheng Li
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Jiang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Zhong-Qing Jiang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - He-Yi Zhang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Sheng-Xiao Zhang
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Department of Rheumatology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China.
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5
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Azad A, Altunbas HA, Manguoglu AE. From islet transplantation to beta-cell regeneration: an update on beta-cell-based therapeutic approaches in type 1 diabetes. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2024; 19:217-227. [PMID: 38693782 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2024.2347263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Type 1 diabetes (T1D) mellitus is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells, predominantly effector T cells, destroy insulin-secreting beta-cells. Beta-cell destruction led to various consequences ranging from retinopathy and nephropathy to neuropathy. Different strategies have been developed to achieve normoglycemia, including exogenous glucose compensation, whole pancreas transplantation, islet transplantation, and beta-cell replacement. AREAS COVERED The last two decades of experience have shown that indigenous glucose compensation through beta-cell regeneration and protection is a peerless method for T1D therapy. Tremendous studies have tried to find an unlimited source for beta-cell regeneration, on the one hand, and beta-cell protection against immune attack, on the other hand. Recent advances in stem cell technology, gene editing methods, and immune modulation approaches provide a unique opportunity for both beta-cell regeneration and protection. EXPERT OPINION Pluripotent stem cell differentiation into the beta-cell is considered an unlimited source for beta-cell regeneration. Devising engineered pancreas-specific regulatory T cells using Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) technology potentiates an effective immune tolerance induction for beta-cell protection. Beta-cell regeneration using pluripotent stem cells and beta-cell protection using pancreas-specific engineered regulatory T cells promises to develop a curative protocol in T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asef Azad
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hasan Ali Altunbas
- Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ayse Esra Manguoglu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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6
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Becker M, Dirschl SM, Scherm MG, Serr I, Daniel C. Niche-specific control of tissue function by regulatory T cells-Current challenges and perspectives for targeting metabolic disease. Cell Metab 2024; 36:229-239. [PMID: 38218187 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Tissue regulatory T cells (Tregs) exert pivotal functions in both immune and metabolic regulation, maintaining local tissue homeostasis, integrity, and function. Accordingly, Tregs play a crucial role in controlling obesity-induced inflammation and supporting efficient muscle function and repair. Depending on the tissue context, Tregs are characterized by unique transcriptomes, growth, and survival factors and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. This functional specialization offers the potential to selectively target context-specific Treg populations, tailoring therapeutic strategies to specific niches, thereby minimizing potential side effects. Here, we discuss challenges and perspectives for niche-specific Treg targeting, which holds promise for highly efficient and precise medical interventions to combat metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Becker
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra M Dirschl
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin G Scherm
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Isabelle Serr
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Carolin Daniel
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany.
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7
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Mehta JM, Hiremath SC, Chilimba C, Ghasemi A, Weaver JD. Translation of cell therapies to treat autoimmune disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 205:115161. [PMID: 38142739 PMCID: PMC10843859 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115161] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are a diverse and complex set of chronic disorders with a substantial impact on patient quality of life and a significant global healthcare burden. Current approaches to autoimmune disease treatment comprise broadly acting immunosuppressive drugs that lack disease specificity, possess limited efficacy, and confer undesirable side effects. Additionally, there are limited treatments available to restore organs and tissues damaged during the course of autoimmune disease progression. Cell therapies are an emergent area of therapeutics with the potential to address both autoimmune disease immune dysfunction as well as autoimmune disease-damaged tissue and organ systems. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of common autoimmune disorders and the state-of-the-art in cell therapy approaches to (1) regenerate or replace autoimmune disease-damaged tissue and (2) eliminate pathological immune responses in autoimmunity. Finally, we discuss critical considerations for the translation of cell products to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinal M Mehta
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Shivani C Hiremath
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Chishiba Chilimba
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Azin Ghasemi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jessica D Weaver
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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8
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Eskandari SK, Daccache A, Azzi JR. Chimeric antigen receptor T reg therapy in transplantation. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:48-61. [PMID: 38123369 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
In the quest for more precise and effective organ transplantation therapies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies represent a potential cutting-edge advance. This review comprehensively analyses CAR Tregs and how they may address important drawbacks of polyclonal Tregs and conventional immunosuppressants. We examine a growing body of preclinical findings of CAR Treg therapy in transplantation, discuss CAR Treg design specifics, and explore established and attractive new targets in transplantation. In addition, we explore present impediments where future studies will be necessary to determine the efficacy of CAR Tregs in reshaping alloimmune responses and transplant microenvironments to reduce reliance on chemical immunosuppressants. Overall, ongoing studies and trials are crucial for understanding the full scope of CAR Treg therapy in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siawosh K Eskandari
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Andrea Daccache
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Bioscience Education and Research (UFR Biosciences), Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jamil R Azzi
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Christofi P, Pantazi C, Psatha N, Sakellari I, Yannaki E, Papadopoulou A. Promises and Pitfalls of Next-Generation Treg Adoptive Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5877. [PMID: 38136421 PMCID: PMC10742252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245877] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are fundamental to maintaining immune homeostasis by inhibiting immune responses to self-antigens and preventing the excessive activation of the immune system. Their functions extend beyond immune surveillance and subpopulations of tissue-resident Treg cells can also facilitate tissue repair and homeostasis. The unique ability to regulate aberrant immune responses has generated the concept of harnessing Tregs as a new cellular immunotherapy approach for reshaping undesired immune reactions in autoimmune diseases and allo-responses in transplantation to ultimately re-establish tolerance. However, a number of issues limit the broad clinical applicability of Treg adoptive immunotherapy, including the lack of antigen specificity, heterogeneity within the Treg population, poor persistence, functional Treg impairment in disease states, and in vivo plasticity that results in the loss of suppressive function. Although the early-phase clinical trials of Treg cell therapy have shown the feasibility and tolerability of the approach in several conditions, its efficacy has remained questionable. Leveraging the smart tools and platforms that have been successfully developed for primary T cell engineering in cancer, the field has now shifted towards "next-generation" adoptive Treg immunotherapy, where genetically modified Treg products with improved characteristics are being generated, as regards antigen specificity, function, persistence, and immunogenicity. Here, we review the state of the art on Treg adoptive immunotherapy and progress beyond it, while critically evaluating the hurdles and opportunities towards the materialization of Tregs as a living drug therapy for various inflammation states and the broad clinical translation of Treg therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Christofi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Pantazi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Sakellari
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7710, USA
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
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10
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Tuomela K, Salim K, Levings MK. Eras of designer Tregs: Harnessing synthetic biology for immune suppression. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:250-267. [PMID: 37522861 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery, CD4+ CD25hi FOXP3hi regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been firmly established as a critical cell type for regulating immune homeostasis through a plethora of mechanisms. Due to their immunoregulatory power, delivery of polyclonal Tregs has been explored as a therapy to dampen inflammation in the settings of transplantation and autoimmunity. Evidence shows that Treg therapy is safe and well-tolerated, but efficacy remains undefined and could be limited by poor persistence in vivo and lack of antigen specificity. With the advent of new genetic engineering tools, it is now possible to create bespoke "designer" Tregs that not only overcome possible limitations of polyclonal Tregs but also introduce new features. Here, we review the development of designer Tregs through the perspective of three 'eras': (1) the era of FOXP3 engineering, in which breakthroughs in the biological understanding of this transcription factor enabled the conversion of conventional T cells to Tregs; (2) the antigen-specificity era, in which transgenic T-cell receptors and chimeric antigen receptors were introduced to create more potent and directed Treg therapies; and (3) the current era, which is harnessing advanced genome-editing techniques to introduce and refine existing and new engineering approaches. The year 2022 marked the entry of "designer" Tregs into the clinic, with exciting potential for application and efficacy in a wide variety of immune-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoliina Tuomela
