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Lv Y, Qi J, Babon JJ, Cao L, Fan G, Lang J, Zhang J, Mi P, Kobe B, Wang F. The JAK-STAT pathway: from structural biology to cytokine engineering. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:221. [PMID: 39169031 PMCID: PMC11339341 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01934-w] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway serves as a paradigm for signal transduction from the extracellular environment to the nucleus. It plays a pivotal role in physiological functions, such as hematopoiesis, immune balance, tissue homeostasis, and surveillance against tumors. Dysregulation of this pathway may lead to various disease conditions such as immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, hematologic disorders, and cancer. Due to its critical role in maintaining human health and involvement in disease, extensive studies have been conducted on this pathway, ranging from basic research to medical applications. Advances in the structural biology of this pathway have enabled us to gain insights into how the signaling cascade operates at the molecular level, laying the groundwork for therapeutic development targeting this pathway. Various strategies have been developed to restore its normal function, with promising therapeutic potential. Enhanced comprehension of these molecular mechanisms, combined with advances in protein engineering methodologies, has allowed us to engineer cytokines with tailored properties for targeted therapeutic applications, thereby enhancing their efficiency and safety. In this review, we outline the structural basis that governs key nodes in this pathway, offering a comprehensive overview of the signal transduction process. Furthermore, we explore recent advances in cytokine engineering for therapeutic development in this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Lv
- Center for Molecular Biosciences and Non-communicable Diseases Research, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710054, China
- Xi'an Amazinggene Co., Ltd, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710026, China
| | - Jianxun Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China
| | - Jeffrey J Babon
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Longxing Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Guohuang Fan
- Immunophage Biotech Co., Ltd, No. 10 Lv Zhou Huan Road, Shanghai, 201112, China
| | - Jiajia Lang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Xi'an Amazinggene Co., Ltd, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710026, China
| | - Pengbing Mi
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - Faming Wang
- Center for Molecular Biosciences and Non-communicable Diseases Research, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710054, China.
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Tong B, Leong SG, Jian T, Niu G, Gai Y, Meng X, Lv H, Dong X, Ding X, Chen J. Site-specific pegylated IL2 mutein with biased IL2 receptor binding for cancer immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112359. [PMID: 38815348 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112359] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
While Interleukin 2 (IL2) has the capability to activate both NK and T cells robustly, its limited in vivo half-life, considerable toxicity, and tendency to boost Treg cells pose significant challenges, restricting its widespread application in cancer therapy. In this investigation, we engineered a novel IL2 variant (IL2-4M-PEG) with reduced CD25 binding activity and an extended half-life by substituting amino acids associated with CD25 binding and implementing site-directed PEGylation. IL2-4M-PEG notably amplifies effector cells over Treg cells. Furthermore, our findings reveal that IL2-4M-PEG, characterized by an extended half-life, exhibits anti-tumor effects in a mouse model. Consequently, this innovative IL2 holds the potential for enhancing combined cancer therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Tong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Sirou Grace Leong
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tunyu Jian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Guanting Niu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanan Gai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiuhua Meng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianchi Dong
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Engineering Research Center of Protein and Peptide Medicine, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaoqin Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jian Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
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Lozada SL, Gómez JA, Menéndez K, Gómez T, Montes de Oca D, Durán JL, Fernández OL, Perera Y, Rivas G, Boggiano-Ayo T, Ledon N, Carmenate T. Oxidative refolding by Copper-catalyzed air oxidation consistently increases the homogeneity and activity of a Novel Interleukin-2 mutein. J Biotechnol 2024; 393:81-90. [PMID: 39032699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.07.013] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been used in cancer treatment for over 30 years. However, due to its high toxicity, new mutant variants have been developed. These variants retain some of the biological properties of the original molecule but offer other therapeutic advantages. At the Center of Molecular Immunology, the IL-2 no-alpha mutein, an IL-2 agonist with lower toxicity than wtIL-2, has been designed, produced, and is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial. The mutein is produced in E. coli as an insoluble material that must be refolded in vitro to yield a fully active protein. Controlled oxidation steps are essential in the purification process of recombinant proteins produced in E. coli to ensure the proper formation of the disulfide bonds in the molecules. In this case, the new purification process includes a copper-catalyzed air oxidation step to induce disulfide bond establishment. The optimal conditions of pH, copper, protein and detergent concentration for this step were determined through screening. The produced protein demonstrated a conserved 3D structure, higher purity, and greater biological activity than the obtained by established process without the oxidation step. Four batches were produced and evaluated, demonstrating the consistency of the new process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sum Lai Lozada
- Bioprocess R&D Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Jose Alberto Gómez
- Department of Quality Control. Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | - Tania Gómez
- Department of Quality Control. Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | - Jose L Durán
- Bioprocess R&D Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | - Yoel Perera
- Centro Nacional de Biopreparados, Mayabeque, Cuba.
| | - Gabriela Rivas
- Department of Quality Control. Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | - Nuris Ledon
- Research Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba; School of Pharmacy, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Tania Carmenate
- Immune-regulation Department, Immunology and Immunotherapy Direction. Center of Molecular Immunology, PO Box 16040, Havana, Cuba.
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Phoon YP, Lopes JE, Pfannenstiel LW, Marcela Diaz-Montero C, Tian YF, Ernstoff MS, Funchain P, Ko JS, Winquist R, Losey HC, Melenhorst JJ, Gastman BR. Autologous human preclinical modeling of melanoma interpatient clinical responses to immunotherapeutics. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008066. [PMID: 38604813 PMCID: PMC11015209 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advances in immunotherapy, a substantial population of late-stage melanoma patients still fail to achieve sustained clinical benefit. Lack of translational preclinical models continues to be a major challenge in the field of immunotherapy; thus, more optimized translational models could strongly influence clinical trial development. To address this unmet need, we designed a preclinical model reflecting the heterogeneity in melanoma patients' clinical responses that can be used to evaluate novel immunotherapies and synergistic combinatorial treatment strategies. Using our all-autologous humanized melanoma mouse model, we examined the efficacy of a novel engineered interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based cytokine variant immunotherapy. METHODS To study immune responses and antitumor efficacy for human melanoma tumors, we developed an all-autologous humanized melanoma mouse model using clinically annotated, matched patient tumor cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). After inoculating immunodeficient NSG mice with patient tumors and an adoptive cell transfer of autologous PBMCs, mice were treated with anti-PD-1, a novel investigational engineered IL-2-based cytokine (nemvaleukin), or recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2). The pharmacodynamic effects and antitumor efficacy of these treatments were then evaluated. We used tumor cells and autologous PBMCs from patients with varying immunotherapy responses to both model the diversity of immunotherapy efficacy observed in the clinical setting and to recapitulate the heterogeneous nature of melanoma. RESULTS Our model exhibited long-term survival of engrafted human PBMCs without developing graft-versus-host disease. Administration of an anti-PD-1 or nemvaleukin elicited antitumor responses in our model that were patient-specific and were found to parallel clinical responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors. An evaluation of nemvaleukin-treated mice demonstrated increased tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, preferential expansion of non-regulatory T cell subsets in the spleen, and significant delays in tumor growth compared with vehicle-treated controls or mice treated with rhIL-2. CONCLUSIONS Our model reproduces differential effects of immunotherapy in melanoma patients, capturing the inherent heterogeneity in clinical responses. Taken together, these data demonstrate our model's translatability for novel immunotherapies in melanoma patients. The data are also supportive for the continued clinical investigation of nemvaleukin as a novel immunotherapeutic for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Peng Phoon
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Claudia Marcela Diaz-Montero
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ye F Tian
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Pauline Funchain
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jan Joseph Melenhorst
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Brian R Gastman
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Radi H, Ferdosi-Shahandashti E, Kardar GA, Hafezi N. An Updated Review of Interleukin-2 Therapy in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2024; 44:143-157. [PMID: 38421721 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0178] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine that acts in dual and paradoxical ways in the immunotherapy of cancers and autoimmune diseases. Numerous clinical trial studies have shown that the use of different doses of this cytokine in various autoimmune diseases, transplantations, and cancers has resulted in therapeutic success. However, side effects of varying severity have been observed in patients. In recent years, to prevent these side effects, IL-2 has been engineered to bind more specifically to its receptors on the cell surface, decreasing IL-2 toxicities in patients. In this review article, we focus on some recent clinical trial studies and analyze them to determine the appropriate dose of IL-2 drug with the least toxicities. In addition, we discuss the engineering performed on IL-2, which shows that engineered IL-2 increases the specificity function of IL-2 and decreases its adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hale Radi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Elaheh Ferdosi-Shahandashti
- Biomedical and Microbial Advanced Technologies (BMAT) Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Gholam Ali Kardar
- National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasim Hafezi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Sprent J, Boyman O. Optimising IL-2 for Cancer Immunotherapy. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e5. [PMID: 38455463 PMCID: PMC10917570 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The key role of T cells in cancer immunotherapy is well established and is highlighted by the remarkable capacity of Ab-mediated checkpoint blockade to overcome T-cell exhaustion and amplify anti-tumor responses. However, total or partial tumor remission following checkpoint blockade is still limited to only a few types of tumors. Hence, concerted attempts are being made to devise new methods for improving tumor immunity. Currently, much attention is being focused on therapy with IL-2. This cytokine is a powerful growth factor for T cells and optimises their effector functions. When used at therapeutic doses for cancer treatment, however, IL-2 is highly toxic. Nevertheless, recent work has shown that modifying the structure or presentation of IL-2 can reduce toxicity and lead to effective anti-tumor responses in synergy with checkpoint blockade. Here, we review the complex interaction of IL-2 with T cells: first during normal homeostasis, then during responses to pathogens, and finally in anti-tumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Sprent
- Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney 1466, Australia
- Menzies Institute of Medical Research, Hobart 7000, Australia
| | - Onur Boyman
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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7
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Cho O, Lee JW, Jeong YJ, Kim LK, Jung BK, Heo TH. Celastrol, which targets IL-2/CD25 binding inhibition, induces T cell-mediated antitumor activity in melanoma. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 962:176239. [PMID: 38043776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces contrasting immune responses depending on its binding receptor subunit; thus, selective receptor binding is considered a key challenge in cancer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibition of IL-2 action and antitumor activity of celastrol (CEL), a compound identified in a screen for IL-2/CD25 binding inhibitors, and to elucidate the underlying role of CEL in immune cells. We found that CEL selectively impairs the binding of IL-2 and CD25 and directly binds to IL-2 but not to CD25. CEL significantly suppressed the proliferation and signaling of IL-2-dependent murine T cells and interfered with IL-2-responsive STAT5 phosphorylation in IL-2 reporter cells and human PBMCs. After confirming the impact of CEL on IL-2, we evaluated its antitumor activity in C57BL/6 mice bearing B16F10 tumors and found that CEL significantly inhibited tumor growth by increasing CD8+ T cells. We also found that CEL did not inhibit tumor growth in T cell-deficient BALB/c nude mice, suggesting that its activity was mediated by the T-cell response. Moreover, combination therapy with low-dose CEL and a TNFR2 antagonist synergistically improved the therapeutic efficacy of the individual monotherapies by increasing the ratio of intratumoral CD8/Treg cells and suppressing Foxp3 expression. These findings suggest that CEL, which inhibits CD25 binding by targeting IL-2, exerts antitumor activity by mediating the T-cell response and could be a promising candidate for combination therapy in cancer immunotherapy against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okki Cho
