1
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Stefanidis E, Semilietof A, Pujol J, Seijo B, Scholten K, Zoete V, Michielin O, Sandaltzopoulos R, Coukos G, Irving M. Combining SiRPα decoy-coengineered T cells and antibodies augments macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e161660. [PMID: 38828721 PMCID: PMC11142748 DOI: 10.1172/jci161660] [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: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of T cell receptor-engineered (TCR-engineered) T cells (ACT) targeting the HLA-A2-restricted cancer-testis epitope NY-ESO-1157-165 (A2/NY) has yielded favorable clinical responses against several cancers. Two approaches to improve ACT are TCR affinity optimization and T cell coengineering to express immunomodulatory molecules that can exploit endogenous immunity. By computational design we previously developed a panel of binding-enhanced A2/NY-TCRs including A97L, which augmented the in vitro function of gene-modified T cells as compared with WT. Here, we demonstrated higher persistence and improved tumor control by A97L-T cells. In order to harness macrophages in tumors, we further coengineered A97L-T cells to secrete a high-affinity signal regulatory protein α (SiRPα) decoy (CV1) that blocks CD47. While CV1-Fc-coengineered A97L-T cells mediated significantly better control of tumor outgrowth and survival in Winn assays, in subcutaneous xenograft models the T cells, coated by CV1-Fc, were depleted. Importantly, there was no phagocytosis of CV1 monomer-coengineered T cells by human macrophages. Moreover, avelumab and cetuximab enhanced macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells in vitro in the presence of CV1 and improved tumor control upon coadministration with A97L-T cells. Taken together, our study indicates important clinical promise for harnessing macrophages by combining CV1-coengineered TCR-T cells with targeted antibodies to direct phagocytosis against tumor cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Mice
- Antigens, Differentiation/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- CD47 Antigen/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Phagocytosis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Male
- Female
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Stefanidis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Semilietof
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Pujol
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bili Seijo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten Scholten
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Precision Oncology, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Sandaltzopoulos
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Wilhelm KB, Vissa A, Groves JT. Differential Roles of Kinetic On- and Off-Rates in T-Cell Receptor Signal Integration Revealed with a Modified Fab'-DNA Ligand. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.01.587588. [PMID: 38617215 PMCID: PMC11014569 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.01.587588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-derived T-cell receptor (TCR) agonists are commonly used to activate T cells. While antibodies can trigger TCRs regardless of clonotype, they bypass native T cell signal integration mechanisms that rely on monovalent, membrane-associated, and relatively weakly-binding ligand in the context of cellular adhesion. Commonly used antibodies and their derivatives bind much more strongly than native peptide-MHC (pMHC) ligands bind their cognate TCRs. Because ligand dwell time is a critical parameter that tightly correlates with physiological function of the TCR signaling system, there is a general need, both in research and therapeutics, for universal TCR ligands with controlled kinetic binding parameters. To this end, we have introduced point mutations into recombinantly expressed α-TCRβ H57 Fab to modulate the dwell time of monovalent Fab binding to TCR. When tethered to a supported lipid bilayer via DNA complementation, these monovalent Fab'-DNA ligands activate T cells with potencies well-correlated with their TCR binding dwell time. Single-molecule tracking studies in live T cells reveal that individual binding events between Fab'-DNA ligands and TCRs elicit local signaling responses closely resembling native pMHC. The unique combination of high on- and off-rate of the H57 R97L mutant enables direct observations of cooperative interplay between ligand binding and TCR-proximal condensation of the linker for activation of T cells (LAT), which is not readily visualized with pMHC. This work provides insights into how T cells integrate kinetic information from synthetic ligands and introduces a method to develop affinity panels for polyclonal T cells, such as cells from a human patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiera B Wilhelm
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 93720
| | - Anand Vissa
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 93720
| | - Jay T Groves
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 93720
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3
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Fain CE, Zheng J, Jin F, Ayasoufi K, Wu Y, Lilley MT, Dropik AR, Wolf DM, Rodriguez RC, Aibaidula A, Tritz ZP, Bouchal SM, Pewe LL, Urban SL, Chen Y, Chang SY, Hansen MJ, Kachergus JM, Shi J, Thompson EA, Jensen HE, Harty JT, Parney IF, Sun J, Wu LJ, Johnson AJ. Discrete class I molecules on brain endothelium differentially regulate neuropathology in experimental cerebral malaria. Brain 2024; 147:566-589. [PMID: 37776513 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral malaria is the deadliest complication that can arise from Plasmodium infection. CD8 T-cell engagement of brain vasculature is a putative mechanism of neuropathology in cerebral malaria. To define contributions of brain endothelial cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen-presentation to CD8 T cells in establishing cerebral malaria pathology, we developed novel H-2Kb LoxP and H-2Db LoxP mice crossed with Cdh5-Cre mice to achieve targeted deletion of discrete class I molecules, specifically from brain endothelium. This strategy allowed us to avoid off-target effects on iron homeostasis and class I-like molecules, which are known to perturb Plasmodium infection. This is the first endothelial-specific ablation of individual class-I molecules enabling us to interrogate these molecular interactions. In these studies, we interrogated human and mouse transcriptomics data to compare antigen presentation capacity during cerebral malaria. Using the Plasmodium berghei ANKA model of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), we observed that H-2Kb and H-2Db class I molecules regulate distinct patterns of disease onset, CD8 T-cell infiltration, targeted cell death and regional blood-brain barrier disruption. Strikingly, ablation of either molecule from brain endothelial cells resulted in reduced CD8 T-cell activation, attenuated T-cell interaction with brain vasculature, lessened targeted cell death, preserved blood-brain barrier integrity and prevention of ECM and the death of the animal. We were able to show that these events were brain-specific through the use of parabiosis and created the novel technique of dual small animal MRI to simultaneously scan conjoined parabionts during infection. These data demonstrate that interactions of CD8 T cells with discrete MHC class I molecules on brain endothelium differentially regulate development of ECM neuropathology. Therefore, targeting MHC class I interactions therapeutically may hold potential for treatment of cases of severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cori E Fain
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Jiaying Zheng
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Fang Jin
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | | | - Yue Wu
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Meredith T Lilley
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Abigail R Dropik
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Delaney M Wolf
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | | | - Abudumijiti Aibaidula
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Zachariah P Tritz
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Samantha M Bouchal
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Lecia L Pewe
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242USA
| | - Stina L Urban
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242USA
| | - Yin Chen
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Su-Youne Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | | | | | - Ji Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224USA
| | - E Aubrey Thompson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224USA
| | - Hadley E Jensen
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - John T Harty
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242USA
| | - Ian F Parney
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Jie Sun
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903USA
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
| | - Aaron J Johnson
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905USA
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4
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Kureshi R, Bello E, Kureshi CT, Walsh MJ, Lippert V, Hoffman MT, Dougan M, Longmire T, Wichroski M, Dougan SK. DGKα/ζ inhibition lowers the TCR affinity threshold and potentiates antitumor immunity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk1853. [PMID: 38000024 PMCID: PMC10672170 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) attenuate diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling by converting DAG to phosphatidic acid, thereby suppressing pathways downstream of T cell receptor signaling. Using a dual DGKα/ζ inhibitor (DGKi), tumor-specific CD8 T cells with different affinities (TRP1high and TRP1low), and altered peptide ligands, we demonstrate that inhibition of DGKα/ζ can lower the signaling threshold for T cell priming. TRP1high and TRP1low CD8 T cells produced more effector cytokines in the presence of cognate antigen and DGKi. Effector TRP1high- and TRP1low-mediated cytolysis of tumor cells with low antigen load required antigen recognition, was mediated by interferon-γ, and augmented by DGKi. Adoptive T cell transfer into mice bearing pancreatic or melanoma tumors synergized with single-agent DGKi or DGKi and antiprogrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), with increased expansion of low-affinity T cells and increased cytokine production observed in tumors of treated mice. Collectively, our findings highlight DGKα/ζ as therapeutic targets for augmenting tumor-specific CD8 T cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakeeb Kureshi
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Bello
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Courtney T.S. Kureshi
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J. Walsh
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victoria Lippert
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan T. Hoffman
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie K. Dougan
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Giordano Attianese GMP, Ash S, Irving M. Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:166-198. [PMID: 37548063 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene-modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer-types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19-CAR therapy against various advanced B-cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non-hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre-infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post-transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T-cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down-regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity-optimized TCRs can improve T-cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene-modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T-cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene-cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Reichenbach P, Giordano Attianese GMP, Ouchen K, Cribioli E, Triboulet M, Ash S, Saillard M, Vuillefroy de Silly R, Coukos G, Irving M. A lentiviral vector for the production of T cells with an inducible transgene and a constitutively expressed tumour-targeting receptor. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:1063-1080. [PMID: 37069267 PMCID: PMC10504085 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01013-5] [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: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Vectors that facilitate the engineering of T cells that can better harness endogenous immunity and overcome suppressive barriers in the tumour microenvironment would help improve the safety and efficacy of T-cell therapies for more patients. Here we report the design, production and applicability, in T-cell engineering, of a lentiviral vector leveraging an antisense configuration and comprising a promoter driving the constitutive expression of a tumour-directed receptor and a second promoter enabling the efficient activation-inducible expression of a genetic payload. The vector allows for the delivery of a variety of genes to human T cells, as we show for interleukin-2 and a microRNA-based short hairpin RNA for the knockdown of the gene coding for haematopoietic progenitor kinase 1, a negative regulator of T-cell-receptor signalling. We also show that a gene encoded under an activation-inducible promoter is specifically expressed by tumour-redirected T cells on encountering a target antigen in the tumour microenvironment. The single two-gene-encoding vector can be produced at high titres under an optimized protocol adaptable to good manufacturing practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Reichenbach