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kevin Salim
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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11
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Hosseinalizadeh H, Rabiee F, Eghbalifard N, Rajabi H, Klionsky DJ, Rezaee A. Regulating the regulatory T cells as cell therapies in autoimmunity and cancer. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1244298. [PMID: 37828948 PMCID: PMC10565010 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1244298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs), possess a pivotal function in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. The dysregulated activity of Tregs has been associated with the onset of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Hence, Tregs are promising targets for interventions aimed at steering the immune response toward the desired path, either by augmenting the immune system to eliminate infected and cancerous cells or by dampening it to curtail the damage to self-tissues in autoimmune disorders. The activation of Tregs has been observed to have a potent immunosuppressive effect against T cells that respond to self-antigens, thus safeguarding our body against autoimmunity. Therefore, promoting Treg cell stability presents a promising strategy for preventing or managing chronic inflammation that results from various autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, Tregs have been found to be overactivated in several forms of cancer, and their role as immune response regulators with immunosuppressive properties poses a significant impediment to the successful implementation of cancer immunotherapy. However, the targeting of Tregs in a systemic manner may lead to the onset of severe inflammation and autoimmune toxicity. It is imperative to develop more selective methods for targeting the function of Tregs in tumors. In this review, our objective is to elucidate the function of Tregs in tumors and autoimmunity while also delving into numerous therapeutic strategies for reprogramming their function. Our focus is on reprogramming Tregs in a highly activated phenotype driven by the activation of key surface receptors and metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, we examine Treg-based therapies in autoimmunity, with a specific emphasis on Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Treg therapy and T-cell receptor (TCR)-Treg therapy. Finally, we discuss key challenges and the future steps in reprogramming Tregs that could lead to the development of novel and effective cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hosseinalizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rabiee
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Negar Eghbalifard
- Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamid Rajabi
- Faculty of Medicine, ShahreKord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Daniel J. Klionsky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Aryan Rezaee
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Moon S, Hong J, Go S, Kim BS. Immunomodulation for Tissue Repair and Regeneration. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2023; 20:389-409. [PMID: 36920675 PMCID: PMC10219918 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-023-00525-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Various immune cells participate in repair and regeneration following tissue injury or damage, orchestrating tissue inflammation and regeneration processes. A deeper understanding of the immune system's involvement in tissue repair and regeneration is critical for the development of successful reparatory and regenerative strategies. Here we review recent technologies that facilitate cell-based and biomaterial-based modulation of the immune systems for tissue repair and regeneration. First, we summarize the roles of various types of immune cells in tissue repair. Second, we review the principle, examples, and limitations of regulatory T (Treg) cell-based therapy, a representative cell-based immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss biomaterial-based immunotherapy strategies that aim to modulate immune cells using various biomaterials for tissue repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjun Moon
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Hong
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokhyeong Go
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Soo Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Institute of Engineering Research, BioMAX, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Mazinani M, Rahbarizadeh F. New cell sources for CAR-based immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2023; 11:49. [PMID: 37147740 PMCID: PMC10163725 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00482-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, in which a patient's own T lymphocytes are engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells, has achieved striking success in some hematological malignancies in preclinical and clinical trials, resulting in six FDA-approved CAR-T products currently available in the market. Despite impressive clinical outcomes, concerns about treatment failure associated with low efficacy or high cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells remain. While the main focus has been on improving CAR-T cells, exploring alternative cellular sources for CAR generation has garnered growing interest. In the current review, we comprehensively evaluated other cell sources rather than conventional T cells for CAR generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Mazinani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran.
- Research and Development Center of Biotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Fiyouzi T, Pelaez-Prestel HF, Reyes-Manzanas R, Lafuente EM, Reche PA. Enhancing Regulatory T Cells to Treat Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097797. [PMID: 37175505 PMCID: PMC10177847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune responses and are essential to maintain immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Hence, it is no coincidence that autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders are associated with defects in Tregs. These diseases have currently no cure and are treated with palliative drugs such as immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory agents. Thereby, there is a great interest in developing medical interventions against these diseases based on enhancing Treg cell function and numbers. Here, we give an overview of Treg cell ontogeny and function, paying particular attention to mucosal Tregs. We review some notable approaches to enhance immunomodulation by Tregs with therapeutic purposes including adoptive Treg cell transfer therapy and discuss relevant clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease. We next introduce ways to expand mucosal Tregs in vivo using microbiota and dietary products that have been the focus of clinical trials in various autoimmune and chronic-inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Fiyouzi
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Ave Complutense S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Hector F Pelaez-Prestel
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Ave Complutense S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Reyes-Manzanas
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Ave Complutense S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther M Lafuente
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Ave Complutense S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro A Reche
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Ave Complutense S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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15
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Bittner S, Hehlgans T, Feuerer M. Engineered Treg cells as putative therapeutics against inflammatory diseases and beyond. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:468-483. [PMID: 37100644 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells ensure tolerance against self-antigens, limit excessive inflammation, and support tissue repair processes. Therefore, Treg cells are currently attractive candidates for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, or transplant rejection. Early clinical trials have proved the safety and efficacy of certain Treg cell therapies in inflammatory diseases. We summarize recent advances in engineering Treg cells, including the concept of biosensors for inflammation. We assess Treg cell engineering possibilities for novel functional units, including Treg cell modifications influencing stability, migration, and tissue adaptation. Finally, we outline perspectives of engineered Treg cells going beyond inflammatory diseases by using custom-designed receptors and read-out systems, aiming to use Treg cells as in vivo diagnostic tools and drug delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Bittner
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hehlgans
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; Chair for Immunology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Markus Feuerer
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; Chair for Immunology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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16
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Dhawan M, Rabaan AA, Alwarthan S, Alhajri M, Halwani MA, Alshengeti A, Najim MA, Alwashmi ASS, Alshehri AA, Alshamrani SA, AlShehail BM, Garout M, Al-Abdulhadi S, Al-Ahmed SH, Thakur N, Verma G. Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and COVID-19: Unveiling the Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potentialities with a Special Focus on Long COVID. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030699. [PMID: 36992283 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc all around the world. The causative agent of COVID-19 is the novel form of the coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV-2, which results in immune system disruption, increased inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). T cells have been important components of the immune system, which decide the fate of the COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have reported an important subset of T cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs), which possess immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory properties and play a crucial role in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 patients have considerably fewer Tregs than the general population. Such a decrement may have an impact on COVID-19 patients in a number of ways, including diminishing the effect of inflammatory inhibition, creating an inequality in the Treg/Th17 percentage, and raising the chance of respiratory failure. Having fewer Tregs may enhance the likelihood of long COVID development in addition to contributing to the disease's poor prognosis. Additionally, tissue-resident Tregs provide tissue repair in addition to immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory activities, which may aid in the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The severity of the illness is also linked to abnormalities in the Tregs' phenotype, such as reduced expression of FoxP3 and other immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-beta. Hence, in this review, we summarize the immunosuppressive mechanisms and their possible roles in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, the perturbations in Tregs have been associated with disease severity. The roles of Tregs are also explained in the long COVID. This review also discusses the potential therapeutic roles of Tregs in the management of patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India
