1
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Lu Z, Fan P, Huo W, Feng Y, Wang R. Genomic profiles and their relationships with clinical characteristics and immune features in cervical cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 44:101923. [PMID: 38432114 PMCID: PMC10920960 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101923] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the genomic alteration profiles of cervical cancer patients, examine the correlation between mutation patterns and clinical and immune attributes, and discover novel targets for treatment of individuals with cervical cancer. METHODS We performed targeted next-generation sequencing of tumor tissues and blood samples obtained from 45 cervical cancer patients to analyze somatic alterations, mutation patterns, and HLA alleles comprehensively. Additionally, we used flow cytometry to assess expression levels of immune checkpoint genes. RESULTS Notably, genes such as AR (78%), KMT2D (76%), and NOTCH1 (62%) exhibited higher mutation frequencies. Moreover, the tumor mutation burden (TMB) was significantly greater in HPV-positive cervical cancer patients than in HPV-negative patients (P=0.029). BMI (P=0.047) and mutations in BARD1 (P=0.034), CEP290 (P=4E-04), and SLX4 (P=0.0128) were identified as predictors of shorter overall survival in cervical cancer patients. Furthermore, the present study revealed significant upregulation of PD-1 (P=0.027) and Tim-3 (P=0.048) in the high mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) cohort. In the elderly cervical cancer patient population, HLA-A03:01 emerged as a high-risk allele (OR=3.2, P<0.0001); HLA-C07:02 (OR=0.073, P=0.02) and HLA-B*07:02 (OR=0.257, P=0.037) were associated with a reduced risk among patients with low TMB. CONCLUSIONS This study offers insights into the mutation characteristics of cervical cancer patients and identifies potential therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinan Lu
- Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Oncology of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Peiwen Fan
- Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Oncology of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Wen Huo
- Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Oncology of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Yaning Feng
- Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Oncology of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Ruozheng Wang
- Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Oncology of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Radiotherapy Clinical Research and Training Center, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China.
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2
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Zimmermann C, Watson GM, Bauersfeld L, Berry R, Ciblis B, Lan H, Gerke C, Oberhardt V, Fuchs J, Hofmann M, Freund C, Rossjohn J, Momburg F, Hengel H, Halenius A. Diverse cytomegalovirus US11 antagonism and MHC-A evasion strategies reveal a tit-for-tat coevolutionary arms race in hominids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315985121. [PMID: 38377192 PMCID: PMC10907249 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315985121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent, ancient arms races between viruses and hosts have shaped both host immunological defense strategies as well as viral countermeasures. One such battle is waged by the glycoprotein US11 encoded by the persisting human cytomegalovirus. US11 mediates degradation of major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) molecules to prevent CD8+ T-cell activation. Here, we studied the consequences of the arms race between US11 and primate MHC-A proteins, leading us to uncover a tit-for-tat coevolution and its impact on MHC-A diversification. We found that US11 spurred MHC-A adaptation to evade viral antagonism: In an ancestor of great apes, the MHC-A A2 lineage acquired a Pro184Ala mutation, which confers resistance against the ancestral US11 targeting strategy. In response, US11 deployed a unique low-complexity region (LCR), which exploits the MHC-I peptide loading complex to target the MHC-A2 peptide-binding groove. In addition, the global spread of the human HLA-A*02 allelic family prompted US11 to employ a superior LCR strategy with an optimally fitting peptide mimetic that specifically antagonizes HLA-A*02. Thus, despite cytomegaloviruses low pathogenic potential, the increasing commitment of US11 to MHC-A has significantly promoted diversification of MHC-A in hominids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosima Zimmermann
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabrielle M. Watson
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC3800, Australia
| | - Liane Bauersfeld
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC3800, Australia
| | - Barbara Ciblis
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Huan Lan
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195Berlin, Germany
| | - Carolin Gerke
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valerie Oberhardt
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Fuchs
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Freund
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195Berlin, Germany
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC3800, Australia
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Momburg
- Antigen Presentation and T/NK Cell Activation Group, German Cancer Research Center, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center, 69120Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anne Halenius
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104Freiburg, Germany
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3
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O’Reilly RJ, Prockop S, Oved JH. Virus-specific T-cells from third party or transplant donors for treatment of EBV lymphoproliferative diseases arising post hematopoietic cell or solid organ transplantation. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1290059. [PMID: 38274824 PMCID: PMC10808771 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
EBV+ lymphomas constitute a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell (HCT) and solid organ transplants (SOT). Phase I and II trials have shown that in HCT recipients, adoptive transfer of EBV-specific T-cells from the HCT donor can safely induce durable remissions of EBV+ lymphomas including 70->90% of patients who have failed to respond to treatment with Rituximab. More recently, EBV-specific T-cells generated from allogeneic 3rd party donors have also been shown to induce durable remission of EBV+ lymphomas in Rituximab refractory HCT and SOT recipients. In this review, we compare results of phase I and II trials of 3rd party and donor derived EBV-specific T-cells. We focus on the attributes and limitations of each product in terms of access, safety, responses achieved and durability. The limited data available regarding donor and host factors contributing to T cell persistence is also described. We examine factors contributing to treatment failures and approaches to prevent or salvage relapse. Lastly, we summarize strategies to further improve results for virus-specific immunotherapies for post-transplant EBV lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. O’Reilly
- Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Prockop
- Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation, Boston Children’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph H. Oved
- Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
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4
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Dominant epitopes presented by prevalent HLA alleles permit wide use of banked CMVpp65 T-cells in adoptive therapy. Blood Adv 2022; 6:4859-4872. [PMID: 35605246 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We established and characterized a bank of 138 CMVpp65 peptide-specific T-cell lines (CMVpp65CTLs) from healthy marrow transplant donors who consented to their use for treatment of individuals other than their transplant recipient. CMVpp65CTL lines included 131 containing predominantly CD8+ T-cells and 7 CD4+ T-cell. CD8+ CMVpp65CTLs were specific for 1-3 epitopes each presented by one of only 34 of the 148 class I alleles in the bank. Similarly, the 7 predominantly CD4+ CMVpp65CTL lines were each specific for epitopes presented by 14 of 40 HLA DR alleles in the bank. Although the number of HLA alleles presenting CMV epitopes is low, their prevalence is high, permitting selection of CMVpp65CTLs restricted by an HLA allele shared by transplant recipient and HCT donor for >90% of an ethnogeographically diverse population of HCT recipients. Within individuals, responses to CMVpp65 peptides presented by different HLA alleles are hierarchical. Furthermore, within groups, epitopes presented by HLA B*07:02 and HLA A*02:01 consistently elicit immunodominant CMVpp65 CTLs, irrespective of other HLA alleles inherited. All dominant CMVpp65CTLs exhibited HLA-restricted cytotoxicity against epitope loaded targets, and usually cleared CMV infections. However, immunodominant CMVpp65 CTL responding to epitopes presented by certain HLA B*35 alleles were ineffective in lysing CMV infected cells in vitro or controlling CMV infections post adoptive therapy. Analysis of the hierarchy of T-cell responses to CMVpp65, the HLA alleles presenting immunodominant CMVpp65 epitopes, and the responses they induce, may lead to detailed algorithms for optimal choice of 3rd party CMVpp65CTLs for effective adoptive therapy.
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5
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Targeting the latent human cytomegalovirus reservoir for T-cell-mediated killing with virus-specific nanobodies. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4436. [PMID: 34290252 PMCID: PMC8295288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Latent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is characterized by limited gene expression, making latent HCMV infections refractory to current treatments targeting viral replication. However, reactivation of latent HCMV in immunosuppressed solid organ and stem cell transplant patients often results in morbidity. Here, we report the killing of latently infected cells via a virus-specific nanobody (VUN100bv) that partially inhibits signaling of the viral receptor US28. VUN100bv reactivates immediate early gene expression in latently infected cells without inducing virus production. This allows recognition and killing of latently infected monocytes by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes from HCMV-seropositive individuals, which could serve as a therapy to reduce the HCMV latent reservoir of transplant patients.
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6
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O'Reilly RJ, Prockop S, Hasan A, Doubrovina E. Therapeutic advantages provided by banked virus-specific T-cells of defined HLA-restriction. Bone Marrow Transplant 2020; 54:759-764. [PMID: 31431697 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-019-0614-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We have developed banks of EBV and CMV-specific T-cell lines generated from healthy seropositive third party donors and characterized them as to their HLA type, virus specificity, lack of alloreactivity, and HLA restriction. We here summarize results of studies employing these immediately accessible, broadly-applicable third party virus-specific T-cells for adoptive therapy of EBV lymphomas and CMV infections in allo-HCT recipients. We describe the characteristics contributing to their safety. We also discuss several distinctive advantages of banked third party virus-specific T-cells selected on the basis of their HLA restriction, particularly in the treatment of Rituximab-non-responsive EBV+ lymphomas and drug refractory CMV infections complicating HLA non-identical transplants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J O'Reilly
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Susan Prockop
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aisha Hasan
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ekaterina Doubrovina
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Cytomegalovirus inhibition of extrinsic apoptosis determines fitness and resistance to cytotoxic CD8 T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12961-12968. [PMID: 32444487 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914667117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral immune evasion is currently understood to focus on deflecting CD8 T cell recognition of infected cells by disrupting antigen presentation pathways. We evaluated viral interference with the ultimate step in cytotoxic T cell function, the death of infected cells. The viral inhibitor of caspase-8 activation (vICA) conserved in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and murine CMV (MCMV) prevents the activation of caspase-8 and proapoptotic signaling. We demonstrate the key role of vICA from either virus, in deflecting antigen-specific CD8 T cell-killing of infected cells. vICA-deficient mutants, lacking either UL36 or M36, exhibit greater susceptibility to CD8 T cell control than mutants lacking the set of immunoevasins known to disrupt antigen presentation via MHC class I. This difference is evident during infection in the natural mouse host infected with MCMV, in settings where virus-specific CD8 T cells are adoptively transferred. Finally, we identify the molecular mechanism through which vICA acts, demonstrating the central contribution of caspase-8 signaling at a point of convergence of death receptor-induced apoptosis and perforin/granzyme-dependent cytotoxicity.
