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Biggi AFB, Silvestre RN, Tirapelle MC, de Azevedo JTC, García HDM, Henrique Dos Santos M, de Lima SCG, de Souza LEB, Covas DT, Malmegrim KCR, Figueiredo ML, Picanço-Castro V. IL-27-engineered CAR.19-NK-92 cells exhibit enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00734-5. [PMID: 38970613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.06.001] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering of natural killer (NK) cells has shown promising results in early-phase clinical studies. However, advancing CAR-NK cell therapeutic efficacy is imperative. In this study, we investigated the impact of a fourth-generation CD19-targeted CAR (CAR.19) coexpressing IL-27 on NK-92 cells. We observed a significant improvement in NK-92 cell proliferation and cytotoxicity activity against B-cell cancer cell lines, both in vitro and in a xenograft mouse B-cell lymphoma model. Our systematic transcriptome analysis of the activated NK-92 CAR variants further supports the potential of IL-27 in fourth-generation CARs to overcome limitations of NK cell-based targeted tumor therapies by providing essential growth and activation signals. Integrating IL-27 into CAR-NK cells emerges as a promising strategy to enhance their therapeutic potential and elicit robust responses against cancer cells. These findings contribute substantially to the mounting evidence supporting the potential of fourth-generation CAR engineering in advancing NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Felipe Bordini Biggi
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renata Nacasaki Silvestre
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariane Cariati Tirapelle
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Teixeira Cottas de Azevedo
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Matheus Henrique Dos Santos
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah Caroline Gomes de Lima
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kelen Cristina Ribeiro Malmegrim
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Marxa L Figueiredo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Virginia Picanço-Castro
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Silvestre RN, Eitler J, de Azevedo JTC, Tirapelle MC, Fantacini DMC, de Souza LEB, Swiech K, Covas DT, Calado RT, Montero PO, Malmegrim KCR, Figueiredo ML, Tonn T, Picanço-Castro V. Engineering NK-CAR.19 cells with the IL-15/IL-15Rα complex improved proliferation and anti-tumor effect in vivo. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1226518. [PMID: 37818365 PMCID: PMC10561086 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1226518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural killer 92 (NK-92) cells are an attractive therapeutic approach as alternative chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) carriers, different from T cells, once they can be used in the allogeneic setting. The modest in vivo outcomes observed with NK-92 cells continue to present hurdles in successfully translating NK-92 cell therapies into clinical applications. Adoptive transfer of CAR-NK-92 cells holds out the promise of therapeutic benefit at a lower rate of adverse events due to the absence of GvHD and cytokine release syndrome. However, it has not achieved breakthrough clinical results yet, and further improvement of CAR-NK-92 cells is necessary. Methods In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis between CD19-targeted CAR (CAR.19) co-expressing IL-15 (CAR.19-IL15) with IL-15/IL-15Rα (CAR.19-IL15/IL15Rα) to promote NK cell proliferation, activation, and cytotoxic activity against B-cell leukemia. CAR constructs were cloned into lentiviral vector and transduced into NK-92 cell line. Potency of CAR-NK cells were assessed against CD19-expressing cell lines NALM-6 or Raji in vitro and in vivo in a murine model. Tumor burden was measured by bioluminescence. Results We demonstrated that a fourth- generation CD19-targeted CAR (CAR.19) co-expressing IL-15 linked to its receptor IL-15/IL-15Rα (CAR.19-IL-15/IL-15Rα) significantly enhanced NK-92 cell proliferation, proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic activity against B-cell cancer cell lines in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Conclusion Together with the results of the systematic analysis of the transcriptome of activated NK-92 CAR variants, this supports the notion that IL-15/IL-15Rα comprising fourth-generation CARs may overcome the limitations of NK-92 cell-based targeted tumor therapies in vivo by providing the necessary growth and activation signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Nacasaki Silvestre
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Jiri Eitler
