1
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Kroonen JS, Wouters AK, de Graaf IJ, Remst DFG, Kumar S, Wachsmann TLA, Teunisse AFAS, Roelands JP, de Miranda NFCC, Griffioen M, Heemskerk MHM, Vertegaal ACO. Targeting epigenetic regulation and post-translational modification with 5-Aza-2' deoxycytidine and SUMO E1 inhibition augments T-cell receptor therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008654. [PMID: 39326886 PMCID: PMC11425949 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008654] [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] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular immunotherapy using modified T cells offers new avenues for cancer treatment. T-cell receptor (TCR) engineering of CD8 T cells enables these cells to recognize tumor-associated antigens and tumor-specific neoantigens. Improving TCR T-cell therapy through increased potency and in vivo persistence will be critical for clinical success. METHODS We evaluated a novel drug combination to enhance TCR therapy in mouse models for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma (MM). RESULTS Combining TCR therapy with the SUMO E1 inhibitor TAK981 and the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2' deoxycytidine resulted in strong antitumor activity in a persistent manner against two in vivo tumor models of established AML and MM. We uncovered that the drug combination caused strong T-cell proliferation, increased cytokine signaling in T cells, improved persistence of T cells, and reduced differentiation towards exhausted phenotype. Simultaneously the drug combination enhanced immunogenicity of the tumor by increasing HLA and co-stimulation and surprisingly reducing inhibitory ligand expression. CONCLUSION Combining T-cell therapy with TAK981 and 5-Aza-2' deoxycytidine may be an important step towards improved clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie S Kroonen
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anne K Wouters
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona J de Graaf
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis F G Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Amina F A S Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica P Roelands
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marieke Griffioen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred C O Vertegaal
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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Reinstein ZZ, Zhang Y, Ospina OE, Nichols MD, Chu VA, Pulido ADM, Prieto K, Nguyen JV, Yin R, Moran Segura C, Usman A, Sell B, Ng S, de la Iglesia JV, Chandra S, Sosman JA, Cho RJ, Cheng JB, Ivanova E, Koralov SB, Slebos RJC, Chung CH, Khushalani NI, Messina JL, Sarnaik AA, Zager JS, Sondak VK, Vaske C, Kim S, Brohl AS, Mi X, Pierce BG, Wang X, Fridley BL, Tsai KY, Choi J. Preexisting Skin-Resident CD8 and γδ T-cell Circuits Mediate Immune Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Predict Immunotherapy Efficacy. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1631-1652. [PMID: 39058036 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0798] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with a ∼50% response rate to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. To identify predictive biomarkers, we integrated bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with spatial transcriptomics from a cohort of 186 samples from 116 patients, including bulk RNA-seq from 14 matched pairs pre- and post-ICB. In nonresponders, tumors show evidence of increased tumor proliferation, neuronal stem cell markers, and IL1. Responders have increased type I/II interferons and preexisting tissue resident (Trm) CD8 or Vδ1 γδ T cells that functionally converge with overlapping antigen-specific transcriptional programs and clonal expansion of public T-cell receptors. Spatial transcriptomics demonstrated colocalization of T cells with B and dendritic cells, which supply chemokines and costimulation. Lastly, ICB significantly increased clonal expansion or recruitment of Trm and Vδ1 cells in tumors specifically in responders, underscoring their therapeutic importance. These data identify potential clinically actionable biomarkers and therapeutic targets for MCC. Significance: MCC serves as a model of ICB response. We utilized the largest-to-date, multimodal MCC dataset (n = 116 patients) to uncover unique tumor-intrinsic properties and immune circuits that predict response. We identified CD8 Trm and Vδ1 T cells as clinically actionable mediators of ICB response in major histocompatibility complex-high and -low MCCs, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Z Reinstein
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Oscar E Ospina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Matt D Nichols
- Department of Tumor Metastasis and Microenvironment, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Victoria A Chu
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Alvaro de Mingo Pulido
- Department of Tumor Metastasis and Microenvironment, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Karol Prieto
- Department of Tumor Metastasis and Microenvironment, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jonathan V Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Rui Yin
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Carlos Moran Segura
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ahmed Usman
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Brittney Sell
- Department of Tumor Metastasis and Microenvironment, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Spencer Ng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Janis V de la Iglesia
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Sunandana Chandra
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jeffrey A Sosman
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Raymond J Cho
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jeffrey B Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Dermatology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Ellie Ivanova
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Sergei B Koralov
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Robbert J C Slebos
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Christine H Chung
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nikhil I Khushalani
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Amod A Sarnaik
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jonathan S Zager
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Sungjune Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Andrew S Brohl
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Xinlei Mi
- Department of Preventive Medicine-Biostatistics Quantitative Data Sciences Core, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Brian G Pierce
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brooke L Fridley
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kenneth Y Tsai
- Department of Tumor Metastasis and Microenvironment, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jaehyuk Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
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3
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Luostarinen A, Kailaanmäki A, Turkki V, Köylijärvi M, Käyhty P, Leinonen H, Albers-Skirdenko V, Lipponen E, Ylä-Herttuala S, Kaartinen T, Lesch HP, Kekarainen T. Optimizing lentiviral vector formulation conditions for efficient ex vivo transduction of primary human T cells in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell manufacturing. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:1084-1094. [PMID: 38661611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.04.002] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products are commonly generated using lentiviral vector (LV) transduction. Optimal final formulation buffer (FFB) supporting LV stability during cryostorage is crucial for cost-effective manufacturing. METHODS To identify the ideal LV FFB composition for ex vivo CAR-T production, primary human T cells were transduced with vesicular stomatitis virus G-protein (VSV-G) -pseudotyped LVs (encoding a reporter gene or an anti-CD19-CAR). The formulations included phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), HEPES, or X-VIVOTM 15, and stabilizing excipients. The functional and viral particle titers and vector copy number were measured after LV cryopreservation and up to 24 h post-thaw incubation. CAR-Ts were produced with LVs in selected FFBs, and the resulting cells were characterized. RESULTS Post-cryopreservation, HEPES-based FFBs provided higher LV functional titers than PBS and X-VIVOTM 15, and 10% trehalose-20 mM MgCl2 improved LV transduction efficiency in PBS and 50 mM HEPES. Thawed vectors remained stable at +4°C, while a ≤ 25% median decrease in the functional titer occurred during 24 h at room temperature. Tested excipients did not enhance LV post-thaw stability. CAR-Ts produced using LVs cryopreserved in 10% trehalose- or sucrose-20 mM MgCl2 in 50 mM HEPES showed comparable transduction rates, cell yield, viability, phenotype, and in vitro functionality. CONCLUSION A buffer consisting of 10% trehalose-20 mM MgCl2 in 50 mM HEPES provided a feasible FFB to cryopreserve a VSV-G -pseudotyped LV for CAR-T-cell production. The LVs remained relatively stable for at least 24 h post-thaw, even at ambient temperatures. This study provides insights into process development, showing LV formulation data generated using the relevant target cell type for CAR-T-cell manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annu Luostarinen
- Advanced Cell Therapy Centre, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | - Vesa Turkki
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Piia Käyhty
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hanna Leinonen
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Eevi Lipponen
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tanja Kaartinen
- Advanced Cell Therapy Centre, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna P Lesch
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
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4
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Caulier B, Joaquina S, Gelebart P, Dowling TH, Kaveh F, Thomas M, Tandaric L, Wernhoff P, Katyayini NU, Wogsland C, Gjerstad ME, Fløisand Y, Kvalheim G, Marr C, Kobold S, Enserink JM, Gjertsen BT, McCormack E, Inderberg EM, Wälchli S. CD37 is a safe chimeric antigen receptor target to treat acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101572. [PMID: 38754420 PMCID: PMC11228397 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101572] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow and the peripheral blood. Nearly half of the AML patients relapse after standard induction therapy, and new forms of therapy are urgently needed. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy has so far not been successful in AML due to lack of efficacy and safety. Indeed, the most attractive antigen targets are stem cell markers such as CD33 or CD123. We demonstrate that CD37, a mature B cell marker, is expressed in AML samples, and its presence correlates with the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) 2017 risk stratification. We repurpose the anti-lymphoma CD37CAR for the treatment of AML and show that CD37CAR T cells specifically kill AML cells, secrete proinflammatory cytokines, and control cancer progression in vivo. Importantly, CD37CAR T cells display no toxicity toward hematopoietic stem cells. Thus, CD37 is a promising and safe CAR T cell AML target.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Animals
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Mice
- Tetraspanins/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/immunology
- Female
- Male
- Antigens, Neoplasm
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Caulier
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Center for Cancer Cell Reprogramming (CanCell), Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandy Joaquina
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pascal Gelebart
- Department of Clinical Science, Precision Oncology Research Group, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Tara Helén Dowling
- Department of Clinical Science, Precision Oncology Research Group, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fatemeh Kaveh
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Moritz Thomas
- Institue of AI for Health, Helmholtz Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Luka Tandaric
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Patrik Wernhoff
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Niveditha Umesh Katyayini
- Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Center for Cancer Cell Reprogramming (CanCell), Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cara Wogsland
- Department of Clinical Science, Precision Oncology Research Group, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - May Eriksen Gjerstad
- Department of Clinical Science, Precision Oncology Research Group, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Yngvar Fløisand
- Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunnar Kvalheim
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Carsten Marr
- Institue of AI for Health, Helmholtz Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany; Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jorrit M Enserink
- Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Center for Cancer Cell Reprogramming (CanCell), Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Section for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørn Tore Gjertsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Emmet McCormack
- Department of Clinical Science, Precision Oncology Research Group, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Translational Research Unit, Section for Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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5
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Xin W, Huang B, Chi X, Liu Y, Xu M, Zhang Y, Li X, Su Q, Zhou Q. Structures of human γδ T cell receptor-CD3 complex. Nature 2024; 630:222-229. [PMID: 38657677 PMCID: PMC11153141 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07439-4] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Gamma delta (γδ) T cells, a unique T cell subgroup, are crucial in various immune responses and immunopathology1-3. The γδ T cell receptor (TCR), which is generated by γδ T cells, recognizes a diverse range of antigens independently of the major histocompatibility complex2. The γδ TCR associates with CD3 subunits, initiating T cell activation and holding great potential in immunotherapy4. Here we report the structures of two prototypical human Vγ9Vδ2 and Vγ5Vδ1 TCR-CD3 complexes5,6, revealing two distinct assembly mechanisms that depend on Vγ usage. The Vγ9Vδ2 TCR-CD3 complex is monomeric, with considerable conformational flexibility in the TCRγ-TCRδ extracellular domain and connecting peptides. The length of the connecting peptides regulates the ligand association and T cell activation. A cholesterol-like molecule wedges into the transmembrane region, exerting an inhibitory role in TCR signalling. The Vγ5Vδ1 TCR-CD3 complex displays a dimeric architecture, whereby two protomers nestle back to back through the Vγ5 domains of the TCR extracellular domains. Our biochemical and biophysical assays further corroborate the dimeric structure. Importantly, the dimeric form of the Vγ5Vδ1 TCR is essential for T cell activation. These findings reveal organizing principles of the γδ TCR-CD3 complex, providing insights into the unique properties of γδ TCR and facilitating immunotherapeutic interventions.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- CD3 Complex/chemistry
- CD3 Complex/immunology
- CD3 Complex/metabolism
- CD3 Complex/ultrastructure
- Cholesterol/metabolism
- Cholesterol/chemistry
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- Ligands
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Domains
- Protein Multimerization
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/ultrastructure
- T-Lymphocytes/chemistry
- T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Cell Membrane/chemistry
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhi Xin
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bangdong Huang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ximin Chi
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuehua Liu
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengjiao Xu
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xu Li
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Su
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China.
