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Mashayekhi K, Khazaie K, Faubion WA, Kim GB. Biomaterial-enhanced treg cell immunotherapy: A promising approach for transplant medicine and autoimmune disease treatment. Bioact Mater 2024; 37:269-298. [PMID: 38694761 PMCID: PMC11061617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for preserving tolerance in the body, rendering Treg immunotherapy a promising treatment option for both organ transplants and autoimmune diseases. Presently, organ transplant recipients must undergo lifelong immunosuppression to prevent allograft rejection, while autoimmune disorders lack definitive cures. In the last years, there has been notable advancement in comprehending the biology of both antigen-specific and polyclonal Tregs. Clinical trials involving Tregs have demonstrated their safety and effectiveness. To maximize the efficacy of Treg immunotherapy, it is essential for these cells to migrate to specific target tissues, maintain stability within local organs, bolster their suppressive capabilities, and ensure their intended function's longevity. In pursuit of these goals, the utilization of biomaterials emerges as an attractive supportive strategy for Treg immunotherapy in addressing these challenges. As a result, the prospect of employing biomaterial-enhanced Treg immunotherapy holds tremendous promise as a treatment option for organ transplant recipients and individuals grappling with autoimmune diseases in the near future. This paper introduces strategies based on biomaterial-assisted Treg immunotherapy to enhance transplant medicine and autoimmune treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazem Mashayekhi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | | | - William A. Faubion
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Gloria B. Kim
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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2
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Amini L, Kaeda J, Weber O, Reinke P. Low-dose Interleukin-2 Therapy: Fine-tuning Treg in Solid Organ Transplantation? Transplantation 2024; 108:1492-1508. [PMID: 38294829 PMCID: PMC11188637 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg), a subset of CD4 + T cells, are potent regulators of immune reactions, which have been shown to be a promising therapeutic alternative to toxic immunosuppressive drugs. Data support the utility of Treg in managing immunopathologies, including solid organ transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease, and autoimmune disorders. Notably, reports suggest that interleukin-2 (IL-2) is critical to survival of Treg, which constitutively express high levels of CD25, that is, the IL-2 receptor α-chain, and are exquisitely sensitive to IL-2, even at very low concentrations in contrast to effector T cells, which only upregulate IL-2 receptor α-chain on activation. This has led to the notion of using low doses of exogenous IL-2 therapeutically to modulate the immune system, specifically Treg numbers and function. Here, we summarize developments of clinical experience with low-dose IL-2 (LD-IL-2) as a therapeutic agent. So far, no clinical data are available to support the therapeutic use of LD-IL-2 therapy in the solid organ transplant setting. For the latter, fine-tuning by biotechnological approaches may be needed because of the narrow therapeutic window and off-target effects of LD-IL-2 therapy and so to realize the therapeutic potential of this molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Amini
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health – Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jaspal Kaeda
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Weber
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology (IMMEI), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Petra Reinke
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health – Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Chung JB, Brudno JN, Borie D, Kochenderfer JN. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for autoimmune disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01035-3. [PMID: 38831163 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Infusion of T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target B cells has proven to be a successful treatment for B cell malignancies. This success inspired the development of CAR T cells to selectively deplete or modulate the aberrant immune responses that underlie autoimmune disease. Promising results are emerging from clinical trials of CAR T cells targeting the B cell protein CD19 in patients with B cell-driven autoimmune diseases. Further approaches are being designed to extend the application and improve safety of CAR T cell therapy in the setting of autoimmunity, including the use of chimeric autoantibody receptors to selectively deplete autoantigen-specific B cells and the use of regulatory T cells engineered to express antigen-specific CARs for targeted immune modulation. Here, we highlight important considerations, such as optimal target cell populations, CAR construct design, acceptable toxicities and potential for lasting immune reset, that will inform the eventual safe adoption of CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer N Brudno
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - James N Kochenderfer
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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4
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Blinova VG, Zhdanov DD. Many Faces of Regulatory T Cells: Heterogeneity or Plasticity? Cells 2024; 13:959. [PMID: 38891091 PMCID: PMC11171907 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110959] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining the immune balance in normal and pathological conditions. In autoimmune diseases and transplantation, they restrain the loss of self-tolerance and promote engraftment, whereas in cancer, an increase in Treg numbers is mostly associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis. Numerous markers and their combinations have been used to identify Treg subsets, demonstrating the phenotypic diversity of Tregs. The complexity of Treg identification can be hampered by the unstable expression of some markers, the decrease in the expression of a specific marker over time or the emergence of a new marker. It remains unclear whether such phenotypic shifts are due to new conditions or whether the observed changes are due to initially different populations. In the first case, cellular plasticity is observed, whereas in the second, cellular heterogeneity is observed. The difference between these terms in relation to Tregs is rather blurred. Considering the promising perspectives of Tregs in regenerative cell-based therapy, the existing confusing data on Treg phenotypes require further investigation and analysis. In our review, we introduce criteria that allow us to distinguish between the heterogeneity and plasticity of Tregs normally and pathologically, taking a closer look at their diversity and drawing the line between two terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varvara G. Blinova
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya st. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Dmitry D. Zhdanov
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya st. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
- Department of Biochemistry, People’s Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya st. 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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5
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Jiang D, Mantas A, Studier-Fischer A, Fuchs J, Uluk D, Loos M, Mieth M, Zeier M, Husen P, Golriz M, Kahlert C, Ryschich E, Mehrabi A, Pratschke J, Michalski CW, Czigany Z. Clinical Research in Renal Transplantation: A Bibliometric Perspective on a Half-century of Innovation and Progress. Transplantation 2024; 108:1189-1199. [PMID: 38196091 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Groundbreaking biomedical research has transformed renal transplantation (RT) into a widespread clinical procedure that represents the mainstay of treatment for end-stage kidney failure today. Here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive bibliometric perspective on the last half-century of innovation in clinical RT. METHODS The Web of Science Core Collection was used for a comprehensive screening yielding 123 303 research items during a 50-y period (January 1973-October 2022). The final data set of the 200 most-cited articles was selected on the basis of a citation-based strategy aiming to minimize bias. RESULTS Studies on clinical and immunological outcomes (n = 63 and 48), registry-based epi research (n = 38), and randomized controlled trials (n = 35) dominated the data set. Lead US authors have signed 110 of 200 articles. The overall level of evidence was high, with 84% of level1 and -2 reports. Highest numbers of these articles were published in New England Journal of Medicine , Transplantation , and American Journal of Transplantation. Increasing trend was observed in the number of female authors in the postmillennial era (26% versus 7%). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights important trends in RT research of the past half-century. This bibliometric perspective identifies the most intensively researched areas and shift of research interests over time; however, it also describes important imbalances in distribution of academic prolificacy based on topic, geographical aspects, and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Decan Jiang
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte/Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anna Mantas
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Studier-Fischer
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juri Fuchs
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Deniz Uluk
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte/Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Loos
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Mieth
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Zeier
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peri Husen
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mohammad Golriz
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Kahlert
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eduard Ryschich
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianeb Mehrabi
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Cancer Center Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johann Pratschke
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte/Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph W Michalski
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Han JL, Zimmerer JM, Zeng Q, Chaudhari S, Satoskar A, Abdel-Rasoul M, Uwase H, Breuer CK, Bumgardner GL. Antibody-Suppressor CXCR5+CD8+ T Cells Are More Potent Regulators of Humoral Alloimmunity after Kidney Transplant in Mice Compared to CD4+ Regulatory T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:1504-1518. [PMID: 38517294 PMCID: PMC11047759 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), especially with CD4+ regulatory T cells (CD4+ Tregs), is an emerging therapeutic strategy to minimize immunosuppression and promote long-term allograft acceptance, although much research remains to realize its potential. In this study, we investigated the potency of novel Ab-suppressor CXCR5+CD8+ T cells (CD8+ TAb-supp) in comparison with conventional CD25highFoxp3+CD4+ Tregs for suppression of humoral alloimmunity in a murine kidney transplant (KTx) model of Ab-mediated rejection (AMR). We examined quantity of peripheral blood, splenic and graft-infiltrating CD8+ TAb-supp, and CD4+ Tregs in KTx recipients and found that high alloantibody-producing CCR5 knockout KTx recipients have significantly fewer post-transplant peripheral blood and splenic CD8+ TAb-supp, as well as fewer splenic and graft-infiltrating CD4+ Tregs compared with wild-type KTx recipients. ACT with alloprimed CXCR5+CD8+ T cells reduced alloantibody titer, splenic alloprimed germinal center (GC) B cell quantity, and improved AMR histology in CCR5 knockout KTx recipients. ACT with alloprimed CD4+ Treg cells improved AMR histology without significantly inhibiting alloantibody production or the quantity of splenic alloprimed GC B cells. Studies with TCR transgenic mice confirmed Ag specificity of CD8+ TAb-supp-mediated effector function. In wild-type recipients, CD8 depletion significantly increased alloantibody titer, GC B cells, and severity of AMR pathology compared with isotype-treated controls. Anti-CD25 mAb treatment also resulted in increased but less pronounced effect on alloantibody titer, quantity of GC B cells, and AMR pathology than CD8 depletion. To our knowledge, this is the first report that CD8+ TAb-supp cells are more potent regulators of humoral alloimmunity than CD4+ Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing L. Han
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Jason M. Zimmerer
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Sachi Chaudhari
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Anjali Satoskar
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Hope Uwase
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Christopher K. Breuer
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Ginny L. Bumgardner
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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7
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Stucchi A, Maspes F, Montee-Rodrigues E, Fousteri G. Engineered Treg cells: The heir to the throne of immunotherapy. J Autoimmun 2024; 144:102986. [PMID: 36639301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, increased interest in the use of Tregs as adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection had led to several advances in the field. However, Treg cell therapies, while constantly advancing, indiscriminately suppress the immune system without the permanent stabilization of certain diseases. Genetically modified Tregs hold great promise towards solving these problems, but, challenges in identifying the most potent Treg subtype, accompanied by the ambiguity involved in identifying the optimal Treg source, along with its expansion and engineering in a clinical-grade setting remain paramount. This review highlights the recent advances in methodologies for the development of genetically engineered Treg cell-based treatments for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases, and organ rejection. Additionally, it provides a systematized guide to all the recent progress in the field and informs the readers of the feasibility and safety of engineered adoptive Treg cell therapy, with the aim to provide a framework for researchers involved in the development of engineered Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Stucchi
