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Giordano Attianese GMP, Ash S, Irving M. Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:166-198. [PMID: 37548063 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene-modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer-types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19-CAR therapy against various advanced B-cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non-hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre-infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post-transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T-cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down-regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity-optimized TCRs can improve T-cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene-modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T-cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene-cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Appelbaum J, Wei J, Mukherjee R, Ishida T, Rosser J, Saxby C, Chase J, Carlson M, Sather C, Rahfeldt W, Meechan M, Baldwin M, Flint L, Spurrell C, Gustafson J, Johnson A, Jensen M. Context-specific synthetic T cell promoters from assembled transcriptional elements. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3339290. [PMID: 37886484 PMCID: PMC10602160 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3339290/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering of human lymphocytes for therapeutic applications is constrained by a lack of transgene transcriptional control, resulting in a compromised therapeutic index. Incomplete understanding of transcriptional logic limits the rational design of contextually responsive genetic modules1. Here, we juxtaposed rationally curated transcriptional response element (TRE) oligonucleotides by random concatemerization to generate a library from which we selected context-specific inducible synthetic promoters (iSynPros). Through functional selection, we screened an iSynPro library for "IF-THEN" logic-gated transcriptional responses in human CD8+ T cells expressing a 4-1BB second generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). iSynPros exhibiting stringent off-states in quiescent T cells and CAR activation-dependent transcriptional responsiveness were cloned and subjected to TRE composition and pattern analysis, as well as performance in regulating candidate antitumor potency enhancement modules. These data reveal synthetic TRE grammar can mediate logic-gated transgene transcription in human T cells that, when applied to CAR T cell engineering, enhance potency and improve therapeutic indices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jia Wei
- Seattle Children's Research Institute
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3
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Contribution of T- and B-cell intrinsic toll-like receptors to the adaptive immune response in viral infectious diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:547. [PMID: 36224474 PMCID: PMC9555683 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04582-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) comprise a class of highly conserved molecules that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and play a vital role in host defense against multiple viral infectious diseases. Although TLRs are highly expressed on innate immune cells and play indirect roles in regulating antiviral adaptive immune responses, intrinsic expression of TLRs in adaptive immune cells, including T cells and B cells, cannot be ignored. TLRs expressed in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells play roles in enhancing TCR signal-induced T-cell activation, proliferation, function, and survival, serving as costimulatory molecules. Gene knockout of TLR signaling molecules has been shown to diminish antiviral adaptive immune responses and affect viral clearance in multiple viral infectious animal models. These results have highlighted the critical role of TLRs in the long-term immunological control of viral infection. This review summarizes the expression and function of TLR signaling pathways in T and B cells, focusing on the in vitro and vivo mechanisms and effects of intrinsic TLR signaling in regulating T- and B-cell responses during viral infection. The potential clinical use of TLR-based immune regulatory drugs for viral infectious diseases is also explored.
