1
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McComb S, Arbabi-Ghahroudi M, Hay KA, Keller BA, Faulkes S, Rutherford M, Nguyen T, Shepherd A, Wu C, Marcil A, Aubry A, Hussack G, Pinto DM, Ryan S, Raphael S, van Faassen H, Zafer A, Zhu Q, Maclean S, Chattopadhyay A, Gurnani K, Gilbert R, Gadoury C, Iqbal U, Fatehi D, Jezierski A, Huang J, Pon RA, Sigrist M, Holt RA, Nelson BH, Atkins H, Kekre N, Yung E, Webb J, Nielsen JS, Weeratna RD. Discovery and preclinical development of a therapeutically active nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor targeting human CD22. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200775. [PMID: 38596311 PMCID: PMC10914482 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies targeting B cell-restricted antigens CD19, CD20, or CD22 can produce potent clinical responses for some B cell malignancies, but relapse remains common. Camelid single-domain antibodies (sdAbs or nanobodies) are smaller, simpler, and easier to recombine than single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) used in most CARs, but fewer sdAb-CARs have been reported. Thus, we sought to identify a therapeutically active sdAb-CAR targeting human CD22. Immunization of an adult Llama glama with CD22 protein, sdAb-cDNA library construction, and phage panning yielded >20 sdAbs with diverse epitope and binding properties. Expressing CD22-sdAb-CAR in Jurkat cells drove varying CD22-specific reactivity not correlated with antibody affinity. Changing CD28- to CD8-transmembrane design increased CAR persistence and expression in vitro. CD22-sdAb-CAR candidates showed similar CD22-dependent CAR-T expansion in vitro, although only membrane-proximal epitope targeting CD22-sdAb-CARs activated direct cytolytic killing and extended survival in a lymphoma xenograft model. Based on enhanced survival in blinded xenograft studies, a lead CD22sdCAR-T was selected, achieving comparable complete responses to a benchmark short linker m971-scFv CAR-T in high-dose experiments. Finally, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry confirm tissue and cellular-level specificity of the lead CD22-sdAb. This presents a complete report on preclinical development of a novel CD22sdCAR therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott McComb
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mehdi Arbabi-Ghahroudi
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin A. Hay
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brian A. Keller
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sharlene Faulkes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Rutherford
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tina Nguyen
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alex Shepherd
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Cunle Wu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Anne Marcil
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Annie Aubry
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Greg Hussack
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Devanand M. Pinto
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon Ryan
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shalini Raphael
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Henk van Faassen
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed Zafer
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Qin Zhu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Maclean
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anindita Chattopadhyay
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Komal Gurnani
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rénald Gilbert
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christine Gadoury
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Umar Iqbal
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dorothy Fatehi
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Jezierski
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jez Huang
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert A. Pon
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mhairi Sigrist
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Robert A. Holt
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Brad H. Nelson
- Deeley Research Centre, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Harold Atkins
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Natasha Kekre
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Eric Yung
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John Webb
- Deeley Research Centre, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Julie S. Nielsen
- Deeley Research Centre, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Risini D. Weeratna
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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2
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Quiniou SMA, Bengtén E, Boudinot P. Costimulatory receptors in the channel catfish: CD28 family members and their ligands. Immunogenetics 2024; 76:51-67. [PMID: 38197898 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-023-01327-3] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The CD28-B7 interaction is required to deliver a second signal necessary for T-cell activation. Additional membrane receptors of the CD28 and B7 families are also involved in immune checkpoints that positively or negatively regulate leukocyte activation, in particular T lymphocytes. BTLA is an inhibitory receptor that belongs to a third receptor family. Fish orthologs exist only for some of these genes, and the potential interactions between the corresponding ligands remain mostly unclear. In this work, we focused on the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a long-standing model for fish immunology, to analyze these co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors. We identified one copy of cd28, ctla4, cd80/86, b7h1/dc, b7h3, b7h4, b7h5, two btla, and four b7h7 genes. Catfish CD28 contains the highly conserved mammalian cytoplasmic motif for PI3K and GRB2 recruitment, however this motif is absent in cyprinids. Fish CTLA4 share a C-terminal putative GRB2-binding site but lacks the mammalian PI3K/GRB2-binding motif. While critical V-domain residues for human CD80 or CD86 binding to CD28/CTLA4 show low conservation in fish CD80/86, C-domain residues are highly conserved, underscoring their significance. Catfish B7H1/DC had a long intracytoplasmic domain with a P-loop-NTPase domain that is absent in mammalian sequences, while the lack of NLS motif in fish B7H4 suggests this protein may not regulate cell growth when expressed intracellularly. Finally, there is a notable expansion of fish B7H7s, which likely play diverse roles in leukocyte regulation. Overall, our work contributes to a better understanding of fish leukocyte co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva Bengtén
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 39216, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 39216, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Pierre Boudinot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France.
