1
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Shi L, Lim JY, Kam LC. Improving regulatory T cell production through mechanosensing. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024; 112:1138-1148. [PMID: 38450935 PMCID: PMC11065567 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37702] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Induced Tregs (iTregs) have great promise in adoptive immunotherapy for treatment of autoimmune diseases. This report investigates the impacts of substrate stiffness on human Treg induction, providing a powerful yet simple approach to improving production of these cells. Conventional CD4+ human T cells were activated on materials of different elastic modulus and cultured under suppressive conditions. Enhanced Treg induction was observed on softer materials as early as 3 days following activation and persisted for multiple weeks. Substrate stiffness also affected epigenetic modification of Treg specific genes and Treg suppressive capacity. Tregs induced on substrates of an optimal stiffness balance quantity and suppressive quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingting Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Jee Yoon Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Lance C. Kam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
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2
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Zeiser R, Ringden O, Sadeghi B, Gonen-Yaacovi G, Segurado OG. Novel therapies for graft versus host disease with a focus on cell therapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1241068. [PMID: 37868964 PMCID: PMC10585098 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1241068] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Graft versus host disease (GVHD) can occur at any period post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as a common clinical complication contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Acute GVHD develops in approximately 30-50% of patients receiving transplants from matched related donors. High doses of steroids are used as first-line treatment, but are unsuccessful in around 40% of patients, resulting in the diagnosis of steroid-refractory acute GVHD. Consensus has yet to develop for the management of steroid-refractory acute GVHD, and prognosis at six months has been estimated at around 50%. Thus, it is critical to find effective treatments that increase survival of steroid-refractory acute GVHD. This article describes the currently known characteristics, pathophysiology, and treatments for GVHD, with a special focus on recent advances in cell therapies. In particular, a novel cell therapy using decidua stromal cells (DSCs) was recently shown to have promising results for acute GVHD, with improved effectiveness over previous treatments including mesenchymal stromal cells. At the Karolinska Institute, severe acute GVHD patients treated with placenta-derived DSCs supplemented with either 5% albumin or 10% AB plasma displayed a one-year survival rate of 76% and 47% respectively. Furthermore, patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD, displayed survival rates of 73% with albumin and 31% with AB plasma-supplemented DSCs, compared to the 20% survival rate in the mesenchymal stromal cell control group. Adverse events and deaths were found to be attributed only to complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant and GVHD, not to the study intervention. ASC Therapeutics, Inc, in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute, will soon initiate a phase 2 multicenter, open-label study to further assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous DSC treatment in sixty patients with Grade II-IV steroid-refractory acute GVHD. This novel cell therapy represents a promising treatment to combat the poor prognosis that steroid-refractory acute GVHD patients currently face.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Zeiser
- Department of Medicine at the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olle Ringden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Behnam Sadeghi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Hasiuk M, Dölz M, Marone R, Jeker LT. Leveraging microRNAs for cellular therapy. Immunol Lett 2023; 262:27-35. [PMID: 37660892 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.08.005] [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: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Owing to Karl Landsteiner's discovery of blood groups, blood transfusions became safe cellular therapies in the early 1900s. Since then, cellular therapy made great advances from transfusions with unmodified cells to today's commercially available chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells requiring complex manufacturing. Modern cellular therapy products can be improved using basic knowledge of cell biology and molecular genetics. Emerging genome engineering tools are becoming ever more versatile and precise and thus catalyze rapid progress towards programmable therapeutic cells that compute input and respond with defined output. Despite a large body of literature describing important functions of non-coding RNAs including microRNAs (miRNAs), the vast majority of cell engineering efforts focuses on proteins. However, miRNAs form an important layer of posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Here, we highlight examples of how miRNAs can successfully be incorporated into engineered cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Hasiuk
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marianne Dölz
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Romina Marone
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas T Jeker
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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4
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Nash A, Lokhorst N, Veiseh O. Localized immunomodulation technologies to enable cellular and organoid transplantation. Trends Mol Med 2023:S1471-4914(23)00097-7. [PMID: 37301656 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Localized immunomodulation technologies are rapidly emerging as a new modality with the potential to revolutionize transplantation of cells and organs. In the past decade, cell-based immunomodulation therapies saw clinical success in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we describe recent advances in engineering solutions for the development of localized immunomodulation techniques focusing on cellular and organoid transplantation. We begin by describing cell transplantation and highlighting notable clinical successes, particularly in the areas of stem cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, and islet transplantation. Next, we detail recent preclinical studies centered on genome editing and biomaterials to enhance localized immunomodulation. We close by discussing future opportunities to improve clinical and commercial success using these approaches to facilitate long-term immunomodulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Nash