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4
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Hensel J, Metts J, Gupta A, Ladle BH, Pilon-Thomas S, Mullinax J. Adoptive Cellular Therapy for Pediatric Solid Tumors: Beyond Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy. Cancer J 2022; 28:322-327. [PMID: 35880942 PMCID: PMC9847472 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000603] [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] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Children and adolescents with high-risk (metastatic and relapsed) solid tumors have poor outcomes despite intensive multimodal therapy, and there is a pressing need for novel therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) has demonstrated activity in multiple adult cancer types, and opportunity exists to expand the use of this therapy in children. Employment of immunotherapy in the pediatric population has realized only modest overall clinical trial results, with success thus far restricted mainly to antibody-based therapies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies for lymphoid malignancy. As we improve our understanding of the orchestrated cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in ACT, this will provide biologic insight and improved ACT strategies for pediatric malignancies. This review focuses on ACT strategies outside of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, including completed and ongoing clinical trials, and highlights promising preclinical data in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that enhance the clinical efficacy of ACT for high-risk pediatric solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hensel
- Sarcoma, Immunology, Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
| | - Jonathan Metts
- Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, FL
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Brian H. Ladle
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - John Mullinax
- Sarcoma, Immunology, Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
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5
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Alcoceba M, García-Álvarez M, Medina A, Maldonado R, González-Calle V, Chillón MC, Sarasquete ME, González M, García-Sanz R, Jiménez C. MYD88 Mutations: Transforming the Landscape of IgM Monoclonal Gammopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5570. [PMID: 35628381 PMCID: PMC9141891 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The MYD88 gene has a physiological role in the innate immune system. Somatic mutations in MYD88, including the most common L265P, have been associated with the development of certain types of lymphoma. MYD88L265P is present in more than 90% of patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS). The absence of MYD88 mutations in WM patients has been associated with a higher risk of transformation into aggressive lymphoma, resistance to certain therapies (BTK inhibitors), and shorter overall survival. The MyD88 signaling pathway has also been used as a target for specific therapies. In this review, we summarize the clinical applications of MYD88 testing in the diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up, and treatment of patients. Although MYD88L265P is not specific to WM, few tumors present a single causative mutation in a recurrent position. The role of the oncogene in the pathogenesis of WM is still unclear, especially considering that the mutation can be found in normal B cells of patients, as recently reported. This may have important implications for early lymphoma detection in healthy elderly individuals and for the treatment response assessment based on a MYD88L265P analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ramón García-Sanz
- Hematology Department, University Hospital of Salamanca (HUS/IBSAL), CIBERONC and Cancer Research Institute of Salamanca-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.A.); (M.G.-Á.); (A.M.); (R.M.); (V.G.-C.); (M.C.C.); (M.E.S.); (M.G.); (C.J.)
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6
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Dotsu Y, Muraoka D, Ogo N, Sonoda Y, Yasui K, Yamaguchi H, Yagita H, Mukae H, Asai A, Ikeda H. Chemical augmentation of mitochondrial electron transport chains tunes T cell activation threshold in tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e003958. [PMID: 35115364 PMCID: PMC8814813 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer immunotherapy shows insufficient efficacy for low immunogenic tumors. Furthermore, tumors often downregulate antigen and major histocompatibility complex expression to escape recognition by T cells, resulting in insufficient T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation in the tumor microenvironment. Thus, augmenting TCR-mediated recognition of tumor antigens is a useful strategy to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. METHODS We screened 310 small molecules from our library and identified PQDN, a small molecule that activates CD8 T cells after TCR engagement, even when antigen stimulation is too weak for their activation. We used inhibitors of mitochondrial functions and Seahorse Flux Analyzer to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of PQDN on T cells. Effect of PQDN on tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells was examined using flow cytometry and TCR repertoire analysis. RESULTS PQDN increased mitochondrial reciprocal capacity through enhancement of electron transport chains (ETCs) and facilitated glycolysis via mTOR/AKT signaling, resulting in augmented CD8 T cell activation, even when antigen stimulation is extremely weak. Intratumoral administration of this compound into tumor-bearing mice tunes inactivated T cell with tumor antigen recognition potent and expanded functional T cell receptor diversity of tumor-infiltrating T cells, augmenting antitumor immune responses and retarding tumor growth. Furthermore, PQDN has a synergistic potent with T cell dependent immunotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitory therapy or adoptive cell therapy, even in a low immunogenic tumor. We also demonstrated that this compound enhances the activation of human CD8 T cells. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that tuning the T cell activation threshold by chemical activation of mitochondrial ETC is a new strategy for improving therapeutic efficacy through the activation of low-avidity tumor-specific T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Dotsu