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Mariane Cariati Tirapelle
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas Eduardo Botelho de Souza
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Kamilla Swiech
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T. Calado
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Paola Ortiz Montero
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kelen Cristina Ribeiro Malmegrim
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Marxa L. Figueiredo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Virginia Picanço-Castro
- Center for Cell-based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Enhancing Prednisone-Based Arthritis Therapy with Targeted IL-27 Gene Delivery. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9060248. [PMID: 35735491 PMCID: PMC9220267 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9060248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which is characterized primarily by synovial hyperplasia and accumulation of several types of immune infiltrates that promote progressive destruction of the articular structure. Glucocorticoids are often prescribed to treat RA because of their strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, their application must be limited to the short-term due to a risk of adverse events. In the present study, we examined the potential combination of low-dose prednisone with gene delivery of an agent of promising and complementary effectiveness in RA, interleukin (IL)-27. IL-27 has been shown to have anti-inflammatory potential, while also acting as an effective bone-normalization agent in prior reports. The present report examined a version of IL-27 targeted at the C-terminus with a short ‘peptide L’ (pepL, LSLITRL) that binds the interleukin 6 receptor α (IL-6Rα) upregulated during inflammation. By focusing on this targeted form, IL-27pepL or 27pL, we examined whether the anti-inflammatory potential of prednisone (at a relatively low dose and short duration) could be further enhanced in the presence of 27pL as a therapy adjuvant. Our results indicate that 27pL represents a novel tool for use as an adjuvant with current therapeutics, such as prednisone, against inflammatory conditions.
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Brice DP, Murray GI, Wilson HM, Porter RJ, Berry S, Durum SK, McLean MH. Interleukin-27 Regulates the Function of the Gastrointestinal Epithelial Barrier in a Human Tissue-Derived Organoid Model. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030427. [PMID: 35336801 PMCID: PMC8945023 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A treatment with direct healing effects on the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier is desirable for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is an immunoregulatory cytokine, and oral delivery is an effective treatment in murine models of IBD. We aimed to define IL-27 effects on the human gastrointestinal epithelial barrier. We characterised gene and protein expression of permeability mediators in a human colon-derived organoid model. Functional permeability was determined in an organoid-derived 2D monolayer by transepithelial electrical resistance. IL-27 effects on epithelial innate immune responses were assessed through expression of cytokines, anti-microbial peptides and MUC genes. IL-27 effects on wound healing and proliferation were determined in human colon epithelial cell lines. IL-27 led to restoration of permeability regulation following inflammatory cytokine insult (p = 0.001), associated with differential expression of tight junction mediators with decrease in claudin 2 (p = 0.024) and increase in claudin 4 (p < 0.001), E-cadherin (p < 0.001) and zona occludens (p = 0.0014). IL-27 evoked differential gene expression of epithelial-derived innate immune responses (reduced IL1B and IL18, and increased IL33, HBD1, MUC1 and MUC2; p < 0.012). IL-27 induced epithelial barrier wound healing through restitution (p < 0.001), and increased proliferation (p < 0.001) following injury. Overall, IL-27 provokes mucosal healing of the human gastrointestinal epithelial barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P. Brice
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; (D.P.B.); (G.I.M.); (H.M.W.); (S.B.)
| | - Graeme I. Murray
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; (D.P.B.); (G.I.M.); (H.M.W.); (S.B.)
| | - Heather M. Wilson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; (D.P.B.); (G.I.M.); (H.M.W.); (S.B.)
| | - Ross J. Porter
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Susan Berry
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; (D.P.B.); (G.I.M.); (H.M.W.); (S.B.)