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6
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Jin Y, Miyama T, Brown A, Hayase T, Song X, Singh AK, Huang L, Flores II, McDaniel LK, Glover I, Halsey TM, Prasad R, Chapa V, Ahmed S, Zhang J, Rai K, Peterson CB, Lizee G, Karmouch J, Hayase E, Molldrem JJ, Chang CC, Tsai WB, Jenq RR. Tsyn-Seq: a T-cell Synapse-Based Antigen Identification Platform. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:530-543. [PMID: 38363296 PMCID: PMC11065584 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0467] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Tools for genome-wide rapid identification of peptide-major histocompatibility complex targets of T-cell receptors (TCR) are not yet universally available. We present a new antigen screening method, the T-synapse (Tsyn) reporter system, which includes antigen-presenting cells (APC) with a Fas-inducible NF-κB reporter and T cells with a nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) reporter. To functionally screen for target antigens from a cDNA library, productively interacting T cell-APC aggregates were detected by dual-reporter activity and enriched by flow sorting followed by antigen identification quantified by deep sequencing (Tsyn-seq). When applied to a previously characterized TCR specific for the E7 antigen derived from human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), Tsyn-seq successfully enriched the correct cognate antigen from a cDNA library derived from an HPV16-positive cervical cancer cell line. Tsyn-seq provides a method for rapidly identifying antigens recognized by TCRs of interest from a tumor cDNA library. See related Spotlight by Makani and Joglekar, p. 515.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimei Jin
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Takahiko Miyama
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Alexandria Brown
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Tomo Hayase
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Xingzhi Song
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Anand K. Singh
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Licai Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ivonne I. Flores
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Lauren K. McDaniel
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Israel Glover
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Taylor M. Halsey
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Rishika Prasad
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Valerie Chapa
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Saira Ahmed
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Christine B. Peterson
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Gregory Lizee
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jennifer Karmouch
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Eiko Hayase
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Molldrem
- Department of Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Chia-Chi Chang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Wen-Bin Tsai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Robert R. Jenq
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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7
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Quiros-Fernandez I, Libório-Ramos S, Leifert L, Schönfelder B, Vlodavsky I, Cid-Arregui A. Dual T cell receptor/chimeric antigen receptor engineered NK-92 cells targeting the HPV16 E6 oncoprotein and the tumor-associated antigen L1CAM exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity and specificity against tumor cells. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29630. [PMID: 38659368 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29630] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) causes a large fraction of genital and oropharyngeal carcinomas. To maintain the transformed state, the tumor cells must continuously synthesize the E6 and E7 viral oncoproteins, which makes them tumor-specific antigens. Indeed, specific T cell responses against them have been well documented and CD8+ T cells engineered to express T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize epitopes of E6 or E7 have been tested in clinical studies with promising results, yet with limited clinical success. Using CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors, we have identified two novel TCRs reactive to an unexplored E618-26 epitope. These TCRs showed limited standalone cytotoxicity against E618-26-HLA-A*02:01-presenting tumor cells. However, a single-signaling domain chimeric antigen receptor (ssdCAR) targeting L1CAM, a cell adhesion protein frequently overexpressed in HPV16-induced cancer, prompted a synergistic effect that significantly enhanced the cytotoxic capacity of NK-92/CD3/CD8 cells armored with both TCR and ssdCAR when both receptors simultaneously engaged their respective targets, as shown by live microscopy of 2-D and 3-D co-cultures. Thus, virus-specific TCRs from the CD8+ T cell repertoire of healthy donors can be combined with a suitable ssdCAR to enhance the cytotoxic capacity of the effector cells and, indirectly, their specificity.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/immunology
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Human papillomavirus 16/immunology
- Human papillomavirus 16/genetics
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Cell Line, Tumor
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Quiros-Fernandez
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Research Center on Tropical Diseases (CIET)/Research Center on Surgery and Cancer (CICICA), Faculty of Microbiology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Sofia Libório-Ramos
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Leifert
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bruno Schönfelder
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Israel Vlodavsky
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center (TICC), Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Angel Cid-Arregui
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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8
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van Hees EP, Morton LT, Remst DFG, Wouters AK, Van den Eynde A, Falkenburg JHF, Heemskerk MH. Self-sufficient primary natural killer cells engineered to express T cell receptors and interleukin-15 exhibit improved effector function and persistence. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1368290. [PMID: 38690288 PMCID: PMC11058644 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1368290] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background NK cells can be genetically engineered to express a transgenic T-cell receptor (TCR). This approach offers an alternative strategy to target heterogenous tumors, as NK:TCR cells can eradicate both tumor cells with high expression of HLA class I and antigen of interest or HLA class I negative tumors. Expansion and survival of NK cells relies on the presence of IL-15. Therefore, autonomous production of IL-15 by NK:TCR cells might improve functional persistence of NK cells. Here we present an optimized NK:TCR product harnessed with a construct encoding for soluble IL-15 (NK:TCR/IL-15), to support their proliferation, persistence and cytotoxic capabilities. Methods Expression of tumor-specific TCRs in peripheral blood derived NK-cells was achieved following retroviral transduction. NK:TCR/IL-15 cells were compared with NK:TCR cells for autonomous cytokine production, proliferation and survival. NK:BOB1-TCR/IL-15 cells, expressing a HLA-B*07:02-restricted TCR against BOB1, a B-cell lineage specific transcription factor highly expressed in all B-cell malignancies, were compared with control NK:BOB1-TCR and NK:CMV-TCR/IL-15 cells for effector function against TCR antigen positive malignant B-cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Results Viral incorporation of the interleukin-15 gene into engineered NK:TCR cells was feasible and high expression of the TCR was maintained, resulting in pure NK:TCR/IL-15 cell products generated from peripheral blood of multiple donors. Self-sufficient secretion of IL-15 by NK:TCR cells enables engineered NK cells to proliferate in vitro without addition of extra cytokines. NK:TCR/IL-15 demonstrated a marked enhancement of TCR-mediated cytotoxicity as well as enhanced NK-mediated cytotoxicity resulting in improved persistence and performance of NK:BOB1-TCR/IL-15 cells in an orthotopic multiple myeloma mouse model. However, in contrast to prolonged anti-tumor reactivity by NK:BOB1-TCR/IL-15, we observed in one of the experiments an accumulation of NK:BOB1-TCR/IL-15 cells in several organs of treated mice, leading to unexpected death 30 days post-NK infusion. Conclusion This study showed that NK:TCR/IL-15 cells secrete low levels of IL-15 and can proliferate in an environment lacking cytokines. Repeated in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the effectiveness and target specificity of our product, in which addition of IL-15 supports TCR- and NK-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els P. van Hees
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Laura T. Morton
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dennis F. G. Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anne K. Wouters
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Astrid Van den Eynde
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Mirjam H.M. Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
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9
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Eggenhuizen PJ, Cheong RMY, Lo C, Chang J, Ng BH, Ting YT, Monk JA, Loh KL, Broury A, Tay ESV, Shen C, Zhong Y, Lim S, Chung JX, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Koelmeyer R, Hoi A, Chaudhry A, Manzanillo P, Snelgrove SL, Morand EF, Ooi JD. Smith-specific regulatory T cells halt the progression of lupus nephritis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:899. [PMID: 38321013 PMCID: PMC10847119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45056-x] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress pathogenic autoreactivity and are potential therapeutic candidates for autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus nephritis is associated with autoreactivity to the Smith (Sm) autoantigen and the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR15 haplotype; hence, we investigated the potential of Sm-specific Tregs (Sm-Tregs) to suppress disease. Here we identify a HLA-DR15 restricted immunodominant Sm T cell epitope using biophysical affinity binding assays, then identify high-affinity Sm-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) using high-throughput single-cell sequencing. Using lentiviral vectors, we transduce our lead Sm-specific TCR into Tregs derived from patients with SLE who are anti-Sm and HLA-DR15 positive. Compared with polyclonal mock-transduced Tregs, Sm-Tregs potently suppress Sm-specific pro-inflammatory responses in vitro and suppress disease progression in a humanized mouse model of lupus nephritis. These results show that Sm-Tregs are a promising therapy for SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Eggenhuizen
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel M Y Cheong
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Cecilia Lo
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Janet Chang
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Boaz H Ng
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Yi Tian Ting
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie A Monk
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Khai L Loh
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashraf Broury
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Elean S V Tay
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Chanjuan Shen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhuzhou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhong
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Steven Lim
- Alfred Research Alliance Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jia Xi Chung
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rangi Kandane-Rathnayake
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel Koelmeyer
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Alberta Hoi
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Rheumatology, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Sarah L Snelgrove
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Eric F Morand
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Rheumatology, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Joshua D Ooi
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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10
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Corey D, Haeseleer F, Hou J, Corey L. Novel engineered chimeric engulfment receptors trigger T cell effector functions against SIV-infected CD4+ T cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 28:1-10. [PMID: 36514789 PMCID: PMC9720250 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.11.004] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive therapy with genetically engineered T cells offers potential for infectious disease treatment in immunocompromised persons. HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected cells express phosphatidylserine (PS) early post infection. We tested whether chimeric engulfment receptor (CER) T cells designed to recognize PS-expressing cells could eliminate SIV-infected cells. Lentiviral CER constructs composed of the extracellular domain of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4 (TIM-4), the PS receptor, and engulfment signaling domains were transduced into primary rhesus macaque (RM) T cells. We measured PS binding and T cell engulfment of RM CD4+ T cells infected with SIV expressing GFP and in vitro, TIM-4 CER CD4+ T cells effectively killed SIV-infected cells, which was dependent on TIM-4 binding to PS. Enhanced killing of SIV-infected CD4+ T cells by CER and chimeric antigen receptor T cell combinations was also observed. This installation of innate immune functions into T cells presents an opportunity to enhance elimination of SIV-infected cells, and studies to evaluate their effect in vivo are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Corey
- CERo Therapeutics, 201 Haskins Way, Suite 230, San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Francoise Haeseleer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Joe Hou
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lawrence Corey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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11
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Transgenic HA-1-Specific CD8 + T-Lymphocytes Selectively Target Leukemic Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051592. [PMID: 36900382 PMCID: PMC10000933 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051592] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant share of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (allo-HSCT) results in the relapse of malignant disease. The T cell immune response to minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs) promotes a favorable graft-versus-leukemia response. The immunogenic MiHA HA-1 is a promising target for leukemia immunotherapy, as it is predominantly expressed in hematopoietic tissues and presented by the common HLA A*02:01 allele. Adoptive transfer of HA-1-specific modified CD8+ T cells could complement allo-HSCT from HA-1- donors to HA-1+ recipients. Using bioinformatic analysis and a reporter T cell line, we discovered 13 T cell receptors (TCRs) specific for HA-1. Their affinities were measured by the response of the TCR-transduced reporter cell lines to HA-1+ cells. The studied TCRs showed no cross-reactivity to the panel of donor peripheral mononuclear blood cells with 28 common HLA alleles. CD8+ T cells after endogenous TCR knock out and introduction of transgenic HA-1-specific TCR were able to lyse hematopoietic cells from HA-1+ patients with acute myeloid, T-, and B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (n = 15). No cytotoxic effect was observed on cells from HA-1- or HLA-A*02-negative donors (n = 10). The results support the use of HA-1 as a target for post-transplant T cell therapy.