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Khaoula Ouchen
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elisabetta Cribioli
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Triboulet
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Margaux Saillard
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Romain Vuillefroy de Silly
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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7
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Schmidt J, Chiffelle J, Perez MAS, Magnin M, Bobisse S, Arnaud M, Genolet R, Cesbron J, Barras D, Navarro Rodrigo B, Benedetti F, Michel A, Queiroz L, Baumgaertner P, Guillaume P, Hebeisen M, Michielin O, Nguyen-Ngoc T, Huber F, Irving M, Tissot-Renaud S, Stevenson BJ, Rusakiewicz S, Dangaj Laniti D, Bassani-Sternberg M, Rufer N, Gfeller D, Kandalaft LE, Speiser DE, Zoete V, Coukos G, Harari A. Neoantigen-specific CD8 T cells with high structural avidity preferentially reside in and eliminate tumors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3188. [PMID: 37280206 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38946-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of cancer immunotherapy depends in part on the strength of antigen recognition by T cells. Here, we characterize the T cell receptor (TCR) functional (antigen sensitivity) and structural (monomeric pMHC-TCR off-rates) avidities of 371 CD8 T cell clones specific for neoantigens, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or viral antigens isolated from tumors or blood of patients and healthy donors. T cells from tumors exhibit stronger functional and structural avidity than their blood counterparts. Relative to TAA, neoantigen-specific T cells are of higher structural avidity and, consistently, are preferentially detected in tumors. Effective tumor infiltration in mice models is associated with high structural avidity and CXCR3 expression. Based on TCR biophysicochemical properties, we derive and apply an in silico model predicting TCR structural avidity and validate the enrichment in high avidity T cells in patients' tumors. These observations indicate a direct relationship between neoantigen recognition, T cell functionality and tumor infiltration. These results delineate a rational approach to identify potent T cells for personalized cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Schmidt
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Chiffelle
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marta A S Perez
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Morgane Magnin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Bobisse
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marion Arnaud
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Genolet
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Cesbron
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Barras
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Blanca Navarro Rodrigo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Michel
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lise Queiroz
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Guillaume
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tu Nguyen-Ngoc
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Huber
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Tissot-Renaud
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Brian J Stevenson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Rusakiewicz
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Denarda Dangaj Laniti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michal Bassani-Sternberg
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Gfeller
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lana E Kandalaft
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Center for Cell Therapy, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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8
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Chour W, Choi J, Xie J, Chaffee ME, Schmitt TM, Finton K, DeLucia DC, Xu AM, Su Y, Chen DG, Zhang R, Yuan D, Hong S, Ng AHC, Butler JZ, Edmark RA, Jones LC, Murray KM, Peng S, Li G, Strong RK, Lee JK, Goldman JD, Greenberg PD, Heath JR. Large libraries of single-chain trimer peptide-MHCs enable antigen-specific CD8+ T cell discovery and analysis. Commun Biol 2023; 6:528. [PMID: 37193826 PMCID: PMC10186326 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04899-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery and characterization of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell clonotypes typically involves the labor-intensive synthesis and construction of peptide-MHC tetramers. We adapt single-chain trimer (SCT) technologies into a high throughput platform for pMHC library generation, showing that hundreds can be rapidly prepared across multiple Class I HLA alleles. We use this platform to explore the impact of peptide and SCT template mutations on protein expression yield, thermal stability, and functionality. SCT libraries were an efficient tool for identifying T cells recognizing commonly reported viral epitopes. We then construct SCT libraries to capture SARS-CoV-2 specific CD8+ T cells from COVID-19 participants and healthy donors. The immunogenicity of these epitopes is validated by functional assays of T cells with cloned TCRs captured using SCT libraries. These technologies should enable the rapid analyses of peptide-based T cell responses across several contexts, including autoimmunity, cancer, or infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Chour
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Jongchan Choi
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jingyi Xie
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Mary E Chaffee
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Thomas M Schmitt
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Kathryn Finton
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Diana C DeLucia
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Alexander M Xu
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Yapeng Su
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Daniel G Chen
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Rongyu Zhang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Dan Yuan
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Sunga Hong
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Alphonsus H C Ng
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Jonah Z Butler
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Rick A Edmark
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | | | - Kim M Murray
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | | | - Guideng Li
- Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Element, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Roland K Strong
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - John K Lee
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jason D Goldman
- Swedish Center for Research and Innovation, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Philip D Greenberg
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - James R Heath
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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9
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Trefny MP, Kirchhammer N, Auf der Maur P, Natoli M, Schmid D, Germann M, Fernandez Rodriguez L, Herzig P, Lötscher J, Akrami M, Stinchcombe JC, Stanczak MA, Zingg A, Buchi M, Roux J, Marone R, Don L, Lardinois D, Wiese M, Jeker LT, Bentires-Alj M, Rossy J, Thommen DS, Griffiths GM, Läubli H, Hess C, Zippelius A. Deletion of SNX9 alleviates CD8 T cell exhaustion for effective cellular cancer immunotherapy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:86. [PMID: 36732507 PMCID: PMC9895440 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35583-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-specific T cells are frequently exhausted by chronic antigenic stimulation. We here report on a human antigen-specific ex vivo model to explore new therapeutic options for T cell immunotherapies. T cells generated with this model resemble tumor-infiltrating exhausted T cells on a phenotypic and transcriptional level. Using a targeted pooled CRISPR-Cas9 screen and individual gene knockout validation experiments, we uncover sorting nexin-9 (SNX9) as a mediator of T cell exhaustion. Upon TCR/CD28 stimulation, deletion of SNX9 in CD8 T cells decreases PLCγ1, Ca2+, and NFATc2-mediated T cell signaling and reduces expression of NR4A1/3 and TOX. SNX9 knockout enhances memory differentiation and IFNγ secretion of adoptively transferred T cells and results in improved anti-tumor efficacy of human chimeric antigen receptor T cells in vivo. Our findings highlight that targeting SNX9 is a strategy to prevent T cell exhaustion and enhance anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P Trefny
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Nicole Kirchhammer
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Priska Auf der Maur
- Laboratory of Tumor Heterogeneity, Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marina Natoli
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominic Schmid
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Germann
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Fernandez Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra Herzig
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Lötscher
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maryam Akrami
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jane C Stinchcombe
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Michal A Stanczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Zingg
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Buchi
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julien Roux
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Romina Marone
- Laboratory of Molecular Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Leyla Don
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Didier Lardinois
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mark Wiese
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas T Jeker
- Laboratory of Molecular Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mohamed Bentires-Alj
- Laboratory of Tumor Heterogeneity, Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jérémie Rossy
- Biotechnology Institute Thurgau, University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
| | - Daniela S Thommen
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gillian M Griffiths
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Heinz Läubli
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hess
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Alfred Zippelius
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. .,Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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10
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Inefficient exploitation of accessory receptors reduces the sensitivity of chimeric antigen receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216352120. [PMID: 36598945 PMCID: PMC9926289 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216352120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can redirect T cells to target abnormal cells, but their activity is limited by a profound defect in antigen sensitivity, the source of which remains unclear. Here, we show that CARs have a > 100-fold lower antigen sensitivity compared to the T cell receptor (TCR) when antigen is presented on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) but nearly identical sensitivity when antigen is presented as purified protein. We next systematically measured the impact of engaging important T cell accessory receptors (CD2, LFA-1, CD28, CD27, and 4-1BB) on antigen sensitivity by adding their purified ligands. Unexpectedly, we found that engaging CD2 or LFA-1 improved the antigen sensitivity of the TCR by 125- and 22-fold, respectively, but improved CAR sensitivity by only < 5-fold. This differential effect of CD2 and LFA-1 engagement on the TCR vs. CAR was confirmed using APCs. We found that sensitivity to antigen can be partially restored by fusing the CAR variable domains to the TCR CD3ε subunit (also known as a TRuC) and fully restored by exchanging the TCRαβ variable domains for those of the CAR (also known as STAR or HIT). Importantly, these improvements in TRuC and STAR/HIT sensitivity can be predicted by their enhanced ability to exploit CD2 and LFA-1. These findings demonstrate that the CAR sensitivity defect is a result of their inefficient exploitation of accessory receptors and suggest approaches to increase sensitivity.