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nienke Lokhorst
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584, CG, The Netherlands
| | - Omid Veiseh
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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5
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Lysandrou M, Kefala D, Christofi P, Savvopoulos N, Papayanni PG, Theodorellou R, Sagiadinou E, Zacharioudaki V, Moukouli M, Tsokanas D, Karavalakis G, Liga M, Stavrinos K, Papadopoulou A, Yannaki E, Spyridonidis A. Study protocol: Phase I/II trial of induced HLA-G + regulatory T cells in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from an HLA-matched sibling donor. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1166871. [PMID: 37275377 PMCID: PMC10237041 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1166871] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T-cell (Treg) immunotherapy has emerged as a promising and highly effective strategy to combat graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Both naturally occurring Treg and induced Treg populations have been successfully evaluated in trials illustrating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy required for clinical translation. Using a non-mobilized leukapheresis, we have developed a good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compatible induced Treg product, termed iG-Tregs, that is enriched in cells expressing the potent immunosuppressive human leucocyte antigen-G molecule (HLA-G+). To assess the safety and the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) of iG-Tregs, we conduct a phase I-II, two-center, interventional, dose escalation (3 + 3 design), open-label study in adult patients undergoing allo-HCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor, which serves also as the donor for iG-Treg manufacturing. Herein, we present the clinical protocol with a detailed description of the study rationale and design as well as thoroughly explain every step from patient screening, product manufacturing, infusion, and participant follow-up to data collection, management, and analysis (registered EUDRACT-2021-006367-26).
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Affiliation(s)
- Memnon Lysandrou
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | - Dionysia Kefala
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | - Panayiota Christofi
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Savvopoulos
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | - Penelope Georgia Papayanni
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Eleftheria Sagiadinou
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Zacharioudaki
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Tsokanas
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Karavalakis
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Liga
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
| | | | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Spyridonidis
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
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6
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Hess NJ, Kink JA, Hematti P. Exosomes, MDSCs and Tregs: A new frontier for GVHD prevention and treatment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1143381. [PMID: 37063900 PMCID: PMC10090348 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1143381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of graft versus host disease (GVHD) represents a long-standing complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Different approaches have been used to control the development of GVHD with most relying on variations of chemotherapy drugs to eliminate allo-reactive T cells. While these approaches have proven effective, it is generally accepted that safer, and less toxic GVHD prophylaxis drugs are required to reduce the health burden placed on allo-HCT recipients. In this review, we will summarize the emerging concepts revolving around three biologic-based therapies for GVHD using T regulatory cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived-suppressor-cells (MDSCs) and mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) exosomes. This review will highlight how each specific modality is unique in its mechanism of action, but also share a common theme in their ability to preferentially activate and expand Treg populations in vivo. As these three GVHD prevention/treatment modalities continue their path toward clinical application, it is imperative the field understand both the biological advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Hess
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, United States
| | - John A. Kink
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Peiman Hematti
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, United States
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7
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Dhawan M, Rabaan AA, Alwarthan S, Alhajri M, Halwani MA, Alshengeti A, Najim MA, Alwashmi ASS, Alshehri AA, Alshamrani SA, AlShehail BM, Garout M, Al-Abdulhadi S, Al-Ahmed SH, Thakur N, Verma G. Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and COVID-19: Unveiling the Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potentialities with a Special Focus on Long COVID. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030699. [PMID: 36992283 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc all around the world. The causative agent of COVID-19 is the novel form of the coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV-2, which results in immune system disruption, increased inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). T cells have been important components of the immune system, which decide the fate of the COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have reported an important subset of T cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs), which possess immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory properties and play a crucial role in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 patients have considerably fewer Tregs than the general population. Such a decrement may have an impact on COVID-19 patients in a number of ways, including diminishing the effect of inflammatory inhibition, creating an inequality in the Treg/Th17 percentage, and raising the chance of respiratory failure. Having fewer Tregs may enhance the likelihood of long COVID development in addition to contributing to the disease's poor prognosis. Additionally, tissue-resident Tregs provide tissue repair in addition to immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory activities, which may aid in the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The severity of the illness is also linked to abnormalities in the Tregs' phenotype, such as reduced expression of FoxP3 and other immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-beta. Hence, in this review, we summarize the immunosuppressive mechanisms and their possible roles in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, the perturbations in Tregs have been associated with disease severity. The roles of Tregs are also explained in the long COVID. This review also discusses the potential therapeutic roles of Tregs in the management of patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India