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12
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Wu L, Brzostek J, Sakthi Vale PD, Wei Q, Koh CKT, Ong JXH, Wu LZ, Tan JC, Chua YL, Yap J, Song Y, Tan VJY, Tan TYY, Lai J, MacAry PA, Gascoigne NRJ. CD28-CAR-T cell activation through FYN kinase signaling rather than LCK enhances therapeutic performance. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:100917. [PMID: 36696897 PMCID: PMC9975250 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.100917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Signal transduction induced by chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is generally believed to rely on the activity of the SRC family kinase (SFK) LCK, as is the case with T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Here, we show that CAR signaling occurs in the absence of LCK. This LCK-independent signaling requires the related SFK FYN and a CD28 intracellular domain within the CAR. LCK-deficient CAR-T cells are strongly signaled through CAR and have better in vivo efficacy with reduced exhaustion phenotype and enhanced induction of memory and proliferation. These distinctions can be attributed to the fact that FYN signaling tends to promote proliferation and survival, whereas LCK signaling promotes strong signaling that tends to lead to exhaustion. This non-canonical signaling of CAR-T cells provides insight into the initiation of both TCR and CAR signaling and has important clinical implications for improvement of CAR function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wu
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Joanna Brzostek
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Previtha Dawn Sakthi Vale
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Qianru Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Clara K T Koh
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - June Xu Hui Ong
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Liang-Zhe Wu
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Jia Chi Tan
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Yen Leong Chua
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Jiawei Yap
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Yuan Song
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vivian Jia Yi Tan
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Triscilla Y Y Tan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Junyun Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul A MacAry
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas R J Gascoigne
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545, Singapore; Cancer Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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13
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Shi T, Burg AR, Caldwell JT, Roskin K, Castro-Rojas CM, Chukwuma PC, Gray GI, Foote SG, Alonso J, Cuda CM, Allman DA, Rush JS, Regnier CH, Wieczorek G, Alloway RR, Shields AR, Baker BM, Woodle ES, Hildeman DA. Single cell transcriptomic analysis of renal allograft rejection reveals novel insights into intragraft TCR clonality. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.08.524808. [PMID: 36798151 PMCID: PMC9934650 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.524808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Bulk analysis of renal allograft biopsies (rBx) identified RNA transcripts associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR); however, these lacked cellular context critical to mechanistic understanding. We performed combined single cell RNA transcriptomic and TCRα/β sequencing on rBx from patients with ACR under differing immunosuppression (IS): tacrolimus, iscalimab, and belatacept. TCR analysis revealed a highly restricted CD8 + T cell clonal expansion (CD8 EXP ), independent of HLA mismatch or IS type. Subcloning of TCRα/β cDNAs from CD8 EXP into Jurkat76 cells (TCR -/- ) conferred alloreactivity by mixed lymphocyte reaction. scRNAseq analysis of CD8 EXP revealed effector, memory, and exhausted phenotypes that were influenced by IS type. Successful anti-rejection treatment decreased, but did not eliminate, CD8 EXP , while CD8 EXP were maintained during treatment-refractory rejection. Finally, most rBx-derived CD8 EXP were also observed in matching urine samples. Overall, our data define the clonal CD8 + T cell response to ACR, providing novel insights to improve detection, assessment, and treatment of rejection.
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14
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Huisman W, de Gier M, Hageman L, Shomuradova AS, Leboux DA, Amsen D, Falkenburg JF, Jedema I. Amino acids at position 5 in the peptide/MHC binding region of a public virus-specific TCR are completely inter-changeable without loss of function. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1819-1828. [PMID: 36189878 PMCID: PMC9828479 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202249975] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Anti-viral T-cell responses are usually directed against a limited set of antigens, but often contain many T cells expressing different T-cell receptors (TCRs). Identical TCRs found within virus-specific T-cell populations in different individuals are known as public TCRs, but also TCRs highly-similar to these public TCRs, with only minor variations in amino acids on specific positions in the Complementary Determining Regions (CDRs), are frequently found. However, the degree of freedom at these positions was not clear. In this study, we used the HLA-A*02:01-restricted EBV-LMP2FLY -specific public TCR as model and modified the highly-variable position 5 of the CDR3β sequence with all 20 amino acids. Our results demonstrate that amino acids at this particular position in the CDR3β region of this TCR are completely inter-changeable, without loss of TCR function. We show that the inability to find certain variants in individuals is explained by their lower recombination probability rather than by steric hindrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Huisman
- Department of HematologyLeiden University Medical CenterThe Netherlands,Department of HematopoiesisSanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory for Blood Cell ResearchAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Melanie de Gier
- Department of HematologyLeiden University Medical CenterThe Netherlands
| | - Lois Hageman
- Department of HematologyLeiden University Medical CenterThe Netherlands
| | - Alina S. Shomuradova
- Laboratory for Transplantation ImmunologyNational Research Center for HematologyMoscowRussia
| | | | - Derk Amsen
- Department of HematopoiesisSanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory for Blood Cell ResearchAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Inge Jedema
- Department of HematologyLeiden University Medical CenterThe Netherlands
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15
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Lai AY, Patel A, Brewer F, Evans K, Johannes K, González LE, Yoo KJ, Fromm G, Wilson K, Schreiber TH, de Silva S. Cutting Edge: Bispecific γδ T Cell Engager Containing Heterodimeric BTN2A1 and BTN3A1 Promotes Targeted Activation of Vγ9Vδ2 + T Cells in the Presence of Costimulation by CD28 or NKG2D. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1475-1480. [PMID: 36096643 PMCID: PMC9527206 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Vγ9Vδ2+ T cell-targeted immunotherapy is of interest to harness its MHC-independent cytotoxic potential against a variety of cancers. Recent studies have identified heterodimeric butyrophilin (BTN) 2A1 and BTN3A1 as the molecular entity providing "signal 1" to the Vγ9Vδ2 TCR, but "signal 2" costimulatory requirements remain unclear. Using a tumor cell-free assay, we demonstrated that a BTN2A1/3A1 heterodimeric fusion protein activated human Vγ9Vδ2+ T cells, but only in the presence of costimulatory signal via CD28 or NK group 2 member D. Nonetheless, addition of a bispecific γδ T cell engager BTN2A1/3A1-Fc-CD19scFv alone enhanced granzyme B-mediated killing of human CD19+ lymphoma cells when cocultured with Vγ9Vδ2+ T cells, suggesting expression of costimulatory ligand(s) on tumor cells is sufficient to satisfy the "signal 2" requirement. These results highlight the parallels of signal 1 and signal 2 requirements in αβ and γδ T cell activation and demonstrate the utility of heterodimeric BTNs to promote targeted activation of γδ T cells.
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16
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Murata K, Ly D, Saijo H, Matsunaga Y, Sugata K, Ihara F, Oryoji D, Ohashi Y, Saso K, Wang CH, Zheng EY, Burt BD, Butler MO, Hirano N. Modification of the HLA-A*24:02 Peptide Binding Pocket Enhances Cognate Peptide-Binding Capacity and Antigen-Specific T Cell Activation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 209:1481-1491. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The immunogenicity of a T cell Ag is correlated with the ability of its antigenic epitope to bind HLA and be stably presented to T cells. This presents a challenge for the development of effective cancer immunotherapies, as many self-derived tumor-associated epitopes elicit weak T cell responses, in part due to weak binding affinity to HLA. Traditional methods to increase peptide–HLA binding affinity involve modifying the peptide to reflect HLA allele binding preferences. Using a different approach, we sought to analyze whether the immunogenicity of wild-type peptides could be altered through modification of the HLA binding pocket. After analyzing HLA class I peptide binding pocket alignments, we identified an alanine 81 to leucine (A81L) modification within the F binding pocket of HLA-A*24:02 that was found to heighten the ability of artificial APCs to retain and present HLA-A*24:02–restricted peptides, resulting in increased T cell responses while retaining Ag specificity. This modification led to increased peptide exchange efficiencies for enhanced detection of low-avidity T cells and, when expressed on artificial APCs, resulted in greater expansion of Ag-specific T cells from melanoma-derived tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Our study provides an example of how modifications to the HLA binding pocket can enhance wild-type cognate peptide presentation to heighten T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Murata
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalam Ly
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hiroshi Saijo
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yukiko Matsunaga
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kenji Sugata
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fumie Ihara
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daisuke Oryoji
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yota Ohashi
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Kayoko Saso
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chung-Hsi Wang
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Evey Y.F. Zheng
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Brian D. Burt
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcus O. Butler
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
- ‡Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naoto Hirano
- *Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- †Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
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17
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Assessment of T Cell Receptor Complex Expression Kinetics in Natural Killer Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:3859-3871. [PMID: 36135177 PMCID: PMC9497757 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44090265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the polypeptides that comprise the T cell receptor (TCR), only CD3ζ is found in Natural Killer (NK) cells, where it transmits signals from activating receptors such as CD16 and NKp46. NK cells are potent immune cells that recognize target cells through germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. Genetic engineering of NK cells enables tumor-specific antigen recognition and, thus, has a significant promise in adoptive cell therapy. Ectopic expression of engineered TCR components in T cells leads to mispairing with the endogenous components, making a knockout of the endogenous TCR necessary. To circumvent the mispairing of TCRs or the need for knockout technologies, TCR complex expression has been studied in NK cells. In the current study, we explored the cellular processing of the TCR complex in NK cells. We observed that in the absence of CD3 subunits, the TCR was not expressed on the surface of NK cells and vice versa. Moreover, a progressive increase in surface expression of TCR between day three and day seven was observed after transduction. Interestingly, the TCR complex expression in NK92 cells was enhanced with a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib) but not a lysosomal inhibitor (chloroquine). Additionally, we observed that the TCR complex was functional in NK92 cells as measured by estimating CD107a as a degranulation marker, IFNγ cytokine production, and killing assays. NK92 cells strongly degranulated when CD3ε was engaged in the presence of TCR, but not when only CD3 was overexpressed. Therefore, our findings encourage further investigation to unravel the mechanisms that prevent the surface expression of the TCR complex.