- Trafford College, Altrincham, Manchester WA14 5PQ, UK
| | - Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Sara Alwarthan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael Alhajri
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad A Halwani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha 4781, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amer Alshengeti
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, National Guard Health Affairs, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa A Najim
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameen S S Alwashmi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alshamrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bashayer M AlShehail
- Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Garout
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Al-Abdulhadi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Riyadh 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Saleh Office for Medical Genetic and Genetic Counseling Services, The House of Expertise, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Dammam 32411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shamsah H Al-Ahmed
- Specialty Paediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nanamika Thakur
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India
| | - Geetika Verma
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
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17
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Steiner R, Pilat N. The potential for Treg-enhancing therapies in transplantation. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 211:122-137. [PMID: 36562079 PMCID: PMC10019131 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as crucial regulators of immune tolerance against self-antigens, these cells have become a promising tool for the induction of donor-specific tolerance in transplantation medicine. The therapeutic potential of increasing in vivoTreg numbers for a favorable Treg to Teff cell ratio has already been demonstrated in several sophisticated pre-clinical models and clinical pilot trials. In addition to improving cell quantity, enhancing Treg function utilizing engineering techniques led to encouraging results in models of autoimmunity and transplantation. Here we aim to discuss the most promising approaches for Treg-enhancing therapies, starting with adoptive transfer approaches and ex vivoexpansion cultures (polyclonal vs. antigen specific), followed by selective in vivostimulation methods. Furthermore, we address next generation concepts for Treg function enhancement (CARs, TRUCKs, BARs) as well as the advantages and caveats inherit to each approach. Finally, this review will discuss the clinical experience with Treg therapy in ongoing and already published clinical trials; however, data on long-term results and efficacy are still very limited and many questions that might complicate clinical translation remain open. Here, we discuss the hurdles for clinical translation and elaborate on current Treg-based therapeutic options as well as their potencies for improving long-term graft survival in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Steiner
- Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Pilat
- Correspondence: Nina Pilat, PhD, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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18
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Hennessy C, Deptula M, Hester J, Issa F. Barriers to Treg therapy in Europe: From production to regulation. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1090721. [PMID: 36744143 PMCID: PMC9892909 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1090721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been an increased interest in cell based therapies for a range of medical conditions in the last decade. This explosion in novel therapeutics research has led to the development of legislation specifically focused on cell and gene based therapies. In Europe, the European medicines agency (EMA) designates any medicines for human use which are based on genes, tissues, or cells as advanced therapy medicinal products or advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). In this article we discuss the hurdles to widespread adoption of ATMPs in Europe, with a focus on regulatory T cells (Tregs). There are numerous barriers which must be overcome before mainstream adoption of Treg therapy becomes a reality. The source of the cells, whether to use autologous or allogenic cells, and the methods through which they are isolated and expanded, must all meet strict good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards to allow use of the products in humans. GMP compliance is costly, with the equipment and reagents providing a significant cost barrier and requiring specialized facilities and personnel. Conforming to the regulations set centrally by the EMA is difficult, and the different interpretations of the regulations across the various member states further complicates the regulatory approval process. The end products then require a complex and robust distribution network to ensure timely delivery of potentially life saving treatments to patients. In a European market whose logistics networks have been hammered by COVID and Brexit, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery systems is a more complex task than ever. In this article we will examine the impact of these barriers on the development and adoption of Tregs in Europe, and potential approaches which could facilitate more widespread use of Tregs, instead of its current concentration in a few very specialized centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Hennessy
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Milena Deptula
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Hester
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fadi Issa
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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19
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Garrido-Mesa J, Brown MA. T cell Repertoire Profiling and the Mechanism by which HLA-B27 Causes Ankylosing Spondylitis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2022; 24:398-410. [PMID: 36197645 PMCID: PMC9666335 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-022-01090-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is strongly associated with the HLA-B27 gene. The canonical function of HLA-B27 is to present antigenic peptides to CD8 lymphocytes, leading to adaptive immune responses. The ‘arthritogenic peptide’ theory as to the mechanism by which HLA-B27 induces ankylosing spondylitis proposes that HLA-B27 presents peptides derived from exogenous sources such as bacteria to CD8 lymphocytes, which subsequently cross-react with antigens at the site of inflammation of the disease, causing inflammation. This review describes findings of studies in AS involving profiling of T cell expansions and discusses future research opportunities based on these findings. Recent Findings Consistent with this theory, there is an expanding body of data showing that expansion of a restricted pool of CD8 lymphocytes is found in most AS patients yet only in a small proportion of healthy HLA-B27 carriers. Summary These exciting findings strongly support the theory that AS is driven by presentation of antigenic peptides to the adaptive immune system by HLA-B27. They point to new potential approaches to identify the exogenous and endogenous antigens involved and to potential therapies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Garrido-Mesa
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, England
| | - Matthew A Brown
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, England.
- Genomics England, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, England.
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20
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Yang SJ, Singh AK, Drow T, Tappen T, Honaker Y, Barahmand-Pour-Whitman F, Linsley PS, Cerosaletti K, Mauk K, Xiang Y, Smith J, Mortensen E, Cook PJ, Sommer K, Khan I, Liggitt D, Rawlings DJ, Buckner JH. Pancreatic islet-specific engineered T regs exhibit robust antigen-specific and bystander immune suppression in type 1 diabetes models. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabn1716. [PMID: 36197963 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn1716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is therapeutic in type 1 diabetes (T1D) mouse models. Tregs that are specific for pancreatic islets are more potent than polyclonal Tregs in preventing disease. However, the frequency of antigen-specific natural Tregs is extremely low, and ex vivo expansion may destabilize Tregs, leading to an effector phenotype. Here, we generated durable, antigen-specific engineered Tregs (EngTregs) from primary human CD4+ T cells by combining FOXP3 homology-directed repair editing and lentiviral T cell receptor (TCR) delivery. Using TCRs derived from clonally expanded CD4+ T cells isolated from patients with T1D, we generated islet-specific EngTregs that suppressed effector T cell (Teff) proliferation and cytokine production. EngTregs suppressed Teffs recognizing the same islet antigen in addition to bystander Teffs recognizing other islet antigens through production of soluble mediators and both direct and indirect mechanisms. Adoptively transferred murine islet-specific EngTregs homed to the pancreas and blocked diabetes triggered by islet-specific Teffs or diabetogenic polyclonal Teffs in recipient mice. These data demonstrate the potential of antigen-specific EngTregs as a targeted therapy for preventing T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Jung Yang
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Akhilesh K Singh
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Travis Drow
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Tori Tappen
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Yuchi Honaker
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Fariba Barahmand-Pour-Whitman
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Peter S Linsley
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Karen Cerosaletti
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Kelsey Mauk
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Yufei Xiang
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Jessica Smith
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Emma Mortensen
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Peter J Cook
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Karen Sommer
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Iram Khan
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Denny Liggitt
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - David J Rawlings
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Jane H Buckner
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
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21