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Maspes
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Ely Montee-Rodrigues
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Cambridge Epigenetix, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Georgia Fousteri
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
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8
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Han JL, Zimmerer JM, Zeng Q, Chaudhari S, Hart M, Satoskar AA, Abdel-Rasoul M, Breuer CK, Bumgardner GL. CXCR5 + CD8 + T Cell-mediated Suppression of Humoral Alloimmunity and AMR in Mice Is Optimized With mTOR and Impaired With Calcineurin Inhibition. Transplantation 2024; 108:679-692. [PMID: 37872660 PMCID: PMC10922067 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with antibody-suppressor CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells (CD8 + T Ab-supp ) inhibits alloantibody production, antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), and prolongs graft survival in multiple transplant mouse models. However, it is not known how conventional immunosuppressive agents impact the efficacy of CD8 + T Ab-supp ACT. METHODS We investigated the efficacy of CD8 + T Ab-supp cell ACT when combined with calcineurin inhibitor (CNi) or mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi) in a murine model of kidney transplant. RESULTS ACT-mediated decrease in germinal center B cells, posttransplant alloantibody titer, and amelioration of AMR in high alloantibody-producing CCR5 knockout kidney transplant recipients were impaired when ACT was combined with CNi and enhanced when combined with mTORi. CNi (but not mTORi) reduced ACT-mediated in vivo cytotoxicity of IgG + B cells and was associated with increased quantity of germinal center B cells. Neither CNi nor mTORi treatment impacted the expression of cytotoxic effector molecules (FasL, Lamp1, perforin, granzyme B) by CD8 + T Ab-supp after ACT. Concurrent treatment with CNi (but not mTORi) reduced in vivo proliferation of CD8 + T Ab-supp after ACT. The increase in quantity of splenic CD44 + CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells that occurs after ACT was reduced by concurrent treatment with CNi but not by concurrent treatment with mTORi (dose-dependent). CONCLUSIONS Impaired efficacy of ACT by CNi is attributed to reduced persistence and/or expansion of CD8 + T Ab-supp cells after ACT. In contrast, concurrent immunosuppression with mTORi preserves CD8 + T Ab-supp cells quantity, in vivo proliferation, and in vivo cytotoxic effector function after ACT and enhances suppression of humoral alloimmunity and AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing L. Han
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Jason M. Zimmerer
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Sachi Chaudhari
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Madison Hart
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | | | | | | | - Ginny L. Bumgardner
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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9
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Efe O, Gassen RB, Morena L, Ganchiku Y, Al Jurdi A, Lape IT, Ventura-Aguiar P, LeGuern C, Madsen JC, Shriver Z, Babcock GJ, Borges TJ, Riella LV. A humanized IL-2 mutein expands Tregs and prolongs transplant survival in preclinical models. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e173107. [PMID: 38426492 PMCID: PMC10904054 DOI: 10.1172/jci173107] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-term organ transplant survival remains suboptimal, and life-long immunosuppression predisposes transplant recipients to an increased risk of infection, malignancy, and kidney toxicity. Promoting the regulatory arm of the immune system by expanding Tregs may allow immunosuppression minimization and improve long-term graft outcomes. While low-dose IL-2 treatment can expand Tregs, it has a short half-life and off-target expansion of NK and effector T cells, limiting its clinical applicability. Here, we designed a humanized mutein IL-2 with high Treg selectivity and a prolonged half-life due to the fusion of an Fc domain, which we termed mIL-2. We showed selective and sustainable Treg expansion by mIL-2 in 2 murine models of skin transplantation. This expansion led to donor-specific tolerance through robust increases in polyclonal and antigen-specific Tregs, along with enhanced Treg-suppressive function. We also showed that Treg expansion by mIL-2 could overcome the failure of calcineurin inhibitors or costimulation blockade to prolong the survival of major-mismatched skin grafts. Validating its translational potential, mIL-2 induced a selective and sustainable in vivo Treg expansion in cynomolgus monkeys and showed selectivity for human Tregs in vitro and in a humanized mouse model. This work demonstrated that mIL-2 can enhance immune regulation and promote long-term allograft survival, potentially minimizing immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orhan Efe
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Leela Morena
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery
| | | | - Ayman Al Jurdi
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | | | | | - Joren C. Madsen
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Leonardo V. Riella
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, and
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10
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Becker M, Dirschl SM, Scherm MG, Serr I, Daniel C. Niche-specific control of tissue function by regulatory T cells-Current challenges and perspectives for targeting metabolic disease. Cell Metab 2024; 36:229-239. [PMID: 38218187 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Tissue regulatory T cells (Tregs) exert pivotal functions in both immune and metabolic regulation, maintaining local tissue homeostasis, integrity, and function. Accordingly, Tregs play a crucial role in controlling obesity-induced inflammation and supporting efficient muscle function and repair. Depending on the tissue context, Tregs are characterized by unique transcriptomes, growth, and survival factors and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. This functional specialization offers the potential to selectively target context-specific Treg populations, tailoring therapeutic strategies to specific niches, thereby minimizing potential side effects. Here, we discuss challenges and perspectives for niche-specific Treg targeting, which holds promise for highly efficient and precise medical interventions to combat metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Becker
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra M Dirschl
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin G Scherm
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Isabelle Serr
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany
| | - Carolin Daniel
- Research Division Type 1 Diabetes Immunology, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, 80939 Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD), 85764 Munich, Germany; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany.
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11
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Mao K, Wang J, Xie Q, Yang YG, Shen S, Sun T, Wang J. Cationic nanoparticles-based approaches for immune tolerance induction in vivo. J Control Release 2024; 366:425-447. [PMID: 38154540 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.044] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The development of autoimmune diseases and the rejection of transplanted organs are primarily caused by an exaggerated immune response to autoantigens or graft antigens. Achieving immune tolerance is crucial for the effective treatment of these conditions. However, traditional therapies often have limited therapeutic efficacy and can result in systemic toxic effects. The emergence of nanomedicine offers a promising avenue for addressing immune-related diseases. Among the various nanoparticle formulations, cationic nanoparticles have demonstrated significant potential in inducing immune tolerance. In this review, we provide an overview of the underlying mechanism of autoimmune disease and organ transplantation rejection. We then highlight the recent advancements and advantages of utilizing cationic nanoparticles for inducing immune tolerance in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the prevention of transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuirong Mao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Institute of Immunology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jialiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Institute of Immunology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qianyue Xie
- Huafu International Department, Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Institute of Immunology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Song Shen
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianmeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Institute of Immunology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, Jilin, China; State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, and Innovatiion Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Di Ianni M, Liberatore C, Santoro N, Ranalli P, Guardalupi F, Corradi G, Villanova I, Di Francesco B, Lattanzio S, Passeri C, Lanuti P, Accorsi P. Cellular Strategies for Separating GvHD from GvL in Haploidentical Transplantation. Cells 2024; 13:134. [PMID: 38247827 PMCID: PMC10814899 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020134] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
GvHD still remains, despite the continuous improvement of transplantation platforms, a fearful complication of transplantation from allogeneic donors. Being able to separate GvHD from GvL represents the greatest challenge in the allogeneic transplant setting. This may be possible through continuous improvement of cell therapy techniques. In this review, current cell therapies are taken into consideration, which are based on the use of TCR alpha/beta depletion, CD45RA depletion, T regulatory cell enrichment, NK-cell-based immunotherapies, and suicide gene therapies in order to prevent GvHD and maximally amplify the GvL effect in the setting of haploidentical transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Di Ianni
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Carmine Liberatore
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Nicole Santoro
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Paola Ranalli
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Guardalupi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Corradi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ida Villanova
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Barbara Di Francesco
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Stefano Lattanzio
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Cecilia Passeri
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Paola Lanuti
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Accorsi
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
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13
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Sasaki K, Kubo M, Wang YC, Lu L, Vujevich V, Wood-Trageser MA, Golnoski K, Lesniak A, Gunabushanam V, Ganoza A, Wijkstrom MJ, Humar A, Demetris AJ, Thomson AW, Ezzelarab MB. Multiple infusions of ex vivo-expanded regulatory T cells promote CD163 + myeloid cells and kidney allograft survival in non-lymphodepleted non-human primates. Kidney Int 2024; 105:84-98. [PMID: 37839695 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Clinical verification of adoptively transferred regulatory T cell (Treg) efficacy in transplantation remains challenging. Here, we examined the influence of autologous ex vivo-expanded polyclonal Tregs on kidney graft survival in a clinically relevant non-human primate model. Peripheral blood Tregs were isolated and expanded using artificial antigen presenting cells. Immunosuppression was comprised of tapered tacrolimus and CTLA4 immunoglobulin, in five animals each without or with Treg infusions. Escalating Treg doses were administered 6, 10, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30 days after transplant. Infused Tregs were monitored for Treg signature, anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and proliferation (Ki67) marker expression. Treg infusions prolonged median graft survival time significantly from 35 to 70 days. Treg marker (Ki67 and Bcl-2) expression by infused Tregs diminished after their infusion but remained comparable to that of circulating native Tregs. No major changes in circulating donor-reactive T cell responses or total Treg percentages, or in graft-infiltrating T cell subsets were observed with Treg infusion. However, Treg infusion was associated with significant increases in CD163 expression by circulating HLA-DR+ myeloid cells and elevated levels of circulating soluble CD163. Further, graft-infiltrating CD163+ cells were increased with Treg infusion. Thus, multiple Treg infusions were associated with M2-like myeloid cell enhancement that may mediate immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and graft reparative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Sasaki
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Masahiko Kubo
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yu-Chao Wang
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lien Lu
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Veronica Vujevich
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle A Wood-Trageser
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kayla Golnoski
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew Lesniak
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vikraman Gunabushanam
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Armando Ganoza
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Martin J Wijkstrom
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abhinav Humar
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anthony J Demetris
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angus W Thomson
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Immunology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mohamed B Ezzelarab
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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14