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3
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McCarthy D, Lofgren M, Watt A, Horton H, Kieffer-Kwon P, Ding J, Kobold S, Baeuerle PA, Hofmeister R, Gutierrez DA, Tighe R. Functional enhancement of mesothelin-targeted TRuC-T cells by a PD1-CD28 chimeric switch receptor. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:4195-4207. [PMID: 37848682 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03556-7] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
T cells expressing a mesothelin (MSLN)-specific T cell receptor fusion construct (TRuC®), called TC-210, have demonstrated robust antitumor activity in preclinical models of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. However, they are susceptible to suppression by the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis and lack intrinsic costimulatory signaling elements. To enhance the function of anti-MSLN TRuC-T cells, chimeric switch receptors (CSRs) have been designed to co-opt the immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 axis and to deliver a CD28-mediated costimulatory signal. Here, we report that coexpression of the PD1-CD28 CSR in TRuC-T cells enhanced T cell receptor signaling, increased proinflammatory effector cytokines, decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines, and sustained effector function in the presence of PD-L1 when compared with TC-210. Anti-MSLN TRuC-T cells engineered to coexpress PD1-CD28 CSRs comprising the ectodomain of PD-1 and the intracellular domain of CD28 linked by the transmembrane domain of PD-1 were selected for integration into an anti-MSLN TRuC-T cell therapy product called TC-510. In vitro, TC-510 showed significant improvements in persistence and resistance to exhaustion upon chronic stimulation by tumor cells expressing MSLN and PD-L1 when compared with TC-210. In vivo, TC-510 showed a superior ability to provide durable protection following tumor rechallenge, versus TC-210. These data demonstrate that integration of a PD1-CD28 CSR into TRuC-T cells improves effector function, resistance to exhaustion, and prolongs persistence. Based on these findings, TC-510 is currently being evaluated in patients with MSLN-expressing solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick McCarthy
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Amy Watt
- Adaptimmune, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Holly Horton
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Jian Ding
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS‑M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Patrick A Baeuerle
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Institute of Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Hofmeister
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dario A Gutierrez
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Robert Tighe
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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4
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Kunkl M, Amormino C, Spallotta F, Caristi S, Fiorillo MT, Paiardini A, Kaempfer R, Tuosto L. Bivalent binding of staphylococcal superantigens to the TCR and CD28 triggers inflammatory signals independently of antigen presenting cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1170821. [PMID: 37207220 PMCID: PMC10189049 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1170821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus superantigens (SAgs) such as staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and B (SEB) are potent toxins stimulating T cells to produce high levels of inflammatory cytokines, thus causing toxic shock and sepsis. Here we used a recently released artificial intelligence-based algorithm to better elucidate the interaction between staphylococcal SAgs and their ligands on T cells, the TCR and CD28. The obtained computational models together with functional data show that SEB and SEA are able to bind to the TCR and CD28 stimulating T cells to activate inflammatory signals independently of MHC class II- and B7-expressing antigen presenting cells. These data reveal a novel mode of action of staphylococcal SAgs. By binding to the TCR and CD28 in a bivalent way, staphylococcal SAgs trigger both the early and late signalling events, which lead to massive inflammatory cytokine secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kunkl
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Carola Amormino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Spallotta
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvana Caristi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Fiorillo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Paiardini
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raymond Kaempfer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Loretta Tuosto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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5
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Labanieh L, Mackall CL. CAR immune cells: design principles, resistance and the next generation. Nature 2023; 614:635-648. [PMID: 36813894 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 118.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable clinical activity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies in B cell and plasma cell malignancies has validated the use of this therapeutic class for liquid cancers, but resistance and limited access remain as barriers to broader application. Here we review the immunobiology and design principles of current prototype CARs and present emerging platforms that are anticipated to drive future clinical advances. The field is witnessing a rapid expansion of next-generation CAR immune cell technologies designed to enhance efficacy, safety and access. Substantial progress has been made in augmenting immune cell fitness, activating endogenous immunity, arming cells to resist suppression via the tumour microenvironment and developing approaches to modulate antigen density thresholds. Increasingly sophisticated multispecific, logic-gated and regulatable CARs display the potential to overcome resistance and increase safety. Early signs of progress with stealth, virus-free and in vivo gene delivery platforms provide potential paths for reduced costs and increased access of cell therapies in the future. The continuing clinical success of CAR T cells in liquid cancers is driving the development of increasingly sophisticated immune cell therapies that are poised to translate to treatments for solid cancers and non-malignant diseases in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louai Labanieh