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong-Woon Lee
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jin Jeong
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Lee Kyung Kim
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyung Jung
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hwe Heo
- Laboratory of Pharmacoimmunology, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BK21 FOUR Team for Advanced Program for SmartPharma Leaders, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
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Dehghan R, Parikhani AB, Cohan RA, Shokrgozar MA, Mirabzadeh E, Ajdary S, Zeinali S, Ghaderi H, Talebkhan Y, Behdani M. Specific Targeting of Zinc Transporter LIV-1 with Immunocytokine Containing Anti-LIV-1 VHH and Human IL-2 and Evaluation of its In vitro Antitumor Activity. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:868-876. [PMID: 38482625 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128295195240305060103] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a vital cytokine in the induction of T and NK cell responses, the proliferation of CD8+ T cells, and the effective treatment of human cancers such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. However, widespread use of this cytokine is limited due to its short half-life, severe toxicity, lack of specific tumor targeting, and activation of Treg cells mediated by high-affinity interleukin-2 receptors. OBJECTIVE In this study, a tumor-targeting LIV-1 VHH-mutIL2 immunocytokine with reduced CD25 (α chain of the high-affinity IL-2 receptor) binding activity was developed to improve IL-2 half-life by decreasing its renal infiltration in comparison with wild and mutant IL-2 molecules. METHODS The recombinant immunocytokine was designed and expressed. The biological activity of the purified fusion protein was investigated in in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS The fusion protein represented specific binding to MCF7 (the breast cancer cell line) and more efficient cytotoxicity than wild-type IL-2 and mutant IL-2. The PK parameters of the recombinant immunocytokine were also improved in comparison to the IL-2 molecules. CONCLUSION The observed results showed that LIV1-mIL2 immunocytokine could be considered as an effective agent in the LIV-1-targeted treatment of cancers due to its longer half-life and stronger cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rada Dehghan
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezoo Beig Parikhani
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Esmat Mirabzadeh
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Ajdary
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Zeinali
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hajarossadat Ghaderi
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yeganeh Talebkhan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Bello-Rivero I, Crombet-Ramos T, Mesa-Pardillo C, Morera-Díaz Y, Mazorra-Herrera Z, Garcia-Rivera D, Nodarse-Cuní H, Hernández-Bernal F, Muzio-Gonzalez V, Aguilera-Barreto A, Vazquez-Blomquist D, Domínguez-Horta MDC, Guillen-Nieto G. BioHabana 2022: Preventive and Immunotherapeutic Strategies Against COVID-19 and Cancer in Cuba. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2023; 43:571-580. [PMID: 38048299 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0141] [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] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The convergence of life sciences with neurosciences, nanotechnology, data management, and engineering has caused a technological diversification of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries, including the phenomenon of digital transformation, which has given rise to the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). Confronting the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the outstanding response capacity of the scientific community and the biopharmaceutical industry, based on a multidisciplinary and interinstitutional approach that has achieved an unprecedented integration in the history of biomedical science. Cuba, a small country, with scarce material resources, has had remarkable success in controlling the disease, which also highlights the impact of social factors. This report presents a summary of the most relevant presentations of selected topics during the scientific meeting, "BioHabana 2022: Cancer Immunotherapy and the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was held in Havana Cuba in April 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iraldo Bello-Rivero
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Crombet-Ramos
- Clinical Trial Directions, Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Circe Mesa-Pardillo
- Clinical Trial Directions, Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Yanelys Morera-Díaz
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Hugo Nodarse-Cuní
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Francisco Hernández-Bernal
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena Muzio-Gonzalez
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Ana Aguilera-Barreto
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Dania Vazquez-Blomquist
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Maria Del Carmen Domínguez-Horta
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo Guillen-Nieto
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
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10
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Silver AB, Tzeng SY, Lager M, Wang J, Ishihara J, Green JJ, Spangler JB. An engineered immunocytokine with collagen affinity improves the tumor bioavailability, tolerability, and therapeutic efficacy of IL-2. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101289. [PMID: 37992685 PMCID: PMC10694763 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The clinical utility of human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) is limited by its short serum half-life, preferential activation of regulatory T (TReg) over immune effector cells, and dose-limiting toxicities. We previously engineered F10 immunocytokine (IC), an intramolecularly assembled cytokine/antibody fusion protein that linked hIL-2 to an anti-IL-2 antibody (denoted F10) that extended IL-2 half-life and augmented the immune effector to TReg ratio. Here, we leveraged molecular engineering to improve the anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of F10 IC by developing an iteration, denoted F10 IC-CBD (collagen binding domain), designed for intratumoral administration and in situ retention based on collagen affinity. F10 IC-CBD retained IL-2 bioactivity exclusively in the tumor and eliminated IL-2-associated toxicities. Furthermore, F10 IC exhibited potent single-agent therapeutic efficacy and synergy with systemic immune checkpoint blockade and elicited an abscopal response in mouse tumors models. This engineered fusion protein presents a prototype for the design of intratumoral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliyah B Silver
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Stephany Y Tzeng
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mallory Lager
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jeremy Wang
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jun Ishihara
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jordan J Green
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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11
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Niederlova V, Tsyklauri O, Kovar M, Stepanek O. IL-2-driven CD8 + T cell phenotypes: implications for immunotherapy. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:890-901. [PMID: 37827864 PMCID: PMC7615502 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of interleukin (IL)-2 in cancer treatment has been known for decades, yet its widespread adoption in clinical practice remains limited. Recently, chimeric proteins of an anti-PD-1 antibody and suboptimal IL-2 variants were shown to stimulate potent antitumor and antiviral immunity by inducing unique effector CD8+ T cells in mice. A similar subset of cytotoxic T cells is induced by depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), suggesting IL-2 sequestration as a major mechanism through which regulatory T cells suppress activated CD8+ T cells. Here, we present our view of how IL-2-based biologicals can boost the antitumor response at a cellular level, and propose that the role of Tregs following such treatments may have been previously overestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Niederlova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Oksana Tsyklauri
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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12
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Giordano Attianese GMP, Ash S, Irving M. Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:166-198. [PMID: 37548063 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene-modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer-types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19-CAR therapy against various advanced B-cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non-hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre-infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post-transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T-cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down-regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity-optimized TCRs can improve T-cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene-modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T-cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene-cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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13
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Trujillo-Cirilo L, Weiss-Steider B, Vargas-Angeles CA, Corona-Ortega MT, Rangel-Corona R. Immune microenvironment of cervical cancer and the role of IL-2 in tumor promotion. Cytokine 2023; 170:156334. [PMID: 37598478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156334] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a heterogeneous mixture of resident and tumor cells that maintain close communication through their secretion products. The composition of the TME is dynamic and complex among the different types of cancer, where the immune cells play a relevant role in the elimination of tumor cells, however, under certain circumstances they contribute to tumor development. In cervical cancer (CC) the human papilloma virus (HPV) shapes the microenvironment in order to mediate persistent infections that favors transformation and tumor development. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important TME cytokine that induces CD8+ effector T cells and NKs to eliminate tumor cells, however, IL-2 can also suppress the immune response through Treg cells. Recent studies have shown that CC cells express the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), that are induced to proliferate at low concentrations of exogenous IL-2 through alterations in the JAK/STAT pathway. This review provides an overview of the main immune cells that make up the TME in CC, as well as the participation of IL-2 in the tumor promotion. Finally, it is proposed that the low density of IL-2 produced by immunocompetent cells is used by tumor cells through its IL-2R as a mechanism to proliferate simultaneously depleting this molecule in order to evade immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Trujillo-Cirilo
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Benny Weiss-Steider
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Adrian Vargas-Angeles
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Teresa Corona-Ortega
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalva Rangel-Corona
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
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14
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Leonard WJ, Lin JX. Strategies to therapeutically modulate cytokine action. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:827-854. [PMID: 37542128 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00746-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are secreted or membrane-presented molecules that mediate broad cellular functions, including development, differentiation, growth and survival. Accordingly, the regulation of cytokine activity is extraordinarily important both physiologically and pathologically. Cytokine and/or cytokine receptor engineering is being widely investigated to safely and effectively modulate cytokine activity for therapeutic benefit. IL-2 in particular has been extensively engineered, to create IL-2 variants that differentially exhibit activities on regulatory T cells to potentially treat autoimmune disease versus effector T cells to augment antitumour effects. Additionally, engineering approaches are being applied to many other cytokines such as IL-10, interferons and IL-1 family cytokines, given their immunosuppressive and/or antiviral and anticancer effects. In modulating the actions of cytokines, the strategies used have been broad, including altering affinities of cytokines for their receptors, prolonging cytokine half-lives in vivo and fine-tuning cytokine actions. The field is rapidly expanding, with extensive efforts to create improved therapeutics for a range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren J Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Jian-Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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15
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Rojas G, Relova-Hernández E, Pérez-Riverón A, Castro-Martínez C, Diaz-Bravo O, Infante YC, Gómez T, Solozábal J, DíazBravo AB, Schubert M, Becker M, Pérez-Massón B, Pérez-Martínez D, Alvarez-Arzola R, Guirola O, Chinea G, Graca L, Dübel S, León K, Carmenate T. Molecular reshaping of phage-displayed Interleukin-2 at beta chain receptor interface to obtain potent super-agonists with improved developability profiles. Commun Biol 2023; 6:828. [PMID: 37558752 PMCID: PMC10412584 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05188-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) engineered versions, with biased immunological functions, have emerged from yeast display and rational design. Here we reshaped the human IL-2 interface with the IL-2 receptor beta chain through the screening of phage-displayed libraries. Multiple beta super-binders were obtained, having increased receptor binding ability and improved developability profiles. Selected variants exhibit an accumulation of negatively charged residues at the interface, which provides a better electrostatic complementarity to the beta chain, and faster association kinetics. These findings point to mechanistic differences with the already reported superkines, characterized by a conformational switch due to the rearrangement of the hydrophobic core. The molecular bases of the favourable developability profile were tracked to a single residue: L92. Recombinant Fc-fusion proteins including our variants are superior to those based on H9 superkine in terms of expression levels in mammalian cells, aggregation resistance, stability, in vivo enhancement of immune effector responses, and anti-tumour effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertrudis Rojas
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba.