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18
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Birtel M, Voss RH, Reinhard K, Rengstl B, Ouchan Y, Michel K, Hayduk N, Tillmann B, Becker R, Suchan M, Theobald M, Oehm P, Türeci Ö, Sahin U. A TCR-like CAR Promotes Sensitive Antigen Recognition and Controlled T-cell Expansion Upon mRNA Vaccination. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:827-841. [PMID: 36923303 PMCID: PMC10010320 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are efficacious in patients with B-cell malignancies, while their activity is limited in patients with solid tumors. We developed a novel heterodimeric TCR-like CAR (TCAR) designed to achieve optimal chain pairing and integration into the T-cell CD3 signaling complex. The TCAR mediated high antigen sensitivity and potent antigen-specific T-cell effector functions in short-term in vitro assays. Both persistence and functionality of TCAR T cells were augmented by provision of costimulatory signals, which improved proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Combination with a nanoparticulate RNA vaccine, developed for in vivo expansion of CAR T cells, promoted tightly controlled expansion, survival, and antitumor efficacy of TCAR T cells in vivo. Significance A novel TCAR is tightly controlled by RNA vaccine-mediated costimulation and may provide an alternative to second-generation CARs for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Birtel
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ralf-Holger Voss
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
- Department of Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center (UMC) of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katharina Reinhard
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Benjamin Rengstl
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yasmina Ouchan
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kristina Michel
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nina Hayduk
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Bodo Tillmann
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
| | - René Becker
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
| | - Martin Suchan
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Theobald
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Cancer Center (UCT), University Medical Center (UMC) of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Oehm
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Özlem Türeci
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- TRON – Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH (non-profit), Mainz, Germany
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center (UMC) of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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19
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Seneviratna R, Redmond SJ, McWilliam HE, Reantragoon R, Villadangos JA, McCluskey J, Godfrey DI, Gherardin NA. Differential antigenic requirements by diverse MR1-restricted T cells. Immunol Cell Biol 2021; 100:112-126. [PMID: 34940995 PMCID: PMC9033883 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
MHC-related protein 1 (MR1) presents microbial riboflavin metabolites to mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells for surveillance of microbial presence. MAIT cells express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) which recognises MR1-antigen complexes in a pattern-recognition-like manner. Recently, diverse populations of MR1-restricted T cells have been described that exhibit broad recognition of tumour cells and appear to recognise MR1 in association with tumour-derived self-antigens, though the identity of these antigens remains unclear. Here, we have used TCR gene transfer and engineered MR1-expressing antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to probe the MR1-restriction and antigen reactivity of a range of MR1-restricted TCRs, including model tumour-reactive TCRs. We confirm MR1 reactivity by these TCRs, show differential dependence on lysine at position 43 of MR1 (K43), and demonstrate competitive inhibition by MR1 ligand 6-formylpterin (6-FP). TCR-expressing reporter lines, however, failed to recapitulate the robust tumour specificity previously reported, suggesting an importance of accessory molecules for MR1-dependent tumour-reactivity. Finally, MR1-mutant cell lines showed that distinct residues on the α1/α2 helices were required for TCR-binding by different MR1-restricted T cells and suggested central but distinct docking modes by the broad family of MR1-restrictd αβ TCRs. Collectively, these data are consistent with recognition of distinct antigens by diverse MR1-restricted T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Seneviratna
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Samuel J Redmond
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Hamish E McWilliam
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Rangsima Reantragoon
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Present address: Immunology Division, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Centre of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-mediated Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jose A Villadangos
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Dale I Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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20
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Wahl I, Hoffmann S, Hundsdorfer R, Puchan J, Hoffman SL, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Busse CE, Wardemann H. An efficient single-cell based method for linking human T cell phenotype to T cell receptor sequence and specificity. Eur J Immunol 2021; 52:237-246. [PMID: 34710239 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell antigen-receptor gene amplification and sequencing platforms have been used to characterize T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires but typically fail to generate paired full-length gene products for direct expression cloning and do not enable linking this data to cell phenotype information. To overcome these limitations, we established a high-throughput platform for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of human TCR repertoires that provides insights into the clonal and functional composition of human CD4+ and CD8+ αβ T cells at the molecular and cellular level. The strategy is a powerful tool to qualitatively assess differences between antigen receptors of phenotypically defined αβ T cell subsets, e.g. in immune responses to cancer, vaccination, or infection, and in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilka Wahl
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandro Hoffmann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Julia Puchan
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and German Center for Infection Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and German Center for Infection Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian E Busse
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hedda Wardemann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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21
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Consonni M, Garavaglia C, Grilli A, de Lalla C, Mancino A, Mori L, De Libero G, Montagna D, Casucci M, Serafini M, Bonini C, Häussinger D, Ciceri F, Bernardi M, Mastaglio S, Bicciato S, Dellabona P, Casorati G. Human T cells engineered with a leukemia lipid-specific TCR enables donor-unrestricted recognition of CD1c-expressing leukemia. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4844. [PMID: 34381053 PMCID: PMC8358059 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25223-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute leukemia relapsing after chemotherapy plus allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be treated with donor-derived T cells, but this is hampered by the need for donor/recipient MHC-matching and often results in graft-versus-host disease, prompting the search for new donor-unrestricted strategies targeting malignant cells. Leukemia blasts express CD1c antigen-presenting molecules, which are identical in all individuals and expressed only by mature leukocytes, and are recognized by T cell clones specific for the CD1c-restricted leukemia-associated methyl-lysophosphatidic acid (mLPA) lipid antigen. Here, we show that human T cells engineered to express an mLPA-specific TCR, target diverse CD1c-expressing leukemia blasts in vitro and significantly delay the progression of three models of leukemia xenograft in NSG mice, an effect that is boosted by mLPA-cellular immunization. These results highlight a strategy to redirect T cells against leukemia via transfer of a lipid-specific TCR that could be used across MHC barriers with reduced risk of graft-versus-host disease. Leukaemia therapy may benefit from the use of antigens that are less restricted to individual donors. Here the authors engineered T cells with a TCR specific for a CD1c restricted lipid leukaemia antigen and show that they can protect against disease progression in mouse leukaemia xenograft models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Consonni
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Garavaglia
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Andrea Grilli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Claudia de Lalla
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mancino
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Lucia Mori
- Experimental Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gennaro De Libero
- Experimental Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Montagna
- Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo; Department of Sciences Clinic-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Monica Casucci
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Serafini
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Häussinger
- NMR-Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Ciceri
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Bernardi
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mastaglio
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvio Bicciato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Dellabona
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy.
| | - Giulia Casorati
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy.
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22
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Lanz AL, Masi G, Porciello N, Cohnen A, Cipria D, Prakaash D, Bálint Š, Raggiaschi R, Galgano D, Cole DK, Lepore M, Dushek O, Dustin ML, Sansom MSP, Kalli AC, Acuto O. Allosteric activation of T cell antigen receptor signaling by quaternary structure relaxation. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109375. [PMID: 34260912 PMCID: PMC8293630 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of T cell antigen receptor (TCR-CD3) signaling remains elusive. Here, we identify mutations in the transmembrane region of TCRβ or CD3ζ that augment peptide T cell antigen receptor (pMHC)-induced signaling not explicable by enhanced ligand binding, lateral diffusion, clustering, or co-receptor function. Using a biochemical assay and molecular dynamics simulation, we demonstrate that the gain-of-function mutations loosen the interaction between TCRαβ and CD3ζ. Similar to the activating mutations, pMHC binding reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ. This event occurs prior to CD3ζ phosphorylation and at 0°C. Moreover, we demonstrate that soluble monovalent pMHC alone induces signaling and reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ in membrane-bound or solubilised TCR-CD3. Our data provide compelling evidence that pMHC binding suffices to activate allosteric changes propagating from TCRαβ to the CD3 subunits, reconfiguring interchain transmembrane region interactions. These dynamic modifications could change the arrangement of TCR-CD3 boundary lipids to license CD3ζ phosphorylation and initiate signal propagation. Mutations in TCRβ and CD3ζ TMRs that reduce their interaction augment signaling pMHC and anti-CD3 binding to TCR-CD3 induce similar quaternary structure relaxation Soluble monovalent pMHC alone signals and reduces TCRαβ cohesion with CD3ζ Allosteric changes in TCR-CD3 dynamics instigate T cell activation
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Lanz
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Giulia Masi
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Nicla Porciello
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - André Cohnen
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Deborah Cipria
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Dheeraj Prakaash
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Štefan Bálint
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Roberto Raggiaschi
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Donatella Galgano
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - David K Cole
- Division Infection & Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Immunocore Ltd., Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | | | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Antreas C Kalli
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Oreste Acuto
- T-cell signalling laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
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23
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Bozza M, De Roia A, Correia MP, Berger A, Tuch A, Schmidt A, Zörnig I, Jäger D, Schmidt P, Harbottle RP. A nonviral, nonintegrating DNA nanovector platform for the safe, rapid, and persistent manufacture of recombinant T cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/16/eabf1333. [PMID: 33853779 PMCID: PMC8046366 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf1333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The compelling need to provide adoptive cell therapy (ACT) to an increasing number of oncology patients within a meaningful therapeutic window makes the development of an efficient, fast, versatile, and safe genetic tool for creating recombinant T cells indispensable. In this study, we used nonintegrating minimally sized DNA vectors with an enhanced capability of generating genetically modified cells, and we demonstrate that they can be efficiently used to engineer human T lymphocytes. This vector platform contains no viral components and is capable of replicating extrachromosomally in the nucleus of dividing cells, providing persistent transgene expression in human T cells without affecting their behavior and molecular integrity. We use this technology to provide a manufacturing protocol to quickly generate chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells at clinical scale in a closed system and demonstrate their enhanced anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo in comparison to previously described integrating vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Bozza
- DNA Vector Laboratory, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alice De Roia
- DNA Vector Laboratory, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Margareta P Correia
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Aileen Berger
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumorimmunity, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Tuch
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumorimmunity, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Inka Zörnig
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumorimmunity, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Schmidt
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- GMP & T cell Therapy Unit, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard P Harbottle
- DNA Vector Laboratory, DKFZ Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, Heidelberg, Germany.