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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6
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Rush-Kittle J, Gámez-Díaz L, Grimbacher B. Inborn errors of immunity associated with defects of self-tolerance checkpoints: The CD28 family. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33:e13886. [PMID: 36564875 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the causes of inborn errors of immunity is immune dysregulation. The inability of the immune system to regulate the extent of its activity has several deleterious effects, including autoimmunity, recurrent infections, and malignancy. In recent years, many proteins in the CD28 family - CD28, ICOS, CTLA-4, PD-1, and BTLA - have come into the focus of several research areas for their consequential role in the upregulation or downregulation of the immune response. In this review, we will discuss the structure and function of these proteins, as well as provide an overview of the clinical picture of patients with genetic defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorrell Rush-Kittle
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Gámez-Díaz
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bodo Grimbacher
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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7
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T cell and B cell antigen receptors share a conserved core transmembrane structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208058119. [PMID: 36409917 PMCID: PMC9860311 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208058119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The B cell and T cell antigen receptors (BCR and TCR) share a common architecture in which variable dimeric antigen-binding modules assemble with invariant dimeric signaling modules to form functional receptor complexes. In the TCR, a highly conserved T cell receptor αβ (TCRαβ) transmembrane (TM) interface forms a rigid structure around which its three dimeric signaling modules assemble through well-characterized polar interactions. Noting that the key features stabilizing this TCRαβ TM interface also appear with high evolutionary conservation in the TM sequences of the membrane immunoglobulin (mIg) heavy chains that form the BCR's homodimeric antigen-binding module, we asked whether the BCR contained an analogous TM structure. Using an unbiased biochemical and computational modeling approach, we found that the mouse IgM BCR forms a core TM structure that is remarkably similar to that of the TCR. This structure is reinforced by a network of interhelical hydrogen bonds, and our model is nearly identical to the arrangement observed in the just-released cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of intact human BCRs. Our biochemical analysis shows that the integrity of this TM structure is vital for stable assembly with the BCR signaling module CD79AB in the B cell endoplasmic reticulum, and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that BCRs of all five isotypes can form comparable structures. These results demonstrate that, despite their many differences in composition, complexity, and ligand type, TCRs and BCRs rely on a common core TM structure that has been shaped by evolution for optimal receptor assembly and stability in the cell membrane.
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8
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Honikel MM, Olejniczak SH. Co-Stimulatory Receptor Signaling in CAR-T Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091303. [PMID: 36139142 PMCID: PMC9496564 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell engineering strategies have emerged as successful immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of human cancer. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy represents a prominent synthetic biology approach to re-direct the specificity of a patient's autologous T cells toward a desired tumor antigen. CAR-T therapy is currently FDA approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies, including subsets of B cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, CAR-mediated recognition of a tumor antigen results in propagation of T cell activation signals, including a co-stimulatory signal, resulting in CAR-T cell activation, proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, and acquisition of effector functions. The importance of including a co-stimulatory domain in CARs was recognized following limited success of early iteration CAR-T cell designs lacking co-stimulation. Today, all CAR-T cells in clinical use contain either a CD28 or 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain. Preclinical investigations are exploring utility of including additional co-stimulatory molecules such as ICOS, OX40 and CD27 or various combinations of multiple co-stimulatory domains. Clinical and preclinical evidence implicates the co-stimulatory signal in several aspects of CAR-T cell therapy including response kinetics, persistence and durability, and toxicity profiles each of which impact the safety and anti-tumor efficacy of this immunotherapy. Herein we provide an overview of CAR-T cell co-stimulation by the prototypical receptors and discuss current and emerging strategies to modulate co-stimulatory signals to enhance CAR-T cell function.