| | - Ernesto Relova-Hernández
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Annia Pérez-Riverón
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Camila Castro-Martínez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Osmany Diaz-Bravo
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Yanelys Cabrera Infante
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Tania Gómez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Joaquín Solozábal
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Ana Beatriz DíazBravo
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Maren Schubert
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biotechnology, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marlies Becker
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biotechnology, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Beatriz Pérez-Massón
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Dayana Pérez-Martínez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Rydell Alvarez-Arzola
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Osmany Guirola
- Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave 31 e/ 158 y 190, apartado 6162, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Glay Chinea
- Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave 31 e/ 158 y 190, apartado 6162, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Luis Graca
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stefan Dübel
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biotechnology, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kalet León
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Tania Carmenate
- Center of Molecular Immunology, calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, La Habana, Cuba
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16
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McFarlane A, Pohler E, Moraga I. Molecular and cellular factors determining the functional pleiotropy of cytokines. FEBS J 2023; 290:2525-2552. [PMID: 35246947 PMCID: PMC10952290 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines are soluble factors vital for mammalian physiology. Cytokines elicit highly pleiotropic activities, characterized by their ability to induce a wide spectrum of functional responses in a diverse range of cell subsets, which makes their study very challenging. Cytokines activate signalling via receptor dimerization/oligomerization, triggering activation of the JAK (Janus kinase)/STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) signalling pathway. Given the strong crosstalk and shared usage of key components of cytokine signalling pathways, a long-standing question in the field pertains to how functional diversity is achieved by cytokines. Here, we discuss how biophysical - for example, ligand-receptor binding affinity and topology - and cellular - for example, receptor, JAK and STAT protein levels, endosomal compartment - parameters contribute to the modulation and diversification of cytokine responses. We review how these parameters ultimately converge into a common mechanism to fine-tune cytokine signalling that involves the control of the number of Tyr residues phosphorylated in the receptor intracellular domain upon cytokine stimulation. This results in different kinetics of STAT activation, and induction of specific gene expression programs, ensuring the generation of functional diversity by cytokines using a limited set of signalling intermediaries. We describe how these first principles of cytokine signalling have been exploited using protein engineering to design cytokine variants with more specific and less toxic responses for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison McFarlane
- Division of Cell Signalling and ImmunologySchool of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeUK
| | - Elizabeth Pohler
- Division of Cell Signalling and ImmunologySchool of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeUK
| | - Ignacio Moraga
- Division of Cell Signalling and ImmunologySchool of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeUK
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17
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Corria-Osorio J, Carmona SJ, Stefanidis E, Andreatta M, Ortiz-Miranda Y, Muller T, Rota IA, Crespo I, Seijo B, Castro W, Jimenez-Luna C, Scarpellino L, Ronet C, Spill A, Lanitis E, Romero P, Luther SA, Irving M, Coukos G. Orthogonal cytokine engineering enables novel synthetic effector states escaping canonical exhaustion in tumor-rejecting CD8 + T cells. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:869-883. [PMID: 37081150 PMCID: PMC10154250 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01477-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
To date, no immunotherapy approaches have managed to fully overcome T-cell exhaustion, which remains a mandatory fate for chronically activated effector cells and a major therapeutic challenge. Understanding how to reprogram CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes away from exhausted effector states remains an elusive goal. Our work provides evidence that orthogonal gene engineering of T cells to secrete an interleukin (IL)-2 variant binding the IL-2Rβγ receptor and the alarmin IL-33 reprogrammed adoptively transferred T cells to acquire a novel, synthetic effector state, which deviated from canonical exhaustion and displayed superior effector functions. These cells successfully overcame homeostatic barriers in the host and led-in the absence of lymphodepletion or exogenous cytokine support-to high levels of engraftment and tumor regression. Our work unlocks a new opportunity of rationally engineering synthetic CD8+ T-cell states endowed with the ability to avoid exhaustion and control advanced solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Corria-Osorio
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland.
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Santiago J Carmona
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evangelos Stefanidis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Massimo Andreatta
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yaquelin Ortiz-Miranda
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tania Muller
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioanna A Rota
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isaac Crespo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bili Seijo
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wilson Castro
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Jimenez-Luna
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Catherine Ronet
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aodrenn Spill
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evripidis Lanitis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Pedro Romero
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sanjiv A Luther
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne; and Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges, Switzerland.
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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18
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Generation of a novel synthetic CD8 + T cell state that leads to tumor control in mice. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:755-756. [PMID: 37130989 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01478-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
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19
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Conti AG, Roychoudhuri R. Orthogonal engineering of synthetic T cell states to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:733-735. [PMID: 37081149 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G Conti
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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20
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Gene-based delivery of immune-activating cytokines for cancer treatment. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:329-342. [PMID: 36828711 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Tumors evolve together with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and reshape it towards immunosuppression. Immunostimulating cytokines can be used to revert this state leading to effective antitumor immune responses, but their exploitation as anticancer drugs has been hampered by severe toxicity associated with systemic administration. Local, TME-targeted delivery of immune activating cytokines can deploy their antitumoral function more effectively than systemic administration while, at the same time, avoiding exposure of healthy organs and limiting toxicity. Here, we review different gene and cell therapy platforms developed for tumor-directed cytokine delivery highlighting their potential for clinical translation.