- Department of Oncology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Daisuk Muraoka
- Department of Oncology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
- Division of Translational Oncoimmunology, Aichi Cancer Research Institute, Naogya, Japan
| | - Naohisa Ogo
- Center for Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yudai Sonoda
- Center for Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yasui
- Department of Oncology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hideo Yagita
- Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Mukae
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akira Asai
- Center for Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ikeda
- Department of Oncology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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7
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Nouri Y, Weinkove R, Perret R. T-cell intrinsic Toll-like receptor signaling: implications for cancer immunotherapy and CAR T-cells. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003065. [PMID: 34799397 PMCID: PMC8606765 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved molecules that specifically recognize common microbial patterns, and have a critical role in innate and adaptive immunity. Although TLRs are highly expressed by innate immune cells, particularly antigen-presenting cells, the very first report of a human TLR also described its expression and function within T-cells. Gene knock-out models and adoptive cell transfer studies have since confirmed that TLRs function as important costimulatory and regulatory molecules within T-cells themselves. By acting directly on T-cells, TLR agonists can enhance cytokine production by activated T-cells, increase T-cell sensitivity to T-cell receptor stimulation, promote long-lived T-cell memory, and reduce the suppressive activity of regulatory T-cells. Direct stimulation of T-cell intrinsic TLRs may be a relevant mechanism of action of TLR ligands currently under clinical investigation as cancer immunotherapies. Finally, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells afford a new opportunity to specifically exploit T-cell intrinsic TLR function. This can be achieved by expressing TLR signaling domains, or domains from their signaling partner myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), within or alongside the CAR. This review summarizes the expression and function of TLRs within T-cells, and explores the relevance of T-cell intrinsic TLR expression to the benefits and risks of TLR-stimulating cancer immunotherapies, including CAR T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Nouri
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Robert Weinkove
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand.,Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.,Wellington Blood & Cancer Centre, Capital and Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rachel Perret
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
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8
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Guo J, Kent A, Davila E. Chimeric non-antigen receptors in T cell-based cancer therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002628. [PMID: 34344725 PMCID: PMC8336119 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptively transferred T cell-based cancer therapies have shown incredible promise in treatment of various cancers. So far therapeutic strategies using T cells have focused on manipulation of the antigen-recognition machinery itself, such as through selective expression of tumor-antigen specific T cell receptors or engineered antigen-recognition chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). While several CARs have been approved for treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, this kind of therapy has been less successful in the treatment of solid tumors, in part due to lack of suitable tumor-specific targets, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and the inability of adoptively transferred cells to maintain their therapeutic potentials. It is critical for therapeutic T cells to overcome immunosuppressive environmental triggers, mediating balanced antitumor immunity without causing unwanted inflammation or autoimmunity. To address these hurdles, chimeric receptors with distinct signaling properties are being engineered to function as allies of tumor antigen-specific receptors, modulating unique aspects of T cell function without directly binding to antigen themselves. In this review, we focus on the design and function of these chimeric non-antigen receptors, which fall into three broad categories: ‘inhibitory-to-stimulatory’ switch receptors that bind natural ligands, enhanced stimulatory receptors that interact with natural ligands, and synthetic receptor-ligand pairs. Our intent is to offer detailed descriptions that will help readers to understand the structure and function of these receptors, as well as inspire development of additional novel synthetic receptors to improve T cell-based cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitao Guo
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Kent
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Eduardo Davila
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA .,Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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9