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11
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Shevyrev DV, Tereshchenko VP, Sennikov SV. The Enigmatic Nature of the TCR-pMHC Interaction: Implications for CAR-T and TCR-T Engineering. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314728. [PMID: 36499057 PMCID: PMC9740949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of the T-cell receptor (TCR) with a peptide in the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) plays a central role in the adaptive immunity of higher chordates. Due to the high specificity and sensitivity of this process, the immune system quickly recognizes and efficiently responds to the appearance of foreign and altered self-antigens. This is important for ensuring anti-infectious and antitumor immunity, in addition to maintaining self-tolerance. The most common parameter used for assessing the specificity of TCR-pMHC interaction is affinity. This thermodynamic characteristic is widely used not only in various theoretical aspects, but also in practice, for example, in the engineering of various T-cell products with a chimeric (CAR-T) or artificial (TCR-engineered T-cell) antigen receptor. However, increasing data reveal the fact that, in addition to the thermodynamic component, the specificity of antigen recognition is based on the kinetics and mechanics of the process, having even greater influence on the selectivity of the process and T lymphocyte activation than affinity. Therefore, the kinetic and mechanical aspects of antigen recognition should be taken into account when designing artificial antigen receptors, especially those that recognize antigens in the MHC complex. This review describes the current understanding of the nature of the TCR-pMHC interaction, in addition to the thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical principles underlying the specificity and high sensitivity of this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. V. Shevyrev
- Laboratory of molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Center for Cell Technology and Immunology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-9231345505
| | - V. P. Tereshchenko
- Laboratory of molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Center for Cell Technology and Immunology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
| | - S. V. Sennikov
- Laboratory of molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia
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12
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Heath J, Chour W, Choi J, Xie J, Chaffee M, Schmitt T, Finton K, Delucia D, Xu A, Su Y, Chen D, Zhang R, Yuan D, Hong S, Ng A, Butler J, Edmark R, Jones L, Murray K, Peng S, Li G, Strong R, Lee J, Goldman J, Greenberg P. Large libraries of single-chain trimer peptide-MHCs enable rapid antigen-specific CD8+ T cell discovery and analysis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2022:rs.3.rs-1090664. [PMID: 36415462 PMCID: PMC9681053 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1090664/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
CD8 + cytotoxic T cell responses against viral infection represent a major element of the adaptive immune response. We describe the development of a peptide antigen - major histompatibility complex (pMHC) library representing the full SARS-CoV-2 viral proteome, and comprised of 634 pMHC multimers representing the A*02.01, A*24.02, and B*07.02 HLA alleles, as well as specific antigens associated with the cytomegalovirus (CMV). These libraries were used to capture non-expanded CD8 + T cells from blood samples collected from 64 infected individuals, and then analyzed using single cell RNA-seq. The discovery and characterization of antigen-specific CD8 + T cell clonotypes typically involves the labor-intensive synthesis and construction of peptide-MHC tetramers. We adapted single-chain trimer (SCT) technologies into a high throughput platform for pMHC library generation, showing that hundreds can be rapidly prepared across multiple Class I HLA alleles. We used this platform to explore the impact of peptide and SCT template mutations on protein expression yield, thermal stability, and functionality. SCT libraries were an efficient tool for identifying T cells recognizing commonly reported viral epitopes. We then constructed SCT libraries designed to capture SARS-CoV-2 specific CD8 + T cells from COVID-19 participants and healthy donors. The immunogenicity of these epitopes was validated by functional assays of T cells with cloned TCRs captured using SCT libraries. These technologies should enable the rapid analyses of peptide-based T cell responses across several contexts, including autoimmunity, cancer, or infectious disease.
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13
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Covalent TCR-peptide-MHC interactions induce T cell activation and redirect T cell fate in the thymus. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4951. [PMID: 35999236 PMCID: PMC9399087 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32692-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between a T cell receptor (TCR) and a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligand are typically mediated by noncovalent bonds. By studying T cells expressing natural or engineered TCRs, here we describe covalent TCR-pMHC interactions that involve a cysteine-cysteine disulfide bond between the TCR and the peptide. By introducing cysteines into a known TCR-pMHC combination, we demonstrate that disulfide bond formation does not require structural rearrangement of the TCR or the peptide. We further show these disulfide bonds still form even when the initial affinity of the TCR-pMHC interaction is low. Accordingly, TCR-peptide disulfide bonds facilitate T cell activation by pMHC ligands with a wide spectrum of affinities for the TCR. Physiologically, this mechanism induces strong Zap70-dependent TCR signaling, which triggers T cell deletion or agonist selection in the thymus cortex. Covalent TCR-pMHC interactions may thus underlie a physiological T cell activation mechanism that has applications in basic immunology and potentially in immunotherapy. Differentiation and activation of T cells are normally modulated by non-covalent interactions between T cell receptor (TCR) and antigenic peptides. Here the authors use step-wise mutations, biochemical characterization and structural insights to describe the contributions of natural covalent bonds between TCR and antigenic peptides during these processes.
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14
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Purcarea A, Jarosch S, Barton J, Grassmann S, Pachmayr L, D'Ippolito E, Hammel M, Hochholzer A, Wagner KI, van den Berg JH, Buchholz VR, Haanen JBAG, Busch DH, Schober K. Signatures of recent activation identify a circulating T cell compartment containing tumor-specific antigen receptors with high avidity. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabm2077. [PMID: 35960818 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abm2077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) avidity is assumed to be a major determinant of the spatiotemporal fate and protective capacity of tumor-specific T cells. However, monitoring polyclonal T cell responses with known TCR avidities in vivo over space and time remains challenging. Here, we investigated the fate and functionality of tumor neoantigen-specific T cells with TCRs of distinct avidities in a well-established, reductionist preclinical tumor model and human patients with melanoma. To this end, we used polyclonal T cell transfers with in-depth characterized TCRs together with flow cytometric phenotyping in mice inoculated with MC38 OVA tumors. Transfer of T cells from retrogenic mice harboring TCRs with high avidity resulted in best tumor protection. Unexpectedly, we found that both high- and low-avidity T cells are similarly abundant within the tumor and adopt concordant phenotypic signs of exhaustion. Outside the tumor, high-avidity TCR T cells were not generally overrepresented but, instead, selectively enriched in T cell populations with intermediate PD-1 protein expression. Single-cell sequencing of neoantigen-specific T cells from two patients with melanoma-combined with transgenic reexpression of identified TCRs by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated orthotopic TCR replacement-revealed high-functionality TCRs to be enriched in T cells with RNA signatures of recent activation. Furthermore, of 130 surface protein candidates, PD-1 surface expression was most consistently enriched in functional TCRs. Together, our findings show that tumor-reactive TCRs with high protective capacity circulating in peripheral blood are characterized by a signature of recent activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Purcarea
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Jack Barton
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Simon Grassmann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Ludwig Pachmayr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Elvira D'Ippolito
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Hammel
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Hochholzer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Karolin I Wagner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Veit R Buchholz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - John B A G Haanen
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany.,Focus Group "Clinical Cell Processing and Purification", Institute for Advanced Study, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany.,Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie, und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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15
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Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Costa-Nunes CM, Bordry N, Guillaume P, Luescher I, Speiser DE, Rufer N, Hebeisen M. CD8 T cell function and cross-reactivity explored by stepwise increased peptide-HLA versus TCR affinity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:973986. [PMID: 36032094 PMCID: PMC9399405 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.973986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment and activation of CD8 T cells occur through specific triggering of T cell receptor (TCR) by peptide-bound human leucocyte antigen (HLA) ligands. Within the generated trimeric TCR-peptide:HLA complex, the molecular binding affinities between peptide and HLA, and between TCR and peptide:HLA both impact T cell functional outcomes. However, how their individual and combined effects modulate immunogenicity and overall T cell responsiveness has not been investigated systematically. Here, we established two panels of human tumor peptide variants differing in their affinity to HLA. For precise characterization, we developed the “blue peptide assay”, an upgraded cell-based approach to measure the peptide:HLA affinity. These peptide variants were then used to investigate the cross-reactivity of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cell clonotypes derived from blood of cancer patients after vaccination with either the native or an affinity-optimized Melan-A/MART-1 epitope, or isolated from tumor infiltrated lymph nodes (TILNs). Vaccines containing the native tumor epitope generated T cells with better functionality, and superior cross-reactivity against potential low affinity escape epitopes, as compared to T cells induced by vaccines containing an HLA affinity-optimized epitope. Comparatively, Melan-A/MART-1-specific TILN cells displayed functional and cross-reactive profiles that were heterogeneous and clonotype-dependent. Finally, we took advantage of a collection of T cells expressing affinity-optimized NY-ESO-1-specific TCRs to interrogate the individual and combined impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on overall CD8 T cell responses. We found profound and distinct effects of both biophysical parameters, with additive contributions and absence of hierarchical dominance. Altogether, the biological impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on T cell responses was carefully dissected in two antigenic systems, frequently targeted in human cancer immunotherapy. Our technology and stepwise comparison open new insights into the rational design and selection of vaccine-associated tumor-specific epitopes and highlight the functional and cross-reactivity profiles that endow T cells with best tumor control capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Carla-Marisa Costa-Nunes
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Bordry