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24
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Ochi T, Maruta M, Tanimoto K, Kondo F, Yamamoto T, Kurata M, Fujiwara H, Masumoto J, Takenaka K, Yasukawa M. A single-chain antibody generation system yielding CAR-T cells with superior antitumor function. Commun Biol 2021; 4:273. [PMID: 33654176 PMCID: PMC7925539 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01791-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using T cells redirected with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has shown a lot of promise. We have established a single-chain antibody (scFv) generation system in which scFv library-expressing CAR-T cells can be screened appropriately based on their antitumor functions. A variable region library containing the variable and J regions of the human immunoglobulin light or heavy chain was fused with the variable region of a heavy or light chain encoded by an existing tumor-specific antibody to generate a new scFv library. Then, scFv library-expressing CAR-T cells were generated and stimulated with target cells to concentrate the antigen-specific population. Using this system, target-specific recognition of CAR-T cells appeared to be finely tuned by selecting a new variable region. Importantly, we have demonstrated that the newly optimized scFv-expressing CAR-T cells had better proliferation capacity and durable phenotypes, enabling superior reactivity against advanced tumors in vivo in comparison with the original CAR-T cells. Therefore, the optimization of an scFv is needed to maximize the in vivo antitumor functions of CAR-T cells. This system may allow us to adjust an immunological synapse formed by an scFv expressed by CAR-T cells and a target antigen, representing an ideal form of CAR-T-cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Ochi
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
- Division of Immune Regulation, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
| | - Masaki Maruta
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Kazushi Tanimoto
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Fumitake Kondo
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Yamamoto
- Department of Analytical Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Mie Kurata
- Department of Analytical Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
- Division of Pathology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
- Department of Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Junya Masumoto
- Department of Analytical Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
- Division of Pathology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Katsuto Takenaka
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Masaki Yasukawa
- Division of Immune Regulation, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan
- Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Tobe, Ehime, Japan
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25
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Sugata K, Matsunaga Y, Yamashita Y, Nakatsugawa M, Guo T, Halabelian L, Ohashi Y, Saso K, Rahman MA, Anczurowski M, Wang CH, Murata K, Saijo H, Kagoya Y, Ly D, Burt BD, Butler MO, Mak TW, Hirano N. Affinity-matured HLA class II dimers for robust staining of antigen-specific CD4 + T cells. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:958-967. [PMID: 33649568 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00836-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) multimers enable the detection of antigen-specific T cells in studies ranging from vaccine efficacy to cancer immunotherapy. However, this technology is unreliable when applied to pMHC class II for the detection of CD4+ T cells. Here, using a combination of molecular biological and immunological techniques, we cloned sequences encoding human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DP, HLA-DQ and HLA-DR molecules with enhanced CD4 binding affinity (with a Kd of 8.9 ± 1.1 µM between CD4 and affinity-matured HLA-DP4) and produced affinity-matured class II dimers that stain antigen-specific T cells better than conventional multimers in both in vitro and ex vivo analyses. Using a comprehensive library of dimers for HLA-DP4, which is the most frequent HLA allele in many ancestry groups, we mapped 103 HLA-DP4-restricted epitopes derived from diverse tumor-associated antigens and cloned the cognate T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes from in vitro-stimulated CD4+ T cells. The availability of affinity-matured class II dimers across HLA-DP, HLA-DQ and HLA-DR alleles will aid in the investigation of human CD4+ T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Sugata
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yukiko Matsunaga
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuki Yamashita
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Munehide Nakatsugawa
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tingxi Guo
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yota Ohashi
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kayoko Saso
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammed A Rahman
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Anczurowski
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chung-Hsi Wang
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kenji Murata
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hiroshi Saijo
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuki Kagoya
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalam Ly
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian D Burt
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcus O Butler
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tak W Mak
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naoto Hirano
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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26
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Targeting CAR to the Peptide-MHC Complex Reveals Distinct Signaling Compared to That of TCR in a Jurkat T Cell Model. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040867. [PMID: 33670734 PMCID: PMC7922477 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) redirect T cells without the need for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction. CARs are designed based on T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and the recognition specificities of antibodies. This technology has achieved great clinical success in combatting cancers. Despite these successes, the mechanism of CAR signaling in the T cell and how this can impact function is not fully understood. To enhance our understanding and to identify the characteristics of CAR signaling, we designed a CAR to target a peptide-MHC complex, similar to the TCR. This allowed us to compare CAR and TCR head-to-head, such that novel traits of CAR signaling could be discovered. We found that CAR has distinct signaling characteristics compared to TCR, including the molecules that facilitate signal transduction. These findings offer explanations for the clinical behavior of CAR T cells (CAR-T) therapy and avenues to optimize the technology. Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) utilize T cell receptor (TCR) signaling cascades and the recognition functions of antibodies. This allows T cells, normally restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), to be redirected to target cells by their surface antigens, such as tumor associated antigens (TAAs). CAR-T technology has achieved significant successes in treatment of certain cancers, primarily liquid cancers. Nonetheless, many challenges hinder development of this therapy, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and the efficacy of CAR-T treatments for solid tumors. These challenges show our inadequate understanding of this technology, particularly regarding CAR signaling, which has been less studied. To dissect CAR signaling, we designed a CAR that targets an epitope from latent membrane protein 2 A (LMP2 A) of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) presented on HLA*A02:01. Because of this, CAR and TCR signaling can be compared directly, allowing us to study the involvement of other signaling molecules, such as coreceptors. This comparison revealed that CAR was sufficient to bind monomeric antigens due to its high affinity but required oligomeric antigens for its activation. CAR sustained the transduced signal significantly longer, but at a lower magnitude, than did TCR. CD8 coreceptor was recruited to the CAR synapse but played a negligible role in signaling, unlike for TCR signaling. The distinct CAR signaling processes could provide explanations for clinical behavior of CAR-T therapy and suggest ways to improve the technology.
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27
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Smith AR, Alonso JA, Ayres CM, Singh NK, Hellman LM, Baker BM. Structurally silent peptide anchor modifications allosterically modulate T cell recognition in a receptor-dependent manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2018125118. [PMID: 33468649 PMCID: PMC7848747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018125118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Presentation of peptides by class I MHC proteins underlies T cell immune responses to pathogens and cancer. The association between peptide binding affinity and immunogenicity has led to the engineering of modified peptides with improved MHC binding, with the hope that these peptides would be useful for eliciting cross-reactive immune responses directed toward their weak binding, unmodified counterparts. Increasing evidence, however, indicates that T cell receptors (TCRs) can perceive such anchor-modified peptides differently than wild-type (WT) peptides, although the scope of discrimination is unclear. We show here that even modifications at primary anchors that have no discernible structural impact can lead to substantially stronger or weaker T cell recognition depending on the TCR. Surprisingly, the effect of peptide anchor modification can be sensed by a TCR at regions distant from the site of modification, indicating a through-protein mechanism in which the anchor residue serves as an allosteric modulator for TCR binding. Our findings emphasize caution in the use and interpretation of results from anchor-modified peptides and have implications for how anchor modifications are accounted for in other circumstances, such as predicting the immunogenicity of tumor neoantigens. Our data also highlight an important need to better understand the highly tunable dynamic nature of class I MHC proteins and the impact this has on various forms of immune recognition.
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MESH Headings
- Allosteric Regulation
- Binding Sites
- Cloning, Molecular
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Vectors/chemistry
- Genetic Vectors/metabolism
- HLA-A2 Antigen/chemistry
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Jurkat Cells
- Kinetics
- Models, Molecular
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Th2 Cells/cytology
- Th2 Cells/immunology
- Thermodynamics
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Nishant K Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Lance M Hellman
- Department of Physical and Life Sciences, Nevada State College, Henderson, NV 89002
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556;
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
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28
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Lameris R, Shahine A, Pellicci DG, Uldrich AP, Gras S, Le Nours J, Groen RWJ, Vree J, Reddiex SJJ, Quiñones-Parra SM, Richardson SK, Howell AR, Zweegman S, Godfrey DI, de Gruijl TD, Rossjohn J, van der Vliet HJ. A single-domain bispecific antibody targeting CD1d and the NKT T-cell receptor induces a potent antitumor response. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 1:1054-1065. [DOI: 10.1038/s43018-020-00111-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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29
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Abstract
γδ T cells form an abundant part of the human cellular immune system, where they respond to tissue damage, infection, and cancer. The spectrum of known molecular targets recognized by Vδ1-expressing γδ T cells is becoming increasingly diverse. Here we describe human γδ T cells that recognize CD1b, a lipid antigen-presenting molecule, which is inducibly expressed on monocytes and dendritic cells. Using CD1b tetramers to study multiple donors, we found that many CD1b-specific γδ T cells use Vδ1. Despite their common use of Vδ1, three CD1b-specific γδ T cell receptors (TCRs) showed clear differences in the surface of CD1b recognized, the requirement for lipid antigens, and corecognition of butryophilin-like proteins. Several Vγ segments were present among the CD1b-specific TCRs, but chain swap experiments demonstrated that CD1b specificity was mediated by the Vδ1 chain. One of the CD1b-specific Vδ1+ TCRs paired with Vγ4 and shows dual reactivity to CD1b and butyrophilin-like proteins. αβ TCRs typically recognize the peptide display platform of MHC proteins. In contrast, our results demonstrate the use of rearranged receptors to mediate diverse modes of recognition across the surface of CD1b in ways that do and do not require carried lipids.
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30
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Souter MNT, Loh L, Li S, Meehan BS, Gherardin NA, Godfrey DI, Rossjohn J, Fairlie DP, Kedzierska K, Pellicci DG, Chen Z, Kjer-Nielsen L, Corbett AJ, McCluskey J, Eckle SBG. Characterization of Human Mucosal-associated Invariant T (MAIT) Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 127:e90. [PMID: 31763790 DOI: 10.1002/cpim.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of unconventional T cells restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like molecule MHC-related protein 1 (MR1). MAIT cells are found throughout the body, especially in human blood and liver. Unlike conventional T cells, which are stimulated by peptide antigens presented by MHC molecules, MAIT cells recognize metabolite antigens derived from an intermediate in the microbial biosynthesis of riboflavin. MAIT cells mediate protective immunity to infections by riboflavin-producing microbes via the production of cytokines and cytotoxicity. The discovery of stimulating MAIT cell antigens allowed for the development of an analytical tool, the MR1 tetramer, that binds specifically to the MAIT T cell receptor (TCR) and is becoming the gold standard for identification of MAIT cells by flow cytometry. This article describes protocols to characterize the phenotype of human MAIT cells in blood and tissues by flow cytometry using fluorescently labeled human MR1 tetramers alongside antibodies specific for MAIT cell markers. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The main protocols include: Basic Protocol 1: Determining the frequency and steady-state surface phenotype of human MAIT cells Basic Protocol 2: Determining the activation phenotype of human MAIT cells in blood Basic Protocol 3: Characterizing MAIT cell TCRs using TCR-positive reporter cell lines Alternate protocols are provided for determining the absolute number, transcription factor phenotype, and TCR usage of human MAIT cells; and determining activation phenotype by staining for intracellular markers, measuring secreted cytokines, and measuring fluorescent dye dilution due to proliferation. Additional methods are provided for determining the capacity of MAIT cells to produce cytokine independently of antigen using plate-bound or bead-immobilized CD3/CD28 stimulation; and determining the MR1-Ag dependence of MAIT cell activation using MR1-blocking antibody or competitive inhibition. For TCR-positive reporter cell lines, methods are also provided for evaluating the MAIT TCR-mediated MR1-Ag response, determining the capacity of the reporter lines to produce cytokine independently of antigen, determining the MR1-Ag dependence of the reporter lines, and evaluating the MR1-Ag response of the reporter lines using IL-2 secretion. Support Protocols describe the preparation of PBMCs from human blood, the preparation of single-cell suspensions from tissue, the isolation of MAIT cells by FACS and MACS, cloning MAIT TCRα and β chain genes and MR1 genes for transduction, generating stably and transiently transfected cells lines, generating a stable MR1 knockout antigen-presenting cell line, and generating monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael N T Souter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Liyen Loh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shihan Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Bronwyn S Meehan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Dale I Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - David P Fairlie
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Katherine Kedzierska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel G Pellicci
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Zhenjun Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lars Kjer-Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexandra J Corbett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sidonia B G Eckle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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31
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Ma Y, Lim YJ, Benda A, Lou J, Goyette J, Gaus K. Clustering of the ζ-Chain Can Initiate T Cell Receptor Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103498. [PMID: 32429097 PMCID: PMC7279048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell activation is initiated when ligand binding to the T cell receptor (TCR) triggers intracellular phosphorylation of the TCR-CD3 complex. However, it remains unknown how biophysical properties of TCR engagement result in biochemical phosphorylation events. Here, we constructed an optogenetic tool that induces spatial clustering of ζ-chain in a light controlled manner. We showed that spatial clustering of the ζ-chain intracellular tail alone was sufficient to initialize T cell triggering including phosphorylation of ζ-chain, Zap70, PLCγ, ERK and initiated Ca2+ flux. In reconstituted COS-7 cells, only Lck expression was required to initiate ζ-chain phosphorylation upon ζ-chain clustering, which leads to the recruitment of tandem SH2 domain of Zap70 from cell cytosol to the newly formed ζ-chain clusters at the plasma membrane. Taken together, our data demonstrated the biophysical relevance of receptor clustering in TCR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanqing Ma
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia; (J.L.); (J.G.)
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (K.G.)
| | - Yean J. Lim
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, 131 Garran Road, 2601 Canberra, Australia;
- Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, 31 North Road, 2601 Canberra, Australia
| | - Aleš Benda
- IMCF at BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Průmyslová 595, 25250 Vestec, Czech Republic;
| | - Jieqiong Lou
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia; (J.L.); (J.G.)
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jesse Goyette
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia; (J.L.); (J.G.)
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia
| | - Katharina Gaus
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia; (J.L.); (J.G.)
