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Shi T, Burg AR, Caldwell JT, Roskin K, Castro-Rojas CM, Chukwuma PC, Gray GI, Foote SG, Alonso J, Cuda CM, Allman DA, Rush JS, Regnier CH, Wieczorek G, Alloway RR, Shields AR, Baker BM, Woodle ES, Hildeman DA. Single cell transcriptomic analysis of renal allograft rejection reveals novel insights into intragraft TCR clonality. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.08.524808. [PMID: 36798151 PMCID: PMC9934650 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.524808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Bulk analysis of renal allograft biopsies (rBx) identified RNA transcripts associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR); however, these lacked cellular context critical to mechanistic understanding. We performed combined single cell RNA transcriptomic and TCRα/β sequencing on rBx from patients with ACR under differing immunosuppression (IS): tacrolimus, iscalimab, and belatacept. TCR analysis revealed a highly restricted CD8 + T cell clonal expansion (CD8 EXP ), independent of HLA mismatch or IS type. Subcloning of TCRα/β cDNAs from CD8 EXP into Jurkat76 cells (TCR -/- ) conferred alloreactivity by mixed lymphocyte reaction. scRNAseq analysis of CD8 EXP revealed effector, memory, and exhausted phenotypes that were influenced by IS type. Successful anti-rejection treatment decreased, but did not eliminate, CD8 EXP , while CD8 EXP were maintained during treatment-refractory rejection. Finally, most rBx-derived CD8 EXP were also observed in matching urine samples. Overall, our data define the clonal CD8 + T cell response to ACR, providing novel insights to improve detection, assessment, and treatment of rejection.
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Lang I, Zaitseva O, Wajant H. FcγRs and Their Relevance for the Activity of Anti-CD40 Antibodies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12869. [PMID: 36361658 PMCID: PMC9655775 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory targeting of the CD40L-CD40 system is a promising therapeutic option in the field of organ transplantation and is also attractive in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. After early complex results with neutralizing CD40L antibodies, it turned out that lack of Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-binding is the crucial factor for the development of safe inhibitory antibodies targeting CD40L or CD40. Indeed, in recent years, blocking CD40 antibodies not interacting with FcγRs, has proven to be well tolerated in clinical studies and has shown initial clinical efficacy. Stimulation of CD40 is also of considerable therapeutic interest, especially in cancer immunotherapy. CD40 can be robustly activated by genetically engineered variants of soluble CD40L but also by anti-CD40 antibodies. However, the development of CD40L-based agonists is biotechnologically and pharmacokinetically challenging, and anti-CD40 antibodies typically display only strong agonism in complex with FcγRs or upon secondary crosslinking. The latter, however, typically results in poorly developable mixtures of molecule species of varying stoichiometry and FcγR-binding by anti-CD40 antibodies can elicit unwanted side effects such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) of CD40 expressing immune cells. Here, we summarize and compare strategies to overcome the unwanted target cell-destroying activity of anti-CD40-FcγR complexes, especially the use of FcγR type-specific mutants and the FcγR-independent cell surface anchoring of bispecific anti-CD40 fusion proteins. Especially, we discuss the therapeutic potential of these strategies in view of the emerging evidence for the dose-limiting activities of systemic CD40 engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Harald Wajant
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Molecular Internal Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Auvera Haus, Grombühlstrasse 12, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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van Vugt LK, Schagen MR, de Weerd A, Reinders ME, de Winter BC, Hesselink DA. Investigational drugs for the treatment of kidney transplant rejection. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:1087-1100. [PMID: 36175360 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2130751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Kidney transplant rejection remains an important clinical problem despite the development of effective immunosuppressive drug combination therapy. Two major types of rejection are recognized, namely T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), which have a different pathophysiology and are treated differently. Unfortunately, long-term outcomes of both TCMR and ABMR remain unsatisfactory despite current therapy. Hence, alternative therapeutic drugs are urgently needed. AREAS COVERED This review covers novel and investigational drugs for the pharmacological treatment of kidney transplant rejection. Potential therapeutic strategies and future directions are discussed. EXPERT OPINION The development of alternative pharmacologic treatment of rejection has focused mostly on ABMR, since this is the leading cause of kidney allograft loss and currently lacks an effective, evidence-based therapy. At present, there is insufficient high-quality evidence for any of the covered investigational drugs to support their use in ABMR. However, with the emergence of targeted therapies, this potential arises for individualized treatment strategies. In order to generate more high-quality evidence for such strategies and overcome the obstacles of classic, randomized, controlled trials, we advocate the implementation of adaptive trial designs and surrogate clinical endpoints. We believe such adaptive trial designs could help to understand the risks and benefits of promising drugs such as tocilizumab, clazakizumab, belimumab, and imlifidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas K van Vugt