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Georgiev P, Benamar M, Han S, Haigis MC, Sharpe AH, Chatila TA. Regulatory T cells in dominant immunologic tolerance. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:28-41. [PMID: 37778472 PMCID: PMC10842646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.09.025] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells expressing the transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 mediate peripheral immune tolerance both to self-antigens and to the commensal flora. Their defective function due to inborn errors of immunity or acquired insults is associated with a broad range of autoimmune and immune dysregulatory diseases. Although their function in suppressing autoimmunity and enforcing commensalism is established, a broader role for regulatory T cells in tissue repair and metabolic regulation has emerged, enabled by unique programs of tissue adaptability and specialization. In this review, we focus on the myriad roles played by regulatory T cells in immunologic tolerance and host homeostasis and the potential to harness these cells in novel therapeutic approaches to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Georgiev
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Mehdi Benamar
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - SeongJun Han
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Marcia C Haigis
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Talal A Chatila
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
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15
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Eskandari SK, Daccache A, Azzi JR. Chimeric antigen receptor T reg therapy in transplantation. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:48-61. [PMID: 38123369 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
In the quest for more precise and effective organ transplantation therapies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies represent a potential cutting-edge advance. This review comprehensively analyses CAR Tregs and how they may address important drawbacks of polyclonal Tregs and conventional immunosuppressants. We examine a growing body of preclinical findings of CAR Treg therapy in transplantation, discuss CAR Treg design specifics, and explore established and attractive new targets in transplantation. In addition, we explore present impediments where future studies will be necessary to determine the efficacy of CAR Tregs in reshaping alloimmune responses and transplant microenvironments to reduce reliance on chemical immunosuppressants. Overall, ongoing studies and trials are crucial for understanding the full scope of CAR Treg therapy in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siawosh K Eskandari
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Andrea Daccache
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Bioscience Education and Research (UFR Biosciences), Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jamil R Azzi
- Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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16
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Baron KJ, Turnquist HR. Clinical Manufacturing of Regulatory T Cell Products For Adoptive Cell Therapy and Strategies to Improve Therapeutic Efficacy. Organogenesis 2023; 19:2164159. [PMID: 36681905 PMCID: PMC9870008 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2022.2164159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on successes in preclinical animal transplant models, adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a promising modality to induce allograft tolerance or reduce the use of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection. Extensive work has been done in optimizing the best approach to manufacture Treg cell products for testing in transplant recipients. Collectively, clinical evaluations have demonstrated that large numbers of Tregs can be expanded ex vivo and infused safely. However, these trials have failed to induce robust drug-free tolerance and/or significantly reduce the level of immunosuppression needed to prevent solid organ transplant (SOTx) rejection. Improving Treg therapy effectiveness may require increasing Treg persistence or orchestrating Treg migration to secondary lymphatic tissues or places of inflammation. In this review, we describe current clinical Treg manufacturing methods used for clinical trials. We also highlight current strategies being implemented to improve delivered Treg ACT persistence and migration in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassandra J. Baron
- Departments of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hēth R. Turnquist
- Departments of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,CONTACT Hēth R. Turnquist Departments of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute 200 Lothrop Street, BST W1542, PittsburghPA 15213, USA
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17
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Christofi P, Pantazi C, Psatha N, Sakellari I, Yannaki E, Papadopoulou A. Promises and Pitfalls of Next-Generation Treg Adoptive Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5877. [PMID: 38136421 PMCID: PMC10742252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are fundamental to maintaining immune homeostasis by inhibiting immune responses to self-antigens and preventing the excessive activation of the immune system. Their functions extend beyond immune surveillance and subpopulations of tissue-resident Treg cells can also facilitate tissue repair and homeostasis. The unique ability to regulate aberrant immune responses has generated the concept of harnessing Tregs as a new cellular immunotherapy approach for reshaping undesired immune reactions in autoimmune diseases and allo-responses in transplantation to ultimately re-establish tolerance. However, a number of issues limit the broad clinical applicability of Treg adoptive immunotherapy, including the lack of antigen specificity, heterogeneity within the Treg population, poor persistence, functional Treg impairment in disease states, and in vivo plasticity that results in the loss of suppressive function. Although the early-phase clinical trials of Treg cell therapy have shown the feasibility and tolerability of the approach in several conditions, its efficacy has remained questionable. Leveraging the smart tools and platforms that have been successfully developed for primary T cell engineering in cancer, the field has now shifted towards "next-generation" adoptive Treg immunotherapy, where genetically modified Treg products with improved characteristics are being generated, as regards antigen specificity, function, persistence, and immunogenicity. Here, we review the state of the art on Treg adoptive immunotherapy and progress beyond it, while critically evaluating the hurdles and opportunities towards the materialization of Tregs as a living drug therapy for various inflammation states and the broad clinical translation of Treg therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Christofi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Pantazi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Sakellari
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7710, USA
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
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18
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Annamalai C, Kute V, Sheridan C, Halawa A. Hematopoietic cell-based and non-hematopoietic cell-based strategies for immune tolerance induction in living-donor renal transplantation: A systematic review. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2023; 37:100792. [PMID: 37709652 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2023.100792] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite its use to prevent acute rejection, lifelong immunosuppression can adversely impact long-term patient and graft outcomes. In theory, immunosuppression withdrawal is the ultimate goal of kidney transplantation, and is made possible by the induction of immunological tolerance. The purpose of this paper is to review the safety and efficacy of immune tolerance induction strategies in living-donor kidney transplantation, both chimerism-based and non-chimerism-based. The impact of these strategies on transplant outcomes, including acute rejection, allograft function and survival, cost, and immune monitoring, will also be discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as additional online resources such as EBSCO, were exhaustively searched. Adult living-donor kidney transplant recipients who developed chimerism-based tolerance after concurrent bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or those who received non-chimerism-based, non-hematopoietic cell therapy using mesenchymal stromal cells, dendritic cells, or regulatory T cells were studied between 2000 and 2021. Individual sources of evidence were evaluated critically, and the strength of evidence and risk of bias for each outcome of the transplant tolerance study were assessed. RESULTS From 28,173 citations, 245 studies were retrieved after suitable exclusion and duplicate removal. Of these, 22 studies (2 RCTs, 11 cohort studies, 6 case-control studies, and 3 case reports) explicitly related to both interventions (chimerism- and non-chimerism-based immune tolerance) were used in the final review process and were critically appraised. According to the findings, chimerism-based strategies fostered immunotolerance, allowing for the safe withdrawal of immunosuppressive medications. Cell-based therapy, on the other hand, frequently did not induce tolerance except for minimising immunosuppression. As a result, the rejection rates, renal allograft function, and survival rates could not be directly compared between these two groups. While chimerism-based tolerance protocols posed safety concerns due to myelosuppression, including infections and graft-versus-host disease, cell-based strategies lacked these adverse effects and were largely safe. There was a lack of direct comparisons between HLA-identical and HLA-disparate recipients, and the cost implications were not examined in several of the retrieved studies. Most studies reported successful immunosuppressive weaning lasting at least 3 years (ranging up to 11.4 years in some studies), particularly with chimerism-based therapy, while only a few investigators used immune surveillance techniques. The studies reviewed were often limited by selection, classification, ascertainment, performance, and attrition bias. CONCLUSIONS This review demonstrates that chimerism-based hematopoietic strategies induce immune tolerance, and a substantial number of patients are successfully weaned off immunosuppression. Despite the risk of complications associated with myelosuppression. Non-chimerism-based, non-hematopoietic cell protocols, on the other hand, have been proven to facilitate immunosuppression minimization but seldom elicit immunological tolerance. However, the results of this review must be interpreted with caution because of the non-randomised study design, potential confounding, and small sample size of the included studies. Further validation and refinement of tolerogenic protocols in accordance with local practice preferences is also warranted, with an emphasis on patient selection, cost ramifications, and immunological surveillance based on reliable tolerance assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrashekar Annamalai
- Postgraduate School of Medicine, Institute of Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
| | - Vivek Kute
- Nephrology and Transplantation, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center and Dr. H L Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences (IKDRC-ITS), Ahmedabad, India
| | - Carl Sheridan
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Ocular Cell Transplantation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Ahmed Halawa
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
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19
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Guinan EC, Contreras-Ruiz L, Crisalli K, Rickert C, Rosales I, Makar R, Colvin R, Geissler EK, Sawitzki B, Harden P, Tang Q, Blancho G, Turka LA, Markmann JF. Donor antigen-specific regulatory T cell administration to recipients of live donor kidneys: A ONE Study consortium pilot trial. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1872-1881. [PMID: 37422112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can inhibit cellular immunity in diverse experimental models and have entered early phase clinical trials in autoimmunity and transplantation to assess safety and efficacy. As part of the ONE Study consortium, we conducted a phase I-II clinical trial in which purified donor antigen reactive (dar)-Tregs (CD4+CD25+CD127lo) were administered to 3 patients, 7 to 11 days after live donor renal transplant. Recipients received a modified immunosuppression regimen, without induction therapy, consisting of maintenance tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Steroids were weaned off over 14 weeks. No rejection was seen on any protocol biopsy. Therefore, all patients discontinued mycophenolate mofetil 11 to 13 months posttransplant, per protocol. An early for-cause biopsy in 1 patient, 5 days after dar-Treg infusion, revealed absence of rejection and accumulation of Tregs in the kidney allograft. All patients had Treg-containing lymphoid aggregates evident on protocol biopsies performed 8 months posttransplant. The patients are now all >6 years posttransplant on tacrolimus monotherapy with excellent graft function. None experienced rejection episodes. No serious adverse events were attributable to Treg administration. These results support a favorable safety profile of dar-Tregs administered early after renal transplant, suggest early biopsy might be an instructive research endpoint and provide preliminary evidence of potential immunomodulatory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Guinan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Laura Contreras-Ruiz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Kerry Crisalli
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Charles Rickert
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Ivy Rosales
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Robert Makar
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Robert Colvin
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Edward K Geissler
- University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Surgery, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Birgit Sawitzki
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Virchow - Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Paul Harden
- Oxford Transplant Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
| | - Giles Blancho
- Centre of Research in Transplantation and Immunology, Nantes University, Nantes, France.