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (K.G.)
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32
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Murata K, Nakatsugawa M, Rahman MA, Nguyen LT, Millar DG, Mulder DT, Sugata K, Saijo H, Matsunaga Y, Kagoya Y, Guo T, Anczurowski M, Wang CH, Burt BD, Ly D, Saso K, Easson A, Goldstein DP, Reedijk M, Ghazarian D, Pugh TJ, Butler MO, Mak TW, Ohashi PS, Hirano N. Landscape mapping of shared antigenic epitopes and their cognate TCRs of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in melanoma. eLife 2020; 9:53244. [PMID: 32314731 PMCID: PMC7234812 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HLA-restricted T cell responses can induce antitumor effects in cancer patients. Previous human T cell research has largely focused on the few HLA alleles prevalent in a subset of ethnic groups. Here, using a panel of newly developed peptide-exchangeable peptide/HLA multimers and artificial antigen-presenting cells for 25 different class I alleles and greater than 800 peptides, we systematically and comprehensively mapped shared antigenic epitopes recognized by tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) from eight melanoma patients for all their class I alleles. We were able to determine the specificity, on average, of 12.2% of the TILs recognizing a mean of 3.1 shared antigen-derived epitopes across HLA-A, B, and C. Furthermore, we isolated a number of cognate T cell receptor genes with tumor reactivity. Our novel strategy allows for a more complete examination of the immune response and development of novel cancer immunotherapy not limited by HLA allele prevalence or tumor mutation burden. The immune system is the body’s way of defending itself, offering protection against diseases such as cancer. But to remove the cancer cells, the immune system must be able to identify them as different from the rest of the body. All cells break down proteins into shorter fragments, known as peptides, that are displayed on the cell surface by a protein called human leukocyte antigen, HLA for short. Cancer cells display distinctive peptides on their surface as they generate different proteins to those of healthy cells. Immune cells called T cells use these abnormal peptides to identify the cancer so that it can be destroyed. Sometimes T cells can lack the right equipment to detect abnormal peptides, allowing cancer cells to hide from the immune system. However, T cells can be trained through a treatment called immunotherapy, which provides T cells with new tools so that they can spot the peptides displayed by HLA on the previously ‘hidden’ cancer cells. There are many different forms of HLA, each of which can display different peptides. Current research in immunotherapy commonly targets only a subset of HLA forms, and not all cancer patients have these types. This means that immunotherapy research is only likely to be of most benefit to a limited number of patients. Immunotherapy could be made effective for more people if new cancer peptides that are displayed by the other ‘under-represented’ forms of HLA were identified. Murata, Nakatsugawa et al. have now used T cells that were taken from tumors in eight patients with melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. A library of fluorescent HLA-peptides was generated – using a new, simplified methodology – with 25 forms of HLA that displayed over 800 peptides. T cells were then mixed with the library to identify which HLA-peptides they can target. As a result, Murata, Nakatsugawa et al. found the cancer targets of around 12% of the tumor-infiltrating T cells tested, including those from under-represented forms of HLA. Consequently, these findings could be used to develop new immunotherapies that can treat more patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Murata
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Munehide Nakatsugawa
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Muhammed A Rahman
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Linh T Nguyen
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Douglas G Millar
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - David T Mulder
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kenji Sugata
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hiroshi Saijo
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yukiko Matsunaga
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yuki Kagoya
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tingxi Guo
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mark Anczurowski
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Chung-Hsi Wang
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brian D Burt
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Dalam Ly
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kayoko Saso
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alexandra Easson
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - David P Goldstein
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Reedijk
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Danny Ghazarian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Trevor J Pugh
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marcus O Butler
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tak W Mak
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pamela S Ohashi
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Naoto Hirano
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
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Zong S, Mi T, Flores LG, Alpert A, Olivares S, Patel K, Maiti S, Mcnamara G, Cooper LJN, Torikai H. Very rapid cloning, expression and identifying specificity of T-cell receptors for T-cell engineering. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228112. [PMID: 32040512 PMCID: PMC7010234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoantigens can be predicted and in some cases identified using the data obtained from the whole exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of tumor cells. These sequencing data can be coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing for the direct interrogation of the transcriptome, surfaceome, and pairing of αβ T-cell receptors (TCRαβ) from hundreds of single T cells. Using these 2 large datasets, we established a platform for identifying antigens recognized by TCRαβs obtained from single T cells. Our approach is based on the rapid expression of cloned TCRαβ genes as Sleeping Beauty transposons and the determination of the introduced TCRαβs’ antigen specificity and avidity using a reporter cell line. The platform enables the very rapid identification of tumor-reactive TCRs for the bioengineering of T cells with redirected specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zong
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tiejuan Mi
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Leo G. Flores
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amir Alpert
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Simon Olivares
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Krina Patel
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sourindra Maiti
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - George Mcnamara
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Laurence J. N. Cooper
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Ziopharm Oncology, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hiroki Torikai
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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34
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Mosaheb MM, Dobrikova EY, Brown MC, Yang Y, Cable J, Okada H, Nair SK, Bigner DD, Ashley DM, Gromeier M. Genetically stable poliovirus vectors activate dendritic cells and prime antitumor CD8 T cell immunity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:524. [PMID: 31988324 PMCID: PMC6985231 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses naturally engage innate immunity, induce antigen presentation, and mediate CD8 T cell priming against foreign antigens. Polioviruses can provide a context optimal for generating antigen-specific CD8 T cells, as they have natural tropism for dendritic cells, preeminent inducers of CD8 T cell immunity; elicit Th1-promoting inflammation; and lack interference with innate or adaptive immunity. However, notorious genetic instability and underlying neuropathogenicity has hampered poliovirus-based vector applications. Here we devised a strategy based on the polio:rhinovirus chimera PVSRIPO, devoid of viral neuropathogenicity after intracerebral inoculation in human subjects, for stable expression of exogenous antigens. PVSRIPO vectors infect, activate, and induce epitope presentation in DCs in vitro; they recruit and activate DCs with Th1-dominant cytokine profiles at the injection site in vivo. They efficiently prime tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells in vivo, induce CD8 T cell migration to the tumor site, delay tumor growth and enhance survival in murine tumor models. Experimental PVSRIPO oncolytic virus therapy of glioblastoma has shown long-term efficacy in a subset of patients. Here the authors engineer the virus to enable incorporation of tumor-specific antigens, and show proof-of-principle evidence that this modification increases anti-tumor immunity and extends survival in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubeen M Mosaheb
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Elena Y Dobrikova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Michael C Brown
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Yuanfan Yang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Jana Cable
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94129, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94129, USA
| | - Smita K Nair
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Darell D Bigner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - David M Ashley
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Matthias Gromeier
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
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35
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He Q, Jiang X, Zhou X, Weng J. Targeting cancers through TCR-peptide/MHC interactions. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:139. [PMID: 31852498 PMCID: PMC6921533 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy has achieved dramatic success in a clinic, and the Food and Drug Administration approved two chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell (CAR-T) therapies that target hematological cancers in 2018. A significant issue faced by CAR-T therapies is the lack of tumor-specific biomarkers on the surfaces of solid tumor cells, which hampers the application of CAR-T therapies to solid tumors. Intracellular tumor-related antigens can be presented as peptides in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the cell surface, which interact with the T cell receptors (TCR) on antigen-specific T cells to stimulate an anti-tumor response. Multiple immunotherapy strategies have been developed to eradicate tumor cells through targeting the TCR-peptide/MHC interactions. Here, we summarize the current status of TCR-based immunotherapy strategies, with particular focus on the TCR structure, activated signaling pathways, the effects and toxicity associated with TCR-based therapies in clinical trials, preclinical studies examining immune-mobilizing monoclonal TCRs against cancer (ImmTACs), and TCR-fusion molecules. We propose several TCR-based therapeutic strategies to achieve optimal clinical responses without the induction of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua He
- Department of Center Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 621 Gangwan Rd, Huangpu Qu, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xianhan Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xinke Zhou
- Department of Center Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 621 Gangwan Rd, Huangpu Qu, Guangzhou, 510700, China. .,Department of General Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China.
| | - Jinsheng Weng
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1414 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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36
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Thomas S, Mohammed F, Reijmers RM, Woolston A, Stauss T, Kennedy A, Stirling D, Holler A, Green L, Jones D, Matthews KK, Price DA, Chain BM, Heemskerk MHM, Morris EC, Willcox BE, Stauss HJ. Framework engineering to produce dominant T cell receptors with enhanced antigen-specific function. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4451. [PMID: 31575864 PMCID: PMC6773850 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12441-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
TCR-gene-transfer is an efficient strategy to produce therapeutic T cells of defined antigen specificity. However, there are substantial variations in the cell surface expression levels of human TCRs, which can impair the function of engineered T cells. Here we demonstrate that substitutions of 3 amino acid residues in the framework of the TCR variable domains consistently increase the expression of human TCRs on the surface of engineered T cells.The modified TCRs mediate enhanced T cell proliferation, cytokine production and cytotoxicity, while reducing the peptide concentration required for triggering effector function up to 3000-fold. Adoptive transfer experiments in mice show that modified TCRs control tumor growth more efficiently than wild-type TCRs. Our data indicate that simple variable domain modifications at a distance from the antigen-binding loops lead to increased TCR expression and improved effector function. This finding provides a generic platform to optimize the efficacy of TCR gene therapy in humans.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens/immunology
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Cell Engineering
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Genes, T-Cell Receptor/genetics
- Genes, T-Cell Receptor/immunology
- Genetic Therapy
- Humans
- Lectins, C-Type/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharyn Thomas
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Fiyaz Mohammed
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Centre, Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rogier M Reijmers
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Woolston
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Theresa Stauss
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Alan Kennedy
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - David Stirling
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Angelika Holler
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Louisa Green
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - David Jones
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Katherine K Matthews
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Benjamin M Chain
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emma C Morris
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Benjamin E Willcox
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Centre, Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hans J Stauss
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK.
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37
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Direct comparison of target-reactivity and cross-reactivity induced by CAR- and BiTE-redirected T cells for the development of antibody-based T-cell therapy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13293. [PMID: 31527633 PMCID: PMC6746725 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49834-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) has led to the successful application of cancer immunotherapy. The potential reactivity mediated by CAR- and BiTE-redirected T cells needs to be assessed to facilitate the application of these treatment options to a broader range of patients. Here, we have generated CAR and BiTE possessing the same single chain fragment variable (scFv) specific for the HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1157-165 complex (A2/NY-ESO-1157). Using HLA-A2+NY-ESO-1+ myeloma cells and peptides presented by HLA-A2 molecules as a model, both sets of redirected T cells recognized and killed HLA-A2+NY-ESO-1+ myeloma cells in an A2/NY-ESO-1157-specific manner in vitro. Moreover, CAR- and BiTE-activated T cells showed similar functional avidity, as assessed by cytokine production and killing activity, both displaying antitumor reactivity against HLA-A2+NY-ESO-1+ myeloma cells in vivo. Interestingly, cross-reactivity for homologous peptides presented by HLA-A*02:01 and NY-ESO-1157 peptide presented by HLA-A2 alleles was not identical between CAR- and BiTE-redirected T cells, probably due to structural differences of modified antibodies. These results have demonstrated that both antitumor CAR- and BiTE-activated T cells have comparable potential to recognize tumors, while paying attention to unknown off-target reactivity that would differ for each antibody-based modality even if the same scFv was employed.
