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Lv Y, Chen J, Wang C, Jin Z, Lou J. An antibody against human interleukin-2 showing minimal binding to neonatal Fc receptor: Potent anti-tumor activity and reduced systemic toxicity in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2025; 987:177159. [PMID: 39615864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.177159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 11/28/2024] [Accepted: 11/28/2024] [Indexed: 12/31/2024]
Abstract
The anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors can be enhanced by combining them with interleukin-2 (IL-2), which promotes the clonal expansion of antigen-activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells. However, IL-2 can simultaneously bind to endothelial cells and regulatory T cells to induce adverse and immunosuppressive effects. Such off-target binding can be inhibited by co-administering IL-2 with anti-IL-2 antibodies, but these antibodies can interact with neonatal Fc receptor to protect the IL-2 from lysosomal degradation, leading to substantial toxicity. Here we developed and humanized a mouse monoclonal antibody against human IL-2 and introduced two mutations (H310A and H435Q) in the Fc segment in order to weaken binding to the neonatal Fc receptor. The humanized antibody bound tightly to IL-2 but minimally to neonatal Fc receptor. Hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry indicated that the antibody binds to IL-2 at the site where the cytokine binds to subunit α (CD25) of the trimeric IL-2 receptor. Co-administering the antibody with human IL-2 improved the cytokine's ability to slow growth of two types of colorectal tumor xenografts (CT26, MC38) in immunocompetent mice. Co-administration to mice with CT26 xenografts strongly expanded CD8+ T cells, without expanding regulatory T cells in spleen or blood. Co-administration to mice with MC38 xenografts downregulated PD-1 and CD44, while upregulating CD62L and CD69, on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Notably, co-administration synergized with anti-PD-1 antibody to slow growth of MC38 xenografts. Our results suggest that the combination of human IL-2 and our novel antibody shows promise for providing more effective, less toxic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunying Lv
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Culture Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China; Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110027, China
| | - Jianhe Chen
- Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110027, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110027, China
| | - Zheng Jin
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Culture Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China; Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110027, China.
| | - Jing Lou
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Culture Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China; Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110027, China
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2
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Leonard EK, Tomala J, Gould JR, Leff MI, Lin JX, Li P, Porter MJ, Johansen ER, Thompson L, Cao SD, Hou S, Henclova T, Huliciak M, Sargunas PR, Fabilane CS, Vaněk O, Kovar M, Schneider B, Raimondi G, Leonard WJ, Spangler JB. Engineered cytokine/antibody fusion proteins improve IL-2 delivery to pro-inflammatory cells and promote antitumor activity. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e173469. [PMID: 39115939 PMCID: PMC11457862 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.173469] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Progress in cytokine engineering is driving therapeutic translation by overcoming these proteins' limitations as drugs. The IL-2 cytokine is a promising immune stimulant for cancer treatment but is limited by its concurrent activation of both pro-inflammatory immune effector cells and antiinflammatory regulatory T cells, toxicity at high doses, and short serum half-life. One approach to improve the selectivity, safety, and longevity of IL-2 is complexing with anti-IL-2 antibodies that bias the cytokine toward immune effector cell activation. Although this strategy shows potential in preclinical models, clinical translation of a cytokine/antibody complex is complicated by challenges in formulating a multiprotein drug and concerns regarding complex stability. Here, we introduced a versatile approach to designing intramolecularly assembled single-agent fusion proteins (immunocytokines, ICs) comprising IL-2 and a biasing anti-IL-2 antibody that directs the cytokine toward immune effector cells. We optimized IC construction and engineered the cytokine/antibody affinity to improve immune bias. We demonstrated that our IC preferentially activates and expands immune effector cells, leading to superior antitumor activity compared with natural IL-2, both alone and combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Moreover, therapeutic efficacy was observed without inducing toxicity. This work presents a roadmap for the design and translation of cytokine/antibody fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa K. Leonard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jakub Tomala
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and
| | - Joseph R. Gould
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael I. Leff
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jian-Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mitchell J. Porter
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric R. Johansen
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ladaisha Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Shenda Hou
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tereza Henclova
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Maros Huliciak
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Charina S. Fabilane
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ondřej Vaněk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Schneider
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Giorgio Raimondi
- Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
| | - Warren J. Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie B. Spangler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center