| | - Scott K. Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Mairi H. McLean
- Division of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
- Correspondence:
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Salameh JW, Kumar S, Rivera-Cruz CM, Figueiredo ML. A Second-Generation Nanoluc-IL27 Fusion Cytokine for Targeted-Gene-Therapy Applications. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9020077. [PMID: 35200430 PMCID: PMC8868604 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9020077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An emerging approach in treating skeletal malignancies utilizes osteoimmunology to investigate new multifunctional immune-stimulatory agents that can simultaneously combat tumor growth and promote bone repair. We have hypothesized that cytokine Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is an excellent candidate biologic to help rebalance the prostate tumor cells and bone cell environment. In this work, we examined the proof of principle for a short, secreted luciferase (Nanoluc or Nluc) fusion with IL-27 to produce a novel cytokine-based biologic (Nluc-27), whereby we examined its efficacy in vitro in reducing prostate tumor growth and rebalancing bone cell proliferation and differentiation. This work demonstrates the targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of the Nluc-27 fusion cytokine in cancer and bone cell models. The fusion cytokine is detectable in conditioned media, and bioactive in different cell systems. This novel Nluc-27 cytokine will allow flexible incorporation of other targeting domains and may serve as flexible tool to augment IL-27′s bioactivity and reengineer its efficacy against prostate tumor or bone cells, and may prove applicable to several other cell types for targeted gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Wesleyn Salameh
- The Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (J.W.S.); (S.K.); (C.M.R.-C.)
- The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Program—The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Shreya Kumar
- The Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (J.W.S.); (S.K.); (C.M.R.-C.)
| | - Cosette Marie Rivera-Cruz
- The Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (J.W.S.); (S.K.); (C.M.R.-C.)
| | - Marxa Leao Figueiredo
- The Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (J.W.S.); (S.K.); (C.M.R.-C.)
- The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Program—The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research and Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-765-494-5790
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Dong C, Dang D, Zhao X, Wang Y, Wang Z, Zhang C. Integrative Characterization of the Role of IL27 In Melanoma Using Bioinformatics Analysis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:713001. [PMID: 34733272 PMCID: PMC8558420 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.713001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background IL27 has been reported to play dual roles in cancer; however, its effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME), immunotherapy, and prognosis in melanoma remain largely unclear. This study was aimed to uncover the effects of IL27 on TME, immunotherapy and prognosis in patients with melanoma. Methods RNA-seq data, drug sensitivity data, and clinical data were obtained from TCGA, GEO, CCLE, and CTRP. Log-rank test was used to determine the survival value of IL27. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to determine the independent predictors of survival outcomes. DAVID and GSEA were used to perform gene set functional annotations. ssGSEA was used to explore the association between IL27 and immune infiltrates. ConsensusClusterPlus was used to classify melanoma tissues into hot tumors or cold tumors. Results Clinically, IL27 was negatively correlated with Breslow depth (P = 0.00042) and positively associated with response to radiotherapy (P = 0.038). High IL27 expression showed an improved survival outcome (P = 0.00016), and could serve as an independent predictor of survival outcomes (hazard ratio: 0.32 - 0.88, P = 0.015). Functionally, elevated IL27 expression could induce an enhanced immune response and pyroptosis (R = 0.64, P = 1.2e-55), autophagy (R = 0.37, P = 7.1e-17) and apoptosis (R = 0.47, P = 1.1e-27) in patients with melanoma. Mechanistically, elevated IL27 expression was positively correlated with cytotoxic cytokines (including INFG and GZMB), enhanced immune infiltrates, and elevated CD8/Treg ratio (R = 0.14, P = 0.02), possibly driving CD8+ T cell infiltration by suppressing β-catenin signaling in the TME. Furthermore, IL27 was significantly associated with hot tumor state, multiple predictors of response to immunotherapy, and improved drug response in patients with melanoma. Conclusions IL27 was correlated with enriched CD8+ T cells, desirable therapeutic response and improved prognosis. It thus can be utilized as a promising modulator in the development of cytokine-based immunotherapy for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Dong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Dang
- Department of Neonatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuesong Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Pediatric Ultrasound, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhijun Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chuan Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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