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McGovern J, Holler A, Thomas S, Stauss HJ. Forced Fox-P3 expression can improve the safety and antigen-specific function of engineered regulatory T cells. J Autoimmun 2022; 132:102888. [PMID: 36049437 PMCID: PMC10570926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are potent inhibitors of autoreactive T cells. The intracellular transcription factor FoxP3 controls the expression levels of a diverse set of genes and plays a critical role in programming functional Tregs. Although, antigen-specific Tregs are more potent than polyclonal Tregs in treating ongoing autoimmunity, phenotype plasticity associated with loss of FoxP3 expression in Tregs can lead to the conversion into antigen-specific effector T cells which might exacerbate autoimmune pathology. In this study, we designed a retroviral vector driving the expression of FoxP3 and a human HLA-DR-restricted TCR from the same promoter. Transduction of purified human Tregs revealed that all TCR-positive cells had elevated levels of FoxP3 expression, increased CD25 and CTLA4 expression and potent suppressive function. Elevated FoxP3 expression did not impair the in vitro expansion of engineered Tregs. Adoptive transfer into HLA-DR transgenic mice revealed that FoxP3+TCR engineered Tregs showed long-term persistence with stable FoxP3 and TCR expression. In contrast, adoptive transfer of Tregs engineered with TCR only resulted in the accumulation of TCR-positive, FoxP3-negative T cells which displayed antigen-specific effector function when stimulated with the TCR-recognised peptides. Our data indicate that forced expression of FoxP3 can prevent accumulation of antigen-specific effector T cells without impairing the engraftment and persistence of engineered Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny McGovern
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; Quell Therapeutics, 84 Wood Lane, London, UK
| | - Angelika Holler
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Sharyn Thomas
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Hans J Stauss
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
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22
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Xu Z, Jiang X, Dai X, Li B. The Dynamic Role of FOXP3+ Tregs and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications During SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:916411. [PMID: 35874688 PMCID: PMC9305488 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.916411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been raging all around the world since the beginning of 2020, and leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with strong cytokine storm which contributes to widespread tissue damage and even death in severe patients. Over-activated immune response becomes one of the characteristics of severe COVID-19 patients. Regulatory T cells (Treg) play an essential role in maintaining the immune homeostasis, which restrain excessive inflammation response. So FOXP3+ Tregs might participate in the suppression of inflammation caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Besides suppressive function, tissue resident Tregs are also responsible for tissue repair. In this review, we mainly summarize the latest research focusing on the change of FOXP3+ Tregs in the COVID-19 patients, discuss the relationship between disease severity and number change of Tregs and speculate the potential role of FOXP3+ Tregs during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we introduce some potential Treg-based therapies to improve patients’ outcomes, which include small molecular drugs, antibody drugs, CAR-Treg and cytokine treatment. We hope to reduce tissue damage of severe COVID-19 patients and offer better prognosis through Treg-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan Xu
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Ruijin Hospital, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Ruijin Hospital, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyu Dai
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Ruijin Hospital, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xueyu Dai, ; Bin Li,
| | - Bin Li
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Ruijin Hospital, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research, Guanghua Integrative Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammatory Diseases, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Xueyu Dai, ; Bin Li,
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23
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Bellinghausen I, Khatri R, Saloga J. Current Strategies to Modulate Regulatory T Cell Activity in Allergic Inflammation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:912529. [PMID: 35720406 PMCID: PMC9205643 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.912529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, atopic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy, increased strongly worldwide, reaching up to 50% in industrialized countries. These diseases are characterized by a dominating type 2 immune response and reduced numbers of allergen-specific regulatory T (Treg) cells. Conventional allergen-specific immunotherapy is able to tip the balance towards immunoregulation. However, in mouse models of allergy adaptive transfer of Treg cells did not always lead to convincing beneficial results, partially because of limited stability of their regulatory phenotype activity. Besides genetic predisposition, it has become evident that environmental factors like a westernized lifestyle linked to modern sanitized living, the early use of antibiotics, and the consumption of unhealthy foods leads to epithelial barrier defects and dysbiotic microbiota, thereby preventing immune tolerance and favoring the development of allergic diseases. Epigenetic modification of Treg cells has been described as one important mechanism in this context. In this review, we summarize how environmental factors affect the number and function of Treg cells in allergic inflammation and how this knowledge can be exploited in future allergy prevention strategies as well as novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Bellinghausen
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rahul Khatri
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Joachim Saloga
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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24
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Li YJ, Chen Z. Cell-based therapies for rheumatoid arthritis: opportunities and challenges. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2022; 14:1759720X221100294. [PMID: 35634355 PMCID: PMC9131381 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x221100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by chronic synovitis that hardly resolves spontaneously. The current treatment of RA consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs. Although the treat-to-target strategy has been intensively applied in the past decade, clinical unmet needs still exist since a substantial proportion of patients are refractory or even develop severe adverse effects to current therapies. In recent years, with the deeper understanding of immunopathogenesis of the disease, cell-based therapies have exhibited effective and promising interventions to RA. Several cell-based therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy as well as their beneficial effects have been documented and verified so far. In this review, we summarize the current evidence and discuss the prospect as well as challenges for these three types of cellular therapies in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jing Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Second Clinical Medical School, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
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25
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Rezaei Kahmini F, Shahgaldi S, Azimi M, Mansourabadi AH. Emerging therapeutic potential of regulatory T (Treg) cells for rheumatoid arthritis: New insights and challenges. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 108:108858. [PMID: 35597122 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune-related disorder characterized by chronic inflammation. Although the etiopathogenesis of RA still remains to be clarified, it is supposed that the breakdown of immune self-tolerance may contribute to the development of RA. Thus, restoring of immune tolerance at the site of inflammation is the ultimate goal of RA treatment. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are the main suppressive cells that maintain tolerance and inhibit immunity against auto-antigen. Of note, recent studies demonstrated the efficacy of adoptive transfer of Treg cells in the modulation of the unwanted immune response, which makes them an ideal candidate to maintain immune homeostasis and restore antigen-specific tolerance in the case of RA and other autoimmune diseases. This review intends to submit recent finding of Treg cells-based therapies in RA with a focus on strategies applied to improve the therapeutic value of Treg cells to restore immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Rezaei Kahmini
- Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Shahab Shahgaldi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Azimi
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Mansourabadi
- Department of Immunology, School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunogenetics Research Network (IgReN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
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26
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Qu G, Chen J, Li Y, Yuan Y, Liang R, Li B. Current status and perspectives of regulatory T cell-based therapy. J Genet Genomics 2022; 49:599-611. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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27
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Arjomandnejad M, Kopec AL, Keeler AM. CAR-T Regulatory (CAR-Treg) Cells: Engineering and Applications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:287. [PMID: 35203496 PMCID: PMC8869296 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells are critical for maintaining immune tolerance. Recent studies have confirmed their therapeutic suppressive potential to modulate immune responses in organ transplant and autoimmune diseases. However, the unknown and nonspecific antigen recognition of polyclonal Tregs has impaired their therapeutic potency in initial clinical findings. To address this limitation, antigen specificity can be conferred to Tregs by engineering the expression of transgenic T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In contrast to TCR Tregs, CAR Tregs are major histocompatibility complex (MHC) independent and less dependent on interleukin-2 (IL-2). Furthermore, CAR Tregs maintain Treg phenotype and function, home to the target tissue and show enhanced suppressive efficacy compared to polyclonal Tregs. Additional development of engineered CAR Tregs is needed to increase Tregs' suppressive function and stability, prevent CAR Treg exhaustion, and assess their safety profile. Further understanding of Tregs therapeutic potential will be necessary before moving to broader clinical applications. Here, we summarize recent studies utilizing CAR Tregs in modulating immune responses in autoimmune diseases, transplantation, and gene therapy and future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motahareh Arjomandnejad
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (M.A.); (A.L.K.)
| | - Acadia L. Kopec
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (M.A.); (A.L.K.)