| | - Laurence A Turka
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - James F Markmann
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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20
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Bei KF, Moshkelgosha S, Liu BJ, Juvet S. Intragraft regulatory T cells in the modern era: what can high-dimensional methods tell us about pathways to allograft acceptance? Front Immunol 2023; 14:1291649. [PMID: 38077395 PMCID: PMC10701590 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1291649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Replacement of diseased organs with transplanted healthy donor ones remains the best and often only treatment option for end-stage organ disease. Immunosuppressants have decreased the incidence of acute rejection, but long-term survival remains limited. The broad action of current immunosuppressive drugs results in global immune impairment, increasing the risk of cancer and infections. Hence, achievement of allograft tolerance, in which graft function is maintained in the absence of global immunosuppression, has long been the aim of transplant clinicians and scientists. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a specialized subset of immune cells that control a diverse array of immune responses, can prevent allograft rejection in animals, and have recently been explored in early phase clinical trials as an adoptive cellular therapy in transplant recipients. It has been established that allograft residency by Tregs can promote graft acceptance, but whether intragraft Treg functional diversification and spatial organization contribute to this process is largely unknown. In this review, we will explore what is known regarding the properties of intragraft Tregs during allograft acceptance and rejection. We will summarize recent advances in understanding Treg tissue residency through spatial, transcriptomic and high-dimensional cytometric methods in both animal and human studies. Our discussion will explore properties of intragraft Tregs in mediating operational tolerance to commonly transplanted solid organs. Finally, given recent developments in Treg cellular therapy, we will review emerging knowledge of whether and how these adoptively transferred cells enter allografts in humans. An understanding of the properties of intragraft Tregs will help lay the foundation for future therapies that will promote immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Fan Bei
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sajad Moshkelgosha
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bo Jie Liu
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Juvet
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto Lung Transplant Program, Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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21
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Tran LM, Macedo C, Zahorchak AF, Gu X, Elinoff B, Singhi AD, Isett B, Zeevi A, Sykes M, Breen K, Srivastava A, Ables EM, Landsittel D, Styn MA, Humar A, Lakkis FG, Metes DM, Thomson AW. Donor-derived regulatory dendritic cell infusion modulates effector CD8 + T cell and NK cell responses after liver transplantation. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadf4287. [PMID: 37820009 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf4287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Immune cell-based therapies are promising strategies to facilitate immunosuppression withdrawal after organ transplantation. Regulatory dendritic cells (DCreg) are innate immune cells that down-regulate alloimmune responses in preclinical models. Here, we performed clinical monitoring and comprehensive assessment of peripheral and allograft tissue immune cell populations in DCreg-infused live-donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients up to 12 months (M) after transplant. Thirteen patients were given a single infusion of donor-derived DCreg 1 week before transplant (STUDY) and were compared with 40 propensity-matched standard-of-care (SOC) patients. Donor-derived DCreg infusion was well tolerated in all STUDY patients. There were no differences in postoperative complications or biopsy-confirmed acute rejection compared with SOC patients up to 12M. DCreg administration was associated with lower frequencies of effector T-bet+Eomes+CD8+ T cells and CD16bright natural killer (NK) cells and an increase in putative tolerogenic CD141+CD163+ DCs compared with SOC at 12M. Antidonor proliferative capacity of interferon-γ+ (IFN-γ+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was lower compared with antithird party responses in STUDY participants, but not in SOC patients, at 12M. In addition, lower circulating concentrations of interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), IFN-γ, and CXCL10 were detected in STUDY participants compared with SOC patients at 12M. Analysis of 12M allograft biopsies revealed lower frequencies of graft-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, as well as attenuation of cytolytic TH1 effector genes and pathways among intragraft CD8+ T cells and NK cells, in DCreg-infused patients. These reductions may be conducive to reduced dependence on immunosuppressive drug therapy or immunosuppression withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian M Tran
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Camila Macedo
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alan F Zahorchak
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Xinyan Gu
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Beth Elinoff
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Brian Isett
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Adriana Zeevi
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Megan Sykes
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kevin Breen
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Avantika Srivastava
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Erin M Ables
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Douglas Landsittel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Mindi A Styn
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Abhinav Humar
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fadi G Lakkis
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Diana M Metes
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Angus W Thomson
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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22
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Bi Y, Kong R, Peng Y, Yu H, Zhou Z. Umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood-derived regulatory T cells therapy: Progress in type 1 diabetes. Clin Immunol 2023; 255:109716. [PMID: 37544491 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109716] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key regulators for the inflammatory response and play a role in maintaining the immune tolerance. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a relatively common autoimmune disease that results from the loss of immune tolerance to β-cell-associated antigens. Preclinical models have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Tregs given in transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases such as T1D. Adoptive transfer of Tregs has been utilized in clinical trials for over a decade. However, the achievement of the adoptive transfer of Tregs therapy in clinical application remains challenging. In this review, we highlight the characterization of Tregs and compare the differences between umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood-derived Tregs. Additionally, we summarize conditional modifications in the expansion of Tregs in clinical trials, especially for the treatment of T1D. Finally, we discuss the existing technical challenges for Tregs in clinical trials for the treatment of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjie Bi
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Cell Therapy for Diabetes, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ran Kong
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Cell Therapy for Diabetes, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yani Peng
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Cell Therapy for Diabetes, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Haibo Yu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Cell Therapy for Diabetes, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Cell Therapy for Diabetes, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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23
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Cassano A, Chong AS, Alegre ML. Tregs in transplantation tolerance: role and therapeutic potential. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1217065. [PMID: 38993904 PMCID: PMC11235334 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1217065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable for preventing autoimmunity, and they play a role in cancer and transplantation settings by restraining immune responses. In this review, we describe evidence for the importance of Tregs in the induction versus maintenance of transplantation tolerance, discussing insights into mechanisms of Treg control of the alloimmune response. Further, we address the therapeutic potential of Tregs as a clinical intervention after transplantation, highlighting engineered CAR-Tregs as well as expansion of donor and host Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Cassano
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Anita S. Chong
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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24
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Cai S, Dai S, Lin R, Huang C, Zeng Y, Diao L, Lian R, Tu W. The effectiveness and safety of intrauterine infusion of autologous regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and low levels of endometrial FoxP3 + cells: A retrospective cohort study. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13735. [PMID: 37491931 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized type of T cells that help maintain immune tolerance and homeostasis. The potential of Tregs cell-based therapies in treating diseases has been demonstrated in several clinical trials, which have shown promising outcomes and high safety in autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, and graft-versus-host disease. However, their effectiveness and safety in improving endometrial receptivity and reducing pregnancy loss in human reproduction are unknown. METHOD OF STUDY The study used a retrospective design and included patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and lower levels of endometrial FoxP3+ Tregs. Patients in the Tregs group (n = 33) received intrauterine Tregs infusion three times during the follicular phase, while the control group (n = 28) did not receive any intrauterine infusion. RESULTS The intrauterine infusion of autologous Tregs increased the levels of FoxP3+ Tregs and CD56+ NK cells. Patients in the Treg group had higher live birth rates and lower miscarriage rates, especially early miscarriage rates. However, the two groups had no differences in the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and percentage of preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that intrauterine Tregs infusion may be a potential therapeutic approach for RPL. Further research in larger clinical trials is needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songchen Cai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Su Dai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rong Lin
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunyu Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lianghui Diao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruochun Lian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenwei Tu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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25
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Herrnstadt GR, Niehus CB, Ramcke T, Hagenstein J, Ehnold LI, Nosko A, Warkotsch MT, Feindt FC, Melderis S, Paust HJ, Sivayoganathan V, Jauch-Speer SL, Wong MN, Indenbirken D, Krebs CF, Huber TB, Panzer U, Puelles VG, Kluger MA, Steinmetz OM. The CCR6/CCL20 axis expands RORγt + Tregs to protect from glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int 2023; 104:74-89. [PMID: 36924892 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.02.027] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have identified a unique Treg population, which expresses the Th17 characteristic transcription factor RORγt. These RORγt+ Tregs possess enhanced immunosuppressive capacity, which endows them with great therapeutic potential. However, as a caveat, they are also capable of secreting pro-inflammatory IL-17A. Since the sum function of RORγt+ Tregs in glomerulonephritis (GN) remains unknown, we studied the effects of their absence. Purified CD4+ T cell populations, containing or lacking RORγt+ Tregs, were transferred into immunocompromised RAG1 knockout mice and the nephrotoxic nephritis model of GN was induced. Absence of RORγt+ Tregs significantly aggravated kidney injury, demonstrating overall kidney-protective properties. Analyses of immune responses showed that RORγt+ Tregs were broadly immunosuppressive with no preference for a particular type of T cell response. Further characterization revealed a distinct functional and transcriptional profile, including enhanced production of IL-10. Expression of the chemokine receptor CCR6 marked a particularly potent subset, whose absence significantly worsened GN. As an underlying mechanism, we found that chemokine CCL20 acting through receptor CCR6 signaling mediated expansion and activation of RORγt+ Tregs. Finally, we also detected an increase of CCR6+ Tregs in kidney biopsies, as well as enhanced secretion of chemokine CCL20 in 21 patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated GN compared to that of 31 healthy living donors, indicating clinical relevance. Thus, our data characterize RORγt+ Tregs as anti-inflammatory mediators of GN and identify them as promising target for Treg directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg R Herrnstadt