- Department of Oncology
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center; and
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Ming K, Xing B, Ren X, Hu Y, Wei L, Wang Z, Mei M, Weng J, Wei Z. De novo design of mini-binder proteins against IL-2 receptor β chain. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133834. [PMID: 39002899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
IL-2 regulates the immune response by interacting with different IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) subunits. High dose of IL-2 binds to IL-2Rβγc heterodimer, which induce various side effects while activating immune function. Disrupting IL-2 and IL-2R interactions can block IL-2 mediated immune response. Here, we used a computational approach to de novo design mini-binder proteins against IL-2R β chain (IL-2Rβ) to block IL-2 signaling. The hydrophobic region where IL-2 binds to IL-2Rβ was selected and the promising binding mode was broadly explored. Three mini-binders with amino acid numbers ranging from 55 to 65 were obtained and binder 1 showed the best effects in inhibiting CTLL-2 cells proliferation and STAT5 phosphorylation. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the binding of binder 1 to IL-2Rβ was stable; the free energy of binder1/IL-2Rβ complex was lower, indicating that the affinity of binder 1 to IL-2Rβ was higher than that of IL-2. Free energy decomposition suggested that the ARG35 and ARG131 of IL-2Rβ might be the key to improve the affinity of binder. Our efforts provided new insights in developing of IL-2R blocker, offering a potential strategy for ameliorating the side effects of IL-2 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Banbin Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xinyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Lin Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhizheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Meng Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Jun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, PR China
| | - Zigong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, School of life sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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4
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Lee M, Im SK, Baek S, Ji M, Kim M, Lee EJ, Ji ST, Ferrando-Martinez S, Wolfarth A, Lee JY, Kim D, Choi D. rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c combination promotes an immune-stimulatory tumor microenvironment that improves antitumor efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008001. [PMID: 38471713 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant human interleukin (rhIL)-7-hyFc (efineptakin alfa; NT-I7) is a potent T-cell amplifier, with two IL-7 molecules fused to IgD/IgG4 elements. rhIL-7-hyFc promotes extensive infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor, concurrently increasing the numbers of intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ T cells. The hIL-2/TCB2 complex (SLC-3010) inhibits tumor growth by preferential activation of CD122 (IL-2Rβ)high CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells, over regulatory T cells (Tregs). We investigated the underlying mechanisms of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c antitumor activity and the potential synergistic efficacy, specifically focusing on tumor-specific CD8+ cells within the tumor and the tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLN). METHODS MC38 and CT26 tumor-bearing mice were administered with 10 mg/kg rhIL-7-hyFc intramuscularly and 0.9 mg/kg hIL-2/TCB2c intravenously. Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody was administered intraperitoneally three times at 3-day intervals at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Tumor volume was measured to assess efficacy. To compare the composition of immune cells between each monotherapy and the combination therapy, we analyzed tumors and tdLNs by flow cytometry. RESULTS Our data demonstrate that the combination of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c increases efficacy and generates an immune-stimulatory tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is characterized by an increased infiltration of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, and a decreased frequency of CD39highTIM-3+ Treg cells. Most importantly, rhIL-7-hyFc increases infiltration of a CD62L+Ly108+ early progenitor population of exhausted CD8+ T cells (TPEX), which may retain long-term proliferation capacity and replenish functional effector CD8+ T cells. hIL-2/TCB2c induces differentiation of CD62L+Ly108+ TPEX rapidly into CD101+ terminally differentiated subsets (terminally exhausted T cell (TEX term)). Our study also demonstrates that rhIL-7-hyFc significantly enhances the proliferation rate of TPEX in the tdLNs, positively correlating with their abundance within the tumor. Moreover, rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c can overcome the limited therapeutic effectiveness of PD-1 blockade, culminating in the complete regression of tumors. CONCLUSIONS rhIL-7-hyFc can expand and maintain the progenitor pool of exhausted CD8+ T cells, whereas hIL-2/TCB2c promotes their differentiation into TEX term. Together, this induces an immune-stimulatory TME that improves the efficacy of checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minji Lee
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Sun-Kyoung Im
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Seungtae Baek
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Mankyu Ji
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Miyoung Kim
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Eun Ju Lee
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Seung Taek Ji
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | | | | | | | - Daeun Kim
- Selecxine, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Donghoon Choi
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech, Co., Ltd, Pohang, Korea (the Republic of)
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5