| | - Allison M. Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (M.A.); (A.L.K.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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28
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Boardman DA, Levings MK. Emerging strategies for treating autoimmune disorders with genetically modified Treg cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 149:1-11. [PMID: 34998473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene editing of living cells is a cornerstone of present-day medical research that has enabled scientists to address fundamental biologic questions and identify novel strategies to treat diseases. The ability to manipulate adoptive cell therapy products has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy and promises similar results for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and transplant rejection. Clinical trials have recently deemed polyclonal regulatory T (Treg) cell therapy to be a safe therapeutic option, but questions remain regarding the efficacy of this approach. In this review, we discuss how gene editing technologies are being applied to transform the future of Treg cell therapy, focusing on the preclinical strategies that are currently being investigated to enhance the efficacy, function, and survival of human Treg cells. We explore approaches that may be used to generate immunoregulatory cells ex vivo, detail emerging strategies that are being used to modify these cells (such as using chimeric antigen receptors to confer antigen specificity), and outline concepts that have been explored to repurpose conventional T cells to target and destroy autoreactive and alloreactive lymphocytes. We also describe the key hurdles that currently hinder the clinical adoption of Treg cell therapy and propose potential future avenues of research for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic A Boardman
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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29
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Park Y, Kwok SK. Recent Advances in Cell Therapeutics for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. Immune Netw 2022; 22:e10. [PMID: 35291648 PMCID: PMC8901702 DOI: 10.4110/in.2022.22.e10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic autoimmune diseases arise from loss of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis between effector and regulator functions. There are many therapeutic modalities for autoimmune diseases ranging from conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and immunosuppressants exerting nonspecific immune suppression to targeted agents including biologic agents and small molecule inhibitors aiming at specific cytokines and intracellular signal pathways. However, such current therapeutic strategies can rarely induce recovery of immune tolerance in autoimmune disease patients. To overcome limitations of conventional treatment modalities, novel approaches using specific cell populations with immune-regulatory properties have been attempted to attenuate autoimmunity. Recently progressed biotechnologies enable sufficient in vitro expansion and proper manipulation of such ‘tolerogenic’ cell populations to be considered for clinical application. We introduce 3 representative cell types with immunosuppressive features, including mesenchymal stromal cells, Tregs, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Their cellular definitions, characteristics, mechanisms of immune regulation, and recent data about preclinical and clinical studies in systemic autoimmune diseases are reviewed here. Challenges and limitations of each cell therapy are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjae Park
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kwok
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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30
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CAR Treg: A new approach in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 102:108409. [PMID: 34863655 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have the role of regulating self-tolerance, and suppressing immune responses. Defects in Treg function and number can lead to in loss of tolerance or autoimmune disease. To treat or control autoimmune diseases, one of the options is to develop immune tolerance for Tregs cell therapy, which includes promotion and activation. Recently, cell-based treatment as a promising approach to increase cells function and number has been developed. Cell therapy by chimeric T antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of leukemia, which has led researchers to use CAR-T cells in other diseases like autoimmune diseases. Here, we describe the existing treatments for autoimmune diseases and the available treatments based on Treg, their benefits and restrictions for implementation in clinical trials. We also discussed potential solutions to overcome these limitations. It seems novel designs of CARs to be new hope for autoimmune diseases and expected to be a potential cure option in a wide array of disease in the future. Therefore, it is very important to address this issue and increase information about it.
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31
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Alishah K, Birtel M, Masoumi E, Jafarzadeh L, Mirzaee HR, Hadjati J, Voss RH, Diken M, Asad S. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TGFβRII disruption enhances anti-tumor efficacy of human chimeric antigen receptor T cells in vitro. J Transl Med 2021; 19:482. [PMID: 34838059 PMCID: PMC8627098 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03146-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CAR T-cell therapy has been recently unveiled as one of the most promising cancer therapies in hematological malignancies. However, solid tumors mount a profound line of defense to escape immunosurveillance by CAR T-cells. Among them, cytokines with an inhibitory impact on the immune system such as IL-10 and TGFβ are of great importance: TGFβ is a pleiotropic cytokine, which potently suppresses the immune system and is secreted by a couple of TME resident and tumor cells. METHODS In this study, we hypothesized that knocking out the TGFβ receptor II gene, could improve CAR T-cell functions in vitro and in vivo. Hereby, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system, to knockout the TGFβRII gene in T-cells and could monitor the efficient gene knock out by genome analysis techniques. Next, Mesothelin or Claudin 6 specific CAR constructs were overexpressed via IVT-RNA electroporation or retroviral transduction and the poly-functionality of these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells in terms of proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity were assessed and compared with parental CAR T-cells. RESULTS Our experiments demonstrated that TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells fully retained their capabilities in killing tumor antigen positive target cells and more intriguingly, could resist the anti-proliferative effect of exogenous TGFβ in vitro outperforming wild type CAR T-cells. Noteworthy, no antigen or growth factor-independent proliferation of these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells has been recorded. TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells also resisted the suppressive effect of induced regulatory T-cells in vitro to a larger extent. Repetitive antigen stimulation demonstrated that these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells will experience less activation induced exhaustion in comparison to the WT counterpart. CONCLUSION The TGFβRII KO approach may become an indispensable tool in immunotherapy of solid tumors, as it may surmount one of the key negative regulatory signaling pathways in T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Alishah
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Birtel
- TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Elham Masoumi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Mirzaee
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Hadjati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ralf-Holger Voss
- Department of Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center (UMC) of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Mustafa Diken
- TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Sedighe Asad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Vergani D, Terziroli Beretta-Piccoli B, Mieli-Vergani G. A reasoned approach to the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. Dig Liver Dis 2021; 53:1381-1393. [PMID: 34162505 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease affecting all ages, characterised by elevated transaminase and immunoglobulin G levels, positive autoantibodies, interface hepatitis on histology and good response to immunosuppressive treatment. If untreated, it has a poor prognosis. The aim of this review is to analyse AIH therapeutic interventions with reference to our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AIH. Standard treatment, based on steroids and azathioprine, leads to disease remission in 80-90% of patients. Alternative first-line treatment with budesonide is effective in adults, but less so in the juvenile form of AIH; first-line treatment with ciclosporin does not provide convincing advantages compared to standard treatment. Second-line treatments are needed for patients not responding or intolerant to first-line standard management. Mycophenolate mofetil is the most widely used second-line drug, and has good efficacy particularly for patients intolerant to azathioprine, but is teratogenic. Only few and heterogeneous data on calcineurin inhibitors and m-TOR inhibitors are available. Biologicals, including anti-tumour necrosis factor- α and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, have given ambivalent results and may have severe side-effects. Clinical trials with new therapeutic options aiming at targeting B lymphocytes and proinflammatory cytokines, or expanding regulatory T cells to restore tolerance are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Vergani
- King's College London Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, London, UK; Institute of Liver Studies, MowatLabs, King's College Hospital, London, UK; Epatocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Benedetta Terziroli Beretta-Piccoli
- Institute of Liver Studies, MowatLabs, King's College Hospital, London, UK; Epatocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Switzerland
| | - Giorgina Mieli-Vergani
- King's College London Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, London, UK; Epatocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland; Paediatric Liver, GI and Nutrition Centre, MowatLabs, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
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Ghosh R, Dey R, Sawoo R, Bishayi B. Neutralization of IL-17 and treatment with IL-2 protects septic arthritis by regulating free radical production and antioxidant enzymes in Th17 and Tregs: An immunomodulatory TLR2 versus TNFR response. Cell Immunol 2021; 370:104441. [PMID: 34628221 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Septic arthritis is a destructive joint disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Synovial inflammation involved Th17 proliferation and down regulation of Treg population, thus resolution of inflammation targeting IL-17 may be important to control arthritis. Endogenous inhibition of IL-17 to regulate arthritic inflammation correlating with Th17/Treg cells TLR2 and TNFRs are not done. The role of SOD, CAT and GRx in relation to ROS production during arthritis along with expression of TLR2, TNFR1/TNFR2 in Th17/Treg cells of mice treated with IL-17A Ab/ IL-2 were studied. Increased ROS, reduced antioxidant enzyme activity was found in Th17 cells of SA infected mice whereas Treg cells of IL-17A Ab/ IL-2 treated group showed opposite effects. Neutralization of IL-17 after arthritis cause decreased TNFR1 and increased TNFR2 expression in Treg cells. Thus, neutralization of IL-17 or IL-2 treatment regulates septic arthritis by enhancing anti-inflammatory properties of Treg via antioxidant balance and modulating TLR2/TNFR response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituparna Ghosh
- Department of Physiology, Immunology Laboratory, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92 APC Road, Calcutta 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Rajen Dey
- Department of Physiology, Immunology Laboratory, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92 APC Road, Calcutta 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Ritasha Sawoo
- Department of Physiology, Immunology Laboratory, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92 APC Road, Calcutta 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Biswadev Bishayi
- Department of Physiology, Immunology Laboratory, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92 APC Road, Calcutta 700009, West Bengal, India.