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38
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Abdelaziz MO, Ossmann S, Kaufmann AM, Leitner J, Steinberger P, Willimsky G, Raftery MJ, Schönrich G. Development of a Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-Based Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Uncovers a Previously Unsuspected Viral Block of MHC Class I Antigen Presentation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1776. [PMID: 31417555 PMCID: PMC6682651 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces a uniquely high frequency of virus-specific effector/memory CD8+ T-cells, a phenomenon termed “memory inflation”. Thus, HCMV-based vaccines are particularly interesting in order to stimulate a sustained and strong cellular immune response against cancer. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with high lethality and inevitable relapse. The current standard treatment does not significantly improve the desperate situation underlining the urgent need to develop novel approaches. Although HCMV is highly fastidious with regard to species and cell type, GBM cell lines are susceptible to HCMV. In order to generate HCMV-based therapeutic vaccine candidates, we deleted all HCMV-encoded proteins (immunoevasins) that interfere with MHC class I presentation. The aim being to use the viral vector as an adjuvant for presentation of endogenous tumor antigens, the presentation of high levels of vector-encoded neoantigens and finally the repurposing of bystander HCMV-specific CD8+ T cells to fight the tumor. As neoantigen, we exemplarily used the E6 and E7 proteins of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) as a non-transforming fusion protein (E6/E7) that covers all relevant antigenic peptides. Surprisingly, GBM cells infected with E6/E7-expressing HCMV-vectors failed to stimulate E6-specific T cells despite high level expression of E6/E7 protein. Further experiments revealed that MHC class I presentation of E6/E7 is impaired by the HCMV-vector although it lacks all known immunoevasins. We also generated HCMV-based vectors that express E6-derived peptide fused to HCMV proteins. GBM cells infected with these vectors efficiently stimulated E6-specific T cells. Thus, fusion of antigenic sequences to HCMV proteins is required for efficient presentation via MHC class I molecules during infection. Taken together, these results provide the preclinical basis for development of HCMV-based vaccines and also reveal a novel HCMV-encoded block of MHC class I presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed O Abdelaziz
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Ossmann
- Clinic for Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas M Kaufmann
- Clinic for Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Judith Leitner
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Division of Immune Receptors and T Cell Activation, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerald Willimsky
- Institute of Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin J Raftery
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Günther Schönrich
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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39
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Wang R, Pscheid R, Ghumra A, Kan LYL, Cochrane S, Fairclough L, Alcocer MJC. Towards a surrogate system to express human lipid binding TCRs. Biotechnol Lett 2019; 41:1095-1104. [PMID: 31346817 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously we reported that natural nut lipids were necessary for sensitization and that natural killer T cells (NKTs) must play a critical role in the development of food allergic responses. A major bottleneck in further understanding the interaction of nut lipids with the cells of the human immune system is the lack of well-characterized lipid responsive human cell lines. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we engineered human T cell receptor (TCR) sequences TRAV10 and TRBV25 responsive to α-GalCer into a stable murine iNKT hybridoma and surrogate human T cell lines. RESULTS The murine hybridoma system has shown to be problematic. To overcome this limitation, the expression of human TCR α/β sequences has been achieved driven by a bidirectional promoter on a plasmids or a lentivirus system, employing stable DC cell lines as lipid presenting cells, and a stable T cell line as a surrogate system. Further, a commercial human Jurkat T cell line containing an inducible secreted luciferase reporter construct was shown to be functional and can be used for a transient expression of human TCRs in a lipid screening program. The transfection efficiencies were improved using the lentivirus polycistronic constructs containing the P2A sequence in a TCR αβ/γδ null cell line (Jurkat 76). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the mis-pairing of the endogenous α/β TCR during ER folding in the presence of the new human TCR sequences could be impairing the functionality of the TCR lipid receptors. The surrogate systems presented here are important first steps in the establishment of human cell-specific lipid responsive libraries for the study of natural lipid substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ronja Pscheid
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ashfaq Ghumra
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ling Yu Lea Kan
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Stella Cochrane
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Lucy Fairclough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Marcos J C Alcocer
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.
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40
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Galperin M, Farenc C, Mukhopadhyay M, Jayasinghe D, Decroos A, Benati D, Tan LL, Ciacchi L, Reid HH, Rossjohn J, Chakrabarti LA, Gras S. CD4 + T cell-mediated HLA class II cross-restriction in HIV controllers. Sci Immunol 2019; 3:3/24/eaat0687. [PMID: 29884618 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aat0687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Rare individuals, termed HIV controllers, spontaneously control HIV infection by mounting efficient T cell responses against the virus. Protective CD4+ T cell responses from HIV controllers involve high-affinity public T cell receptors (TCRs) recognizing an immunodominant capsid epitope (Gag293) presented by a remarkably broad array of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules. Here, we determine the structures of a prototypical public TCR bound to HLA-DR1, HLA-DR11, and HLA-DR15 molecules presenting the Gag293 epitope. TCR recognition was driven by contacts with the Gag293 epitope, a feature that underpinned the extensive HLA cross-restriction. These high-affinity TCRs promoted mature immunological synapse formation and cytotoxic capacity in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The public TCRs suppressed HIV replication in multiple genetic backgrounds ex vivo, emphasizing the functional advantage conferred by broad HLA class II cross-restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Galperin
- Pasteur Institute, Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Paris, France
| | - Carine Farenc
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | | | - Dhilshan Jayasinghe
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | | | - Daniela Benati
- Pasteur Institute, Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Paris, France
| | - Li Lynn Tan
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Lisa Ciacchi
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Hugh H Reid
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Lisa A Chakrabarti
- Pasteur Institute, Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Paris, France.,INSERM, U1108, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Gras
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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41
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Reinink P, Souter MNT, Cheng TY, van Gorkom T, Lenz S, Kubler-Kielb J, Strle K, Kremer K, Thijsen SFT, Steere AC, Godfrey DI, Pellicci DG, Moody DB, Van Rhijn I. CD1b presents self and Borrelia burgdorferi diacylglycerols to human T cells. Eur J Immunol 2019; 49:737-746. [PMID: 30854633 PMCID: PMC6594241 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease is a common multisystem disease caused by infection with a tick‐transmitted spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi and related Borrelia species. The monoglycosylated diacylglycerol known as B. burgdorferi glycolipid II (BbGL‐II) is a major target of antibodies in sera from infected individuals. Here, we show that CD1b presents BbGL‐II to human T cells and that the TCR mediates the recognition. However, we did not detect increased frequency of CD1b‐BbGL‐II binding T cells in the peripheral blood of Lyme disease patients compared to controls. Unexpectedly, mapping the T cell specificity for BbGL‐II‐like molecules using tetramers and activation assays revealed a concomitant response to CD1b‐expressing APCs in absence of BbGL‐II. Further, among all major classes of self‐lipid tested, BbGL‐II responsive TCRs show strong cross‐reactivity to diacylglycerol, a self‐lipid antigen with structural similarities to BbGL‐II. Extending prior work on MHC and CD1b, CD1c, and CD1d proteins, this study provides evidence for cross‐reactive CD1b‐restricted T cell responses to bacterial and self‐antigens, and identifies chemically defined targets for future discovery of self and foreign antigen cross‐reactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Reinink
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael N T Souter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Tan-Yun Cheng
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamara van Gorkom
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessen Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Stefanie Lenz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna Kubler-Kielb
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Klemen Strle
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristin Kremer
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Steven F T Thijsen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessen Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Allen C Steere
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dale I Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Daniel G Pellicci
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - D Branch Moody
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ildiko Van Rhijn
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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42
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A T-cell receptor escape channel allows broad T-cell response to CD1b and membrane phospholipids. Nat Commun 2019; 10:56. [PMID: 30610190 PMCID: PMC6320368 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07898-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
CD1 proteins are expressed on dendritic cells, where they display lipid antigens to T-cell receptors (TCRs). Here we describe T-cell autoreactivity towards ubiquitous human membrane phospholipids presented by CD1b. These T-cells discriminate between two major types of lipids, sphingolipids and phospholipids, but were broadly cross-reactive towards diverse phospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The crystal structure of a representative TCR bound to CD1b-phosphatidylcholine provides a molecular mechanism for this promiscuous recognition. We observe a lateral escape channel in the TCR, which shunted phospholipid head groups sideways along the CD1b-TCR interface, without contacting the TCR. Instead the TCR recognition site involved the neck region phosphate that is common to all major self-phospholipids but absent in sphingolipids. Whereas prior studies have focused on foreign lipids or rare self-lipids, we define a new molecular mechanism of promiscuous recognition of common self-phospholipids including those that are known targets in human autoimmune disease.