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Guillaume
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Immanuel Luescher
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
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16
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Ashby JF, Schmidt J, Kc N, Kurum A, Koch C, Harari A, Tang L, Au SH. Microfluidic T Cell Selection by Cellular Avidity. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200169. [PMID: 35657072 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200169] [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: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
No T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapies have obtained clinical approval. The lack of strategies capable of selecting and recovering potent T cell candidates may be a contributor to this. Existing protocols for selecting TCR T cell clones for cell therapies such as peptide multimer methods have provided effective measurements on TCR affinities. However, these methods lack the ability to measure the collective strength of intercellular interactions (i.e., cellular avidity) and markers of T cell activation such as immunological synapse formation. This study describes a novel microfluidic fluid shear stress-based approach to identify and recover highly potent T cell clones based on the cellular avidity between living T cells and tumor cells. This approach is capable of probing approximately up to 10 000 T cell-tumor cell interactions per run and can recover potent T cells with up to 100% purity from mixed populations of T cells within 30 min. Markers of cytotoxicity, activation, and avidity persist when recovered high cellular avidity T cells are subsequently exposed to fresh tumor cells. These results demonstrate how microfluidic probing of cellular avidity may fast track the therapeutic T cell selection process and move the authors closer to precision cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian F Ashby
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1066, Switzerland
| | - Neelima Kc
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Armand Kurum
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Koch
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1066, Switzerland
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.,Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Sam H Au
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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17
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Sim MJW, Sun PD. T Cell Recognition of Tumor Neoantigens and Insights Into T Cell Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:833017. [PMID: 35222422 PMCID: PMC8867076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.833017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In cancer, non-synonymous DNA base changes alter protein sequence and produce neoantigens that are detected by the immune system. For immune detection, neoantigens must first be presented on class I or II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) followed by recognition by peptide-specific receptors, exemplified by the T-cell receptor (TCR). Detection of neoantigens represents a unique challenge to the immune system due to their high similarity with endogenous ‘self’ proteins. Here, we review insights into how TCRs detect neoantigens from structural studies and delineate two broad mechanistic categories: 1) recognition of mutated ‘self’ peptides and 2) recognition of novel ‘non-self’ peptides generated through anchor residue modifications. While mutated ‘self’ peptides differ only by a single amino acid from an existing ‘self’ epitope, mutations that form anchor residues generate an entirely new epitope, hitherto unknown to the immune system. We review recent structural studies that highlight these structurally distinct mechanisms and discuss how they may lead to differential anti-tumor immune responses. We discuss how T cells specific for neoantigens derived from anchor mutations can be of high affinity and provide insights to their use in adoptive T cell transfer-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm J W Sim
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Peter D Sun
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
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18
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Thomas BJ, Porciani D, Burke DH. Cancer immunomodulation using bispecific aptamers. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:894-915. [PMID: 35141049 PMCID: PMC8803965 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Evasion of immune destruction is a major hallmark of cancer. Recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of various immunomodulating therapies underline the important role that reprogramming the immune system can play in combating this disease. However, a wide range of side effects still limit the therapeutic potential of immunomodulators, suggesting a need for more precise reagents with negligible off-target and on-target/off-tumor effects. Aptamers are single-chained oligonucleotides that bind their targets with high specificity and affinity owing to their three-dimensional (3D) structures, and they are one potential way to address this need. In particular, bispecific aptamers (bsApts) have been shown to induce artificial immune synapses that promote T cell activation and subsequent tumor cell lysis in various in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models. We discuss these advances here, along with gaps in bsApt biology at both the cellular and resident tissue levels that should be addressed to accelerate their translation into the clinic. The broad application, minimal production cost, and relative lack of immunogenicity of bsApts give them some ideal qualities for manipulating the immune system. Building upon lessons from other novel therapies, bsApts could soon provide clinicians with an immunomodulating toolbox that is not only potent and efficacious but exercises a wide therapeutic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Thomas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - David Porciani
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Donald H. Burke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
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19
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Egan JR, Abu-Shah E, Dushek O, Elliott T, MacArthur BD. Fluctuations in T cell receptor and pMHC interactions regulate T cell activation. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20210589. [PMID: 35135295 PMCID: PMC8833104 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immune responses depend on interactions between T cell receptors (TCRs) and peptide major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligands located on the surface of T cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), respectively. As TCRs and pMHCs are often only present at low copy numbers their interactions are inherently stochastic, yet the role of stochastic fluctuations on T cell function is unclear. Here, we introduce a minimal stochastic model of T cell activation that accounts for serial TCR-pMHC engagement, reversible TCR conformational change and TCR aggregation. Analysis of this model indicates that it is not the strength of binding between the T cell and the APC cell per se that elicits an immune response, but rather the information imparted to the T cell from the encounter, as assessed by the entropy rate of the TCR-pMHC binding dynamics. This view provides an information-theoretic interpretation of T cell activation that explains a range of experimental observations. Based on this analysis, we propose that effective T cell therapeutics may be enhanced by optimizing the inherent stochasticity of TCR-pMHC binding dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Egan
- Mathematical Sciences, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Centre for Cancer Immunology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.,Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Enas Abu-Shah
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.,Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Tim Elliott
- Institute for Life Sciences, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Centre for Cancer Immunology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Ben D MacArthur
- Mathematical Sciences, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Alan Turing Institute, London NW1 2DB, UK
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20
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Jammes F, Schmidt J, Coukos G, Maerkl SJ. High-Throughput Single-Cell TCR-pMHC Dissociation Rate Measurements Performed by an Autonomous Microfluidic Cellular Processing Unit. ACS Sens 2022; 7:159-165. [PMID: 35006683 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We developed an integrated microfluidic cellular processing unit (mCPU) capable of autonomously isolating single cells and performing measurements and on-the-fly analysis of cell-surface dissociation rates, followed by recovery of selected cells. We performed proof-of-concept, high-throughput single-cell experiments characterizing pMHC-TCR interactions on live CD8+ T cells. The mCPU platform analyzed TCR-pMHC dissociation rates with a throughput of 50 cells per hour and hundreds of cells per run, and we demonstrate that cells can be selected, enriched, and easily recovered from the device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Jammes
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1066 Lausanne, & Department of Oncology University of Lausanne & University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1066 Lausanne, & Department of Oncology University of Lausanne & University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian J. Maerkl
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Robinson RA, McMurran C, McCully ML, Cole DK. Engineering soluble T-cell receptors for therapy. FEBS J 2021; 288:6159-6173. [PMID: 33624424 PMCID: PMC8596704 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy approaches that target peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) complexes are becoming highly attractive because of their potential to access virtually all foreign and cellular proteins. For this reason, there has been considerable interest in the development of the natural ligand for pHLA, the T-cell receptor (TCR), as a soluble drug to target disease-associated pHLA presented at the cell surface. However, native TCR stability is suboptimal for soluble drug development, and natural TCRs generally have weak affinities for pHLAs, limiting their potential to reach efficacious receptor occupancy levels as soluble drugs. To overcome these limitations and make full use of the TCR as a soluble drug platform, several protein engineering solutions have been applied to TCRs to enhance both their stability and affinity, with a focus on retaining target specificity and selectivity. Here, we review these advances and look to the future for the next generation of soluble TCR-based therapies that can target monomorphic HLA-like proteins presenting both peptide and nonpeptide antigens.
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22
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Gerard CL, Delyon J, Wicky A, Homicsko K, Cuendet MA, Michielin O. Turning tumors from cold to inflamed to improve immunotherapy response. Cancer Treat Rev 2021; 101:102227. [PMID: 34656019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2021.102227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment landscape for a number of cancers over the last few decades. Nevertheless, a majority of patients still do not benefit from these treatments. Such patient-specific lack of response can be predicted, in part, from the immune phenotypes present in the tumor microenvironment. We provide a perspective on options to reprogram the tumors and their microenvironment to increase the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapies and expand their efficacy against cold tumors. Additionally, we review data from current preclinical and clinical trials aimed at testing the different therapeutic options in monotherapy or preferably in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Gerard
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - J Delyon
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - A Wicky
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - K Homicsko
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel A Cuendet
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland; Molecular Modelling Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY, USA.