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Kent A, Longino NV, Christians A, Davila E. Naturally Occurring Genetic Alterations in Proximal TCR Signaling and Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658611. [PMID: 34012443 PMCID: PMC8126620 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell-based immunotherapies including genetically engineered T cells, adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and immune checkpoint blockade highlight the impressive anti-tumor effects of T cells. These successes have provided new hope to many cancer patients with otherwise poor prognoses. However, only a fraction of patients demonstrates durable responses to these forms of therapies and many develop significant immune-mediated toxicity. These heterogeneous clinical responses suggest that underlying nuances in T cell genetics, phenotypes, and activation states likely modulate the therapeutic impact of these approaches. To better characterize known genetic variations that may impact T cell function, we 1) review the function of early T cell receptor-specific signaling mediators, 2) offer a synopsis of known mutations and genetic alterations within the associated molecules, 3) discuss the link between these mutations and human disease and 4) review therapeutic strategies under development or in clinical testing that target each of these molecules for enhancing anti-tumor T cell activity. Finally, we discuss novel engineering approaches that could be designed based on our understanding of the function of these molecules in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kent
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Natalie V. Longino
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Allison Christians
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Eduardo Davila
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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10
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Ciavattone NG, Wu L, O'Neill R, Qiu J, Davila E, Cao X. MyD88 Costimulation in Donor CD8 + T Cells Enhances the Graft-versus-Tumor Effect in Murine Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2021; 206:892-903. [PMID: 33408257 PMCID: PMC8691539 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Donor-derived lymphocytes from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) or donor lymphocyte infusion can mediate eradication of host tumor cells in a process labeled the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect. Unfortunately, these treatments have produced limited results in various types of leukemia because of an insufficient GVT effect. In this context, molecular engineering of donor lymphocytes to increase the GVT effect may benefit cancer patients. Activating MyD88 signaling in CD8+ T cells via TLR enhances T cell activation and cytotoxicity. However, systemic administration of TLR ligands to stimulate MyD88 could induce hyperinflammation or elicit protumor effects. To circumvent this problem, we devised a synthetic molecule consisting of MyD88 linked to the ectopic domain of CD8a (CD8α:MyD88). We used this construct to test the hypothesis that MyD88 costimulation in donor CD8+ T cells increases tumor control following allo-HCT in mice by increasing T cell activation, function, and direct tumor cytotoxicity. Indeed, an increase in both in vitro and in vivo tumor control was observed with CD8α:MyD88 T cells. This increase in the GVT response was associated with increased T cell expansion, increased functional capacity, and an increase in direct cytotoxic killing of the tumor cells. However, MyD88 costimulation in donor CD8+ T cells was linked to increased yet nonlethal graft-versus-host disease in mice treated with these engineered CD8+ T cells. Given these observations, synthetic CD8α:MyD88 donor T cells may represent a unique and versatile approach to enhance the GVT response that merits further refinement to improve the effectiveness of allo-HCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Ciavattone
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Long Wu
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Rachel O'Neill
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Jingxin Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263; and
| | - Eduardo Davila
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Xuefang Cao
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201
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11
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Hellman LM, Foley KC, Singh NK, Alonso JA, Riley TP, Devlin JR, Ayres CM, Keller GLJ, Zhang Y, Vander Kooi CW, Nishimura MI, Baker BM. Improving T Cell Receptor On-Target Specificity via Structure-Guided Design. Mol Ther 2018; 27:300-313. [PMID: 30617019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCRs) have emerged as a new class of immunological therapeutics. However, though antigen specificity is a hallmark of adaptive immunity, TCRs themselves do not possess the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies. Although a necessary function of T cell biology, the resulting cross-reactivity presents a significant challenge for TCR-based therapeutic development, as it creates the potential for off-target recognition and immune toxicity. Efforts to enhance TCR specificity by mimicking the antibody maturation process and enhancing affinity can inadvertently exacerbate TCR cross-reactivity. Here we demonstrate this concern by showing that even peptide-targeted mutations in the TCR can introduce new reactivities against peptides that bear similarity to the original target. To counteract this, we explored a novel structure-guided approach for enhancing TCR specificity independent of affinity. Tested with the MART-1-specific TCR DMF5, our approach had a small but discernible impact on cross-reactivity toward MART-1 homologs yet was able to eliminate DMF5 cross-recognition of more divergent, unrelated epitopes. Our study provides a proof of principle for the use of advanced structure-guided design techniques for improving TCR specificity, and it suggests new ways forward for enhancing TCRs for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance M Hellman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Kendra C Foley
- Department of Surgery and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Nishant K Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Timothy P Riley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jason R Devlin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Grant L J Keller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Michael I Nishimura
- Department of Surgery and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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