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph B Niehus
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Torben Ramcke
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Hagenstein
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Laura-Isabell Ehnold
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Nosko
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias T Warkotsch
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Frederic C Feindt
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Melderis
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Paust
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Varshi Sivayoganathan
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Milagros N Wong
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Christian F Krebs
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulf Panzer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Victor G Puelles
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte A Kluger
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver M Steinmetz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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26
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Bittner S, Hehlgans T, Feuerer M. Engineered Treg cells as putative therapeutics against inflammatory diseases and beyond. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:468-483. [PMID: 37100644 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells ensure tolerance against self-antigens, limit excessive inflammation, and support tissue repair processes. Therefore, Treg cells are currently attractive candidates for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, or transplant rejection. Early clinical trials have proved the safety and efficacy of certain Treg cell therapies in inflammatory diseases. We summarize recent advances in engineering Treg cells, including the concept of biosensors for inflammation. We assess Treg cell engineering possibilities for novel functional units, including Treg cell modifications influencing stability, migration, and tissue adaptation. Finally, we outline perspectives of engineered Treg cells going beyond inflammatory diseases by using custom-designed receptors and read-out systems, aiming to use Treg cells as in vivo diagnostic tools and drug delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Bittner
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hehlgans
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; Chair for Immunology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Markus Feuerer
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Immunology, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; Chair for Immunology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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27
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Gao R, Li A, Li S, Li X, Zhang S, Zhang X, Xu J. Induced regulatory T cells modified by knocking down T-bet in combination with ectopic expression of inhibitory cytokines effectively protect Graft-versus-Host Disease. Am J Transplant 2023:S1600-6135(23)00415-X. [PMID: 37084847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Induced regulatory T (iTreg) cells play a vital role in immune tolerance and in controlling chronic inflammation. Generated in the periphery, iTreg cells are suitable for responding to alloantigens and preventing transplant rejection. Nevertheless, their clinical application has been impeded by the plasticity and instability attributed to the loss of Foxp3 expression, raising concerns that iTreg may be converted to Teff cells and even exert a pathogenic effect. Herein, second-generation short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) loaded with three pairs of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were utilized to target the transcription factor T-bet. In addition, two immunosuppressive cytokines, namely transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were constitutively expressed. This novel engineering strategy allowed the generation of stably-induced iTreg cells (SI Treg), which maintained the expression of Foxp3 even in an unfavorable environment and exerted potent immunosuppressive functions in vitro. Furthermore, SI Treg cells demonstrated an effector transcriptional profile. Finally, SI Treg showed a significant protective effect against GVHD-related deaths in a xenotransplantation model. Collectively, these results signify that SI Treg cells hold great promise for future clinical application and offer a rational therapeutic approach for transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongrong Gao
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Ang Li
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, P. R. China
| | - Sen Li
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Xiangrong Li
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Shuye Zhang
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, P. R. China.
| | - Jianqing Xu
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, P. R. China.
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28
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Abraham AR, Maghsoudlou P, Copland DA, Nicholson LB, Dick AD. CAR-Treg cell therapies and their future potential in treating ocular autoimmune conditions. FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY 2023; 3:1184937. [PMID: 38983082 PMCID: PMC11182176 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2023.1184937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Ophthalmic autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions cause significant visual morbidity and require complex medical treatment complicated by significant side effects and lack of specificity. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have key roles in immune homeostasis and in the resolution of immune responses. Polyclonal Treg therapy has shown efficacy in treating autoimmune disease. Genetic engineering approaches to produce antigen-specific Treg therapy has the potential for enhanced treatment responses and fewer systemic side effects. Cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell (CAR-T) therapy, has had significant success in treating haematological malignancies. By modifying Tregs specifically, a CAR-Treg approach has been efficacious in preclinical models of autoimmune conditions leading to current phase 1-2 clinical trials. This review summarises CAR structure and design, Treg cellular biology, developments in CAR-Treg therapies, and discusses future strategies to apply CAR-Treg therapy in the treatment of ophthalmic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan R. Abraham
- Ophthalmology Research Group, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Panayiotis Maghsoudlou
- Ophthalmology Research Group, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Copland
- Ophthalmology Research Group, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay B. Nicholson
- Ophthalmology Research Group, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Dick
- Ophthalmology Research Group, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- UCL-Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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29
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Rogers NM, Zammit N, Nguyen-Ngo D, Souilmi Y, Minhas N, Meijles DN, Self E, Walters SN, Warren J, Cultrone D, El-Rashid M, Li J, Chtanova T, O'Connell PJ, Grey ST. The impact of the cytoplasmic ubiquitin ligase TNFAIP3 gene variation on transcription factor NF-κB activation in acute kidney injury. Kidney Int 2023; 103:1105-1119. [PMID: 37097268 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.02.030] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation is a deleterious molecular mechanism that drives acute kidney injury (AKI) and manifests in transplanted kidneys as delayed graft function. The TNFAIP3 gene encodes A20, a cytoplasmic ubiquitin ligase and a master negative regulator of the NF- κB signaling pathway. Common population-specific TNFAIP3 coding variants that reduce A20's enzyme function and increase NF- κB activation have been linked to heightened protective immunity and autoimmune disease, but have not been investigated in AKI. Here, we functionally identified a series of unique human TNFAIP3 coding variants linked to the autoimmune genome-wide association studies single nucleotide polymorphisms of F127C; namely F127C;R22Q, F127C;G281E, F127C;W448C and F127C;N449K that reduce A20's anti-inflammatory function in an NF- κB reporter assay. To investigate the impact of TNFAIP3 hypomorphic coding variants in AKI we tested a mouse Tnfaip3 hypomorph in a model of ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). The mouse Tnfaip3 coding variant I325N increases NF- κB activation without overt inflammatory disease, providing an immune boost as I325N mice exhibit enhanced innate immunity to a bacterial challenge. Surprisingly, despite exhibiting increased intra-kidney NF- κB activation with inflammation in IRI, the kidney of I325N mice was protected. The I325N variant influenced the outcome of IRI by changing the dynamic expression of multiple cytoprotective mechanisms, particularly by increasing NF- κB-dependent anti-apoptotic factors BCL-2, BCL-XL, c-FLIP and A20, altering the active redox state of the kidney with a reduction of superoxide levels and the enzyme super oxide dismutase-1, and enhancing cellular protective mechanisms including increased Foxp3+ T cells. Thus, TNFAIP3 gene variants represent a kidney and population-specific molecular factor that can dictate the course of IRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha M Rogers
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Renal and Transplant Medicine Unit, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nathan Zammit
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Danny Nguyen-Ngo
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yassine Souilmi
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Environment Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nikita Minhas
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel N Meijles
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Eleanor Self
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stacey N Walters
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joanna Warren
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniele Cultrone
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maryam El-Rashid
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer Li
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tatyana Chtanova
- Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Innate and Tumour Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip J O'Connell
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Renal and Transplant Medicine Unit, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shane T Grey
- Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Research Pillar, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Murakami N, Borges TJ, Win TS, Abarzua P, Tasigiorgos S, Kollar B, Barrera V, Ho Sui S, Teague JE, Bueno E, Clark RA, Lian CG, Murphy GF, Pomahac B, Riella LV. Low-dose interleukin-2 promotes immune regulation in face transplantation: A pilot study. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:549-558. [PMID: 36740193 PMCID: PMC10318113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.01.016] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Face transplantation is a life-changing procedure for patients with severe composite facial defects. However, it is hampered by high acute rejection rates due to the immunogenicity of skin allograft and toxicity linked to high doses of immunosuppression. To reduce immunosuppression-associated complications, we, for the first time in face transplant recipients, used low-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy to expand regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vivo and to enhance immune modulation, under close immunological monitoring of peripheral blood and skin allograft. Low-dose IL-2 achieved a sustained expansion (∼4-fold to 5-fold) of circulating Tregs and a reduction (∼3.5-fold) of B cells. Post-IL-2 Tregs exhibited greater suppressive function, characterized by higher expression of TIM-3 and LAG3co-inhibitory molecules. In the skin allograft, Tregs increased after low-dose IL-2 therapy. IL-2 induced a distinct molecular signature in the allograft with reduced cytotoxicity-associated genes (granzyme B and perforin). Two complications were observed during the trial: one rejection event and an episode of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In summary, this initial experience demonstrated that low-dose IL-2 therapy was not only able to promote immune regulation in face transplant recipients but also highlighted challenges related to its narrow therapeutic window. More specific targeted Treg expansion strategies are needed to translate this approach to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoka Murakami
- Transplant Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Thiago J Borges
- Transplant Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA; Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Thet Su Win
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA; Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Phammela Abarzua
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Sotirios Tasigiorgos
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Branislav Kollar
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA; Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Victor Barrera
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Shannan Ho Sui
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Jessica E Teague
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Ericka Bueno
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Rachael A Clark
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine G Lian
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - George F Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA
| | - Bohdan Pomahac
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Leonardo V Riella
- Transplant Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA; Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Maryland, USA.