| | - O Michielin
- Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Switzerland; Molecular Modelling Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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23
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Lanz AL, Masi G, Porciello N, Cohnen A, Cipria D, Prakaash D, Bálint Š, Raggiaschi R, Galgano D, Cole DK, Lepore M, Dushek O, Dustin ML, Sansom MSP, Kalli AC, Acuto O. Allosteric activation of T cell antigen receptor signaling by quaternary structure relaxation. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109375. [PMID: 34260912 PMCID: PMC8293630 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of T cell antigen receptor (TCR-CD3) signaling remains elusive. Here, we identify mutations in the transmembrane region of TCRβ or CD3ζ that augment peptide T cell antigen receptor (pMHC)-induced signaling not explicable by enhanced ligand binding, lateral diffusion, clustering, or co-receptor function. Using a biochemical assay and molecular dynamics simulation, we demonstrate that the gain-of-function mutations loosen the interaction between TCRαβ and CD3ζ. Similar to the activating mutations, pMHC binding reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ. This event occurs prior to CD3ζ phosphorylation and at 0°C. Moreover, we demonstrate that soluble monovalent pMHC alone induces signaling and reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ in membrane-bound or solubilised TCR-CD3. Our data provide compelling evidence that pMHC binding suffices to activate allosteric changes propagating from TCRαβ to the CD3 subunits, reconfiguring interchain transmembrane region interactions. These dynamic modifications could change the arrangement of TCR-CD3 boundary lipids to license CD3ζ phosphorylation and initiate signal propagation. Mutations in TCRβ and CD3ζ TMRs that reduce their interaction augment signaling pMHC and anti-CD3 binding to TCR-CD3 induce similar quaternary structure relaxation Soluble monovalent pMHC alone signals and reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ Allosteric changes in TCR-CD3 dynamics instigate T cell activation
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Lanz
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Giulia Masi
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Nicla Porciello
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - André Cohnen
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Deborah Cipria
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Dheeraj Prakaash
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Štefan Bálint
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Roberto Raggiaschi
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Donatella Galgano
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - David K Cole
- Division Infection & Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Immunocore Ltd., Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | | | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Antreas C Kalli
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Oreste Acuto
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
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24
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Gilfillan CB, Hebeisen M, Rufer N, Speiser DE. Constant regulation for stable CD8 T-cell functional avidity and its possible implications for cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:1348-1360. [PMID: 33704770 PMCID: PMC8252569 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202049016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The functional avidity (FA) of cytotoxic CD8 T cells impacts strongly on their functional capabilities and correlates with protection from infection and cancer. FA depends on TCR affinity, downstream signaling strength, and TCR affinity-independent parameters of the immune synapse, such as costimulatory and inhibitory receptors. The functional impact of coreceptors on FA remains to be fully elucidated. Despite its importance, FA is infrequently assessed and incompletely understood. There is currently no consensus as to whether FA can be enhanced by optimized vaccine dose or boosting schedule. Recent findings suggest that FA is remarkably stable in vivo, possibly due to continued signaling modulation of critical receptors in the immune synapse. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and hypothesize that in vivo, codominant T cells constantly "equalize" their FA for similar function. We present a new model of constant FA regulation, and discuss practical implications for T-cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie B. Gilfillan
- Department of OncologyUniversity Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of OncologyUniversity Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of OncologyUniversity Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of OncologyUniversity Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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25
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Pettmann J, Huhn A, Abu Shah E, Kutuzov MA, Wilson DB, Dustin ML, Davis SJ, van der Merwe PA, Dushek O. The discriminatory power of the T cell receptor. eLife 2021; 10:67092. [PMID: 34030769 PMCID: PMC8219380 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells use their T cell receptors (TCRs) to discriminate between lower-affinity self and higher-affinity non-self peptides presented on major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) antigens. Although the discriminatory power of the TCR is widely believed to be near-perfect, technical difficulties have hampered efforts to precisely quantify it. Here, we describe a method for measuring very low TCR/pMHC affinities and use it to measure the discriminatory power of the TCR and the factors affecting it. We find that TCR discrimination, although enhanced compared with conventional cell-surface receptors, is imperfect: primary human T cells can respond to pMHC with affinities as low as KD ∼ 1 mM. The kinetic proofreading mechanism fit our data, providing the first estimates of both the time delay (2.8 s) and number of biochemical steps (2.67) that are consistent with the extraordinary sensitivity of antigen recognition. Our findings explain why self pMHC frequently induce autoimmune diseases and anti-tumour responses, and suggest ways to modify TCR discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Pettmann
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Huhn
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Enas Abu Shah
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mikhail A Kutuzov
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel B Wilson
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Boston University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston, United States
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Davis
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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26
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Bassan D, Gozlan YM, Sharbi-Yunger A, Tzehoval E, Greenstein E, Bitan L, Friedman N, Eisenbach L. Avidity optimization of a MAGE-A1-specific TCR with somatic hypermutation. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:1505-1518. [PMID: 33835499 PMCID: PMC8252751 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202049007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A T‐cell receptor (TCR) with optimal avidity to a tumor antigen can be used to redirect T cells to eradicate cancer cells via adoptive cell transfer. Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are attractive targets because they are expressed in the testis, which is immune‐privileged, and in the tumor. However, CTAs are self‐antigens and natural TCRs to CTAs have low affinity/avidity due to central tolerance. We previously described a method of directed evolution of TCR avidity using somatic hypermutation. In this study, we made several improvements to this method and enhanced the avidity of the hT27 TCR, which is specific for the cancer testis antigen HLA‐A2‐MAGE‐A1278‐286. We identified eight point mutations with varying degrees of improved avidity. Human T cells transduced with TCRs containing these mutations displayed enhanced tetramer binding, IFN‐γ and IL2 production, and cytotoxicity. Most of the mutations have retained specificity, except for one mutant with extremely high avidity. We demonstrate that somatic hypermutation is capable of optimizing avidity of clinically relevant TCRs for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bassan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yosi Meir Gozlan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Adi Sharbi-Yunger
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Esther Tzehoval
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Erez Greenstein
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lidor Bitan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nir Friedman
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lea Eisenbach
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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27
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Merkle PS, Trabjerg E, Hongjian S, Ferber M, Cuendet MA, Jørgensen TJD, Luescher I, Irving M, Zoete V, Michielin O, Rand KD. Probing the Conformational Dynamics of Affinity-Enhanced T Cell Receptor Variants upon Binding the Peptide-Bound Major Histocompatibility Complex by Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. Biochemistry 2021; 60:859-872. [PMID: 33689297 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Binding of the T cell receptor (TCR) to its cognate, peptide antigen-loaded major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) is a key interaction for triggering T cell activation and ultimately elimination of the target cell. Despite the importance of this interaction for cellular immunity, a comprehensive molecular understanding of TCR specificity and affinity is lacking. We conducted hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) analyses of individual affinity-enhanced TCR variants and clinically relevant pMHC class I molecules (HLA-A*0201/NY-ESO-1157-165) to investigate the causality between increased binding affinity and conformational dynamics in TCR-pMHC complexes. Differential HDX-MS analyses of TCR variants revealed that mutations for affinity enhancement in TCR CDRs altered the conformational response of TCR to pMHC ligation. Improved pMHC binding affinity was in general observed to correlate with greater differences in HDX upon pMHC binding in modified TCR CDR loops, thereby providing new insights into the TCR-pMHC interaction. Furthermore, a specific point mutation in the β-CDR3 loop of the NY-ESO-1 TCR associated with a substantial increase in binding affinity resulted in a substantial change in pMHC binding kinetics (i.e., very slow kon, revealed by the detection of EX1 HDX kinetics), thus providing experimental evidence for a slow induced-fit binding mode. We also examined the conformational impact of pMHC binding on an unrelated TRAV12-2 gene-encoded TCR directed against the immunodominant MART-126-35 cancer antigen restricted by HLA-A*0201. Our findings provide a molecular basis for the observed TRAV12-2 gene bias in natural CD8+ T cell-based immune responses against the MART-1 antigen, with potential implications for general ligand discrimination and TCR cross-reactivity processes.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- HLA-A2 Antigen/chemistry
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- HLA-A2 Antigen/metabolism
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- Protein Conformation
- Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange-Mass Spectrometry
- Protein Binding
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/metabolism
- Peptides/immunology
- Major Histocompatibility Complex
- Antigens, Neoplasm/chemistry
- Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/chemistry
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Deuterium Exchange Measurement
- Mutation
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Merkle
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Esben Trabjerg
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Song Hongjian
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathias Ferber
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bâtiment Génopode, UNIL Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel A Cuendet
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bâtiment Génopode, UNIL Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Thomas J D Jørgensen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Immanuel Luescher
- Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bâtiment Génopode, UNIL Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bâtiment Génopode, UNIL Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bâtiment Génopode, UNIL Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kasper D Rand
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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28
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Jones HF, Molvi Z, Klatt MG, Dao T, Scheinberg DA. Empirical and Rational Design of T Cell Receptor-Based Immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2021; 11:585385. [PMID: 33569049 PMCID: PMC7868419 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.585385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of T cells reactive with intracellular tumor-associated or tumor-specific antigens has been a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapies in the past three decades, but the approach has been constrained by a limited understanding of the T cell receptor's (TCR) complex functions and specificities. Newer TCR and T cell-based approaches are in development, including engineered adoptive T cells with enhanced TCR affinities, TCR mimic antibodies, and T cell-redirecting bispecific agents. These new therapeutic modalities are exciting opportunities by which TCR recognition can be further exploited for therapeutic benefit. In this review we summarize the development of TCR-based therapeutic strategies and focus on balancing efficacy and potency versus specificity, and hence, possible toxicity, of these powerful therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather F. Jones
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zaki Molvi
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Martin G. Klatt
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tao Dao
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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29
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Johnson DK, Magoffin W, Myers SJ, Finnell JG, Hancock JC, Orton TS, Persaud SP, Christensen KA, Weber KS. CD4 Inhibits Helper T Cell Activation at Lower Affinity Threshold for Full-Length T Cell Receptors Than Single Chain Signaling Constructs. Front Immunol 2021; 11:561889. [PMID: 33542711 PMCID: PMC7851051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.561889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells are crucial for effective repression and elimination of cancer cells. Despite a paucity of CD4+ T cell receptor (TCR) clinical studies, CD4+ T cells are primed to become important therapeutics as they help circumvent tumor antigen escape and guide multifactorial immune responses. However, because CD8+ T cells directly kill tumor cells, most research has focused on the attributes of CD8+ TCRs. Less is known about how TCR affinity and CD4 expression affect CD4+ T cell activation in full length TCR (flTCR) and TCR single chain signaling (TCR-SCS) formats. Here, we generated an affinity panel of TCRs from CD4+ T cells and expressed them in flTCR and three TCR-SCS formats modeled after chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to understand the contributions of TCR-pMHCII affinity, TCR format, and coreceptor CD4 interactions on CD4+ T cell activation. Strikingly, the coreceptor CD4 inhibited intermediate and high affinity TCR-construct activation by Lck-dependent and -independent mechanisms. These inhibition mechanisms had unique affinity thresholds dependent on the TCR format. Intracellular construct formats affected the tetramer staining for each TCR as well as IL-2 production. IL-2 production was promoted by increased TCR-pMHCII affinity and the flTCR format. Thus, CD4+ T cell therapy development should consider TCR affinity, CD4 expression, and construct format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Wyatt Magoffin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Sheldon J Myers
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jordan G Finnell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - John C Hancock
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Taylor S Orton
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Stephen P Persaud
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kenneth A Christensen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - K Scott Weber
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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30