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9
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Elazar A, Chandler NJ, Davey AS, Weinstein JY, Nguyen JV, Trenker R, Cross RS, Jenkins MR, Call MJ, Call ME, Fleishman SJ. De novo-designed transmembrane domains tune engineered receptor functions. eLife 2022; 11:75660. [PMID: 35506657 PMCID: PMC9068223 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo-designed receptor transmembrane domains (TMDs) present opportunities for precise control of cellular receptor functions. We developed a de novo design strategy for generating programmed membrane proteins (proMPs): single-pass α-helical TMDs that self-assemble through computationally defined and crystallographically validated interfaces. We used these proMPs to program specific oligomeric interactions into a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that we expressed in mouse primary T cells and found that both in vitro CAR T cell cytokine release and in vivo antitumor activity scaled linearly with the oligomeric state encoded by the receptor TMD, from monomers up to tetramers. All programmed CARs stimulated substantially lower T cell cytokine release relative to the commonly used CD28 TMD, which we show elevated cytokine release through lateral recruitment of the endogenous T cell costimulatory receptor CD28. Precise design using orthogonal and modular TMDs thus provides a new way to program receptor structure and predictably tune activity for basic or applied synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assaf Elazar
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nicholas J Chandler
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ashleigh S Davey
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Y Weinstein
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Julie V Nguyen
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Raphael Trenker
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ryan S Cross
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Misty R Jenkins
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa J Call
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew E Call
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarel J Fleishman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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10
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Wu H, Cao R, Wen M, Xue H, OuYang B. Structural characterization of a dimerization interface in the CD28 transmembrane domain. Structure 2022; 30:803-812.e5. [PMID: 35397202 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.03.004] [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: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CD28 has a crucial role in regulating immune responses by enhancing T cell activation and differentiation. Recent studies have shown that the transmembrane helix (TMH) of CD28 mediates receptor assembly and activity, but a structural characterization of TMH is still lacking. Here, we determined the dimeric helix-helix packing of CD28-TMH using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. Unexpectedly, wild-type CD28-TMH alone forms stable tetramers in lipid bicelles instead of dimers. The NMR structure of the CD28-TMH C165F mutant reveals that a GxxxA motif, which is highly conserved in many dimeric assemblies, is located at the dimerization interface. Mutating G160 and A164 can disrupt the transmembrane helix assembly and reduces CD28 enhancement in cells. In contrast, a previously proposed YxxxxT motif does not affect the dimerization of full-length CD28, but it does affect CD28 activity. These results imply that the transmembrane domain of CD28 regulates the signaling transduction in a complicated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruiyu Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Maorong Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hongjuan Xue
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, ZhangJiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Bo OuYang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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11
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Ferreira LMR, Muller YD. CAR T-Cell Therapy: Is CD28-CAR Heterodimerization Its Achilles' Heel? Front Immunol 2021; 12:766220. [PMID: 34868017 PMCID: PMC8635711 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.766220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo M R Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Yannick D Muller
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Cox JR, Blazeck J. Protein engineering: a driving force toward synthetic immunology. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:509-521. [PMID: 34627648 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.09.005] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The full application of the diverse toolkit of protein engineering has made it easier to control the immune system. In particular, synthetic cytokine variants and engineered immune receptor platforms have shown promise for the treatment of various indications with dysregulated immune function, particularly cancer. Here, we review recent advances in the control of immune cell signaling and therapeutic potency that have employed protein engineering strategies. We further discuss how safety concerns are driving the design of immunotherapeutics toward 'user-defined' control or requiring multiple distinct inputs before a functional response, highlighting emergent control strategies employed for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Cox
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - John Blazeck
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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13