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31
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Steiner R, Pilat N. The potential for Treg-enhancing therapies in transplantation. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 211:122-137. [PMID: 36562079 PMCID: PMC10019131 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as crucial regulators of immune tolerance against self-antigens, these cells have become a promising tool for the induction of donor-specific tolerance in transplantation medicine. The therapeutic potential of increasing in vivoTreg numbers for a favorable Treg to Teff cell ratio has already been demonstrated in several sophisticated pre-clinical models and clinical pilot trials. In addition to improving cell quantity, enhancing Treg function utilizing engineering techniques led to encouraging results in models of autoimmunity and transplantation. Here we aim to discuss the most promising approaches for Treg-enhancing therapies, starting with adoptive transfer approaches and ex vivoexpansion cultures (polyclonal vs. antigen specific), followed by selective in vivostimulation methods. Furthermore, we address next generation concepts for Treg function enhancement (CARs, TRUCKs, BARs) as well as the advantages and caveats inherit to each approach. Finally, this review will discuss the clinical experience with Treg therapy in ongoing and already published clinical trials; however, data on long-term results and efficacy are still very limited and many questions that might complicate clinical translation remain open. Here, we discuss the hurdles for clinical translation and elaborate on current Treg-based therapeutic options as well as their potencies for improving long-term graft survival in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Steiner
- Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Pilat
- Correspondence: Nina Pilat, PhD, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Rahimifard K, Shahbazi M, Oliaei F, Akbari R, Tarighi M, Mohammadnia-Afrouzi M. Increased frequency of CD39 +CD73 + regulatory T cells and Deltex-1 gene expression level in kidney transplant recipients with excellent long-term graft function. Transpl Immunol 2023; 78:101823. [PMID: 36921728 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2023.101823] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to limit inflammatory responses has been demonstrated. However, different subpopulations of this cell have varying abilities to suppress alloreactive immune responses. The primary goal of this study was to assess the frequency of CD4+FOXP3+CD39+CD73+ Tregs and Deltex-1 gene expression on long-term renal transplant function. METHODS A total of 49 subjects were divided into 3 groups: (i) the excellent long-term graft function (ELTGF) group, (ii) the chronic graft dysfunction (CGD) group, and (iii) the healthy control (HC) group. Following sample collection, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and the Deltex-1 gene expression level and the frequency of CD4+FOXP3+CD39+CD73+ Tregs were evaluated. RESULTS The ELTGF group had more CD4+FOXP3+ Tregs than the CGD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). However, the frequency of CD4+FOXP3+CD39+CD73+ Tregs and the ratio of these cells to total CD4+ lymphocytes significantly increased in the ELTGF group than in the CGD group (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02 respectively). In addition, the expression level of the Deltex-1 gene was significantly lower in the CGD group than in the other 2 groups (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04 respectively). CONCLUSIONS Given the increased frequency of CD4+FOXP3+CD39+CD73+ Tregs and the expression level of the Deltex-1 gene in the ELTGF group, it appears that these factors probably improved function and long-term survival of the transplanted organ through the suppression of alloreactive responses and reduction of inflammation. In other words, one of the immunological mechanisms involved in the CGD group may be a deficiency in Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimiya Rahimifard
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shahbazi
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Farshid Oliaei
- Kidney Transplantation Center, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Roghayeh Akbari
- Kidney Transplantation Center, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mona Tarighi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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33
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Tomaszewicz M, Ronowska A, Zieliński M, Jankowska-Kulawy A, Trzonkowski P. T regulatory cells metabolism: The influence on functional properties and treatment potential. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1122063. [PMID: 37033990 PMCID: PMC10081158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1122063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitute a small but substantial fraction of lymphocytes in the immune system. Tregs control inflammation associated with infections but also when it is improperly directed against its tissues or cells. The ability of Tregs to suppress (inhibit) the immune system is possible due to direct interactions with other cells but also in a paracrine fashion via the secretion of suppressive compounds. Today, attempts are made to use Tregs to treat autoimmune diseases, allergies, and rejection after bone marrow or organ transplantation. There is strong evidence that the metabolic program of Tregs is connected with the phenotype and function of these cells. A modulation towards a particular metabolic stage of Tregs may improve or weaken cells’ stability and function. This may be an essential tool to drive the immune system keeping it activated during infections or suppressed when autoimmunity occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Tomaszewicz
- Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdanísk, Poland
- Poltreg S.A., Gdanísk, Poland
- *Correspondence: Martyna Tomaszewicz,
| | - Anna Ronowska
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdanísk, Poland
| | - Maciej Zieliński
- Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdanísk, Poland
- Poltreg S.A., Gdanísk, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Trzonkowski
- Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdanísk, Poland
- Poltreg S.A., Gdanísk, Poland
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Research advances on targeted-Treg therapies on immune-mediated kidney diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2023; 22:103257. [PMID: 36563769 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The primary function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is blocking the pathogenic immunological response mediated by autoreactive cells, establishing and maintaining immune homeostasis in tissues. Kidney diseases are often caused by Immune imbalance, including alloimmune graft damage after renal transplantation, direct immune-mediated kidney diseases like membranous nephropathy (MN) and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis, as well as indirect immune-mediated ones like Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAVs), IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and lupus nephritis (LN). Treg cells are deficient numerically and/or functionally in those kidney diseases. Targeted-Treg therapies, including adoptive Tregs transfer therapy and low-dose IL-2 therapy, have begun to thrive in treating autoimmune diseases in recent years. However, the clinical use of targeted Treg-therapies is rarely mentioned in those kidney diseases above except for kidney transplantation. This article mainly discusses the newest progressions of targeted-Treg therapies in those specific examples of immune-mediated kidney diseases. Meanwhile, we also reviewed the main factors that affect Treg development and differentiation, hoping to inspire new strategies to develop target Tregs-therapies. Lastly, we emphasize the significant impediments and prospects to the clinical translation of target-Treg therapy. We advocate for more preclinical and clinical studies on target Tregs-therapies to decipher Tregs in those diseases.
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35
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Amini L, Kaeda J, Fritsche E, Roemhild A, Kaiser D, Reinke P. Clinical adoptive regulatory T Cell therapy: State of the art, challenges, and prospective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1081644. [PMID: 36794233 PMCID: PMC9924129 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1081644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rejection of solid organ transplant and graft versus host disease (GvHD) continue to be challenging in post transplantation management. The introduction of calcineurin inhibitors dramatically improved recipients' short-term prognosis. However, long-term clinical outlook remains poor, moreover, the lifelong dependency on these toxic drugs leads to chronic deterioration of graft function, in particular the renal function, infections and de-novo malignancies. These observations led investigators to identify alternative therapeutic options to promote long-term graft survival, which could be used concomitantly, but preferably, replace pharmacologic immunosuppression as standard of care. Adoptive T cell (ATC) therapy has evolved as one of the most promising approaches in regenerative medicine in the recent years. A range of cell types with disparate immunoregulatory and regenerative properties are actively being investigated as potential therapeutic agents for specific transplant rejection, autoimmunity or injury-related indications. A significant body of data from preclinical models pointed to efficacy of cellular therapies. Significantly, early clinical trial observations have confirmed safety and tolerability, and yielded promising data in support of efficacy of the cellular therapeutics. The first class of these therapeutic agents commonly referred to as advanced therapy medicinal products have been approved and are now available for clinical use. Specifically, clinical trials have supported the utility of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to minimize unwanted or overshooting immune responses and reduce the level of pharmacological immunosuppression in transplant recipients. Tregs are recognized as the principal orchestrators of maintaining peripheral tolerance, thereby blocking excessive immune responses and prevent autoimmunity. Here, we summarize rationale for the adoptive Treg therapy, challenges in manufacturing and clinical experiences with this novel living drug and outline future perspectives of its use in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Amini
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Berlin Institute of Health—Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jaspal Kaeda
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Fritsche
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andy Roemhild
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Kaiser
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Reinke
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Berlin Institute of Health—Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Petra Reinke,
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36
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Hennessy C, Deptula M, Hester J, Issa F. Barriers to Treg therapy in Europe: From production to regulation. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1090721. [PMID: 36744143 PMCID: PMC9892909 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1090721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been an increased interest in cell based therapies for a range of medical conditions in the last decade. This explosion in novel therapeutics research has led to the development of legislation specifically focused on cell and gene based therapies. In Europe, the European medicines agency (EMA) designates any medicines for human use which are based on genes, tissues, or cells as advanced therapy medicinal products or advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). In this article we discuss the hurdles to widespread adoption of ATMPs in Europe, with a focus on regulatory T cells (Tregs). There are numerous barriers which must be overcome before mainstream adoption of Treg therapy becomes a reality. The source of the cells, whether to use autologous or allogenic cells, and the methods through which they are isolated and expanded, must all meet strict good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards to allow use of the products in humans. GMP compliance is costly, with the equipment and reagents providing a significant cost barrier and requiring specialized facilities and personnel. Conforming to the regulations set centrally by the EMA is difficult, and the different interpretations of the regulations across the various member states further complicates the regulatory approval process. The end products then require a complex and robust distribution network to ensure timely delivery of potentially life saving treatments to patients. In a European market whose logistics networks have been hammered by COVID and Brexit, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery systems is a more complex task than ever. In this article we will examine the impact of these barriers on the development and adoption of Tregs in Europe, and potential approaches which could facilitate more widespread use of Tregs, instead of its current concentration in a few very specialized centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Hennessy
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Milena Deptula
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Hester
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fadi Issa
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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37
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Pilat N, Steiner R, Sprent J. Treg Therapy for the Induction of Immune Tolerance in Transplantation-Not Lost in Translation? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021752. [PMID: 36675265 PMCID: PMC9861925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of solid organ transplantation is still limited by the insufficiency of immunosuppressive regimens to control chronic rejection and late graft loss. Moreover, serious side effects caused by chronic immunosuppressive treatment increase morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have proven to be efficient in the induction of allograft tolerance and prolongation of graft survival in numerous preclinical models, and treatment has now moved to the clinics. The results of the first Treg-based clinical trials seem promising, proving the feasibility and safety of Treg therapy in clinical organ transplantation. However, many questions regarding Treg phenotype, optimum dosage, antigen-specificity, adjunct immunosuppressants and efficacy remain open. This review summarizes the results of the first Treg-based clinical trials for tolerance induction in solid organ transplantation and recapitulates what we have learnt so far and which questions need to be resolved before Treg therapy can become part of daily clinical practice. In addition, we discuss new strategies being developed for induction of donor-specific tolerance in solid organ transplantation with the clinical aims of prolonged graft survival and minimization of immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Pilat
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (J.S.); Tel.: +43-1-40400-52120 (N.P.)
| | - Romy Steiner
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan Sprent
- Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (J.S.); Tel.: +43-1-40400-52120 (N.P.)