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Sprent J, Boyman O. Optimising IL-2 for Cancer Immunotherapy. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e5. [PMID: 38455463 PMCID: PMC10917570 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The key role of T cells in cancer immunotherapy is well established and is highlighted by the remarkable capacity of Ab-mediated checkpoint blockade to overcome T-cell exhaustion and amplify anti-tumor responses. However, total or partial tumor remission following checkpoint blockade is still limited to only a few types of tumors. Hence, concerted attempts are being made to devise new methods for improving tumor immunity. Currently, much attention is being focused on therapy with IL-2. This cytokine is a powerful growth factor for T cells and optimises their effector functions. When used at therapeutic doses for cancer treatment, however, IL-2 is highly toxic. Nevertheless, recent work has shown that modifying the structure or presentation of IL-2 can reduce toxicity and lead to effective anti-tumor responses in synergy with checkpoint blockade. Here, we review the complex interaction of IL-2 with T cells: first during normal homeostasis, then during responses to pathogens, and finally in anti-tumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Sprent
- Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney 1466, Australia
- Menzies Institute of Medical Research, Hobart 7000, Australia
| | - Onur Boyman
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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6
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Tomala J, Cao SD, Spangler JB. Engineering Anticytokine Antibodies for Immune Modulation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:225-234. [PMID: 38166248 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The delicate balance of immune homeostasis is regulated by the interactions between cytokines and their cognate cell surface signaling receptors. There is intensive interest in harnessing cytokines as drugs for diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. However, the multifarious and often contradictory activities of cytokines, coupled with their short serum half-lives, limit clinical performance and result in dangerous toxicities. There is thus growing emphasis on manipulating natural cytokines to enhance their selectivity, safety, and durability through various strategies. One strategy that has gained traction in recent years is the development of anticytokine Abs that not only extend the circulation half-life of cytokines but also specifically bias their immune activities through multilayered molecular mechanisms. Although Abs are notorious for their antagonistic activities, this review focuses on anticytokine Abs that selectively agonize the activity of the target protein. This approach has potential to help realize the clinical promise of cytokine-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Tomala
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Shanelle D Cao
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
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7
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Sehgal ANA, Tauber PA, Stieger RB, Kratzer B, Pickl WF. The T-Cell Growth Factor Interleukin-2, Which Is Occasionally Targeted by Autoantibodies, Qualifies as Drug for the Treatment of Allergy, Autoimmunity, and Cancer: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2024. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2023; 185:286-300. [PMID: 38086339 PMCID: PMC10911178 DOI: 10.1159/000533677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukin(IL)-2 was originally characterized as an important T-cellular growth factor but later on, turned out to be a pivotal homeostatic factor for the establishment and maintenance of both natural(n)Treg and peripheral(p)Treg. In this review, it was aimed to connect the peculiar structural and functional aspects of IL-2 to the innovative advancements in tailoring its multifaceted functional behavior for targeting various IL-2 receptor types. The article includes detailed descriptions of modified versions of IL-2, obtained by either mutating or fusing IL-2 to heterologous molecules or by forming IL-2/(monoclonal) antibody complexes (IL-2C), and discusses their functional implications for addressing such heterologous pathological conditions in cancer, autoimmunity, and allergy. Additionally, this review sheds light on the underexplored contribution of autoantibodies to the endogenous regulation of IL-2 within the realms of both health and disease. The ongoing efforts to fine-tune IL-2 responses through antibody-dependent targeting or molecular engineering offer considerable translational potential for the future utility of this important cytokine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al Nasar Ahmed Sehgal
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Peter A. Tauber
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Robert B. Stieger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Bernhard Kratzer
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Winfried F. Pickl
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University, Krems, Austria
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8
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Silver AB, Tzeng SY, Lager M, Wang J, Ishihara J, Green JJ, Spangler JB. An engineered immunocytokine with collagen affinity improves the tumor bioavailability, tolerability, and therapeutic efficacy of IL-2. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101289. [PMID: 37992685 PMCID: PMC10694763 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101289] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The clinical utility of human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) is limited by its short serum half-life, preferential activation of regulatory T (TReg) over immune effector cells, and dose-limiting toxicities. We previously engineered F10 immunocytokine (IC), an intramolecularly assembled cytokine/antibody fusion protein that linked hIL-2 to an anti-IL-2 antibody (denoted F10) that extended IL-2 half-life and augmented the immune effector to TReg ratio. Here, we leveraged molecular engineering to improve the anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of F10 IC by developing an iteration, denoted F10 IC-CBD (collagen binding domain), designed for intratumoral administration and in situ retention based on collagen affinity. F10 IC-CBD retained IL-2 bioactivity exclusively in the tumor and eliminated IL-2-associated toxicities. Furthermore, F10 IC exhibited potent single-agent therapeutic efficacy and synergy with systemic immune checkpoint blockade and elicited an abscopal response in mouse tumors models. This engineered fusion protein presents a prototype for the design of intratumoral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliyah B Silver