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Hefazi M, Bolivar-Wagers S, Blazar BR. Regulatory T Cell Therapy of Graft-versus-Host Disease: Advances and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9676. [PMID: 34575843 PMCID: PMC8469916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Immunomodulation using regulatory T cells (Tregs) offers an exciting option to prevent and/or treat GVHD as these cells naturally function to maintain immune homeostasis, can induce tolerance following HSCT, and have a tissue reparative function. Studies to date have established a clinical safety profile for polyclonal Tregs. Functional enhancement through genetic engineering offers the possibility of improved potency, specificity, and persistence. In this review, we provide the most up to date preclinical and clinical data on Treg cell therapy with a particular focus on GVHD. We discuss the different Treg subtypes and highlight the pharmacological and genetic approaches under investigation to enhance the application of Tregs in allo-HSCT. Lastly, we discuss the remaining challenges for optimal clinical translation and provide insights as to future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hefazi
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
| | - Sara Bolivar-Wagers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA;
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA;
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35
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Zhang W, Liu X, Zhu Y, Liu X, Gu Y, Dai X, Li B. Transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of Th17/Treg balance in health and disease. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:2137-2150. [PMID: 34322865 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells play important roles in adaptive immune responses, antagonizing each other in immune disorders. Th17/Treg balance is critical to maintaining the immune homeostasis of human bodies and is tightly regulated under healthy conditions. The transcription factors that are required for driving Th17 and Treg cell lineages differentiation respectively, RORγt and FOXP3 are tightly regulated under different tissue microenvironment, especially the transcriptional induction, posttranslational modifications, and dynamic enzymatic cofactors binding. The imbalance caused by alteration of the quantity or properties of RORγt+ Th17 or FOXP3+ Treg can contribute to inflammatory disorders in humans. Restoring Th17/Treg balance by modifying the enzymatic activities of RORγt and FOXP3 binding partners may be therapeutically applied to treat severe immune disorders. In this review, we focus on the transcriptional and posttranslational regulations of Th17/Treg balance, immune disorders caused by Th17/Treg imbalance, and new therapeutic strategies for restoring immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yicheng Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinnan Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunting Gu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyu Dai
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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36
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Marangoni F, Zhakyp A, Corsini M, Geels SN, Carrizosa E, Thelen M, Mani V, Prüßmann JN, Warner RD, Ozga AJ, Di Pilato M, Othy S, Mempel TR. Expansion of tumor-associated Treg cells upon disruption of a CTLA-4-dependent feedback loop. Cell 2021; 184:3998-4015.e19. [PMID: 34157302 PMCID: PMC8664158 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells promote immunological tumor tolerance, but how their immune-suppressive function is regulated in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unknown. Here, we used intravital microscopy to characterize the cellular interactions that provide tumor-infiltrating Treg cells with critical activation signals. We found that the polyclonal Treg cell repertoire is pre-enriched to recognize antigens presented by tumor-associated conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). Unstable cDC contacts sufficed to sustain Treg cell function, whereas T helper cells were activated during stable interactions. Contact instability resulted from CTLA-4-dependent downregulation of co-stimulatory B7-family proteins on cDCs, mediated by Treg cells themselves. CTLA-4-blockade triggered CD28-dependent Treg cell hyper-proliferation in the TME, and concomitant Treg cell inactivation was required to achieve tumor rejection. Therefore, Treg cells self-regulate through a CTLA-4- and CD28-dependent feedback loop that adjusts their population size to the amount of local co-stimulation. Its disruption through CTLA-4-blockade may off-set therapeutic benefits in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Marangoni
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Ademi Zhakyp
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michela Corsini
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Shannon N Geels
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Esteban Carrizosa
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martin Thelen
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Vinidhra Mani
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jasper N Prüßmann
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ross D Warner
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Aleksandra J Ozga
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mauro Di Pilato
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shivashankar Othy
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Thorsten R Mempel
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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37
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Song R, Jia X, Zhao J, Du P, Zhang JA. T cell receptor revision and immune repertoire changes in autoimmune diseases. Int Rev Immunol 2021; 41:517-533. [PMID: 34243694 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2021.1929954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune disease (AID) is a condition in which the immune system breaks down and starts to attack the body. Some common AIDs include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus and so forth. The changes in T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire have been found in several autoimmune diseases, and may be responsible for the breakdown of peripheral immune tolerance. In this review, we discussed the processes of TCR revision in peripheral immune environment, the changes in TCR repertoire that occurred in various AIDs, and the specifically expanded T cell clones. We hope our discussion can provide insights for the future studies, helping with the discovery of disease biomarkers and expanding the strategies of immune-targeted therapy. HighlightsRestricted TCR repertoire and biased TCR-usage are found in a variety of AIDs.TCR repertoire shows tissue specificity in a variety of AID diseases.The relationship between TCR repertoire diversity and disease activity is still controversial in AIDs.Dominant TCR clonotypes may help to discover new disease biomarkers and expand the strategies of immune-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghua Song
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Jia
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Du
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-An Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
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38
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Baeten P, Van Zeebroeck L, Kleinewietfeld M, Hellings N, Broux B. Improving the Efficacy of Regulatory T Cell Therapy. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2021; 62:363-381. [PMID: 34224053 PMCID: PMC8256646 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-021-08866-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmunity is caused by an unbalanced immune system, giving rise to a variety of organ-specific to system disorders. Patients with autoimmune diseases are commonly treated with broad-acting immunomodulatory drugs, with the risk of severe side effects. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have the inherent capacity to induce peripheral tolerance as well as tissue regeneration and are therefore a prime candidate to use as cell therapy in patients with autoimmune disorders. (Pre)clinical studies using Treg therapy have already established safety and feasibility, and some show clinical benefits. However, Tregs are known to be functionally impaired in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, ex vivo manipulation to boost and stably maintain their suppressive function is necessary when considering autologous transplantation. Similar to autoimmunity, severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by an exaggerated immune reaction and altered Treg responses. In light of this, Treg-based therapies are currently under investigation to treat severe COVID-19. This review provides a detailed overview of the current progress and clinical challenges of Treg therapy for autoimmune and hyperinflammatory diseases, with a focus on recent successes of ex vivo Treg manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulien Baeten
- Neuro-Immune Connections and Repair Lab, Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,University MS Center, Campus Diepenbeek, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Lauren Van Zeebroeck
- University MS Center, Campus Diepenbeek, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Markus Kleinewietfeld
- University MS Center, Campus Diepenbeek, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Niels Hellings
- Neuro-Immune Connections and Repair Lab, Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,University MS Center, Campus Diepenbeek, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Bieke Broux
- Neuro-Immune Connections and Repair Lab, Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,University MS Center, Campus Diepenbeek, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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39
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Bettini M, Bettini ML. Function, Failure, and the Future Potential of Tregs in Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes 2021; 70:1211-1219. [PMID: 34016597 PMCID: PMC8275894 DOI: 10.2337/dbi18-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Critical insights into the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) came from genome-wide association studies that unequivocally connected genetic susceptibility to immune cell function. At the top of the susceptibility are genes involved in regulatory T-cell (Treg) function and development. The advances in epigenetic and transcriptional analyses have provided increasing evidence for Treg dysfunction in T1D. These are well supported by functional studies in mouse models and analysis of peripheral blood during T1D. For these reasons, Treg-based therapies are at the forefront of research and development and have a tangible probability to deliver a long-sought-after successful immune-targeted treatment for T1D. The current challenge in the field is whether we can directly assess Treg function at the tissue site or make informative interpretations based on peripheral data. Future studies focused on Treg function in pancreatic lymph nodes and pancreas could provide key insight into the ultimate mechanisms underlying Treg failure in T1D. In this Perspective we will provide an overview of current literature regarding Treg development and function in T1D and how this knowledge has been applied to Treg therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoimmunity/physiology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/pathology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy