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maaike R Schagen
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Weerd
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marlies Ej Reinders
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Brenda Cm de Winter
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis A Hesselink
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Flandre TD, Mansfield KG, Espié PJ, Rubic-Schneider T, Ulrich P. Immunosuppression Profile of CFZ533 (Iscalimab), a Non-Depleting Anti-CD40 Antibody, and the Presence of Opportunistic Infections in a Rhesus Monkey Toxicology Study. Toxicol Pathol 2022; 50:712-724. [PMID: 35730205 DOI: 10.1177/01926233221100168] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CFZ533 (iscalimab) is a nondepleting anti-CD40 antibody intended for inhibition of transplant organ rejection and treatment of autoimmune diseases. In a safety assessment in rhesus monkeys, CFZ533 was administered for 13 weeks up to 150 mg/kg/week subcutaneously. CFZ533 was shown previously to completely inhibit primary and secondary T-cell-dependent antibody responses. CD40 is expressed on B cells, antigen-presenting cells, and endothelial and epithelial cells, but is not expressed on T cells. Here, we demonstrate the complete suppression of germinal center formation in lymphoid organs. CFZ533 was well tolerated and did not cause any dose-limiting toxicity. However, the histological evaluation revealed increased numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the T-cell-rich areas of lymph nodes enlarged in response to observed adenovirus and Cryptosporidium infections which suggest that T-cell immune function was unaffected. Background infections appear as the condition leading to unraveling the differential immunosuppressive effects by CFZ533. The presence of T cells at lymph nodes draining sites of infections corroborates the immunosuppressive mechanism, which is different from calcineurin-inhibiting drugs. Furthermore, CFZ533 did not show any hematological or microscopic evidence of thromboembolic events in rhesus monkeys, which were previously shown to respond with thromboembolism to treatment with anti-CD154 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keith G Mansfield
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pascal J Espié
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Peter Ulrich
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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Liu D, Ford ML. CD11b is a novel alternate receptor for CD154 during alloimmunity. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:2216-2225. [PMID: 32149455 PMCID: PMC7395865 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Antagonism of the CD154/CD40 pathway is a highly effective means of inducing long-term graft survival in preclinical models. Using a fully allogeneic murine transplant model, we found that CD154 blockade was more effective in prolonging graft survival than was CD40 blockade, raising the possibility that CD154 binds a second receptor. To test this, we queried the impact of CD154 antagonism in the absence of CD40. Data indicated that anti-CD154 functioned to reduce graft-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in both WT and CD40-/- hosts. Because it has recently been reported that CD154 can ligate CD11b, we addressed the impact of blocking CD154-CD11b interactions during transplantation. We utilized a specific peptide antagonist that prevents CD154 binding of CD11b but has no effect on CD154-CD40 interactions. CD154:CD11b antagonism significantly increased the efficacy of anti-CD40 in prolonging allograft survival as compared to anti-CD40 plus control peptide. Mechanistically, CD154:CD11b antagonism functioned to reduce the frequency of graft-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and innate immune cells. These data therefore demonstrate that blocking CD154 interactions with both CD40 and CD11b is required for optimal inhibition of alloimmunity and provide an explanation for why CD40 blockers may be less efficacious than anti-CD154 reagents for the inhibition of allograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danya Liu
- Emory Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mandy L Ford
- Emory Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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High Dimensional Renal Profiling: Towards a Better Understanding or Renal Transplant Immune Suppression. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2019; 6:60-68. [PMID: 31595214 DOI: 10.1007/s40472-019-0225-1] [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: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of this review is to discuss new approaches to avoid CNI/CCS toxicities with a focus on new biologics and new methods to understand transplant rejection at the single-cell level. RECENT FINDINGS Recently developed biologics hold significant promise as the next wave of therapeutics designed to promote CNI/CCS-free long-term allograft acceptance. Indeed, belatacept, soluble CTLA4-Ig, is largely devoid of CNI-like toxicities, although it is accompanied by an increased frequency of acute rejection. Besides belatacept, other biologics hold promise as CNI-free immune suppressive approaches. Finally, powerful new single cell approaches can enable characterization of cellular populations that drive rejection within the rejecting allograft. SUMMARY We propose that the incorporated single cell profiling into studies investigating new biologics in transplantation, could be tailored to each patient, correlated with potential biomarkers in the blood and urine, and provide a platform where therapeutic targets can be rationally defined, mechanistically-based, and exploited.
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