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Stephany Y Tzeng
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mallory Lager
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jeremy Wang
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jun Ishihara
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jordan J Green
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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9
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Levin I, Štrajbl M, Fastman Y, Baran D, Twito S, Mioduser J, Keren A, Fischman S, Zhenin M, Nimrod G, Levitin N, Mayor MB, Gadrich M, Ofran Y. Accurate profiling of full-length Fv in highly homologous antibody libraries using UMI tagged short reads. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e61. [PMID: 37014016 PMCID: PMC10287906 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep parallel sequencing (NGS) is a viable tool for monitoring scFv and Fab library dynamics in many antibody engineering high-throughput screening efforts. Although very useful, the commonly used Illumina NGS platform cannot handle the entire sequence of scFv or Fab in a single read, usually focusing on specific CDRs or resorting to sequencing VH and VL variable domains separately, thus limiting its utility in comprehensive monitoring of selection dynamics. Here we present a simple and robust method for deep sequencing repertoires of full length scFv, Fab and Fv antibody sequences. This process utilizes standard molecular procedures and unique molecular identifiers (UMI) to pair separately sequenced VH and VL. We show that UMI assisted VH-VL matching allows for a comprehensive and highly accurate mapping of full length Fv clonal dynamics in large highly homologous antibody libraries, as well as identification of rare variants. In addition to its utility in synthetic antibody discovery processes, our method can be instrumental in generating large datasets for machine learning (ML) applications, which in the field of antibody engineering has been hampered by conspicuous paucity of large scale full length Fv data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Adi Keren
- Biolojic Design, Ltd, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yanay Ofran
- Biolojic Design, Ltd, Rehovot, Israel
- The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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10
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Leonard EK, Tomala J, Gould JR, Leff MI, Lin JX, Li P, Porter MJ, Johansen ER, Thompson L, Cao SD, Henclova T, Huliciak M, Vaněk O, Kovar M, Leonard WJ, Spangler JB. Engineered cytokine/antibody fusion proteins improve delivery of IL-2 to pro-inflammatory cells and promote antitumor activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.03.539272. [PMID: 37205604 PMCID: PMC10187205 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.03.539272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Progress in cytokine engineering is driving therapeutic translation by overcoming the inherent limitations of these proteins as drugs. The interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine harbors great promise as an immune stimulant for cancer treatment. However, the cytokine's concurrent activation of both pro-inflammatory immune effector cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells, its toxicity at high doses, and its short serum half-life have limited clinical application. One promising approach to improve the selectivity, safety, and longevity of IL-2 is complexation with anti-IL-2 antibodies that bias the cytokine towards the activation of immune effector cells (i.e., effector T cells and natural killer cells). Although this strategy shows therapeutic potential in preclinical cancer models, clinical translation of a cytokine/antibody complex is complicated by challenges in formulating a multi-protein drug and concerns about complex stability. Here, we introduce a versatile approach to designing intramolecularly assembled single-agent fusion proteins (immunocytokines, ICs) comprising IL-2 and a biasing anti-IL-2 antibody that directs the cytokine's activities towards immune effector cells. We establish the optimal IC construction and further engineer the cytokine/antibody affinity to improve immune biasing function. We demonstrate that our IC preferentially activates and expands immune effector cells, leading to superior antitumor activity compared to natural IL-2 without inducing toxicities associated with IL-2 administration. Collectively, this work presents a roadmap for the design and translation of immunomodulatory cytokine/antibody fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa K. Leonard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Jakub Tomala
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Joseph R. Gould
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Michael I. Leff
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, USA
| | - Jian-Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, USA
| | - Peng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, USA
| | | | - Eric R. Johansen
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, USA
| | - Ladaisha Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Shanelle D. Cao
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering; Baltimore, USA
| | - Tereza Henclova
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Maros Huliciak
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Vaněk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Warren J. Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, USA
| | - Jamie B. Spangler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering; Baltimore, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
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11