- Endocrinology/methods
- Endocrinology/trends
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance/physiology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/trends
- Mice
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/trends
- Pancreas/immunology
- Pancreas/metabolism
- Pancreas/pathology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/physiology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/transplantation
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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40
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Selck C, Dominguez-Villar M. Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases and Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:661875. [PMID: 34054826 PMCID: PMC8160309 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a heterogenous population of immunosuppressive T cells whose therapeutic potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and graft rejection is currently being explored. While clinical trial results thus far support the safety and efficacy of adoptive therapies using polyclonal Treg cells, some studies suggest that antigen-specific Treg cells are more potent in regulating and improving immune tolerance in a disease-specific manner. Hence, several approaches to generate and/or expand antigen-specific Treg cells in vitro or in vivo are currently under investigation. However, antigen-specific Treg cell therapies face additional challenges that require further consideration, including the identification of disease-relevant antigens as well as the in vivo stability and migratory behavior of Treg cells following transfer. In this review, we discuss these approaches and the potential limitations and describe prospective strategies to enhance the efficacy of antigen-specific Treg cell treatments in autoimmunity and transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Selck
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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41
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Moorman CD, Sohn SJ, Phee H. Emerging Therapeutics for Immune Tolerance: Tolerogenic Vaccines, T cell Therapy, and IL-2 Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:657768. [PMID: 33854514 PMCID: PMC8039385 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.657768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases affect roughly 5-10% of the total population, with women affected more than men. The standard treatment for autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases had long been immunosuppressive agents until the advent of immunomodulatory biologic drugs, which aimed at blocking inflammatory mediators, including proinflammatory cytokines. At the frontier of these biologic drugs are TNF-α blockers. These therapies inhibit the proinflammatory action of TNF-α in common autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. TNF-α blockade quickly became the "standard of care" for these autoimmune diseases due to their effectiveness in controlling disease and decreasing patient's adverse risk profiles compared to broad-spectrum immunosuppressive agents. However, anti-TNF-α therapies have limitations, including known adverse safety risk, loss of therapeutic efficacy due to drug resistance, and lack of efficacy in numerous autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. The next wave of truly transformative therapeutics should aspire to provide a cure by selectively suppressing pathogenic autoantigen-specific immune responses while leaving the rest of the immune system intact to control infectious diseases and malignancies. In this review, we will focus on three main areas of active research in immune tolerance. First, tolerogenic vaccines aiming at robust, lasting autoantigen-specific immune tolerance. Second, T cell therapies using Tregs (either polyclonal, antigen-specific, or genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors) to establish active dominant immune tolerance or T cells (engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors) to delete pathogenic immune cells. Third, IL-2 therapies aiming at expanding immunosuppressive regulatory T cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hyewon Phee
- Department of Inflammation and Oncology, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
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42
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Opstelten R, Amsen D. Separating the wheat from the chaff: Making sense of Treg heterogeneity for better adoptive cellular therapy. Immunol Lett 2021; 239:96-112. [PMID: 33676975 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for immunological tolerance and can be used to suppress unwanted or excessive immune responses through adoptive cellular therapy. It is increasingly clear that many subsets of Treg cells exist, which have different functions and reside in different locations. Treg cell therapies may benefit from tailoring the selected subset to the tissue that must be protected as well as to characteristics of the immune response that must be suppressed, but little attention is given to this topic in current therapies. Here, we will discuss how three major axes of heterogeneity can be discerned among the Treg cell population, which determine function and lineage fidelity. A first axis relates to the developmental route, as Treg cells can be generated from immature T cells in the thymus or from already mature Tconv cells in the immunological periphery. Heterogeneity furthermore stems from activation history (naïve or effector) and location (lymphoid or peripheral tissues). Each of these axes bestows specific properties on Treg cells, which are further refined by additional processes leading to yet further variation. A critical aspect impacting on Treg cell heterogeneity is TCR specificity, which determines when and where Treg cells are generated as well as where they exhibit their effector functions. We will discuss the implications of this heterogeneity and the role of the TCR for the design of next generation adoptive cellular therapy with Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne Opstelten
- Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Derk Amsen
- Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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43
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Amini L, Greig J, Schmueck-Henneresse M, Volk HD, Bézie S, Reinke P, Guillonneau C, Wagner DL, Anegon I. Super-Treg: Toward a New Era of Adoptive Treg Therapy Enabled by Genetic Modifications. Front Immunol 2021; 11:611638. [PMID: 33717052 PMCID: PMC7945682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.611638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory Tcells (Treg) are essential components of peripheral immune homeostasis. Adoptive Treg cell therapy has shown efficacy in a variety of immune-mediated diseases in preclinical studies and is now moving from phase I/IIa to larger phase II studies aiming to demonstrate efficacy. However, hurdles such as in vivo stability and efficacy remain to be addressed. Nevertheless, preclinical models have shown that Treg function and specificity can be increased by pharmacological substances or gene modifications, and even that conventional T cells can be converted to Treg potentially providing new sources of Treg and facilitating Treg cell therapy. The exponential growth in genetic engineering techniques and their application to T cells coupled to a large body of knowledge on Treg open numerous opportunities to generate Treg with "superpowers". This review summarizes the genetic engineering techniques available and their applications for the next-generation of Super-Treg with increased function, stability, redirected specificity and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Amini
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Greig
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Michael Schmueck-Henneresse
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Volk
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Séverine Bézie
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Petra Reinke
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Carole Guillonneau
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Dimitrios L. Wagner
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ignacio Anegon
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
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44
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Roth-Walter F, Adcock IM, Benito-Villalvilla C, Bianchini R, Bjermer L, Boyman O, Caramori G, Cari L, Fan Chung K, Diamant Z, Eguiluz-Gracia I, Knol EF, Kolios A, Levi-Schaffer F, Nocentini G, Palomares O, Redegeld F, Van Esch B, Stellato C. Immune modulation via T regulatory cell enhancement: Disease-modifying therapies for autoimmunity and their potential for chronic allergic and inflammatory diseases-An EAACI position paper of the Task Force on Immunopharmacology (TIPCO). Allergy 2021; 76:90-113. [PMID: 32593226 DOI: 10.1111/all.14478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic advances using targeted biologicals and small-molecule drugs have achieved significant success in the treatment of chronic allergic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases particularly for some patients with severe, treatment-resistant forms. This has been aided by improved identification of disease phenotypes. Despite these achievements, not all severe forms of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are successfully targeted, and current treatment options, besides allergen immunotherapy for selected allergic diseases, fail to change the disease course. T cell-based therapies aim to cure diseases through the selective induction of appropriate immune responses following the delivery of engineered, specific cytotoxic, or regulatory T cells (Tregs). Adoptive cell therapies (ACT) with genetically engineered T cells have revolutionized the oncology field, bringing curative treatment for leukemia and lymphoma, while therapies exploiting the suppressive functions of Tregs have been developed in nononcological settings, such as in transplantation and autoimmune diseases. ACT with Tregs are also being considered in nononcological settings such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and chronic inflammatory disorders. After describing the general features of T cell-based approaches and current applications in autoimmune diseases, this position paper reviews the experimental models testing or supporting T cell-based approaches, especially Treg-based approaches, in severe IgE-mediated responses and chronic respiratory airway diseases, such as severe asthma and COPD. Along with an assessment of challenges and unmet needs facing the application of ACT in these settings, this article underscores the potential of ACT to offer curative options for patients with severe or treatment-resistant forms of these immune-driven disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Roth-Walter