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21
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Rybchenko VS, Aliev TK, Panina AA, Kirpichnikov MP, Dolgikh DA. Targeted Cytokine Delivery for Cancer Treatment: Engineering and Biological Effects. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020336. [PMID: 36839658 PMCID: PMC9960319 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020336] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-tumor properties of several cytokines have already been investigated in multiple experiments and clinical trials. However, those studies evidenced substantial toxicities, even at low cytokine doses, and the lack of tumor specificity. These factors significantly limit clinical applications. Due to their high specificity and affinity, tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies or their antigen-binding fragments are capable of delivering fused cytokines to tumors and, therefore, of decreasing the number and severity of side effects, as well as of enhancing the therapeutic index. The present review surveys the actual antibody-cytokine fusion protein (immunocytokine) formats, their targets, mechanisms of action, and anti-tumor and other biological effects. Special attention is paid to the formats designed to prevent the off-target cytokine-receptor interactions, potentially inducing side effects. Here, we describe preclinical and clinical data and the efficacy of the antibody-mediated cytokine delivery approach, either as a single therapy or in combination with other agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav S Rybchenko
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Teimur K Aliev
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Panina
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Kirpichnikov
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Dolgikh
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
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22
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Deckers J, Anbergen T, Hokke AM, de Dreu A, Schrijver DP, de Bruin K, Toner YC, Beldman TJ, Spangler JB, de Greef TFA, Grisoni F, van der Meel R, Joosten LAB, Merkx M, Netea MG, Mulder WJM. Engineering cytokine therapeutics. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:286-303. [PMID: 37064653 PMCID: PMC9933837 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines have pivotal roles in immunity, making them attractive as therapeutics for a variety of immune-related disorders. However, the widespread clinical use of cytokines has been limited by their short blood half-lives and severe side effects caused by low specificity and unfavourable biodistribution. Innovations in bioengineering have aided in advancing our knowledge of cytokine biology and yielded new technologies for cytokine engineering. In this Review, we discuss how the development of bioanalytical methods, such as sequencing and high-resolution imaging combined with genetic techniques, have facilitated a better understanding of cytokine biology. We then present an overview of therapeutics arising from cytokine re-engineering, targeting and delivery, mRNA therapeutics and cell therapy. We also highlight the application of these strategies to adjust the immunological imbalance in different immune-mediated disorders, including cancer, infection and autoimmune diseases. Finally, we look ahead to the hurdles that must be overcome before cytokine therapeutics can live up to their full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Deckers
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tom Anbergen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ayla M. Hokke
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Anne de Dreu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - David P. Schrijver
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Koen de Bruin
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Yohana C. Toner
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Thijs J. Beldman
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jamie B. Spangler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Tom F. A. de Greef
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (EWUU), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Francesca Grisoni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (EWUU), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Leo A. B. Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maarten Merkx
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Willem J. M. Mulder
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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Díaz-Hernández M, Chang-Calderón J, Álvarez MA, Ramírez IR, Saez OLF, Medinilla AL, Castillo CYG, Borges CD, Chang SLL, León K, Carmenate T. PEGylation Strategy for Improving the Pharmacokinetic and Antitumoral Activity of the IL-2 No-alpha Mutein. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3579-3588. [PMID: 38083887 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128279062231204110410] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a previous work, an IL-2Rβγ biased mutant derived from human IL-2 and called IL-2noα, was designed and developed. Greater antitumor effects and lower toxicity were observed compared to native IL-2. Nevertheless, mutein has some disadvantages, such as a very short half-life of about 9-12 min, propensity for aggregation, and solubility problems. OBJECTIVE In this study, PEGylation was employed to improve the pharmacokinetic and antitumoral properties of the novel protein. METHODS Pegylated IL-2noα was characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, in vitro cell proliferation and in vivo cell expansion bioassays, and pharmacokinetic and antitumor studies. RESULTS IL-2noα-conjugates with polyethylene glycol (PEG) of 1.2 kDa, 20 kDa, and 40 kDa were obtained by classical acylation. No significant changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of the modified protein were detected. A decrease in biological activity in vitro and a significant improvement in half-life were observed, especially for IL-2noα-PEG20K. PEGylation of IL-2noα with PEG20K did not affect the capacity of the mutant to induce preferential expansion of T effector cells over Treg cells. This pegylated IL-2noα exhibited a higher antimetastatic effect compared to unmodified IL-2noα in the B16F0 experimental metastases model, even when administered at lower doses and less frequently. CONCLUSION PEG20K was selected as the best modification strategy, to improve the blood circulation time of the IL-2noα with a superior antimetastatic effect achieved with lower doses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janoi Chang-Calderón
- Department of Immune-regulation, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | - Miguel Angel Álvarez
- Department of Immune-regulation, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | - Ingrid Ruiz Ramírez
- Department of Quality Control, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Diaz Borges
- Department of Immune-regulation, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | - Sum Lai Lozada Chang
- Department of Product Development, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | - Kalet León
- Department of Research, Development and Bussines Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Carmenate
- Department of Immune-regulation, Center of Molecular Immunology (Cuba), Havana, Cuba
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24
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Rojas G, Carmenate T, García-Pérez G, Pérez-Martínez D. Phagekines: Directed Evolution and Characterization of Functional Cytokines Displayed on Phages. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2702:149-189. [PMID: 37679619 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3381-6_8] [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] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The current chapter focuses on the use of filamentous phages to display and modify biologically active cytokines, with special emphasis on directed evolution of novel variants showing improved receptor binding. Cytokines are essential protein mediators involved in cell-to-cell communication. Their functional importance and the complexity of their interactions with multichain receptors make cytokine engineering a promising tool for the discovery and optimization of therapeutic molecules. Protocols used at the laboratory are illustrated through examples of manipulation of interleukin-2 and interleukin-6, two members of the family of alpha-helix-bundle cytokines playing pivotal roles in immunity and inflammation.
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Casadesús AV, Cruz BM, Díaz W, González MÁ, Gómez T, Fernández B, González A, Ledón N, Sosa K, Castro K, López A, Plasencia C, Ramírez Y, Teillaud JL, Hernández C, León K, Hernández T. Potent immunomodulatory and antitumor effect of anti-CD20-IL2no-alpha tri-functional immunocytokine for cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1021828. [PMID: 36569901 PMCID: PMC9780377 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1021828] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (RTX) has substantially improved outcomes of patients with B-cell lymphomas, although more efficient therapies are needed for refractory or relapsing lymphomas. An approach to increase the clinical effectiveness of anti-tumor therapy is the use of antibody-cytokine fusion proteins (immunocytokines (ICKs)) to deliver at the tumor site the antibody effector functions and cytokines that trigger anti-tumor activities. In particular, IL-2-based ICKs have shown significant results in preclinical studies but not in clinical trials due to the toxicity profile associated to high doses IL-2 and the undesired expansion of Tregs. Methods To improve the efficacy of RTX therapy, we fused a murine (mIgG2a) or a human (hIgG1) version of RTX to a mutated IL-2 (no-alpha mutein), which has a disrupted affinity for the high affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) to prevent the stimulation of Tregs and reduce the binding to endothelial cells expressing CD25, the α chain of high affinity IL-2R. Characterization of anti-CD20-IL2no-alpha ICKs was performed by SDS-PAGE, Western-blotting and SEC-HPLC and also by several functional in vitro techniques like T-cell proliferation assays, apoptosis, CDC and ADCC assays. The in vivo activity was assessed by using murine tumor cells expressing huCD20 in C57/Bl6 mice. Results Both ICKs exhibited similar in vitro specific activity of their IL2no-alpha mutein moieties and kept CD20-binding capacity. Anti-CD20-IL2no-alpha (hIgG1) retained antibody effector functions as complement-dependent cytotoxicity and enhanced direct apoptosis, NK cell activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity relative to RTX. In addition, both ICKs demonstrated a higher antitumor efficacy than parental molecules or their combination in an EL4-huCD20 tumor model in immunocompetent mice. Anti-CD20-IL2no-alpha (hIgG1) strongly expanded NK and CD8+ T cells but not Tregs in tumor-bearing mice. Discussion These findings suggest that anti-CD20-IL2no-alpha could represent an alternative treatment for B cell lymphoma patients, mainly those refractory to RTX therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Victoria Casadesús
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Beatriz María Cruz
- Quality Control Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Wilden Díaz
- Quality Control Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Miguel Ángel González
- Department of Animal Facilities, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Gómez
- Quality Control Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Briandy Fernández
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Addys González
- Department of Animal Facilities, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Nuris Ledón
- Department of Innovation´s Management, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Katya Sosa
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Kathleen Castro
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Armando López
- Department of Animal Facilities, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Claudia Plasencia
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Yaima Ramírez
- Development Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Jean-Luc Teillaud
- Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, Centre d’immunologie et des maladies infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Inserm UMRS1135, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | - Kalet León
- Research Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Tays Hernández
- Department of Chimeric Proteins, Immunobiology Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba,*Correspondence: Tays Hernández,
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Hernandez R, Põder J, LaPorte KM, Malek TR. Engineering IL-2 for immunotherapy of autoimmunity and cancer. Nat Rev Immunol 2022; 22:614-628. [PMID: 35217787 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-022-00680-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical studies of the T cell growth factor activity of IL-2 resulted in this cytokine becoming the first immunotherapy to be approved nearly 30 years ago by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of cancer. Since then, we have learnt the important role of IL-2 in regulating tolerance through regulatory T cells (Treg cells) besides promoting immunity through its action on effector T cells and memory T cells. Another pivotal event in the history of IL-2 research was solving the crystal structure of IL-2 bound to its tripartite receptor, which spurred the development of cell type-selective engineered IL-2 products. These new IL-2 analogues target Treg cells to counteract the dysregulated immune system in the context of autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders or target effector T cells, memory T cells and natural killer cells to enhance their antitumour responses. IL-2 biologics have proven to be effective in preclinical studies and clinical assessment of some is now underway. These studies will soon reveal whether engineered IL-2 biologics are truly capable of harnessing the IL-2-IL-2 receptor pathway as effective monotherapies or combination therapies for autoimmunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosmely Hernandez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Janika Põder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kathryn M LaPorte
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Thomas R Malek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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27
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Carmenate T, Montalvo G, Lozada SL, Rodriguez Y, Ortiz Y, Díaz C, Avellanet J, Kim J, Surh CD, Graça L, León K. The antitumor effect induced by an IL-2 ‘no-alpha’ mutein depends on changes in the CD8+ T lymphocyte/Treg cell balance. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974188. [PMID: 36059465 PMCID: PMC9428827 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
High doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been used for the treatment of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, but this therapy has limited efficacy, with a ~15% response rate. Remarkably, 7%–9% of patients achieve complete or long-lasting responses. Many patients treated with IL-2 experienced an expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), specifically the expansion of ICOS+ highly suppressive Tregs, which correlate with worse clinical outcomes. This partial efficacy together with the high toxicity associated with the therapy has limited the use of IL-2-based therapy. Taking into account the understanding of IL-2 structure, signaling, and in vivo functions, some efforts to improve the cytokine properties are currently under study. In previous work, we described an IL-2 mutein with higher antitumor activity and less toxicity than wtIL-2. Mutein was in silico designed for losing the binding capacity to CD25 and for preferential stimulation of effector cells CD8+ and NK cells but not Tregs. Mutein induces a higher anti-metastatic effect than wtIL-2, but the extent of the in vivo antitumor activity was still unexplored. In this work, it is shown that mutein induces a strong antitumor effect on four primary tumor models, being effective even in those models where wtIL-2 does not work. Furthermore, mutein can change the in vivo balance between Tregs and T CD8+ memory/activated cells toward immune activation, in both healthy and tumor-bearing mice. This change reaches the tumor microenvironment and seems to be the major explanation for mutein efficacy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Carmenate
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
- *Correspondence: Tania Carmenate,
| | - Galia Montalvo
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Sum Lai Lozada
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yaretnis Rodriguez
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yaquelin Ortiz
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Claudia Díaz
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Janet Avellanet
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
| | - Juhee Kim
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science 12 and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Charles D. Surh
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science 12 and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Luis Graça
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medici na da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kalet León
- Immune Regulation Department, Centro de Inmunología Molecular, Havana, Cuba
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Kung YJ, Lam B, Tseng SH, MacDonald A, Tu HF, Wang S, Lin J, Tsai YC, Wu TC, Hung CF. Localization of Salmonella and albumin-IL-2 to the tumor microenvironment augments anticancer T cell immunity. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:57. [PMID: 35962391 PMCID: PMC9373295 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00841-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For centuries, microbial-based agents have been investigated as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of cancer. In theory, these methods would be cheap to produce, broadly applicable in a wide array of cancer types, and could synergize with other cancer treatment strategies. We aimed to assess the efficacy of combining microbial-based therapy using Salmonella SL7207 with interleukin-2 (IL-2), a potent immunostimulatory agent, in the treatment of murine colon carcinoma. Methods Female BALB/c mice were implanted subcutaneously with CT26 tumors, a model of colon carcinoma. Mice bearing tumors were selected and administered Albumin-IL-2 (Alb-IL2), a fusion protein, for further analysis of anticancer effect. Results We demonstrated that Salmonella SL7207, a genetically modified strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, preferentially accumulates in the tumor microenvironment, potentiating it to stimulate localized innate immunity. We delivered IL-2 as a fusion protein, Alb-IL2, which we demonstrate to have preferential accumulation properties, bringing it to the tumor and secondary lymphoid organs. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with Salmonella + Alb-IL2 leads to superior tumor control and enhanced overall survival compared to controls. When assessing immunological factors contributing to our observed tumor control, significantly enhanced T cell population with superior effector function was observed in mice treated with Salmonella + Alb-IL2. We confirmed that these T cells were indispensable to the observed tumor control through antibody-mediated T cell depletion experiments. Conclusions These findings highlight the ability of Salmonella + Alb-IL2 to serve as a novel therapeutic approach to induce T cell-mediated antitumor immunity and exert long-term tumor control in a murine model of cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00841-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jui Kung
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brandon Lam
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Graduate Program in Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ssu-Hsueh Tseng
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alana MacDonald
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Graduate Program in Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hsin-Fang Tu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Suyang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John Lin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ya Chea Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - T C Wu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Chien-Fu Hung
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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29
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Whyte CE, Singh K, Burton OT, Aloulou M, Kouser L, Veiga RV, Dashwood A, Okkenhaug H, Benadda S, Moudra A, Bricard O, Lienart S, Bielefeld P, Roca CP, Naranjo-Galindo FJ, Lombard-Vadnais F, Junius S, Bending D, Ono M, Hochepied T, Halim TY, Schlenner S, Lesage S, Dooley J, Liston A. Context-dependent effects of IL-2 rewire immunity into distinct cellular circuits. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20212391. [PMID: 35699942 PMCID: PMC9202720 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20212391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a key homeostatic cytokine, with therapeutic applications in both immunogenic and tolerogenic immune modulation. Clinical use has been hampered by pleiotropic functionality and widespread receptor expression, with unexpected adverse events. Here, we developed a novel mouse strain to divert IL-2 production, allowing identification of contextual outcomes. Network analysis identified priority access for Tregs and a competitive fitness cost of IL-2 production among both Tregs and conventional CD4 T cells. CD8 T and NK cells, by contrast, exhibited a preference for autocrine IL-2 production. IL-2 sourced from dendritic cells amplified Tregs, whereas IL-2 produced by B cells induced two context-dependent circuits: dramatic expansion of CD8+ Tregs and ILC2 cells, the latter driving a downstream, IL-5-mediated, eosinophilic circuit. The source-specific effects demonstrate the contextual influence of IL-2 function and potentially explain adverse effects observed during clinical trials. Targeted IL-2 production therefore has the potential to amplify or quench particular circuits in the IL-2 network, based on clinical desirability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly E. Whyte
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kailash Singh
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliver T. Burton
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Meryem Aloulou
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), Centre national de la recherche scientifique U5051, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1291, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Lubna Kouser
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Amy Dashwood
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Samira Benadda
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Centre de Recherche Sur L’inflammation, Centre national de la recherche scientifique ERL8252, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1149, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Alena Moudra
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Orian Bricard
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Carlos P. Roca
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Félix Lombard-Vadnais
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Immunology-Oncology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Steffie Junius
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tino Hochepied
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Susan Schlenner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Lesage
- Centre de Recherche Sur L’inflammation, Centre national de la recherche scientifique ERL8252, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1149, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - James Dooley
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Liston
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Rosen DB, Kvarnhammar AM, Laufer B, Knappe T, Karlsson JJ, Hong E, Lee YC, Thakar D, Zúñiga LA, Bang K, Sabharwal SS, Uppal K, Olling JD, Kjaergaard K, Kurpiers T, Schnabel M, Reich D, Glock P, Zettler J, Krusch M, Bernhard A, Heinig S, Konjik V, Wegge T, Hehn Y, Killian S, Viet L, Runz J, Faltinger F, Tabrizi M, Abel KL, Breinholt VM, Singel SM, Sprogøe K, Punnonen J. TransCon IL-2 β/γ: a novel long-acting prodrug with sustained release of an IL-2Rβ/γ-selective IL-2 variant with improved pharmacokinetics and potent activation of cytotoxic immune cells for the treatment of cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004991. [PMID: 35817480 PMCID: PMC9274542 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2, aldesleukin) is an approved cancer immunotherapy but causes severe toxicities including cytokine storm and vascular leak syndrome (VLS). IL-2 promotes antitumor function of IL-2Rβ/γ+ natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+, CD4+ and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. However, IL-2 also potently activates immunosuppressive IL-2Rα+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-2Rα+ eosinophils and endothelial cells, which may promote VLS. Aldesleukin is rapidly cleared requiring frequent dosing, resulting in high Cmax likely potentiating toxicity. Thus, IL-2 cancer immunotherapy has two critical drawbacks: potent activation of undesired IL-2Rα+ cells and suboptimal pharmacokinetics with high Cmax and short half-life. METHODS TransCon IL-2 β/γ was designed to optimally address these drawbacks. To abolish IL-2Rα binding yet retain strong IL-2Rβ/γ activity, IL-2 β/γ was created by permanently attaching a small methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) moiety in the IL-2Rα binding site. To improve pharmacokinetics, IL-2 β/γ was transiently attached to a 40 kDa mPEG carrier via a TransCon (transient conjugation) linker creating a prodrug, TransCon IL-2 β/γ, with sustained release of IL-2 β/γ. IL-2 β/γ was characterized in binding and primary cell assays while TransCon IL-2 β/γ was studied in tumor-bearing mice and cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS IL-2 β/γ demonstrated selective and potent human IL-2Rβ/γ binding and activation without IL-2Rα interactions. TransCon IL-2 β/γ showed slow-release pharmacokinetics with a low Cmax and a long (>30 hours) effective half-life for IL-2 β/γ in monkeys. In mouse tumor models, TransCon IL-2 β/γ promoted CD8+ T cell and NK cell activation and antitumor activity. In monkeys, TransCon IL-2 β/γ induced robust activation and expansion of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and γδ T cells, relative to CD4+ T cells, Tregs and eosinophils, with no evidence of cytokine storm or VLS. Similarly, IL-2 β/γ enhanced proliferation and cytotoxicity of primary human CD8+ T cells, NK cells and γδ T cells. SUMMARY TransCon IL-2 β/γ is a novel long-acting prodrug with sustained release of an IL-2Rβ/γ-selective IL-2. It has remarkable and durable pharmacodynamic effects in monkeys and potential for improved clinical efficacy and tolerability compared with aldesleukin. TransCon IL-2 β/γ is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT05081609).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Enping Hong
- Ascendis Pharma Inc, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Yu-Chi Lee
- Ascendis Pharma Inc, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Dhruv Thakar
- Ascendis Pharma Inc, Redwood City, California, USA
| | | | - Kathy Bang
- Ascendis Pharma Inc, Redwood City, California, USA
| | | | - Karan Uppal
- Ascendis Pharma Inc, Redwood City, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura Viet
- Ascendis Pharma GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
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Jin D, Jiang Y, Chang L, Wei J, Sun J. New therapeutic strategies based on biasing IL-2 mutants for cancers and autoimmune diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108935. [PMID: 35732097 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunomodulatory multifunctional cytokine. High-dose IL-2 was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1990s for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. However, the short half-life of IL-2 and its toxicity caused by high-dose IL-2 limit the clinical use of IL-2. Recently, the development of cell-type-selective engineered IL-2 products become a hot research filed, mainly because IL-2 stimulates both regulatory T cells (Treg) and effector T cells (Teff) in vivo. The selective effect of IL-2 on Treg and Teff can be improved by designing biased IL-2 mutants, which showed reduced toxicity while being more effective in stimulating anti-tumor effector immunity or ameliorating autoimmune diseases. In this review we summarize the biological properties of IL-2 mutants reported so far. The design process and principle of IL-2 mutants, IL-2 mutant antibody complexes and IL-2 fusion proteins were discussed, which provided research basis for the design and application of IL-2 mutants in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfu Jin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina
| | - Yaxin Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina
| | - Lu Chang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina
| | - Jing Wei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina.
| | - Jian Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina; Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PRChina.