- Trafford College, Altrincham, Manchester WA14 5PQ, UK
| | - Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Sara Alwarthan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael Alhajri
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad A Halwani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha 4781, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amer Alshengeti
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, National Guard Health Affairs, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa A Najim
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameen S S Alwashmi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alshamrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bashayer M AlShehail
- Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Garout
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Al-Abdulhadi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Riyadh 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Saleh Office for Medical Genetic and Genetic Counseling Services, The House of Expertise, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Dammam 32411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shamsah H Al-Ahmed
- Specialty Paediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nanamika Thakur
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India
| | - Geetika Verma
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
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8
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Ramos TL, Bolivar-Wagers S, Jin S, Thangavelu G, Simonetta F, Lin PY, Hirai T, Saha A, Koehn B, Su LL, Picton LK, Baker J, Lohmeyer JK, Riddle M, Eide C, Tolar J, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Wagner JE, Garcia KC, Negrin RS, Blazar BR. Prevention of acute GVHD using an orthogonal IL-2/IL-2Rβ system to selectively expand regulatory T cells in vivo. Blood 2023; 141:1337-1352. [PMID: 36564052 PMCID: PMC10082364 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022018440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative option for patients with hematological disorders and bone marrow (BM) failure syndromes. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity posttransplant. Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies are efficacious in ameliorating GVHD but limited by variable suppressive capacities and the need for a high therapeutic dose. Here, we sought to expand Treg in vivo by expressing an orthogonal interleukin 2 receptor β (oIL-2Rβ) that would selectively interact with oIL-2 cytokine and not wild-type (WT) IL-2. To test whether the orthogonal system would preferentially drive donor Treg expansion, we used a murine major histocompatibility complex-disparate GVHD model of lethally irradiated BALB/c mice given T cell-depleted BM from C57BL/6 (B6) mice alone or together with B6Foxp3+GFP+ Treg or oIL-2Rβ-transduced Treg at low cell numbers that typically do not control GVHD with WT Treg. On day 2, B6 activated T cells (Tcons) were injected to induce GVHD. Recipients were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or oIL-2 daily for 14 days, then 3 times weekly for an additional 14 days. Mice treated with oIL-2Rβ Treg and oIL-2 compared with those treated with PBS had enhanced GVHD survival, in vivo selective expansion of Tregs, and greater suppression of Tcon expansion in secondary lymphoid organs and intestines. Importantly, oIL-2Rβ Treg maintained graft-versus-tumor (GVT) responses in 2 distinct tumor models (A20 and MLL-AF9). These data demonstrate a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of Treg therapy in allo-HSCT using an oIL-2/oIL-2Rβ system that allows for selective in vivo expansion of Treg leading to GVHD protection and GVT maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L. Ramos
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Sara Bolivar-Wagers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Sujeong Jin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Govindarajan Thangavelu
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Po-Yu Lin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Toshihito Hirai
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asim Saha
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Brent Koehn
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Leon L. Su
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Lora K. Picton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Juliane K. Lohmeyer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Megan Riddle
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Cindy Eide
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - John E. Wagner
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Robert S. Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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9
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Laukova M, Glatman Zaretsky A. Regulatory T cells as a therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel disease. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2250007. [PMID: 36562391 PMCID: PMC10107179 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells suppress inflammation and are essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis. A growing appreciation of tissue-specific Treg functions has built interest in leveraging the endogenous suppressive mechanisms of these cells into cellular therapeutics in organ-specific diseases. Notably, Treg cells play a critical role in maintaining the intestinal environment. As a barrier site, the gut requires Treg cells to mediate interactions with the microbiota, support barrier integrity, and regulate the immune system. Without fully functional Treg cells, intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis ensue. Thus, there is a particular interest in developing Treg cellular therapies for intestinal inflammatory disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This article reviews some of the critical pathways that are dysregulated in IBD, Treg cell mechanisms of suppression, and the efforts and approaches in the field to develop these cells as a cellular therapy for IBD.