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VanDyke D, Iglesias M, Tomala J, Young A, Smith J, Perry JA, Gebara E, Cross AR, Cheung LS, Dykema AG, Orcutt-Jahns BT, Henclová T, Golias J, Balolong J, Tomasovic LM, Funda D, Meyer AS, Pardoll DM, Hester J, Issa F, Hunter CA, Anderson MS, Bluestone JA, Raimondi G, Spangler JB. Engineered human cytokine/antibody fusion proteins expand regulatory T cells and confer autoimmune disease protection. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111478. [PMID: 36261022 PMCID: PMC9631798 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-dose human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) treatment is used clinically to treat autoimmune disorders due to the cytokine's preferential expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, off-target immune cell activation and short serum half-life limit the clinical potential of IL-2 treatment. Recent work showed that complexes comprising hIL-2 and the anti-hIL-2 antibody F5111 overcome these limitations by preferentially stimulating Tregs over immune effector cells. Although promising, therapeutic translation of this approach is complicated by the need to optimize dosing ratios and by the instability of the cytokine/antibody complex. We leverage structural insights to engineer a single-chain hIL-2/F5111 antibody fusion protein, termed F5111 immunocytokine (IC), which potently and selectively activates and expands Tregs. F5111 IC confers protection in mouse models of colitis and checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus. These results provide a roadmap for IC design and establish a Treg-biased immunotherapy that could be clinically translated for autoimmune disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek VanDyke
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Marcos Iglesias
- Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jakub Tomala
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Arabella Young
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jennifer Smith
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Joseph A Perry
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward Gebara
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amy R Cross
- Translational Research Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Laurene S Cheung
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Arbor G Dykema
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Brian T Orcutt-Jahns
- Department of Bioengineering, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tereza Henclová
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Golias
- Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Jared Balolong
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Luke M Tomasovic
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - David Funda
- Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Aaron S Meyer
- Department of Bioengineering, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Drew M Pardoll
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Joanna Hester
- Translational Research Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Fadi Issa
- Translational Research Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bluestone
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sonoma Biotherapeutics, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Giorgio Raimondi
- Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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12
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Mussafi O, Mei J, Mao W, Wan Y. Immune checkpoint inhibitors for PD-1/PD-L1 axis in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:948405. [PMID: 36059606 PMCID: PMC9430651 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.948405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been widely acknowledged that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is an effective therapeutic treatment in many late-stage cancers. However, not all patients could benefit from ICI therapy. Several biomarkers, such as high expression of PD-L1, high mutational burden, and higher number of tumor infiltration lymphocytes have shown to predict clinical benefit from immune checkpoint therapies. One approach using ICI in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies is now being investigated to enhance the efficacy of ICI alone. In this review, we summarized the use of other promising immunotherapies and targeted therapies in combination with ICI in treatment of lung cancers. The results from multiple animals and clinical trials were reviewed. We also briefly discussed the possible outlooks for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofek Mussafi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Wenjun Mao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yuan Wan
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
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13
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Lee E, Kim M, Lee YJ. Selective Expansion of Tregs Using the IL-2 Cytokine Antibody Complex Does Not Reverse Established Alopecia Areata in C3H/HeJ Mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:874778. [PMID: 35799786 PMCID: PMC9254621 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease mediated by NKG2D-expressing cytotoxic T lymphocytes destroying hair follicles in the skin. It is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, but there is no effective treatment modality approved by the FDA. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for suppressing autoreactive T cells, and in the skin, they promote hair growth by inducing anagen. Based on this, we tested the therapeutic potential of expanded Tregs in AA using the C3H/HeJ mouse model. In mice with AA, NKG2D-expressing CD8 T cells widely infiltrate both haired and hairless skin areas, which have tissue-resident memory T-cell phenotypes. Tregs in the skin express CD25, CTLA-4, GATA-3, and Jagged1 and efficiently proliferate with IL-2 cytokine antibody complex. However, expanding Tregs in the skin did not induce anagen in normal mice, indicating that they are necessary but not sufficient for anagen induction. Also, they fail to suppress autoreactive CD8 T cells in the skin to reverse established AA in C3H/HeJ mice. These results suggest that Treg expansion alone is not sufficient for AA treatment, and combined immunotherapy is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunjin Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Mingyu Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - You Jeong Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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14