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Di Trani CA, Cirella A, Arrizabalaga L, Fernandez-Sendin M, Bella A, Aranda F, Melero I, Berraondo P. Overcoming the limitations of cytokines to improve cancer therapy. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 369:107-141. [PMID: 35777862 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are pleiotropic soluble proteins used by immune cells to orchestrate a coordinated response against pathogens and malignancies. In cancer immunotherapy, cytokine-based drugs can be developed potentiating pro-inflammatory cytokines or blocking immunosuppressive cytokines. However, the complexity of the mechanisms of action of cytokines requires the use of biotechnological strategies to minimize systemic toxicity, while potentiating the antitumor response. Sequence mutagenesis, fusion proteins and gene therapy strategies are employed to enhance the half-life in circulation, target the desired bioactivity to the tumor microenvironment, and to optimize the therapeutic window of cytokines. In this review, we provide an overview of the different strategies currently being pursued in pre-clinical and clinical studies to make the most of cytokines for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Augusta Di Trani
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Assunta Cirella
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Arrizabalaga
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Myriam Fernandez-Sendin
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Angela Bella
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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Yuan Y, Kolios AGA, Liu Y, Zhang B, Li H, Tsokos GC, Zhang X. Therapeutic potential of interleukin-2 in autoimmune diseases. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:596-612. [PMID: 35624009 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by dysregulation and aberrant activation of cells in the immune system. Therefore, restoration of the immune balance represents a promising therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) can promote the expansion and differentiation of different immune cell subsets dose-dependently. At high doses, IL-2 can promote the differentiation and expansion of effector and memory T cells, whereas at low doses, IL-2 can promote the differentiation, survival, and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells, a CD4+ T cell subset that is essential for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and immune tolerance. Therefore, IL-2 exerts immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects in autoimmune diseases. The immunoregulatory role of low-dose IL-2 has sparked excitement for the therapeutic exploration of modulating the IL-2-Treg axis in the context of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the therapeutic potential of IL-2 or IL-2-derived molecules in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeshuang Yuan
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Antonios G A Kolios
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yudong Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George C Tsokos
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
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Banerjee A, Li D, Guo Y, Mei Z, Lau C, Chen K, Westwick J, Klauda JB, Schrum A, Lazear ER, Krupnick AS. A reengineered common chain cytokine augments CD8+ T cell–dependent immunotherapy. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158889. [PMID: 35603788 PMCID: PMC9220948 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine therapy is limited by undesirable off-target side effects as well as terminal differentiation and exhaustion of chronically stimulated T cells. Here, we describe the signaling properties of a potentially unique cytokine by design, where T cell surface binding and signaling are separated between 2 different families of receptors. This fusion protein cytokine, called OMCPmutIL-2, bound with high affinity to the cytotoxic lymphocyte-defining immunoreceptor NKG2D but signaled through the common γ chain cytokine receptor. In addition to precise activation of cytotoxic T cells due to redirected binding, OMCPmutIL-2 resulted in superior activation of both human and murine CD8+ T cells by improving their survival and memory cell generation and decreasing exhaustion. This functional improvement was the direct result of altered signal transduction based on the reorganization of surface membrane lipid rafts that led to Janus kinase-3–mediated phosphorylation of the T cell receptor rather than STAT/AKT signaling intermediates. This potentially novel signaling pathway increased CD8+ T cell response to low-affinity antigens, activated nuclear factor of activated T cells transcription factors, and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis. OMCPmutIL-2 thus outperformed other common γ chain cytokines as a catalyst for in vitro CD8+ T cell expansion and in vivo CD8+ T cell–based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Banerjee
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dongge Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yizhan Guo
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhongcheng Mei
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine Lau
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kelly Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jeffery B. Klauda
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Adam Schrum
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Surgery, and Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Eric R. Lazear
- Courier Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
- Valo Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander S. Krupnick
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Courier Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
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35
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Dehghan R, Beig Parikhani A, Zeinali S, Shokrgozar M, Amanzadeh A, Ajdary S, Ahangari Cohan R, Talebkhan Y, Behdani M. Efficacy and antitumor activity of a mutant type of interleukin 2. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5376. [PMID: 35354847 PMCID: PMC8968711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09278-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractInterleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important cytokine in survival, expansion, function of CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells in immunotherapy of melanoma and renal cell carcinomas. Its severe toxicity following binding to its high affinity IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Rα) has restricted its application in cancer patients. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor efficacy and cytotoxicity of a mutated human IL-2 previously designed by selective amino acid substitutions, and its reduced affinity towards high-affinity IL-2Rα (CD25) was approved compared to the wild type IL-2 (wtIL-2). Furthermore, their ability to induce PBMC cell proliferation, and interferon-gamma secretion was compared. The mutant IL-2 also represented higher antitumor activity and more efficient cytotoxicity than wild type hIL-2. The developed mutant IL-2 can be an alternative tool in IL-2 associated immunotherapy of various cancers.
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36
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Beig Parikhani A, Bagherzadeh K, Dehghan R, Biglari A, Shokrgozar MA, Riazi Rad F, Zeinali S, Talebkhan Y, Ajdary S, Ahangari Cohan R, Behdani M. Human IL-2Rɑ subunit binding modulation of IL-2 through a decline in electrostatic interactions: A computational and experimental approach. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264353. [PMID: 35213635 PMCID: PMC8880607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although high-dose IL-2 has clear antitumor effects, severe side effects like severe toxicity and activation of Tregs by binding of IL-2 to high-affinity IL-2R, hypotension, and vascular leak syndrome limit its applications as a therapeutic antitumor agent. Here in this study, a rational computational approach was employed to develop and design novel triple-mutant IL-2 variants with the aim of improving IL-2-based immunotherapy. The affinity of the mutants towards IL-2Rα was further computed with the aid of molecular dynamic simulations and umbrella sampling techniques and the obtained results were compared to those of wild-type IL-2. In vitro experiments by flow cytometry showed that the anti-CD25 mAb was able to bind to PBMC cells even after mutant 2 preincubation, however, the binding strength of the mutant to α-subunit was less than of wtIL-2. Additionally, reduction of IL-2Rα subunit affinity did not significantly disturb IL-2/IL2Rβγc subunits interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Beig Parikhani
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kowsar Bagherzadeh
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rada Dehghan
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Biglari
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Farhad Riazi Rad
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Zeinali
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yeganeh Talebkhan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Ajdary
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: , (MB); (RAC); (SA)
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: , (MB); (RAC); (SA)
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: , (MB); (RAC); (SA)
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37
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Holder PG, Lim SA, Huang CS, Sharma P, Dagdas YS, Bulutoglu B, Sockolosky JT. Engineering interferons and interleukins for cancer immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 182:114112. [PMID: 35085624 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are a class of potent immunoregulatory proteins that are secreted in response to various stimuli and act locally to regulate many aspects of human physiology and disease. Cytokines play important roles in cancer initiation, progression, and elimination, and thus, there is a long clinical history associated with the use of recombinant cytokines to treat cancer. However, the use of cytokines as therapeutics has been limited by cytokine pleiotropy, complex biology, poor drug-like properties, and severe dose-limiting toxicities. Nevertheless, cytokines are crucial mediators of innate and adaptive antitumor immunity and have the potential to enhance immunotherapeutic approaches to treat cancer. Development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination immunotherapies has reinvigorated interest in cytokines as therapeutics, and a variety of engineering approaches are emerging to improve the safety and effectiveness of cytokine immunotherapy. In this review we highlight recent advances in cytokine biology and engineering for cancer immunotherapy.
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Site-specific PEGylation of interleukin-2 enhances immunosuppression via the sustained activation of regulatory T cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:1288-1305. [PMID: 34580438 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00797-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The preferential activation of regulatory T (Treg) cells by interleukin-2 (IL-2), which selectively binds to the trimeric IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) on Treg cells, makes this cytokine a promising therapeutic for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, IL-2 has a narrow therapeutic window and a short half-life. Here, we show that the pharmacokinetics and half-life of IL-2 can be substantially improved by orthogonally conjugating the cytokine to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) moieties via a copper-free click reaction through the incorporation of azide-bearing amino acids at defined sites. Subcutaneous injection of a PEGylated IL-2 that optimally induced sustained Treg-cell activation and expansion over a wide range of doses through highly selective binding to trimeric IL-2R led to enhanced therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of lupus, collagen-induced arthritis and graft-versus-host disease without compromising the immune defences of the host against viral infection. Site-specific PEGylation could be used more generally to engineer cytokines with improved therapeutic performance for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Velichinskii RA, Streltsova MA, Kust SA, Sapozhnikov AM, Kovalenko EI. The Biological Role and Therapeutic Potential of NK Cells in Hematological and Solid Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111385. [PMID: 34768814 PMCID: PMC8584101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy due to their potent antitumor activity. The main advantage of using NK cells as cytotoxic effectors over T cells is a reduced risk of graft versus host disease. At present, several variants of NK-cell-based therapies are undergoing clinical trials and show considerable effectiveness for hematological tumors. In these types of cancers, the immune cells themselves often undergo malignant transformation, which determines the features of the disease. In contrast, the current use of NK cells as therapeutic agents for the treatment of solid tumors is much less promising. Most studies are at the stage of preclinical investigation, but few progress to clinical trials. Low efficiency of NK cell migration and functional activity in the tumor environment are currently considered the major barriers to NK cell anti-tumor therapies. Various therapeutic combinations, genetic engineering methods, alternative sources for obtaining NK cells, and other techniques are aiming at the development of promising NK cell anticancer therapies, regardless of tumorigenesis. In this review, we compare the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of hematological and solid tumors and discuss current prospects of NK-cell-based therapy for hematological and solid tumors.