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Castro-Sanchez P, Teagle AR, Prade S, Zamoyska R. Modulation of TCR Signaling by Tyrosine Phosphatases: From Autoimmunity to Immunotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:608747. [PMID: 33425916 PMCID: PMC7793860 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.608747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Early TCR signaling is dependent on rapid phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of multiple signaling and adaptor proteins, leading to T cell activation. This process is tightly regulated by an intricate web of interactions between kinases and phosphatases. A number of tyrosine phosphatases have been shown to modulate T cell responses and thus alter T cell fate by negatively regulating early TCR signaling. Mutations in some of these enzymes are associated with enhanced predisposition to autoimmunity in humans, and mouse models deficient in orthologous genes often show T cell hyper-activation. Therefore, phosphatases are emerging as potential targets in situations where it is desirable to enhance T cell responses, such as immune responses to tumors. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about tyrosine phosphatases that regulate early TCR signaling and discuss their involvement in autoimmunity and their potential as targets for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Castro-Sanchez
- Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra R Teagle
- Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sonja Prade
- Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rose Zamoyska
- Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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31
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Kumbhari A, Egelston CA, Lee PP, Kim PS. Mature Dendritic Cells May Promote High-Avidity Tuning of Vaccine T Cell Responses. Front Immunol 2020; 11:584680. [PMID: 33193401 PMCID: PMC7662095 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.584680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines can elicit tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but durable reductions in tumor burden require vaccines that stimulate high-avidity CTLs. Recent advances in immunotherapy responses have led to renewed interest in vaccine approaches, including dendritic cell vaccine strategies. However, dendritic cell requirements for vaccines that generate potent anti-tumor T-cell responses are unclear. Here we use mathematical modeling to show that, counterintuitively, increasing levels of immature dendritic cells may lead to selective expansion of high-avidity CTLs. This finding is in contrast with traditional dendritic cell vaccine approaches that have sought to harness ex vivo generated mature dendritic cells. We show that the injection of vaccine antigens in the context of increased numbers of immature dendritic cells results in a decreased overall peptide:MHC complex load that favors high-avidity CTL activation and expansion. Overall, our results provide a firm basis for further development of this approach, both alone and in combination with other immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsh Kumbhari
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Colt A. Egelston
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Peter P. Lee
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Peter S. Kim
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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32
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Namdari H, Rezaei F, Teymoori-Rad M, Mortezagholi S, Sadeghi A, Akbari A. CAR T cells: Living HIV drugs. Rev Med Virol 2020; 30:1-14. [PMID: 32713110 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is a major global public health issue. Although the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) has made significant progress in inhibiting HIV replication in patients, HIV-infected cells remain the principal cellular reservoir of HIV, this allows HIV to rebound immediately upon stopping ART, which is considered the major obstacle to curing HIV infection. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy has provided new opportunities for HIV treatment. Engineering T cells or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to generate CAR T cells is a rapidly growing approach to develop an efficient immune cell to fight HIV. Herein, we review preclinical and clinical data available for the development of CAR T cells. Further, the advantages and disadvantages of clinical application of anti-HIV CAR T cells will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haideh Namdari
- Iranian Tissue Bank Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Rezaei
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Teymoori-Rad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Mortezagholi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Sadeghi
- Iranian Tissue Bank Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Akbari
- Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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33
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Luo X, Cui H, Cai L, Zhu W, Yang WC, Patrick M, Zhu S, Huang J, Yao X, Yao Y, He Y, Ji Y. Selection of a Clinical Lead TCR Targeting Alpha-Fetoprotein-Positive Liver Cancer Based on a Balance of Risk and Benefit. Front Immunol 2020; 11:623. [PMID: 32425926 PMCID: PMC7203609 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), an established clinical biomarker of HCC, has been employed as an attractive target for T cell-based immunotherapy against this disease given its high expression in the tumor and restricted expression in normal tissues. We have identified a number of T cell receptors (TCRs) recognizing the HLA-A*02:01 restricted AFP158-166 peptide FMNKFIYEI, providing a TCR candidate pool for identifying TCRs with optimal clinical benefit. To select the ideal AFP TCR for clinical use, we evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of 7 TCRs by testing their potency toward AFP-expressing HCC cells and their specificity based upon reactivity to normal and transformed cells covering a wide variety of primary cell types and HLA serotypes. Furthermore, we assessed their cross-reactivity to potential protein candidates in the human genome by an extensive alanine scan (X-scan). We first selected three TCR candidates based on the in vitro anti-tumor activity. Next we eliminated two potential cross-reactive TCRs based on their reactivity against normal and transformed cells covering a variety of primary cell types and HLA serotypes, respectively. We then excluded the potential cross-reactivity of the selected TCR with a protein candidate identified by X-scan. At present we have selected an AFP TCR with the optimal affinity, function, and safety profile, bearing properties that are expected to allow AFP TCR redirected T cells to specifically differentiate between AFP levels on tumor and normal tissues. An early phase clinical trial using T cells transduced with this TCR to treat HCC patients (NCT03971747) has been initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Luo
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Huijuan Cui
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Lun Cai
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Wei Zhu
- CodexSage LLC., Germantown, MD, United States
| | - Wei-Chih Yang
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Michael Patrick
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Shigui Zhu
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Xin Yao
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Yihong Yao
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Yukai He
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Yun Ji
- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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34
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Snook JP, Soedel AJ, Ekiz HA, O'Connell RM, Williams MA. Inhibition of SHP-1 Expands the Repertoire of Antitumor T Cells Available to Respond to Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 8:506-517. [PMID: 32075800 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The presence and activity of CD8+ T cells within the tumor microenvironment are essential for the control of tumor growth. Utilizing B16-F10 melanoma tumors that express altered peptide ligands of chicken ovalbumin, OVA257-264, we measured high- and low-affinity OVA-specific responses following adoptive transfer of OT-I CD8+ T cell into mice subsequently challenged with tumors. T-cell receptor (TCR) affinity positively correlated with the frequency of OT-I tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Differences in TCR affinity inversely corresponded to in vivo tumor growth rate. Blockade of the PD-1 and CTLA-4 checkpoints preferentially increased the frequency and antitumor function of TIL responding to high-affinity antigens, while failing to enhance the antitumor activity of low-affinity T cells. To determine whether lowering the TCR activation threshold could enhance the breadth and magnitude of the antitumor T-cell response, we inhibited Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) in OT-I T cells prior to tumor antigen exposure. SHP-1 knockdown increased the cytokine-producing potential of high- and low-affinity T cells but failed to enhance control of tumor growth. In contrast, when SHP-1 knockdown of OT-I T cells was combined with immunotherapy, we observed a significant and long-lasting suppression of tumor growth mediated by low-affinity T cells. We conclude that lowering the TCR activation threshold by targeting SHP-1 expands the repertoire of T cells available to respond to conventional checkpoint blockade, leading to enhanced control of tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy P Snook
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Ashleigh J Soedel
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - H Atakan Ekiz
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Ryan M O'Connell
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Matthew A Williams
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah. .,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
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35
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Carretero-Iglesia L, Couturaud B, Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Maby-El Hajjami H, Speiser DE, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. High Peptide Dose Vaccination Promotes the Early Selection of Tumor Antigen-Specific CD8 T-Cells of Enhanced Functional Competence. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3016. [PMID: 31969886 PMCID: PMC6960191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8 T-cell response efficiency critically depends on the TCR binding strength to peptide-MHC, i.e., the TCR binding avidity. A current challenge in onco-immunology lies in the evaluation of vaccine protocols selecting for tumor-specific T-cells of highest avidity, offering maximal immune protection against tumor cells and clinical benefit. Here, we investigated the impact of peptide and CpG/adjuvant doses on the quality of vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells in relation to binding avidity and functional responses in treated melanoma patients. Using TCR-pMHC binding avidity measurements combined to phenotype and functional assays, we performed a comprehensive study on representative tumor antigen-specific CD8 T-cell clones (n = 454) from seven patients vaccinated with different doses of Melan-A/ELA peptide (0.1 mg vs. 0.5 mg) and CpG-B adjuvant (1–1.3 mg vs. 2.6 mg). Vaccination with high peptide dose favored the early and strong in vivo expansion and differentiation of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells. Consistently, T-cell clones generated from those patients showed increased TCR binding avidity (i.e., slow off-rates and CD8 binding independency) readily after 4 monthly vaccine injections (4v). In contrast, the use of low peptide or high CpG-B doses required 8 monthly vaccine injections (8v) for the enrichment of anti-tumor T-cells with high TCR binding avidity and low CD8 binding dependency. Importantly, the CD8 binding-independent vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells displayed enhanced functional avidity, reaching a plateau of maximal function. Thus, T-cell functional potency following peptide/CpG/IFA vaccination may not be further improved beyond a certain TCR binding avidity limit. Our results also indicate that while high peptide dose vaccination induced the early selection of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells of increased functional competence, continued serial vaccinations also promoted such high-avidity T-cells. Overall, the systematic assessment of T-cell binding avidity may contribute to optimize vaccine design for improving clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carretero-Iglesia
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Couturaud
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Maby-El Hajjami
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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36
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Duong MN, Erdes E, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. Chronic TCR-MHC (self)-interactions limit the functional potential of TCR affinity-increased CD8 T lymphocytes. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:284. [PMID: 31690351 PMCID: PMC6833194 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Affinity-optimized T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered lymphocytes targeting tumor antigens can mediate potent antitumor responses in cancer patients, but also bear substantial risks for off-target toxicities. Most preclinical studies have focused on T cell responses to antigen-specific stimulation. In contrast, little is known on the regulation of T cell responsiveness through continuous TCR triggering and consequent tonic signaling. Here, we addressed the question whether increasing the TCR affinity can lead to chronic interactions occurring directly between TCRs and MHC-(self) molecules, which may modulate the overall functional potency of tumor-redirected CD8 T cells. For this purpose, we developed two complementary human CD8 T cell models (i.e. HLA-A2 knock-in and knock-out) engineered with incremental-affinity TCRs to the HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen. Methods The impact of HLA-A2 recognition, depending on TCR affinity, was assessed at the levels of the TCR/CD3 complex, regulatory receptors, and signaling, under steady-state conditions and in kinetic studies. The quality of CD8 T cell responses was further evaluated by gene expression and multiplex cytokine profiling, as well as real-time quantitative cell killing, combined with co-culture assays. Results We found that HLA-A2 per se (in absence of cognate peptide) can trigger chronic activation followed by a tolerance-like state of tumor-redirected CD8 T cells with increased-affinity TCRs. HLA-A2pos but not HLA-A2neg T cells displayed an activation phenotype, associated with enhanced upregulation of c-CBL and multiple inhibitory receptors. T cell activation preceded TCR/CD3 downmodulation, impaired TCR signaling and functional hyporesponsiveness. This stepwise activation-to-hyporesponsive state was dependent on TCR affinity and already detectable at the upper end of the physiological affinity range (KD ≤ 1 μM). Similar findings were made when affinity-increased HLA-A2neg CD8 T cells were chronically exposed to HLA-A2pos-expressing target cells. Conclusions Our observations indicate that sustained interactions between affinity-increased TCR and self-MHC can directly adjust the functional potential of T cells, even in the absence of antigen-specific stimulation. The observed tolerance-like state depends on TCR affinity and has therefore potential implications for the design of affinity-improved TCRs for adoptive T cell therapy, as several engineered TCRs currently used in clinical trials share similar affinity properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Ngoc Duong
- Department of oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Efe Erdes
- Department of oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
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37
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T cell engineering for adoptive T cell therapy: safety and receptor avidity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1701-1712. [PMID: 31542797 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02395-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Since the first bone marrow transplantation, adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has developed over the last 80 years to a highly efficient and specific therapy for infections and cancer. Genetic engineering of T cells with antigen-specific receptors now provides the possibility of generating highly defined and efficacious T cell products. The high sensitivity of engineered T cells towards their targets, however, also bears the risk of severe off-target toxicities. Therefore, different safety strategies for engineered T cells have been developed that enable removal of the transferred cells in case of adverse events, control of T cell activity or improvement of target selectivity. Receptor avidity is a crucial component in the balance between safety and efficacy of T cell products. In clinical trials, T cells equipped with high avidity T cell receptor (TCR)/chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) have been mostly used so far because of their faster and better response to antigen recognition. However, over-activation can trigger T cell exhaustion/death as well as side effects due to excessive cytokine production. Low avidity T cells, on the other hand, are less susceptible to over-activation and could possess better selectivity in case of tumor antigens shared with healthy tissues, but complete tumor eradication may not be guaranteed. In this review we describe how 'optimal' TCR/CAR affinity can increase the safety/efficacy balance of engineered T cells, and discuss simultaneous or sequential infusion of high and low avidity receptors as further options for efficacious but safe T cell therapy.