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Site-specific PEGylation of interleukin-2 enhances immunosuppression via the sustained activation of regulatory T cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:1288-1305. [PMID: 34580438 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00797-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The preferential activation of regulatory T (Treg) cells by interleukin-2 (IL-2), which selectively binds to the trimeric IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) on Treg cells, makes this cytokine a promising therapeutic for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, IL-2 has a narrow therapeutic window and a short half-life. Here, we show that the pharmacokinetics and half-life of IL-2 can be substantially improved by orthogonally conjugating the cytokine to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) moieties via a copper-free click reaction through the incorporation of azide-bearing amino acids at defined sites. Subcutaneous injection of a PEGylated IL-2 that optimally induced sustained Treg-cell activation and expansion over a wide range of doses through highly selective binding to trimeric IL-2R led to enhanced therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of lupus, collagen-induced arthritis and graft-versus-host disease without compromising the immune defences of the host against viral infection. Site-specific PEGylation could be used more generally to engineer cytokines with improved therapeutic performance for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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15
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Kim J, Lee JY, Park SY, Lee YJ, Kim MS. Crystal structure of human interleukin-2 in complex with TCB2, a new antibody-drug candidate with antitumor activity. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1899671. [PMID: 33796411 PMCID: PMC7971329 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1899671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy via interleukin-2 (IL-2) mediated activation of anti-tumor immune response is a promising approach for cancer treatment. The multi-potent cytokine, IL-2 has a central role in immune cell activation and homeostasis. Since IL-2 preferentially activates immunosuppressive T regulatory cells by IL-2Rα dependent manner, blocking IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction is a key to amplify the IL-2 activity in effector T cells toward anti-tumor response. Anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibodies are good candidates to control the IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction. In a previous study, we developed a new IL-2Rα mimetic antibody, TCB2, and showed that the human IL-2(hIL-2):TCB2 complex can stimulate T effector cells specifically and elicit potent anti-cancer immunotherapeutic effect, especially when administered in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. To understand the molecular mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of TCB2-Fab in a complex with hIL-2 at 2.5 Å resolution. Our structural analysis reveals that TCB2 binds to the central area of the hIL-2Rα binding region on hIL-2, and binding angle and epitope are different from previously known hIL-2Rα mimicking antibody NARA1 which recognizes the top part of hIL-2. TCB2 binding to hIL-2 also induces an allosteric effect that increases the affinity for the hetero-dimeric hIL-2 receptor, IL-2R(β + γ), on effector T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Young Lee
- Selecxine, Bio Open Innovation Center #1204, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Youl Park
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jeong Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sung Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
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16
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Yamazaki T, Bravo-San Pedro JM, Galluzzi L, Kroemer G, Pietrocola F. Autophagy in the cancer-immunity dialogue. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 169:40-50. [PMID: 33301821 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is quintessential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis in all eukaryotic cells, explaining why both normal and malignant cells benefit from proficient autophagic responses. Moreover, autophagy is intimately involved in the immunological control of malignant transformation, tumor progression and response to therapy. However, the net effect of autophagy activation or inhibition on the natural growth or therapeutic response of tumors evolving in immunocompetent hosts exhibits a considerable degree of context dependency. Here, we discuss the complex cross-talk between autophagy and immuno-oncology as delineated by genetic and pharmacological approaches in mouse models of cancer.
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17
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Targeted Activation of T Cells with IL-2-Coupled Nanoparticles. Cells 2020; 9:cells9092063. [PMID: 32917054 PMCID: PMC7565705 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a T cell growth factor particularly required in regulatory T cell maintenance and memory T cell responses. High-dose IL-2 treatment was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for cancer, while low-dose IL-2 administration has shown promise in allograft rejection and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, its pleiotropic nature and the existence of IL-2 receptors with different binding affinity limit its therapeutic application. For an improved clinical applicability of the cytokine, a targeted receptor assignment must, therefore, be achieved. Nanoparticles allow controlling the location and dose of immunomodulating compounds and to specifically address specific receptors through targeted drug binding. In this review article we discuss the IL-2 biology and current clinical application with regard to nanoparticle-based IL-2-mediated manipulation of T cell responses in autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and cancer.
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