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Kunkl M, Amormino C, Caristi S, Tedeschi V, Fiorillo MT, Levy R, Popugailo A, Kaempfer R, Tuosto L. Binding of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) to B7 Receptors Triggers TCR- and CD28-Mediated Inflammatory Signals in the Absence of MHC Class II Molecules. Front Immunol 2021; 12:723689. [PMID: 34489975 PMCID: PMC8418141 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) relies on its capacity to trigger polyclonal T-cell activation by binding both T-cell receptor (TCR) and costimulatory receptor CD28 on T cells and MHC class II and B7 molecules on antigen presenting cells (APC). Previous studies highlighted that SEB may bind TCR and CD28 molecules independently of MHC class II, yet the relative contribution of these interactions to the pro-inflammatory function of SEB remained unclear. Here, we show that binding to MHC class II is dispensable for the inflammatory activity of SEB, whereas binding to TCR, CD28 and B7 molecules is pivotal, in both human primary T cells and Jurkat T cell lines. In particular, our finding is that binding of SEB to B7 molecules suffices to trigger both TCR- and CD28-mediated inflammatory signalling. We also provide evidence that, by strengthening the interaction between CD28 and B7, SEB favours the recruitment of the TCR into the immunological synapse, thus inducing lethal inflammatory signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kunkl
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Carola Amormino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvana Caristi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Tedeschi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Fiorillo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Revital Levy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Andrey Popugailo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Raymond Kaempfer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Loretta Tuosto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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14
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Gao Y, Wang Y, Luo F, Chu Y. Optimization of T Cell Redirecting Strategies: Obtaining Inspirations From Natural Process of T Cell Activation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:664329. [PMID: 33981310 PMCID: PMC8107274 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.664329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) redirected T cell against tumors is one of the most promising immunotherapy approaches. However, insufficient clinical outcomes are still observed in treatments of both solid and non-solid tumors. Limited efficacy and poor persistence are two major challenges in redirected T cell therapies. The immunological synapse (IS) is a vital component during the T cell response, which largely determines the clinical outcomes of T cell-based therapies. Here, we review the structural and signaling characteristics of IS formed by natural T cells and redirected T cells. Furthermore, inspired by the elaborate natural T cell receptor-mediated IS, we provide potential strategies for higher efficacy and longer persistence of redirected T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyuan Gao
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuedi Wang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifei Luo
- Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwei Chu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Biotherapy Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Muller YD, Nguyen DP, Ferreira LMR, Ho P, Raffin C, Valencia RVB, Congrave-Wilson Z, Roth TL, Eyquem J, Van Gool F, Marson A, Perez L, Wells JA, Bluestone JA, Tang Q. The CD28-Transmembrane Domain Mediates Chimeric Antigen Receptor Heterodimerization With CD28. Front Immunol 2021; 12:639818. [PMID: 33833759 PMCID: PMC8021955 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.639818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19-CAR)-engineered T cells are approved therapeutics for malignancies. The impact of the hinge domain (HD) and the transmembrane domain (TMD) between the extracellular antigen-targeting CARs and the intracellular signaling modalities of CARs has not been systemically studied. In this study, a series of 19-CARs differing only by their HD (CD8, CD28, or IgG4) and TMD (CD8 or CD28) was generated. CARs containing a CD28-TMD, but not a CD8-TMD, formed heterodimers with the endogenous CD28 in human T cells, as shown by co-immunoprecipitation and CAR-dependent proliferation of anti-CD28 stimulation. This dimerization was dependent on polar amino acids in the CD28-TMD and was more efficient with CARs containing CD28 or CD8 HD than IgG4-HD. The CD28-CAR heterodimers did not respond to CD80 and CD86 stimulation but had a significantly reduced CD28 cell-surface expression. These data unveiled a fundamental difference between CD28-TMD and CD8-TMD and indicated that CD28-TMD can modulate CAR T-cell activities by engaging endogenous partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick D Muller
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Service Immunologie et Allergie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Duy P Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Leonardo M R Ferreira
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Ho
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Caroline Raffin
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Zion Congrave-Wilson
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Theodore L Roth
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Justin Eyquem
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frederic Van Gool
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Marson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Laurent Perez
- Department of Medicine, Service Immunologie et Allergie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Bluestone
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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16