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38
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Bentzen AK, Hadrup SR. T-cell-receptor cross-recognition and strategies to select safe T-cell receptors for clinical translation. IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY 2019; 2:1-10. [PMID: 35036898 PMCID: PMC8741623 DOI: 10.1016/j.iotech.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T-cell-receptor (TCR)-transduced T cells has shown promising results for cancer treatment, but has also produced severe immunotoxicities caused by on-target as well as off-target TCR recognition. Off-target toxicities are related to the ability of a single T cell to cross-recognize and respond to several different peptide–major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) antigens; a property that is essential for providing broad antigenic coverage despite a confined number of unique TCRs in the human body. However, this degeneracy makes it incredibly difficult to account for the range of targets that any TCR might recognize, which represents a major challenge for the clinical development of therapeutic TCRs. The prospect of using affinity-optimized TCRs has been impeded due to observations that affinity enhancement might alter the specificity of a TCR, thereby increasing the risk that it will cross-recognize endogenous tissue. Strategies for selecting safe TCRs for the clinic have included functional assessment after individual incubations with tissue-derived primary cells or with peptides substituted with single amino acids. However, these strategies have not been able to predict cross-recognition sufficiently, leading to fatal cross-reactivity in clinical trials. Novel technologies have emerged that enable extensive characterization of the exact interaction points of a TCR with pMHC, which provides a foundation from which to make predictions of the cross-recognition potential of individual TCRs. This review describes current advances in strategies for dissecting the molecular interaction points of TCRs, focusing on their potential as tools for predicting cross-recognition of TCRs in clinical development. T-cell-receptor (TCR) degeneracy plays a fundamental role in the capacity of our immune systems to recognize foreign antigens. TCR cross-reactivity provides an inherent risk in TCR–gene transfer cell therapies. Advances in description of TCR cross-recognition can guide the selection process for TCRs into clinical use.
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39
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Bassan D, Gozlan YM, Sharbi-Yunger A, Tzehoval E, Eisenbach L. Optimizing T-cell receptor avidity with somatic hypermutation. Int J Cancer 2019; 145:2816-2826. [PMID: 31381134 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells that have been genetically modified to express an antitumor T-cell receptor (TCR) is a potent immunotherapy, but only if TCR avidity is sufficiently high. Endogenous TCRs specific to shared (self) tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) have low affinity due to central tolerance. Therefore, for effective therapy, anti-TAA TCRs with higher and optimal avidity must be generated. Here, we describe a new in vitro system for directed evolution of TCR avidity using somatic hypermutation (SHM), a mechanism used in nature by B cells for antibody optimization. We identified 44 point mutations to the Pmel-1 TCR, specific for the H-2Db -gp10025-33 melanoma antigen. Primary T cells transduced with TCRs containing two or three of these mutations had enhanced activity in vitro. Furthermore, the triple-mutant TCR improved in vivo therapy of tumor-bearing mice, which exhibited improved survival, smaller tumors and delayed or no relapse. TCR avidity maturation by SHM may be an effective strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bassan
- Department of immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yosi Meir Gozlan
- Department of immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Adi Sharbi-Yunger
- Department of immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Esther Tzehoval
- Department of immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lea Eisenbach
- Department of immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Abstract
T cells initiate and regulate adaptive immune responses that can clear infections. To do this, they use their T cell receptors (TCRs) to continually scan the surfaces of other cells for cognate peptide antigens presented on major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs). Experimental work has established that as few 1-10 pMHCs are sufficient to activate T cells. This sensitivity is remarkable in light of a number of factors, including the observation that the TCR and pMHC are short molecules relative to highly abundant long surface molecules, such as CD45, that can hinder initial binding, and moreover, the TCR/pMHC interaction is of weak affinity with solution lifetimes of approximately 1 second. Here, we review experimental and mathematical work that has contributed to uncovering molecular mechanisms of T cell sensitivity. We organize the mechanisms by where they act in the pathway to activate T cells, namely mechanisms that (a) promote TCR/pMHC binding, (b) induce rapid TCR signaling, and (c) amplify TCR signaling. We discuss work showing that high sensitivity reduces antigen specificity unless molecular feedbacks are invoked. We conclude by summarizing a number of open questions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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41
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Wagner EK, Qerqez AN, Stevens CA, Nguyen AW, Delidakis G, Maynard JA. Human cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell receptor engineered for high affinity and soluble expression using mammalian cell display. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5790-5804. [PMID: 30796163 PMCID: PMC6463697 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.007187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptors (TCR) have considerable potential as therapeutics and antibody-like reagents to monitor disease progression and vaccine efficacy. Whereas antibodies recognize only secreted and surface-bound proteins, TCRs recognize otherwise inaccessible disease-associated intracellular proteins when they are presented as processed peptides bound to major histocompatibility complexes (pMHC). TCRs have been primarily explored for cancer therapy applications but could also target infectious diseases such as cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, TCRs are more difficult to express and engineer than antibodies, and advanced methods are needed to enable their widespread use. Here, we engineered the human CMV-specific TCR RA14 for high-affinity and robust soluble expression. To achieve this, we adapted our previously reported mammalian display system to present TCR extracellular domains and used this to screen CDR3 libraries for clones with increased pMHC affinity. After three rounds of selection, characterized clones retained peptide specificity and activation when expressed on the surface of human Jurkat T cells. We obtained high yields of soluble, monomeric protein by fusing the TCR extracellular domains to antibody hinge and Fc constant regions, adding a stabilizing disulfide bond between the constant domains and disrupting predicted glycosylation sites. One variant exhibited 50 nm affinity for its cognate pMHC, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, and specifically stained cells presenting this pMHC. Our work has identified a human TCR with high affinity for the immunodominant CMV peptide and offers a new strategy to rapidly engineer soluble TCRs for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen K Wagner
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Ahlam N Qerqez
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Christopher A Stevens
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Annalee W Nguyen
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - George Delidakis
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Jennifer A Maynard
- From the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
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42
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Gálvez J, Gálvez JJ, García-Peñarrubia P. Is TCR/pMHC Affinity a Good Estimate of the T-cell Response? An Answer Based on Predictions From 12 Phenotypic Models. Front Immunol 2019; 10:349. [PMID: 30886616 PMCID: PMC6410681 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On the T-cell surface the TCR is the only molecule that senses antigen, and the engagement of TCR with its specific antigenic peptide (agonist)/MHC complex (pMHC) is determined by the biochemical parameters of the TCR-pMHC interaction. This interaction is the keystone of the adaptive immune response by triggering intracellular signaling pathways that induce the expression of genes required for T cell-mediated effector functions, such as T cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity. To study the TCR-pMHC interaction one of its properties most extensively analyzed has been TCR-pMHC affinity. However, and despite of intensive experimental research, the results obtained are far from conclusive. Here, to determine if TCR-pMHC affinity is a reliable parameter to characterize T-cell responses, a systematic study has been performed based on the predictions of 12 phenotypic models. This approach has the advantage that allow us to study the response of a given system as a function of only those parameters in which we are interested while other system parameters remain constant. A little surprising, only the simple occupancy model predicts a direct relationship between affinity and response so that an increase in affinity always leads to larger responses. Conversely, in the others more elaborate models this clear situation does not occur, i.e., that a general positive correlation between affinity and immune response does not exist. This is mainly because affinity values are given by the quotient k on/k off where k on and k off are the rate constants of the binding process (i.e., affinity is in fact the quotient of two parameters), so that different sets of these rate constants can give the same value of affinity. However, except in the occupancy model, the predicted T-cell responses depend on the individual values of k on and k off rather than on their quotient k on/k off. This allows: a) that systems with the same affinity can show quite different responses; and b) that systems with low affinity may exhibit larger responses than systems with higher affinities. This would make affinity a poor estimate of T-cell responses and, as a result, data correlations between affinity and immune response should be interpreted and used with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Gálvez
