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Pierzynowska K, Gaffke L, Zaucha JM, Węgrzyn G. Transcriptomic Approaches in Studies on and Applications of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041107. [PMID: 37189725 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells are specifically modified T cells which bear recombinant receptors, present at the cell surface and devoted to detect selected antigens of cancer cells, and due to the presence of transmembrane and activation domains, able to eliminate the latter ones. The use of CAR-T cells in anti-cancer therapies is a relatively novel approach, providing a powerful tool in the fight against cancer and bringing new hope for patients. However, despite huge possibilities and promising results of preclinical studies and clinical efficacy, there are various drawbacks to this therapy, including toxicity, possible relapses, restrictions to specific kinds of cancers, and others. Studies desiring to overcome these problems include various modern and advanced methods. One of them is transcriptomics, a set of techniques that analyze the abundance of all RNA transcripts present in the cell at certain moment and under certain conditions. The use of this method gives a global picture of the efficiency of expression of all genes, thus revealing the physiological state and regulatory processes occurring in the investigated cells. In this review, we summarize and discuss the use of transcriptomics in studies on and applications of CAR-T cells, especially in approaches focused on improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, new target cancers (like solid tumors), monitoring the treatment efficacy, developing novel analytical methods, and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pierzynowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Lidia Gaffke
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jan M. Zaucha
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology, Medical University of Gdansk, Smoluchowskiego 17, 80-214 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
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Wirges A, Bunse M, Joedicke JJ, Blanc E, Gudipati V, Moles MW, Shiku H, Beule D, Huppa JB, Höpken UE, Rehm A. EBAG9 silencing exerts an immune checkpoint function without aggravating adverse effects. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3358-3378. [PMID: 35821635 PMCID: PMC9637585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.07.009] [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: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have revolutionized treatment of B cell malignancies. However, enhancing the efficacy of engineered T cells without compromising their safety is warranted. The estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated antigen 9 (EBAG9) inhibits release of cytolytic enzymes from cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Here, we examined the potency of EBAG9 silencing for the improvement of adoptive T cell therapy. MicroRNA (miRNA)-mediated EBAG9 downregulation in transplanted cytolytic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) from immunized mice improved their cytolytic competence in a tumor model. In tolerant female recipient mice that received organ transplants, a minor histocompatibility antigen was turned into a rejection antigen by Ebag9 deletion, indicating an immune checkpoint function for EBAG9. Considerably fewer EBAG9-silenced human CAR T cells were needed for tumor growth control in a xenotransplantation model. Transcriptome profiling did not reveal additional risks regarding genotoxicity or aberrant differentiation. A single-step retrovirus transduction process links CAR or TCR expression with miRNA-mediated EBAG9 downregulation. Despite higher cytolytic efficacy, release of cytokines associated with cytokine release syndrome remains unaffected. Collectively, EBAG9 silencing enhances effector capacity of TCR- and CAR-engineered T cells, results in improved tumor eradication, facilitates efficient manufacturing, and decreases the therapeutic dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthea Wirges
- Translational Tumorimmunology, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mario Bunse
- Microenvironmental Regulation in Autoimmunity and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jara J Joedicke
- Translational Tumorimmunology, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Blanc
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Venugopal Gudipati
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael W Moles
- Translational Tumorimmunology, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hiroshi Shiku
- Department of Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu city, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Dieter Beule
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Uta E Höpken
- Microenvironmental Regulation in Autoimmunity and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Armin Rehm
- Translational Tumorimmunology, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
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