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10
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Braband KL, Kaufmann T, Floess S, Zou M, Huehn J, Delacher M. Stepwise acquisition of unique epigenetic signatures during differentiation of tissue Treg cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1082055. [PMID: 36569861 PMCID: PMC9772052 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1082055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells in non-lymphoid tissues are not only critical for maintaining self-tolerance, but are also important for promoting organ homeostasis and tissue repair. It is proposed that the generation of tissue Treg cells is a stepwise, multi-site process, accompanied by extensive epigenome remodeling, finally leading to the acquisition of unique tissue-specific epigenetic signatures. This process is initiated in the thymus, where Treg cells acquire core phenotypic and functional properties, followed by a priming step in secondary lymphoid organs that permits Treg cells to exit the lymphoid organs and seed into non-lymphoid tissues. There, a final specialization process takes place in response to unique microenvironmental cues in the respective tissue. In this review, we will summarize recent findings on this multi-site tissue Treg cell differentiation and highlight the importance of epigenetic remodeling during these stepwise events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin L. Braband
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany,Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tamara Kaufmann
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany,Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Floess
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mangge Zou
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jochen Huehn
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany,Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Delacher
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany,Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany,*Correspondence: Michael Delacher,
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11
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Mina A, Curtis L, West K, Yau YY, Cowen EW, Hakim F, Pavletic SZ. Collection of peripheral blood mononucleated cells for chronic graft-versus-host disease immunology research: safety and effectiveness of leukapheresis in 132 patients. J Transl Med 2022; 20:519. [DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03708-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of late morbidity and non-relapse mortality in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Its biology, however, remains poorly understood, making the studies of its biology and immunomodulatory therapies a difficult task. Such research is often hampered by lymphopenia which is common in these patients and precludes studies of critical cellular subsets across the spectrum of severity of disease. This study explores the potential of leukapheresis to safely acquire and efficiently store immune cells for immunology research in chronic GVHD.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study in which 132 consecutively accrued patients undergo optional research leukapheresis and a one-week comprehensive outpatient evaluation. Baseline clinical and laboratory data and efficiency of the procedure were reported.
Results
Ninety-four of 132 patients (71%) achieved the goal collection of 2 × 10^9 PBMNCs with a mean volume processed of 4.6 L. Only mild decreases in hemoglobin, platelet, lymphocyte and monocytes were observed. All adverse events were mild (grade 1) and had resolved by the time of discharge from the apheresis unit.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates feasibility, safety, and efficiency of research leukapheresis in a frail patient population. Results presented promote leukapheresis as a standard research practice option in studies of chronic GVHD in humans which may expedite advances in our understanding of this complex multisystem disease.
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Hippen KL, Hefazi M, Larson JH, Blazar BR. Emerging translational strategies and challenges for enhancing regulatory T cell therapy for graft-versus-host disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926550. [PMID: 35967386 PMCID: PMC9366169 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative therapy for many types of cancer. Genetic disparities between donor and host can result in immune-mediated attack of host tissues, known as graft versus host disease (GVHD), a major cause of morbidity and mortality following HSCT. Regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) are a rare cell type crucial for immune system homeostasis, limiting the activation and differentiation of effector T cells (Teff) that are self-reactive or stimulated by foreign antigen exposure. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with Treg has demonstrated, first in murine models and now in patients, that prophylactic Treg infusion can also suppress GVHD. While clinical trials have demonstrated Treg reduce severe GVHD occurrence, several impediments remain, including Treg variability and practical need for individualized Treg production for each patient. Additionally, there are challenges in the use of in vitro expansion techniques and in achieving in vivo Treg persistence in context of both immune suppressive drugs and in lymphoreplete patients being treated for GVHD. This review will focus on 3 main translational approaches taken to improve the efficacy of tTreg ACT in GVHD prophylaxis and development of treatment options, following HSCT: genetic modification, manipulating TCR and cytokine signaling, and Treg production protocols. In vitro expansion for Treg ACT presents a multitude of approaches for gene modification to improve efficacy, including: antigen specificity, tissue targeting, deletion of negative regulators/exhaustion markers, resistance to immunosuppressive drugs common in GVHD treatment. Such expansion is particularly important in patients without significant lymphopenia that can drive Treg expansion, enabling a favorable Treg:Teff ratio in vivo. Several potential therapeutics have also been identified that enhance tTreg stability or persistence/expansion following ACT that target specific pathways, including: DNA/histone methylation status, TCR/co-stimulation signaling, and IL-2/STAT5 signaling. Finally, this review will discuss improvements in Treg production related to tissue source, Treg subsets, therapeutic approaches to increase Treg suppression and stability during tTreg expansion, and potential for storing large numbers of Treg from a single production run to be used as an off-the-shelf infusion product capable of treating multiple recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keli L. Hippen
- University of Minnesota Cancer Center and the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Mehrdad Hefazi
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Jemma H. Larson
- University of Minnesota Cancer Center and the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- University of Minnesota Cancer Center and the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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