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan J Gálvez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Pilar García-Peñarrubia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Schober K, Buchholz VR, Busch DH. TCR repertoire evolution during maintenance of CMV-specific T-cell populations. Immunol Rev 2019; 283:113-128. [PMID: 29664573 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During infections and cancer, the composition of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells changes over time. TCR avidity is thought to be a major driver of this process, thereby interacting with several additional regulators of T-cell responses to form a composite immune response architecture. Infections with latent viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), can lead to large T-cell responses characterized by an oligoclonal TCR repertoire. Here, we review the current status of experimental studies and theoretical models of TCR repertoire evolution during CMV infection. We will particularly discuss the degree to which this process may be determined through structural TCR avidity. As engineered TCR-redirected T cells have moved into the spotlight for providing more effective immunotherapies, it is essential to understand how the key features of a given TCR influence T-cell expansion and maintenance in settings of infection or malignancy. Deeper insights into these mechanisms will improve our basic understanding of T-cell immunology and help to identify optimal TCRs for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Veit R Buchholz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany.,Focus Group 'Clinical Cell Processing and Purification', Institute for Advanced Study, TUM, Munich, Germany.,National Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
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44
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Wolf B, Zimmermann S, Arber C, Irving M, Trueb L, Coukos G. Safety and Tolerability of Adoptive Cell Therapy in Cancer. Drug Saf 2019; 42:315-334. [DOI: 10.1007/s40264-018-0779-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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45
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Hellman LM, Foley KC, Singh NK, Alonso JA, Riley TP, Devlin JR, Ayres CM, Keller GLJ, Zhang Y, Vander Kooi CW, Nishimura MI, Baker BM. Improving T Cell Receptor On-Target Specificity via Structure-Guided Design. Mol Ther 2018; 27:300-313. [PMID: 30617019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCRs) have emerged as a new class of immunological therapeutics. However, though antigen specificity is a hallmark of adaptive immunity, TCRs themselves do not possess the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies. Although a necessary function of T cell biology, the resulting cross-reactivity presents a significant challenge for TCR-based therapeutic development, as it creates the potential for off-target recognition and immune toxicity. Efforts to enhance TCR specificity by mimicking the antibody maturation process and enhancing affinity can inadvertently exacerbate TCR cross-reactivity. Here we demonstrate this concern by showing that even peptide-targeted mutations in the TCR can introduce new reactivities against peptides that bear similarity to the original target. To counteract this, we explored a novel structure-guided approach for enhancing TCR specificity independent of affinity. Tested with the MART-1-specific TCR DMF5, our approach had a small but discernible impact on cross-reactivity toward MART-1 homologs yet was able to eliminate DMF5 cross-recognition of more divergent, unrelated epitopes. Our study provides a proof of principle for the use of advanced structure-guided design techniques for improving TCR specificity, and it suggests new ways forward for enhancing TCRs for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance M Hellman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Kendra C Foley
- Department of Surgery and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Nishant K Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Timothy P Riley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jason R Devlin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Grant L J Keller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Michael I Nishimura
- Department of Surgery and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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46
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Riley TP, Baker BM. The intersection of affinity and specificity in the development and optimization of T cell receptor based therapeutics. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 84:30-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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47
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Soler M, Li X, John-Herpin A, Schmidt J, Coukos G, Altug H. Two-Dimensional Label-Free Affinity Analysis of Tumor-Specific CD8 T Cells with a Biomimetic Plasmonic Sensor. ACS Sens 2018; 3:2286-2295. [PMID: 30339020 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.8b00523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The screening and analysis of T cells functional avidity for specific tumor-associated antigens is crucial for the development of personalized immunotherapies against cancer. The affinity and kinetics of a T cell receptor (TCR) binding to the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC), expressed on tumor or antigen-presenting cells, have shown major implications in T cell activation and effector functions. We introduce an innovative methodology for the two-dimensional affinity analysis of TCR-pMHC in a label-free configuration by employing a multiparametric Surface Plasmon Resonance biosensor (MP-SPR) functionalized with artificial cell membranes. The biomimetic scaffold created with planar lipid bilayers is able to efficiently capture the specific and intact tumor-specific T cells and monitor the formation of the immunological synapse in situ. We have achieved excellent limits of detection for in-flow cell capturing, up to 2 orders of magnitude below the current state-of-the-art for plasmonic sensing. We demonstrate the accuracy and selectivity of our sensor for the analysis of CD8+ T cells bioengineered with TCR of incremental affinities specific for the HLA-A0201/NY-ESO-I157-165 pMHC complex. The study confirmed the significance of providing a biomimetic microenvironment, compared to the traditional molecular analysis, and showed fine agreement with previous results employing flow cytometry. Our methodology is reliable and versatile; thus, it can be applied to more sophisticated photonic and nanoplasmonic technologies for the screening of multiple cell types and boost the development of novel treatments for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Soler
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xiaokang Li
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurelian John-Herpin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Lausanne Branch - Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Lausanne Branch - Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hatice Altug
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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48
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Ellerman D. Bispecific T-cell engagers: Towards understanding variables influencing the in vitro potency and tumor selectivity and their modulation to enhance their efficacy and safety. Methods 2018; 154:102-117. [PMID: 30395966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific molecules redirecting the cytotoxicity of T-cells are a growing class of therapeutics with numerous molecules being tested in clinical trials. However, it has been a long way since the proof of concept studies in the mid 1980's. In the process we have learnt about the impact of different variables related to the bispecific molecule and the target antigen on the potency of this type of drugs. This work reviews the insights gained and how that knowledge has been used to design more potent bispecific T-cell engagers. The more recent advancement of antibodies with this modality into safety studies in non-human primates and as well as in clinical studies has revealed potential toxicity liabilities for the mode of action. Modifications in existing antibody formats and new experimental molecules designed to mitigate these problems are discussed.
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49
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Antitumor activity of CAR-T cells targeting the intracellular oncoprotein WT1 can be enhanced by vaccination. Blood 2018; 132:1134-1145. [PMID: 30045840 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-08-802926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for treatment of hematologic malignancies supports further development of treatments for both liquid and solid tumors. However, expansion of CAR-T cell therapy is limited by the availability of surface antigens specific for the tumor while sparing normal cells. There is a rich diversity of tumor antigens from intracellularly expressed proteins that current and conventional CAR-T cells are unable to target. Furthermore, adoptively transferred T cells often suffer from exhaustion and insufficient expansion, in part, because of the immunosuppressive mechanisms operating in tumor-bearing hosts. Therefore, it is necessary to develop means to further activate and expand those CAR-T cells in vivo. The Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) is an intracellular oncogenic transcription factor that is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy because of its overexpression in a wide range of leukemias and solid tumors, and a low level of expression in normal adult tissues. In the present study, we developed CAR-T cells consisting of a single chain variable fragment (scFv) specific to the WT1235-243/HLA-A*2402 complex. The therapeutic efficacy of our CAR-T cells was demonstrated in a xenograft model, which was further enhanced by vaccination with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with the corresponding antigen. This enhanced efficacy was mediated, at least partly, by the expansion and activation of CAR-T cells. CAR-T cells shown in the present study not only demonstrate the potential to expand the range of targets available to CAR-T cells, but also provide a proof of concept that efficacy of CAR-T cells targeting peptide/major histocompatibility complex can be boosted by vaccination.
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50
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Lanitis E, Dangaj D, Irving M, Coukos G. Mechanisms regulating T-cell infiltration and activity in solid tumors. Ann Oncol 2018; 28:xii18-xii32. [PMID: 29045511 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
T-lymphocytes play a critical role in cancer immunity as evidenced by their presence in resected tumor samples derived from long-surviving patients, and impressive clinical responses to various immunotherapies that reinvigorate them. Indeed, tumors can upregulate a wide array of defense mechanisms, both direct and indirect, to suppress the ability of Tcells to reach the tumor bed and mount curative responses upon infiltration. In addition, patient and tumor genetics, previous antigenic experience, and the microbiome, are all important factors in shaping the T-cell repertoire and sensitivity to immunotherapy. Here, we review the mechanisms that regulate T-cell homing, infiltration, and activity within the solid tumor bed. Finally, we summarize different immunotherapies and combinatorial treatment strategies that enable the immune system to overcome barriers for enhanced tumor control and improved patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Lanitis
- The Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, Epalinges
| | - D Dangaj
- The Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, Epalinges
| | - M Irving
- The Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, Epalinges
| | - G Coukos
- The Ludwig Branch for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne, Epalinges.,Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
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