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Shu R, Evtimov VJ, Hammett MV, Nguyen NYN, Zhuang J, Hudson PJ, Howard MC, Pupovac A, Trounson AO, Boyd RL. Engineered CAR-T cells targeting TAG-72 and CD47 in ovarian cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2021; 20:325-341. [PMID: 33614914 PMCID: PMC7868933 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have revolutionized blood cancer immunotherapy; however, their efficacy against solid tumors has been limited. A common mechanism of tumor escape from single target therapies is downregulation or mutational loss of the nominal epitope. Targeting multiple antigens may thus improve the effectiveness of CAR immunotherapies. We generated dual CAR-T cells targeting two tumor antigens: TAG-72 (tumor-associated glycoprotein 72) and CD47. TAG-72 is a pan-adenocarcinoma oncofetal antigen, highly expressed in ovarian cancers, with increased expression linked to disease progression. CD47 is ubiquitously overexpressed in multiple tumor types, including ovarian cancer; it is a macrophage “don’t eat me” signal. However, CD47 is also expressed on many normal cells. To avoid this component of the dual CAR-T cells killing healthy tissue, we designed a truncated CD47 CAR devoid of intracellular signaling domains. The CD47 CAR facilitates binding to CD47+ cells, increasing the prospect of TAG-72+ cell elimination via the TAG-72 CAR. Furthermore, we could reduce the damage to normal tissue by monomerizing the CD47 CAR. Our results indicate that the co-expression of the TAG-72 CAR and the CD47-truncated monomer CAR on T cells could be an effective, dual CAR-T cell strategy for ovarian cancer, also applicable to other adenocarcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzhe Shu
- Cartherics Pty, Ltd., Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Junli Zhuang
- Cartherics Pty, Ltd., Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Peter J Hudson
- Cartherics Pty, Ltd., Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.,Avipep Pty, Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | | | - Alan O Trounson
- Cartherics Pty, Ltd., Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
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17
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Davey AS, Call ME, Call MJ. The Influence of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Structural Domains on Clinical Outcomes and Associated Toxicities. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:E38. [PMID: 33375550 PMCID: PMC7794933 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has transformed the treatment of B cell malignancies, improving patient survival and long-term remission. Nonetheless, over 50% of patients experience severe treatment-related toxicities including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Differences in severity of toxic side-effects among anti-CD19 CARs suggest that the choice of costimulatory domain makes a significant contribution to toxicity, but comparisons are complicated by additional differences in the hinge and transmembrane (TM) domains of the most commonly used CARs in the clinic, segments that have long been considered to perform purely structural roles. In this perspective, we examine clinical and preclinical data for anti-CD19 CARs with identical antigen-binding (FMC63) and signalling (CD3ζ) domains to unravel the contributions of different hinge-TM and costimulatory domains. Analysis of clinical trials highlights an association of the CD28 hinge-TM with higher incidence of CRS and neurotoxicity than the corresponding sequences from CD8, regardless of whether the CD28 or the 4-1BB costimulatory domain is used. The few preclinical studies that have systematically varied these domains similarly support a strong and independent role for the CD28 hinge-TM sequence in high cytokine production. These observations highlight the value that a comprehensive and systematic interrogation of each of these structural domains could provide toward developing fundamental principles for rational design of safer CAR-T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh S. Davey
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 5052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Matthew E. Call
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 5052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Melissa J. Call
- Structural Biology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 5052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
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18
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Chandler NJ, Call MJ, Call ME. T Cell Activation Machinery: Form and Function in Natural and Engineered Immune Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7424. [PMID: 33050044 PMCID: PMC7582382 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The impressive success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies in treating advanced B-cell malignancies has spurred a frenzy of activity aimed at developing CAR-T therapies for other cancers, particularly solid tumors, and optimizing engineered T cells for maximum clinical benefit in many different disease contexts. A rapidly growing body of design work is examining every modular component of traditional single-chain CARs as well as expanding out into many new and innovative engineered immunoreceptor designs that depart from this template. New approaches to immune cell and receptor engineering are being reported with rapidly increasing frequency, and many recent high-quality reviews (including one in this special issue) provide comprehensive coverage of the history and current state of the art in CAR-T and related cellular immunotherapies. In this review, we step back to examine our current understanding of the structure-function relationships in natural and engineered lymphocyte-activating receptors, with an eye towards evaluating how well the current-generation CAR designs recapitulate the most desirable features of their natural counterparts. We identify key areas that we believe are under-studied and therefore represent opportunities to further improve our grasp of form and function in natural and engineered receptors and to rationally design better therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Chandler
- Structural Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Melissa J Call
- Structural Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Matthew E Call
- Structural Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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