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43
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Poncette L, Chen X, Lorenz FK, Blankenstein T. Effective NY-ESO-1-specific MHC II-restricted T cell receptors from antigen-negative hosts enhance tumor regression. J Clin Invest 2018; 129:324-335. [PMID: 30530988 DOI: 10.1172/jci120391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cell receptor-engineered (TCR-engineered) T cells is a promising approach in cancer therapy but needs improvement for more effective treatment of solid tumors. While most clinical approaches have focused on CD8+ T cells, the importance of CD4+ T cells in mediating tumor regression has become apparent. Regarding shared (self) tumor antigens, it is unclear whether the human CD4+ T cell repertoire has been shaped by tolerance mechanisms and lacks highly functional TCRs suitable for therapy. Here, TCRs against the tumor-associated antigen NY-ESO-1 were isolated either from human CD4+ T cells or from mice that express a diverse human TCR repertoire with HLA-DRA/DRB1*0401 restriction and are NY-ESO-1 negative. NY-ESO-1-reactive TCRs from the mice showed superior recognition of tumor cells and higher functional activity compared with TCRs from humans. We identified a candidate TCR, TCR-3598_2, which was expressed in CD4+ T cells and caused tumor regression in combination with NY-ESO-1-redirected CD8+ T cells in a mouse model of adoptive T cell therapy. These data suggest that MHC II-restricted TCRs against NY-ESO-1 from a nontolerant nonhuman host are of optimal affinity and that the combined use of MHC I- and II-restricted TCRs against NY-ESO-1 can make adoptive T cell therapy more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Poncette
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaojing Chen
- Institute of Immunology, Charité Campus Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Blankenstein
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, Charité Campus Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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44
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Melandri D, Zlatareva I, Chaleil RAG, Dart RJ, Chancellor A, Nussbaumer O, Polyakova O, Roberts NA, Wesch D, Kabelitz D, Irving PM, John S, Mansour S, Bates PA, Vantourout P, Hayday AC. The γδTCR combines innate immunity with adaptive immunity by utilizing spatially distinct regions for agonist selection and antigen responsiveness. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:1352-1365. [PMID: 30420626 PMCID: PMC6874498 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0253-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
T lymphocytes expressing γδ T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) comprise evolutionarily conserved cells with paradoxical features. On the one hand, clonally expanded γδ T cells with unique specificities typify adaptive immunity. Conversely, large compartments of γδTCR+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (γδ IELs) exhibit limited TCR diversity and effect rapid, innate-like tissue surveillance. The development of several γδ IEL compartments depends on epithelial expression of genes encoding butyrophilin-like (Btnl (mouse) or BTNL (human)) members of the B7 superfamily of T cell co-stimulators. Here we found that responsiveness to Btnl or BTNL proteins was mediated by germline-encoded motifs within the cognate TCR variable γ-chains (Vγ chains) of mouse and human γδ IELs. This was in contrast to diverse antigen recognition by clonally restricted complementarity-determining regions CDR1-CDR3 of the same γδTCRs. Hence, the γδTCR intrinsically combines innate immunity and adaptive immunity by using spatially distinct regions to discriminate non-clonal agonist-selecting elements from clone-specific ligands. The broader implications for antigen-receptor biology are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Melandri
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Iva Zlatareva
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Robin J Dart
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Andrew Chancellor
- Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Oliver Nussbaumer
- GammaDelta Therapeutics, London BioScience Innovation Center, London, UK
| | - Oxana Polyakova
- GammaDelta Therapeutics, London BioScience Innovation Center, London, UK
| | - Natalie A Roberts
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Daniela Wesch
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Dieter Kabelitz
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Peter M Irving
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Susan John
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Salah Mansour
- Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul A Bates
- Biomolecular Modelling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Pierre Vantourout
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
| | - Adrian C Hayday
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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45
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Kremer AN, Zonneveld MI, Kremer AE, van der Meijden ED, Falkenburg JHF, Wauben MHM, Nolte-'t Hoen ENM, Griffioen M. Natural T-cell ligands that are created by genetic variants can be transferred between cells by extracellular vesicles. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:1621-1631. [PMID: 30011060 PMCID: PMC6220790 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201747152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
CD4 T cells play a central role as helper cells in adaptive immunity. Presentation of exogenous antigens in MHC class II by professional antigen-presenting cells is a crucial step in induction of specific CD4 T cells in adaptive immune responses. For efficient induction of immunity against intracellular threats such as viruses or malignant transformations, antigens from HLA class II-negative infected or transformed cells need to be transferred to surrounding antigen-presenting cells to allow efficient priming of naive CD4 T cells. Here we show indirect antigen presentation for a subset of natural HLA class II ligands that are created by genetic variants and demonstrated that (neo)antigens can be transferred between cells by extracellular vesicles. Intercellular transfer by extracellular vesicles was not dependent on the T-cell epitope, but rather on characteristics of the full-length protein. This mechanism of (neo)antigen transfer from HLA class II-negative cells to surrounding antigen-presenting cells may play a crucial role in induction of anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita N Kremer
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Internal Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marijke I Zonneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas E Kremer
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine 1, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Edith D van der Meijden
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Internal Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Marca H M Wauben
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Esther N M Nolte-'t Hoen
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Griffioen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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46
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Bykova NA, Malko DB, Efimov GA. In Silico Analysis of the Minor Histocompatibility Antigen Landscape Based on the 1000 Genomes Project. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1819. [PMID: 30166983 PMCID: PMC6105694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is routinely used to treat hematopoietic malignancies. The eradication of residual tumor cells during engraftment is mediated by donor cytotoxic T lymphocytes reactive to alloantigens. In a HLA-matched transplantation context, alloantigens are encoded by various polymorphic genes situated outside the HLA locus, also called minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs). Recently, MiHAs have been recognized as promising targets for post-transplantation T-cell immunotherapy as they have several appealing advantages over tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and neoantigens, i.e., they are more abundant than TAAs, which potentially facilitates multiple targeting; and unlike neoantigens, they are encoded by germline polymorphisms, some of which are common and thus, suitable for off-the-shelf therapy. The genetic sources of MiHAs are nonsynonymous polymorphisms that cause differences between the recipient and donor proteomes and subsequently, the immunopeptidomes. Systematic description of the alloantigen landscape in HLA-matched transplantation is still lacking as previous studies focused only on a few immunogenic and common MiHAs. Here, we perform a thorough in silico analysis of the public genomic data to classify genetic polymorphisms that lead to MiHA formation and estimate the number of potentially available MiHA mismatches. Our findings suggest that a donor/recipient pair is expected to have at least several dozen mismatched strong MHC-binding SNP-associated peptides per HLA allele (116 ± 26 and 65 ± 15 for non-related pairs and siblings respectively in European populations as predicted by two independent algorithms). Over 70% of them are encoded by relatively frequent polymorphisms (minor allele frequency > 0.1) and thus, may be targetable by off-the-shelf therapeutics. We showed that the most appealing targets (probability of mismatch over 20%) reside in the asymmetric allele frequency region, which spans from 0.15 to 0.47 and corresponds to an order of several hundred (213 ± 47) possible targets per HLA allele that can be considered for immunogenicity validation. Overall, these findings demonstrate the significant potential of MiHAs as targets for T-cell immunotherapy and emphasize the need for the systematic discovery of novel MiHAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia A Bykova
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry B Malko
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Grigory A Efimov
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
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47
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Gavvovidis I, Leisegang M, Willimsky G, Miller N, Nghiem P, Blankenstein T. Targeting Merkel Cell Carcinoma by Engineered T Cells Specific to T-Antigens of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3644-3655. [PMID: 29669806 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The causative agent of most cases of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has been identified as the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). MCV-encoded T antigens (Tag) are essential not only for virus-mediated tumorigenesis but also for maintaining MCC cell lines in vitro MCV Tags are thus an appealing target for viral oncoprotein-directed T-cell therapy for MCC. With this study, we aimed to isolate and characterize Tag-specific T-cell receptors (TCR) for potential use in gene therapy clinical trials.Experimental Design: T-cell responses against MCV Tag epitopes were investigated by immunizing transgenic mice that express a diverse human TCR repertoire restricted to HLA-A2. Human lymphocytes genetically engineered to express Tag-specific TCRs were tested for specific reactivity against MCC cell lines. The therapeutic potential of Tag-specific TCR gene therapy was tested in a syngeneic cancer model.Results: We identified naturally processed epitopes of MCV Tags and isolated Tag-specific TCRs. T cells expressing these TCRs were activated by HLA-A2-positive cells loaded with cognate peptide or cells that stably expressed MCV Tags. We showed cytotoxic potential of T cells engineered to express these TCRs in vitro and demonstrated regression of established tumors in a mouse model upon TCR gene therapy.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that MCC cells can be targeted by MCV Tag-specific TCRs. Although recent findings suggest that approximately half of MCC patients benefit from PD-1 pathway blockade, additional patients may benefit if their endogenous T-cell response can be augmented by infusion of transgenic MCV-specific T cells such as those described here. Clin Cancer Res; 24(15); 3644-55. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Gavvovidis
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Leisegang
- Institute of Immunology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerald Willimsky
- Institute of Immunology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie Miller
- University of Washington, Dermatology/Medicine/Pathology, Seattle, Washington
| | - Paul Nghiem
- University of Washington, Dermatology/Medicine/Pathology, Seattle, Washington
| | - Thomas Blankenstein
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany. .,Institute of Immunology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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48
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Rosskopf S, Leitner J, Paster W, Morton LT, Hagedoorn RS, Steinberger P, Heemskerk MHM. A Jurkat 76 based triple parameter reporter system to evaluate TCR functions and adoptive T cell strategies. Oncotarget 2018; 9:17608-17619. [PMID: 29707134 PMCID: PMC5915142 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy using TCR transgenic autologous T cells has shown great potential for the treatment of tumor patients. Thorough characterization of genetically reprogrammed T cells is necessary to optimize treatment success. Here, we describe the generation of triple parameter reporter T cells based on the Jurkat 76 T cell line for the evaluation of TCR and chimeric antigen receptor functions as well as adoptive T cell strategies. This Jurkat subline is devoid of endogenous TCR alpha and TCR beta chains, thereby circumventing the problem of TCR miss-pairing and unexpected specificities. The resultant reporter cells allow simultaneous determination of the activity of the transcription factors NF-κB, NFAT and AP-1 that play key roles in T cell activation. Human TCRs directed against tumor and virus antigens were introduced and reporter responses were determined using tumor cell lines endogenously expressing the antigens of interest or via addition of antigenic peptides. Finally, we demonstrate that coexpression of adhesion molecules like CD2 and CD226 as well as CD28 chimeric receptors represents an effective strategy to augment the response of TCR-transgenic reporters to cells presenting cognate antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rosskopf
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Paster
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura T Morton
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Renate S Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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49
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Inderberg EM, Mensali N, Oksvold MP, Fallang LE, Fåne A, Skorstad G, Stenvik GE, Progida C, Bakke O, Kvalheim G, Myklebust JH, Wälchli S. Human c-SRC kinase (CSK) overexpression makes T cells dummy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2018; 67:525-536. [PMID: 29248956 PMCID: PMC11028372 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-017-2105-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells represents a powerful method to redirect the immune system against tumours. However, although TCR recognition is restricted to a specific peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex, increasing numbers of reports have shown cross-reactivity and off-target effects with severe consequences for the patients. This demands further development of strategies to validate TCR safety prior to clinical use. We reasoned that the desired TCR signalling depends on correct pMHC recognition on the outside and a restricted clustering on the inside of the cell. Since the majority of the adverse events are due to TCR recognition of the wrong target, we tested if blocking the signalling would affect the binding. By over-expressing the c-SRC kinase (CSK), a negative regulator of LCK, in redirected T cells, we showed that peripheral blood T cells inhibited anti-CD3/anti-CD28-induced phosphorylation of ERK, whereas TCR proximal signalling was not affected. Similarly, overexpression of CSK together with a therapeutic TCR prevented pMHC-induced ERK phosphorylation. Downstream effector functions were also almost completely blocked, including pMHC-induced IL-2 release, degranulation and, most importantly, target cell killing. The lack of effector functions contrasted with the unaffected TCR expression, pMHC recognition, and membrane exchange activity (trogocytosis). Therefore, co-expression of CSK with a therapeutic TCR did not compromise target recognition and binding, but rendered T cells incapable of executing their effector functions. Consequently, we named these redirected T cells "dummy T cells" and propose to use them for safety validation of new TCRs prior to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Else Marit Inderberg
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadia Mensali
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten P Oksvold
- Section for Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anne Fåne
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gjertrud Skorstad
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Cinzia Progida
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oddmund Bakke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunnar Kvalheim
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - June H Myklebust
- Section for Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Section for Cellular Therapy, Department for Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, PO Box 4953, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
- Section for Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
- Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Preclinical Strategies to Identify Off-Target Toxicity of High-Affinity TCRs. Mol Ther 2018; 26:1206-1214. [PMID: 29567312 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells engineered with a cancer-specific T cell receptor (TCR) has demonstrated clinical benefit. However, the risk for off-target toxicity of TCRs remains a concern. Here, we examined the cross-reactive profile of T cell clone (7B5) with a high functional sensitivity for the hematopoietic-restricted minor histocompatibility antigen HA-2 in the context of HLA-A*02:01. HA-2pos Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphoblastic cell lines (EBV-LCLs) and primary acute myeloid leukemia samples, but not hematopoietic HA-2neg samples, are effectively recognized. However, we found unexpected off-target recognition of human fibroblasts and keratinocytes not expressing the HA-2 antigen. To uncover the origin of this off-target recognition, we performed an alanine scanning approach, identifying six out of nine positions to be important for peptide recognition. This indicates a low risk for broad cross-reactivity. However, using a combinatorial peptide library scanning approach, we identified a CDH13-derived peptide activating the 7B5 T cell clone. This was confirmed by recognition of CDH13-transduced EBV-LCLs and cell subsets endogenously expressing CDH13, such as proximal tubular epithelial cells. As such, we recommend the use of a combinatorial peptide library scan followed by screening against additional cell subsets to validate TCR specificity and detect off-target toxicity due to cross-reactivity directed against unrelated peptides before selecting candidate TCRs for clinical testing.
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