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38
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Bluestone JA, McKenzie BS, Beilke J, Ramsdell F. Opportunities for Treg cell therapy for the treatment of human disease. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1166135. [PMID: 37153574 PMCID: PMC10154599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining peripheral tolerance, preventing autoimmunity, and limiting chronic inflammatory diseases. This small CD4+ T cell population can develop in the thymus and in the peripheral tissues of the immune system through the expression of an epigenetically stabilized transcription factor, FOXP3. Treg cells mediate their tolerogenic effects using multiple modes of action, including the production of inhibitory cytokines, cytokine starvation of T effector (e.g., IL-2), Teff suppression by metabolic disruption, and modulation of antigen-presenting cell maturation or function. These activities together result in the broad control of various immune cell subsets, leading to the suppression of cell activation/expansion and effector functions. Moreover, these cells can facilitate tissue repair to complement their suppressive effects. In recent years, there has been an effort to harness Treg cells as a new therapeutic approach to treat autoimmune and other immunological diseases and, importantly, to re-establish tolerance. Recent synthetic biological advances have enabled the cells to be genetically engineered to achieve tolerance and antigen-specific immune suppression by increasing their specific activity, stability, and efficacy. These cells are now being tested in clinical trials. In this review, we highlight both the advances and the challenges in this arena, focusing on the efforts to develop this new pillar of medicine to treat and cure a variety of diseases.
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39
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Arteaga-Cruz S, Cortés-Hernández A, Alvarez-Salazar EK, Rosas-Cortina K, Aguilera-Sandoval C, Morales-Buenrostro LE, Alberú-Gómez JM, Soldevila G. Highly purified and functionally stable in vitro expanded allospecific Tr1 cells expressing immunosuppressive graft-homing receptors as new candidates for cell therapy in solid organ transplantation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1062456. [PMID: 36911743 PMCID: PMC9998667 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1062456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new strategies based on the use of Tr1 cells has taken relevance to induce long-term tolerance, especially in the context of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although Tr1 cells are currently identified by the co-expression of CD49b and LAG-3 and high production of interleukin 10 (IL-10), recent studies have shown the need for a more exhaustive characterization, including co-inhibitory and chemokines receptors expression, to ensure bona fide Tr1 cells to be used as cell therapy in solid organ transplantation. Moreover, the proinflammatory environment induced by the allograft could affect the suppressive function of Treg cells, therefore stability of Tr1 cells needs to be further investigated. Here, we establish a new protocol that allows long-term in vitro expansion of highly purified expanded allospecific Tr1 (Exp-allo Tr1). Our expanded Tr1 cell population becomes highly enriched in IL-10 producers (> 90%) and maintains high expression of CD49b and LAG-3, as well as the co-inhibitory receptors PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, TIGIT and CD39. Most importantly, high dimensional analysis of Exp-allo Tr1 demonstrated a specific expression profile that distinguishes them from activated conventional T cells (T conv), showing overexpression of IL-10, CD39, CTLA-4 and LAG-3. On the other hand, Exp-allo Tr1 expressed a chemokine receptor profile relevant for allograft homing and tolerance induction including CCR2, CCR4, CCR5 and CXCR3, but lower levels of CCR7. Interestingly, Exp-allo Tr1 efficiently suppressed allospecific but not third-party T cell responses even after being expanded in the presence of proinflammatory cytokines for two extra weeks, supporting their functional stability. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that highly purified allospecific Tr1 (Allo Tr1) cells can be efficiently expanded maintaining a stable phenotype and suppressive function with homing potential to the allograft, so they may be considered as promising therapeutic tools for solid organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Arteaga-Cruz
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Arimelek Cortés-Hernández
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Mexico City, Mexico.,The National Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Evelyn Katy Alvarez-Salazar
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Mexico City, Mexico.,The National Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Katya Rosas-Cortina
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Luis E Morales-Buenrostro
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Gloria Soldevila
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Mexico City, Mexico.,The National Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Biomedical Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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40
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Kaljanac M, Abken H. Do Treg Speed Up with CARs? Chimeric Antigen Receptor Treg Engineered to Induce Transplant Tolerance. Transplantation 2023; 107:74-85. [PMID: 36226849 PMCID: PMC9746345 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg) can induce transplant tolerance in preclinical models by suppressing alloantigen-directed inflammatory responses; clinical translation was so far hampered by the low abundance of Treg with allo-specificity in the peripheral blood. In this situation, ex vivo engineering of Treg with a T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) provides a cell population with predefined specificity that can be amplified and administered to the patient. In contrast to TCR-engineered Treg, CAR Treg can be redirected toward a broad panel of targets in an HLA-unrestricted fashion' making these cells attractive to provide antigen-specific tolerance toward the transplanted organ. In preclinical models, CAR Treg accumulate and amplify at the targeted transplant, maintain their differentiated phenotype, and execute immune repression more vigorously than polyclonal Treg. With that, CAR Treg are providing hope in establishing allospecific, localized immune tolerance in the long term' and the first clinical trials administering CAR Treg for the treatment of transplant rejection are initiated. Here, we review the current platforms for developing and manufacturing alloantigen-specific CAR Treg and discuss the therapeutic potential and current hurdles in translating CAR Treg into clinical exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Kaljanac
- Division Genetic Immunotherapy, and Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division Genetic Immunotherapy, and Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Muckenhuber M, Mucha J, Mengrelis K, How C, Reindl-Schwaighofer R, Heinzel A, Kainz V, Worel N, Berlakovich G, Edinger M, Oberbauer R, Wekerle T. Optimum timing of antithymocyte globulin in relation to adoptive regulatory T cell therapy. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:84-92. [PMID: 36695625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.09.002] [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: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the recipient's T cell repertoire is considered to increase the efficacy of regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy. This necessitates timing the administration of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) early enough before adoptive cell therapy (ACT) so that residual serum ATG does not deplete the transferred Tregs. The optimum time point in this regard has not been defined. Herein, we report the effects of residual serum ATG on the viability of an in vitro expanded Treg cell product used in a clinical trial of ACT in kidney transplant recipients (NCT03867617). Patients received ATG monotherapy (either 6 or 3 mg/kg body weight) without concomitant immunosuppression 2 to 3 weeks before transplantation and Treg transfer. An anti-ATG immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune response was elicited in all patients within 14 days. In turn, the elimination of total and Treg-specific ATG was accelerated substantially over control patients receiving the same dose of ATG with concomitant immunosuppression. However, ATG serum concentrations of <1 μg/mL, which had previously been reported as subtherapeutic threshold, triggered apoptosis of Tregs in vitro. Therefore, ATG levels need to decline to lower levels than those previously thought for efficacious Treg transfer. In 5 of 6 patients, such low levels of serum ATG considered safe for Treg transfer were reached within 2 weeks after ATG administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Muckenhuber
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Mucha
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konstantinos Mengrelis
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher How
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kainz
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Worel
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriela Berlakovich
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Edinger
- Leibniz Institute of Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine 3 (Hematology and Oncology), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wekerle
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis. Although these cells were initially studied as a homogenous cohort, we now know that they have unprecedented underlying heterogeneity. This heterogeneity is reflected in their phenotype and functions. As human Treg subpopulations are very small in numbers, it is necessary to develop novel ways of isolating and manipulating these cell populations. In this chapter, we discuss immunoassays established to this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Atif
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Immunology Department Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Mustapha Cherai
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Immunology Department Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Makoto Miyara
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Immunology Department Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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43
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Chandran S, Tang Q. Impact of interleukin-6 on T cells in kidney transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2022; 22 Suppl 4:18-27. [PMID: 36453710 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17209] [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: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, plays a key role in T cell activation, survival, and differentiation. Acting as a switch that induces the differentiation of naïve T cells into Th17 cells and inhibits their development into regulatory T cells, IL-6 promotes rejection and abrogates tolerance. Therapies that target IL-6 signaling include antibodies to IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor and inhibitors of janus kinases; several of these therapeutics have demonstrated robust clinical efficacy in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Clinical trials of IL-6 inhibition in kidney transplantation have focused primarily on its effects on B cells, plasma cells, and HLA antibodies. In this review, we summarize the impact of IL-6 on T cells in experimental models of transplant and describe the effects of IL-6 inhibition on the T cell compartment in kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu Chandran
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, Diabetes Center, Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genome Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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44
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Hirai T, Lin PY, Ramos TL, Simonetta F, Su LL, Picton LK, Baker J, Lohmeyer JK, Garcia KC, Negrin RS. IL-2 receptor engineering enhances regulatory T cell function suppressed by calcineurin inhibitor. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:3061-3068. [PMID: 36031344 PMCID: PMC10184573 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Clinical trials utilizing regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy in organ transplantation have shown promising results, however, the choice of a standard immunosuppressive regimen is still controversial. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are one of the most common immunosuppressants for organ transplantation, although they may negatively affect Tregs by inhibiting IL-2 production by conventional T cells. As a strategy to replace IL-2 signaling selectively in Tregs, we have introduced an engineered orthogonal IL-2 (ortho IL-2) cytokine/cytokine receptor (R) pair that specifically binds with each other but does not bind with their wild-type counterparts. Murine Tregs were isolated from recipients and retrovirally transduced with ortho IL-2Rβ during ex vivo expansion. Transduced Tregs (ortho Tregs) were transferred into recipient mice in a mixed hematopoietic chimerism model with tacrolimus administration. Ortho IL-2 treatment significantly increased the ortho IL-2Rβ(+) Treg population in the presence of tacrolimus without stimulating other T cell subsets. All the mice treated with tacrolimus plus ortho IL-2 achieved heart allograft tolerance, even after tacrolimus cessation, whereas those receiving tacrolimus treatment alone did not. These data demonstrate that Treg therapy can be adopted into a CNI-based regimen by utilizing cytokine receptor engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihito Hirai
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Po-Yu Lin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Teresa L. Ramos
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Leon L. Su
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lora K. Picton