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Moro-Pérez L, Lozada-Chang SL, Rivas-García G, Álvarez C, Rojas-Pérez L, Boggiano-Ayo T, González-González Y. Purification and Conformational Characterization of a Novel Interleukin-2 Mutein. Protein J 2021; 40:917-928. [PMID: 34643845 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10025-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Toxicity of high-dose IL-2-based therapies have motivated the development of the IL-2 mutein, which has low expansion properties for regulatory T lymphocytes. The development of two variants (A and B) for the IL-2 mutein purification as well as a conformational comparative study by Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy of these products were evaluated. For the first time, in our center, were used of DTT and 2% SDS in the solubilization step to decrease the aggregates on intermediate product, which favors that disulfide bridges are correctly formed during re-folding. A molecular weight of 18 kDa to the monomeric form and of 25-37 kDa to the oligomeric species were estimated by SDS-PAGE. IL-2 mutein showed similar far-UV CD spectral characteristic typical of cytokines with 41% of α-helix content. Batches obtained by Process B showed similar conformational features according near-UV CD and FS studies. However, those obtained by Process A differed in their folding. IL-2 mutein showed that conformational features by near-UV CD were affected by 2% SDS, no variations on secondary structure were observed. Melting temperature values by far-UV CD were higher than 95 °C, indicating a high thermal stability. Finally, the drug product obtained by Process B showed similar conformational characteristics by near-UV CD and FS, and higher biological activity values (7.0 × 103 ng/mL) in the cell proliferation assay with respect to Process A. Also, the recovery was 15% higher than in the Process A and exhibited a 78.48% of purity. Indeed, Process B was selected for the purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leina Moro-Pérez
- Bioprocess R&D Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, 216 Street and 15 Avenue, Atabey, Playa, P.O. Box 16040, 11600, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Sum Lai Lozada-Chang
- Bioprocess R&D Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, 216 Street and 15 Avenue, Atabey, Playa, P.O. Box 16040, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gabriela Rivas-García
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Quality Control Direction, 216 Street and 15 Avenue, Atabey, Playa, P.O. Box 16040, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Carlos Álvarez
- Biology Faculty, Center for Protein Studies, University of Havana, 25 St. No. 455, Vedado, 10400, Havana, Cuba
| | - Laritza Rojas-Pérez
- Biology Faculty, Center for Protein Studies, University of Havana, 25 St. No. 455, Vedado, 10400, Havana, Cuba
| | - Tammy Boggiano-Ayo
- Bioprocess R&D Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, 216 Street and 15 Avenue, Atabey, Playa, P.O. Box 16040, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yamile González-González
- Center of Molecular Immunology, EPOVAC Facility, 216 Street and 15 Avenue, Atabey, Playa, P.O. Box 16040, 11600, Havana, Cuba
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41
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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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42
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Kobayashi M, Kojima K, Murayama K, Amano Y, Koyama T, Ogama N, Takeshita T, Fukuhara T, Tanaka N. MK-6, a novel not-α IL-2, elicits a potent antitumor activity by improving the effector to regulatory T cell balance. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:4478-4489. [PMID: 34545658 PMCID: PMC8586658 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-2 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates immune cell homeostasis. Its immunomodulatory function has been used clinically as an active immunotherapy agent for metastatic cancers. However, severe adverse effects, including the vascular leak syndrome and the preferential stimulation of anti-immunogenic Treg rather than effector T cells, have been obstacles. We newly designed a mutein IL-2, Mutakine-6 (MK-6), with reduced IL-2Rα-binding capability. MK-6 induced comparable cell growth potential toward IL-2Rβγ-positive T cells but was far less efficient in in vitro Treg proliferation and STAT5 activation. Unlike IL-2, in vivo administration of MK-6 produced minimal adverse effects. Using CT26 and B16F10-syngeneic tumor models, we found MK-6 was highly efficacious on tumor regression. Serum albumin conjugation to MK-6 prolonged in vivo half-life and accumulated in CT26 tumors, showing enhanced antitumor effect. Tumor-infiltrating leukocytes analysis revealed that albumin-fused MK-6 increased the ratio of effector CD8+ T cells to CD4+ Treg cells. These results demonstrated that MK-6 is an efficient immunomodulator potentially used for improved immunotherapy with decreased adverse effects and attenuated Treg stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Kobayashi
- Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Natori, Japan.,Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Respiratory Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Miyagi Cancer Center Hospital, Natori, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Kojima
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Murayama
- Division of Biomedical Measurements and Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuji Amano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Koyama
- Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Natori, Japan.,Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Naoko Ogama
- Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Natori, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Takeshita
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Fukuhara
- Division of Respiratory Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Miyagi Cancer Center Hospital, Natori, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tanaka
- Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Natori, Japan.,Division of Tumor Immunobiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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43
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Uricoli B, Birnbaum LA, Do P, Kelvin JM, Jain J, Costanza E, Chyong A, Porter CC, Rafiq S, Dreaden EC. Engineered Cytokines for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease Immunotherapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002214. [PMID: 33690997 PMCID: PMC8651077 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cytokine signaling is critical to a range of biological processes including cell development, tissue repair, aging, and immunity. In addition to acting as key signal mediators of the immune system, cytokines can also serve as potent immunotherapies with more than 20 recombinant products currently Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat conditions including hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and various cancers. Yet despite their biological importance and clinical utility, cytokine immunotherapies suffer from intrinsic challenges that limit their therapeutic potential including poor circulation, systemic toxicity, and low tissue- or cell-specificity. In the past decade in particular, methods have been devised to engineer cytokines in order to overcome such challenges and here, the myriad strategies are reviewed that may be employed in order to improve the therapeutic potential of cytokine and chemokine immunotherapies with applications in cancer and autoimmune disease therapy, as well as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. For clarity, these strategies are collected and presented as they vary across size scales, ranging from single amino acid substitutions, to larger protein-polymer conjugates, nano/micrometer-scale particles, and macroscale implants. Together, this work aims to provide readers with a timely view of the field of cytokine engineering with an emphasis on early-stage therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biaggio Uricoli
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Lacey A. Birnbaum
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Priscilla Do
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - James M. Kelvin
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Juhi Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Emma Costanza
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Andrew Chyong
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Christopher C. Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sarwish Rafiq
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Erik C. Dreaden
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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44
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Xue D, Hsu E, Fu YX, Peng H. Next-generation cytokines for cancer immunotherapy. Antib Ther 2021; 4:123-133. [PMID: 34263141 PMCID: PMC8271143 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most studies focus on the first and second signals of T cell activation. However, the roles of cytokines in immunotherapy are not fully understood, and cytokines have not been widely used in patient care. Clinical application of cytokines is limited due to their short half-life in vivo, severe toxicity at therapeutic doses, and overall lack of efficacy. Several modifications have been engineered to extend their half-life and increase tumor targeting, including polyethylene glycol conjugation, fusion to tumor-targeting antibodies, and alteration of cytokine/cell receptor-binding affinity. These modifications demonstrate an improvement in either increased antitumor efficacy or reduced toxicity. However, these cytokine engineering strategies may still be improved further, as each strategy poses advantages and disadvantages in the delicate balance of targeting tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and peripheral immune cells. This review focuses on selected cytokines, including interferon-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15, IL-21, and IL-12, in both preclinical studies and clinical applications. We review next-generation designs of these cytokines that improve half-life, tumor targeting, and antitumor efficacy. We also present our perspectives on the development of new strategies to potentiate cytokine-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diyuan Xue
- Key laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Da Tun Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Eric Hsu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Hua Peng
- Key laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Da Tun Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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Ponce LF, Montalvo G, Leon K, Valiente PA. Differential Effects of IL2Rα and IL15Rα over the Stability of the Common Beta-Gamma Signaling Subunits of the IL2 and IL15 Receptors. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:1913-1920. [PMID: 33765385 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin (IL) 2 and IL15 are two members of the common gamma chain cytokine family, involved in the regulation of the T cell differentiation process. Both molecules use a specific alpha subunit, IL2Rα and IL15Rα, and share the same beta and gamma chains signaling receptors. The presence of the specific alpha subunit modulates the T cell ability to compete for both soluble cytokines while the beta and gamma subunits are responsible for the signal transduction. Recent experimental results point out that the specific alpha subunits modulate the capacity of IL2 and IL15 to induce the differentiation of stimulated T cells. In other membrane receptors, the outcome of the signal transduction has been associated with the strength of the interaction of the signaling subunits. Here, we investigate how IL2Rα and IL15Rα modulate the stability of their signaling complexes by combining molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. Our simulations predict that IL2Rα binding destabilizes the β-γc interaction mediated by IL2, while IL15Rα has the opposite effect. These results explain the ability of IL2Rα and IL15Rα to modulate the signaling outcome and suggest new strategies for the development of better CD8+ T cell differentiation protocols for adoptive cell transfer (ACT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F Ponce