- Comparative Medicine, The Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ian M Adcock
- Molecular Cell Biology Group, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Cristina Benito-Villalvilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Bianchini
- Comparative Medicine, The Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leif Bjermer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Lung and Allergy research, Allergy, Asthma and COPD Competence Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Onur Boyman
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gaetano Caramori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry and Morphological and Functional Imaging (BIOMORF), Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Luigi Cari
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Kian Fan Chung
- Experimental Studies Medicine at National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London & Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Zuzana Diamant
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Institute for Clinical Science, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Thomayer Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen and QPS-NL, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ibon Eguiluz-Gracia
- Allergy Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga-Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA)-ARADyAL, Málaga, Spain
| | - Edward F Knol
- Departments of Immunology and Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Antonios Kolios
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Levi-Schaffer
- Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Giuseppe Nocentini
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Oscar Palomares
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frank Redegeld
- Faculty of Science, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Betty Van Esch
- Faculty of Science, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cristiana Stellato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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45
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Wu D, Wong MQ, Vent-Schmidt J, Boardman DA, Steiner TS, Levings MK. A method for expansion and retroviral transduction of mouse regulatory T cells. J Immunol Methods 2021; 488:112931. [PMID: 33221458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2020.112931] [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] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with genetically modified regulatory T cells (Tregs) is under clinical investigation for the treatment of transplant rejection and various autoimmune conditions. A limitation of modelling this approach in mice is the lack of optimized protocols for expanding and transducing mouse Tregs. Here we describe a protocol for purifying, expanding and retrovirally transducing mouse Tregs with a vector encoding a chimeric antigen receptor as a model transgene. We found that isolation of Tregs from C57Bl/6J Foxp3EGFP mice solely based on eGFP expression resulted in sufficiently pure cells; co-sorting of CD25hi cells was not essential. Although expansion with rapamycin reduced Treg expansion, it promoted maximal in vitro suppressive activity. Retroviral transduction of Tregs following 2 days of stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 beads achieved a transduction efficiency of ~40% and did not impair their suppressive capacity. When injected into a conventional T cell (Tconv)-transfer-induced colitis model, transduced Tregs inhibited colitis progression at ratios as low as 1 Treg to 100 Tconvs, and maintained Foxp3 and transgene expression throughout an 8-week period. This method facilitates the study of transduced Tregs in animal models and will enable the study of genetically engineered Treg therapy for a variety of inflammatory diseases.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Colitis/genetics
- Colitis/immunology
- Colitis/metabolism
- Colitis/prevention & control
- Disease Models, Animal
- Flow Cytometry
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta
- Genetic Vectors
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
- Immunomagnetic Separation
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Phenotype
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Retroviridae/genetics
- Retroviridae/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/transplantation
- Transduction, Genetic
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - May Q Wong
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jens Vent-Schmidt
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dominic A Boardman
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Theodore S Steiner
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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46
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Regulatory T cell heterogeneity and therapy in autoimmune diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2020; 20:102715. [PMID: 33197573 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a group of CD4+ T cell with high expression of CD25 and cell linage specific transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and play a vital role in maintaining immune homeostasis. In the last two decades, researchers have shown that Treg cells involved in the occurrence, development and prognosis of many diseases, especially in autoimmune diseases. Treg targeted therapies, such as low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment and Treg infusion therapy, which are aimed at restoring the number or function of Treg cells, have become a hot topic in clinical trials of these diseases. It is believed that Treg cells are heterogeneous. Different subsets of Treg cells have various functions and play different parts in immunomodulatory. Gaining insights into Treg heterogeneity will help us further understand the function of Treg cells and provide news ideas for the selective therapeutic manipulation of Treg cells. In this review, we mainly summarize the heterogeneity of Treg cells and their potential therapeutic value in autoimmune diseases.
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47
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Janssens I, Cools N. Regulating the regulators: Is introduction of an antigen-specific approach in regulatory T cells the next step to treat autoimmunity? Cell Immunol 2020; 358:104236. [PMID: 33137651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In autoimmunity, the important and fragile balance between immunity and tolerance is disturbed, resulting in abnormal immune responses to the body's own tissues and cells. CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) induce peripheral tolerance in vivo by means of direct cell-cell contact and release of soluble factors, or indirectly through antigen-presenting cells (APC), thereby controlling auto-reactive effector T cells. Based on these unique capacities of Tregs, preclinical studies delivered proof-of-principle for the clinical use of Tregs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. To date, the first clinical trials using ex vivo expanded polyclonal Tregs have been completed. These pioneering studies demonstrate the feasibility of generating large numbers of polyclonal Tregs in a good manufacturing practices (GMP)-compliant manner, and that infusion of Tregs is well tolerated by patients with no evidence of general immunosuppression. Nonetheless, only modest clinical results were observed, arguing that a more antigen-specific approach might be needed to foster a durable patient-specific clinical cell therapy without the risk for general immunosuppression. In this review, we discuss current knowledge, applications and future goals of adoptive immune-modulatory Treg therapy for the treatment of autoimmune disease and transplant rejection. We describe the key advances and prospects of the potential use of T cell receptor (TCR)- and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered Tregs in future clinical applications. These approaches could deliver the long-awaited breakthrough in stopping undesired autoimmune responses and transplant rejections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibo Janssens
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Nathalie Cools
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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Li LZ, Zhang Z, Bhoj VG. Conventional T cell therapies pave the way for novel Treg therapeutics. Cell Immunol 2020; 359:104234. [PMID: 33153708 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Approaches to harness the immune system to alleviate disease have become remarkably sophisticated since the crude, yet impressively-effective, attempts using live bacteria in the late 1800s. Recent evidence that engineered T cell therapy can deliver durable results in patients with cancer has spurred frenzied development in the field of T cell therapy. The myriad approaches include an innumerable variety of synthetic transgenes, multiplex gene-editing, and broader application to diseases beyond cancer. In this article, we review the preclinical studies and over a decade of clinical experience with engineered conventional T cells that have paved the way for translating engineered regulatory T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Z Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Vijay G Bhoj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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AlHaddad J, Melhem G, Allos H, Azzi J. Regulatory T Cells: Promises and Challenges. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40472-020-00292-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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50
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Rana J, Biswas M. Regulatory T cell therapy: Current and future design perspectives. Cell Immunol 2020; 356:104193. [PMID: 32823038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain immune equilibrium by suppressing immune responses through various multistep contact dependent and independent mechanisms. Cellular therapy using polyclonal Tregs in transplantation and autoimmune diseases has shown promise in preclinical models and clinical trials. Although novel approaches have been developed to improve specificity and efficacy of antigen specific Treg based therapies, widespread application is currently restricted. To date, design-based approaches to improve the potency and persistence of engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) Tregs are limited. Here, we describe currently available Treg based therapies, their advantages and limitations for implementation in clinical studies. We also examine various strategies for improving CAR T cell design that can potentially be applied to CAR Tregs, such as identifying co-stimulatory signalling domains that enhance suppressive ability, determining optimal scFv affinity/avidity, and co-expression of accessory molecules. Finally, we discuss the importance of tailoring CAR Treg design to suit the individual disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Rana
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Moanaro Biswas
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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