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Juliane K. Lohmeyer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Robert S. Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Sanders JM, Jeyamogan S, Mathew JM, Leventhal JR. Foxp3+ regulatory T cell therapy for tolerance in autoimmunity and solid organ transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1055466. [PMID: 36466912 PMCID: PMC9714335 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1055466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for tolerance in humans. The exact mechanisms by which the loss of peripheral tolerance leads to the development of autoimmunity and the specific role Tregs play in allograft tolerance are not fully understood; however, this population of T cells presents a unique opportunity in the development of targeted therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the potential roles of Foxp3+ Tregs in the development of tolerance in transplantation and autoimmunity, and the available data regarding their use as a treatment modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jes M. Sanders
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Shareni Jeyamogan
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - James M. Mathew
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joseph R. Leventhal
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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46
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Cheung J, Zahorowska B, Suranyi M, Wong JKW, Diep J, Spicer ST, Verma ND, Hodgkinson SJ, Hall BM. CD4 +CD25 + T regulatory cells in renal transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1017683. [PMID: 36426347 PMCID: PMC9681496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1017683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune response to an allograft activates lymphocytes with the capacity to cause rejection. Activation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T regulatory cells (Treg) can down-regulate allograft rejection and can induce immune tolerance to the allograft. Treg represent <10% of peripheral CD4+T cells and do not markedly increase in tolerant hosts. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells include both resting and activated Treg that can be distinguished by several markers, many of which are also expressed by effector T cells. More detailed characterization of Treg to identify increased activated antigen-specific Treg may allow reduction of non-specific immunosuppression. Natural thymus derived resting Treg (tTreg) are CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells and only partially inhibit alloantigen presenting cell activation of effector cells. Cytokines produced by activated effector cells activate these tTreg to more potent alloantigen-activated Treg that may promote a state of operational tolerance. Activated Treg can be distinguished by several molecules they are induced to express, or whose expression they have suppressed. These include CD45RA/RO, cytokine receptors, chemokine receptors that alter pathways of migration and transcription factors, cytokines and suppression mediating molecules. As the total Treg population does not increase in operational tolerance, it is the activated Treg which may be the most informative to monitor. Here we review the methods used to monitor peripheral Treg, the effect of immunosuppressive regimens on Treg, and correlations with clinical outcomes such as graft survival and rejection. Experimental therapies involving ex vivo Treg expansion and administration in renal transplantation are not reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Cheung
- Renal Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Michael Suranyi
- Renal Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Jason Diep
- Renal Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen T. Spicer
- Renal Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nirupama D. Verma
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Suzanne J. Hodgkinson
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bruce M. Hall
- Renal Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
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47
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Tang Q, Leung J, Peng Y, Sanchez-Fueyo A, Lozano JJ, Lam A, Lee K, Greenland JR, Hellerstein M, Fitch M, Li KW, Esensten JH, Putnam AL, Lares A, Nguyen V, Liu W, Bridges ND, Odim J, Demetris AJ, Levitsky J, Taner T, Feng S. Selective decrease of donor-reactive T regs after liver transplantation limits T reg therapy for promoting allograft tolerance in humans. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabo2628. [PMID: 36322627 PMCID: PMC11016119 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo2628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
Promoting immune tolerance to transplanted organs can minimize the amount of immunosuppressive drugs that patients need to take, reducing lifetime risks of mortality and morbidity. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for immune tolerance, and preclinical studies have shown their therapeutic efficacy in inducing transplantation tolerance. Here, we report the results of a phase 1/2 trial (ARTEMIS, NCT02474199) of autologous donor alloantigen-reactive Treg (darTreg) therapy in individuals 2 to 6 years after receiving a living donor liver transplant. The primary efficacy endpoint was calcineurin inhibitor dose reduction by 75% with stable liver function tests for at least 12 weeks. Among 10 individuals who initiated immunosuppression withdrawal, 1 experienced rejection before planned darTreg infusion, 5 received darTregs, and 4 were not infused because of failure to manufacture the minimal infusible dose of 100 × 106 cells. darTreg infusion was not associated with adverse events. Two darTreg-infused participants reached the primary endpoint, but an insufficient number of recipients were treated for assessing the efficacy of darTregs. Mechanistic studies revealed generalized Treg activation, senescence, and selective reduction of donor reactivity after liver transplantation. Overall, the ARTEMIS trial features a design concept for evaluating the efficacy of Treg therapy in transplantation. The mechanistic insight gained from the study may help guide the design of future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joey Leung
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yani Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Alberto Sanchez-Fueyo
- Institute of Liver Studies, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King’s College London University, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Juan-Jose Lozano
- Bioinformatic Platform, Biomedical Research Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alice Lam
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Karim Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John R. Greenland
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Medical Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Marc Hellerstein
- Nutrition Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mark Fitch
- Nutrition Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kelvin W. Li
- Nutrition Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jonathan H. Esensten
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Lab Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Amy L. Putnam
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Angela Lares
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Weihong Liu
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nancy D. Bridges
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Jonah Odim
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Anthony J. Demetris
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Josh Levitsky
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Timucin Taner
- Departments of Surgery and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Sandy Feng
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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48
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Distinct cellular dynamics associated with response to CAR-T therapy for refractory B cell lymphoma. Nat Med 2022; 28:1848-1859. [PMID: 36097221 PMCID: PMC9509487 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01959-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Approximately half of patients with refractory large B cell lymphomas achieve durable responses from CD19-targeting CAR-T treatment; however, failure mechanisms are identified in only a fraction of cases. To gain new insights into the basis of clinical response, we performed single-cell transcriptome sequencing of 105 pretreatment and post-treatment peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples, and infusion products collected from 32 individuals with large B cell lymphoma treated with either of two CD19 CAR-T products: axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel). Expansion of proliferative memory-like CD8 clones was a hallmark of tisa-cel response, whereas axi-cel responders displayed more heterogeneous populations. Elevations in CAR-T regulatory cells among nonresponders to axi-cel were detected, and these populations were capable of suppressing conventional CAR-T cell expansion and driving late relapses in an in vivo model. Our analyses reveal the temporal dynamics of effective responses to CAR-T therapy, the distinct molecular phenotypes of CAR-T cells with differing designs, and the capacity for even small increases in CAR-T regulatory cells to drive relapse.
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49
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MacDonald KN, Hall MG, Ivison S, Gandhi S, Klein Geltink RI, Piret JM, Levings MK. Consequences of adjusting cell density and feed frequency on serum-free expansion of thymic regulatory T cells. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:1121-1135. [PMID: 36008207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.06.006] [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: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the promising results from phase 1/2 clinical trials of therapy involving regulatory T cells (Tregs), it is critical to develop Treg manufacturing methods that use well-defined reagents. METHODS Seeking to maximize expansion of human thymic Tregs activated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibody-coated beads and cultured in serum-free medium, the authors investigated the effect of adjusting process parameters including cell density and cell concentration, and feeding strategy on Treg yield and quality. RESULTS The authors found that levels of expansion and viability varied with cell density on the day of restimulation. Tregs restimulated at low cell densities (1 × 105 cells/cm2) initially had high growth rates, viability and FOXP3 expression, but these parameters decreased with time and were less stable than those observed in cultures of Tregs restimulated at high cell densities (5 × 105 cells/cm2), which had slower growth rates. High-density expansion was associated with expression of inhibitory molecules and lower intracellular oxygen and extracellular nutrient concentrations as well as extracellular lactate accumulation. Experiments to test the effect of low oxygen revealed that transient exposure to low oxygen levels had little impact on expansion, viability or phenotype. Similarly, blockade of inhibitory molecules had little effect. By contrast, replenishing nutrients by increasing the feeding frequency between 2 days and 4 days after restimulation increased FOXP3, viability and expansion in high-density cultures. CONCLUSION These data show the previously undescribed consequences of adjusting cell density on Treg expansion and establish a Good Manufacturing Practice-relevant protocol using non-cell-based activation reagents and serum-free media that supports sustained expansion without loss of viability or phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine N MacDonald
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michael G Hall
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sabine Ivison
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sanjiv Gandhi
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ramon I Klein Geltink
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - James M Piret
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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50
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Hu M, Hawthorne WJ, Yi S, O’Connell PJ. Cellular Immune Responses in Islet Xenograft Rejection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:893985. [PMID: 35874735 PMCID: PMC9300897 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.893985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine islets surviving the acute injury caused by humoral rejection and IBMIR will be subjected to cellular xenograft rejection, which is predominately mediated by CD4+ T cells and is characterised by significant infiltration of macrophages, B cells and T cells (CD4+ and CD8+). Overall, the response is different compared to the alloimmune response and more difficult to suppress. Activation of CD4+ T cells is both by direct and indirect antigen presentation. After activation they recruit macrophages and direct B cell responses. Although they are less important than CD4+ T cells in islet xenograft rejection, macrophages are believed to be a major effector cell in this response. Rodent studies have shown that xenoantigen-primed and CD4+ T cell-activated macrophages were capable of recognition and rejection of pancreatic islet xenografts, and they destroyed a graft via the secretion of various proinflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and complement factors. B cells are an important mediator of islet xenograft rejection via xenoantigen presentation, priming effector T cells and producing xenospecific antibodies. Depletion and/or inhibition of B cells combined with suppressing T cells has been suggested as a promising strategy for induction of xeno-donor-specific T- and B-cell tolerance in islet xenotransplantation. Thus, strategies that expand the influence of regulatory T cells and inhibit and/or reduce macrophage and B cell responses are required for use in combination with clinical applicable immunosuppressive agents to achieve effective suppression of the T cell-initiated xenograft response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hu
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wayne J. Hawthorne
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shounan Yi
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J. O’Connell
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Philip J. O’Connell,
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