- Molecular System Biology Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Havana 11600, Cuba.,Center for Molecular Simulations, Biological Science Department, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
| | - Galia Montalvo
- Molecular System Biology Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Havana 11600, Cuba
| | - Kalet Leon
- Molecular System Biology Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Havana 11600, Cuba
| | - Pedro A Valiente
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, Havana 10400, Cuba
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46
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Lopes JE, Fisher JL, Flick HL, Wang C, Sun L, Ernstoff MS, Alvarez JC, Losey HC. ALKS 4230: a novel engineered IL-2 fusion protein with an improved cellular selectivity profile for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000673. [PMID: 32317293 PMCID: PMC7204809 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-2 (IL-2) plays a pivotal role in immune homeostasis due to its ability to stimulate numerous lymphocyte subsets including natural killer (NK) cells, effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Low concentrations of IL-2 induce signaling through the high-affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) comprised of IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, and common γ chain (γc), preferentially expressed on Tregs. Higher concentrations of IL-2 are necessary to induce signaling through the intermediate-affinity IL-2R, composed of IL-2Rβ and γc, expressed on memory CD8+ T cells and NK cells. Recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2) is approved for treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but adverse events including capillary leak syndrome, potentially mediated through interaction with the high-affinity IL-2R, limit its therapeutic use. Furthermore, antitumor efficacy of IL-2 may also be limited by preferential expansion of immunosuppressive Tregs. ALKS 4230 is an engineered fusion protein comprised of a circularly-permuted IL-2 with the extracellular domain of IL-2Rα, designed to selectively activate effector lymphocytes bearing the intermediate-affinity IL-2R. RESULTS ALKS 4230 was equipotent to rhIL-2 in activating human cells bearing the intermediate-affinity IL-2R, and less potent than rhIL-2 on cells bearing the high-affinity IL-2R. As observed in vitro with primary human cells from healthy donors and advanced cancer patients, ALKS 4230 induced greater activation and expansion of NK cells with reduced expansion of Tregs relative to rhIL-2. Similarly, in mice, ALKS 4230 treatment stimulated greater expansion of NK cells and memory-phenotype CD8+ T cells at doses that did not expand or activate Tregs. ALKS 4230 treatment induced significantly lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interferon gamma relative to rhIL-2. Furthermore, ALKS 4230 exhibited superior antitumor efficacy in the mouse B16F10 lung tumor model, where ALKS 4230 could be administered via multiple routes of administration and dosing schedules while achieving equivalent antitumor efficacy. CONCLUSIONS ALKS 4230 exhibited enhanced pharmacokinetic and selective pharmacodynamic properties resulting in both improved antitumor efficacy and lower indices of toxicity relative to rhIL-2 in mice. These data highlight the potential of ALKS 4230 as a novel cancer immunotherapy, and as such, the molecule is being evaluated clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared E Lopes
- Research, Alkermes, Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan L Fisher
- Department of Medicine, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | - Chunhua Wang
- Research, Alkermes, Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lei Sun
- Research, Alkermes, Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marc S Ernstoff
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Juan C Alvarez
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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47
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Cytokine engineering for targeted cancer immunotherapy. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 62:43-52. [PMID: 33684633 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines are key modulators of the immune responses and represent promising therapeutics for a variety of cancers. However, successful translation of cytokine-based therapy to the clinic is limited by, among others, severe toxicities and lack of efficacy due to cytokine pleiotropy and off-target activation of cells. Engineering cytokines with enhanced therapeutic properties has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges. Advances in protein engineering and protein-polymer conjugate technologies have fostered the generation of cytokines with enhanced target cell specificity and longer half-life than the native ones. These novel cytokines exhibit reduced systemic toxicities while focusing the activities at the tumor site, thus, enhancing antitumor immunity. The growing toolbox of cytokine engineering strategies will further stimulate the development of smart cytokine-based immunotherapies with enhanced efficacy and safety profiles.
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48
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Mortensen MR, Mock J, Bertolini M, Stringhini M, Catalano M, Neri D. Targeting an engineered cytokine with interleukin-2 and interleukin-15 activity to the neovasculature of solid tumors. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3972-3983. [PMID: 33216834 PMCID: PMC7646832 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the antibody-based delivery of cytokines to the tumor environment as a means to boost the anti-cancer activity of tumor-resident T cells and NK cells. Here, we describe the expression and characterization of fusion proteins, featuring the L19 antibody (specific to the alternatively-spliced EDB domain of fibronectin) and an engineered cytokine with interleukin-2 and interleukin-15 properties. The cytokine moiety was fused either at the N-terminal or at the C-terminal extremity and both fusion proteins showed a selective tumor accumulation in a quantitative biodistribution experiment. The N-terminal fusion inhibited tumor growth in immunocompetent mice bearing F9 carcinomas or WEHI-164 sarcomas when used as single agent. The anticancer activity was compared to the one of the same cytokine payload used as recombinant protein or fused to an anti-hen egg lysozyme antibody, serving as negative control of irrelevant specificity in the mouse. These results indicate that the antibody-based delivery of engineered cytokines to the tumor neovasculature may mediate a potent anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Mortensen
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jacqueline Mock
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bertolini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Stringhini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Catalano
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPW), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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49
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Hernandez R, Toomer KH, Põder J, Santos Savio A, Hsiung S, Malek TR. Sustained IL-2R signaling of limited duration by high-dose mIL-2/mCD25 fusion protein amplifies tumor-reactive CD8 + T cells to enhance antitumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 70:909-921. [PMID: 33037893 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02722-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
High-dose IL-2 induces cancer regression but its therapeutic use is limited due to high toxicities resulting from its broad cell targeting. In one strategy to overcome this limitation, IL-2 has been modified to selectively target the intermediate affinity IL-2R that broadly activates memory-phenotypic CD8+ T and NK cells, while minimizing Treg-associated tolerance. In this study, we modeled an alternative strategy to amplify tumor antigen-specific TCR transgenic CD8+ T cells through limited application of a long-acting IL-2 fusion protein, mIL-2/mCD25, which selectively targets the high-affinity IL-2R. Here, mice were vaccinated with a tumor antigen and high-dose mIL-2/mCD25 was applied to coincide with the induction of the high affinity IL-2R on tumor-specific T cells. A single high dose of mIL-2/mCD25, but not an equivalent amount of IL-2, amplified the frequency and function of tumor-reactive CD8+ T effector (Teff) and memory cells. These mIL-2/mCD25-dependent effects relied on distinctive requirements for TLR signals during priming of CD8+ tumor-specific T cells. The mIL-2/mCD25-amplified tumor-reactive effector and memory T cells supported long-lasting antitumor responses to B16-F10 melanoma. This regimen only transiently increased Tregs, yielding a favorable Teff-Treg ratio within the tumor microenvironment. Notably, mIL-2/mCD25 did not increase non-tumor-specific Teff or NK cells within tumors, further substantiating the specificity of mIL-2/mCD25 for tumor antigen-activated T cells. Thus, the selectivity and persistence of mIL-2/mCD25 in conjunction with a tumor vaccine supports antitumor immunity through a mechanism that is distinct from recombinant IL-2 or IL-2-based biologics that target the intermediate affinity IL-2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosmely Hernandez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Kevin H Toomer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Janika Põder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Alicia Santos Savio
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sunnie Hsiung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Thomas R Malek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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50
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Schmitz L, Berdien B, Huland E, Dase P, Beutel K, Fisch M, Engel O. The Impact of a New Interleukin-2-Based Immunotherapy Candidate on Urothelial Cells to Support Use for Intravesical Drug Delivery. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10100231. [PMID: 33027905 PMCID: PMC7601792 DOI: 10.3390/life10100231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The intravesical instillation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been shown to be very well tolerated and promising in patients with bladder malignancies. This study aims to confirm the use of a new IL-2 containing immunotherapy candidate as safe for intravesical application. IL-2, produced in mammalian cells, is glycosylated, because of its unique solubility and stability optimized for intravesical use. (2) Materials and Methods: Urothelial cells and fibroblasts were generated out of porcine bladder and cultured until they reached second passage. Afterwards, they were cultivated in renal epithelial medium (REM) and Dulbecco’s modified Eagles medium (DMEM) with the IL-2 candidate (IMS-Research) and three more types of human interleukin-2 immunotherapy products (IMS-Pure, Natural IL-2, Aldesleukin) in four different concentrations (100, 250, 500, 1000 IU/mL). Cell proliferation was analyzed by water soluble tetrazolium (WST) proliferation assay after 0, 3, and 6 days for single cell culture and co-culture. (3) Results: Proliferation assays showed that all IL-2 products induced very similar cultivation results and none of the IL-2 variants had a negative impact on the proliferation of urothelial cells and fibroblast in either concentration. (4) Conclusion: Human recombinant glycosylated IL-2 as well as human non-glycosylated IL-2 have no negative influence on the tissue cell proliferation of porcine urothelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro and represent a promising and innovative potential intravesical therapy candidate for patients in high need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Schmitz
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (P.D.); (K.B.); (M.F.); (O.E.)
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Edith Huland
- Immunservice GmbH, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (B.B.); (E.H.)
| | - Petra Dase
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (P.D.); (K.B.); (M.F.); (O.E.)
| | - Karin Beutel
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (P.D.); (K.B.); (M.F.); (O.E.)
| | - Margit Fisch
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (P.D.); (K.B.); (M.F.); (O.E.)
| | - Oliver Engel
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (P.D.); (K.B.); (M.F.); (O.E.)
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