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8
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Berry R, Watson GM, Jonjic S, Degli-Esposti MA, Rossjohn J. Modulation of innate and adaptive immunity by cytomegaloviruses. Nat Rev Immunol 2019; 20:113-127. [PMID: 31666730 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0225-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The coordinated activities of innate and adaptive immunity are critical for effective protection against viruses. To counter this, some viruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to circumvent immune cell recognition. In particular, cytomegaloviruses encode large arsenals of molecules that seek to subvert T cell and natural killer cell function via a remarkable array of mechanisms. Consequently, these 'immunoevasins' play a fundamental role in shaping the nature of the immune system by driving the evolution of new immune receptors and recognition mechanisms. Here, we review the diverse strategies adopted by cytomegaloviruses to target immune pathways and outline the host's response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stipan Jonjic
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Mariapia A Degli-Esposti
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
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9
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Zimmermann C, Kowalewski D, Bauersfeld L, Hildenbrand A, Gerke C, Schwarzmüller M, Le-Trilling VTK, Stevanovic S, Hengel H, Momburg F, Halenius A. HLA-B locus products resist degradation by the human cytomegalovirus immunoevasin US11. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008040. [PMID: 31527904 PMCID: PMC6764698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To escape CD8+ T-cell immunity, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) US11 redirects MHC-I for rapid ER-associated proteolytic degradation (ERAD). In humans, classical MHC-I molecules are encoded by the highly polymorphic HLA-A, -B and -C gene loci. While HLA-C resists US11 degradation, the specificity for HLA-A and HLA-B products has not been systematically studied. In this study we analyzed the MHC-I peptide ligands in HCMV-infected cells. A US11-dependent loss of HLA-A ligands was observed, but not of HLA-B. We revealed a general ability of HLA-B to assemble with β2m and exit from the ER in the presence of US11. Surprisingly, a low-complexity region between the signal peptide sequence and the Ig-like domain of US11, was necessary to form a stable interaction with assembled MHC-I and, moreover, this region was also responsible for changing the pool of HLA-B ligands. Our data suggest a two-pronged strategy by US11 to escape CD8+ T-cell immunity, firstly, by degrading HLA-A molecules, and secondly, by manipulating the HLA-B ligandome. The human immune system can cover the presentation of a wide array of pathogen derived antigens owing to the three extraordinary polymorphic MHC class I (MHC-I) gene loci, called HLA-A, -B and -C in humans. Studying the HLA peptide ligands of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infected cells, we realized that the HCMV encoded glycoprotein US11 targeted different HLA gene products in distinct manners. More than 20 years ago the first HCMV encoded MHC-I inhibitors were identified, including US11, targeting MHC-I for proteasomal degradation. Here, we describe that the prime target for US11-mediated degradation is HLA-A, whereas HLA-B can resist degradation. Our further mechanistic analysis revealed that US11 uses various domains for distinct functions. Remarkably, the ability of US11 to interact with assembled MHC-I and modify peptide loading of degradation-resistant HLA-B was dependent on a low-complexity region (LCR) located between the signal peptide and the immunoglobulin-like domain of US11. To redirect MHC-I for proteasomal degradation the LCR was dispensable. These findings now raise the intriguing question why US11 has evolved to target HLA-A and -B differentially. Possibly, HLA-B molecules are spared in order to dampen NK cell attack against infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosima Zimmermann
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Kowalewski
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Liane Bauersfeld
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hildenbrand
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Gerke
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Schwarzmüller
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Stevanovic
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frank Momburg
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, Antigen Presentation and T/NK Cell Activation Group, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Halenius
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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10
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Patro ARK. Subversion of Immune Response by Human Cytomegalovirus. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1155. [PMID: 31244824 PMCID: PMC6575140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of congenital infections and is an important pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. Despite a robust host immune system, HCMV able to replicate, evade host defenses, establish latency for life. A significant portion of HCMV genome dedicated to encode gene products for modulation of host immune response. Growing number of HCMV gene products are being recognized to play role in immune evasion. Information on viral immune evasion mechanisms by which HCMV persists in host will be useful in devising antiviral intervention strategies and development of new vaccines. This minireview provides a brief overview of immune evasion strategy adapted by HCMV by utilizing its gene products in modulation of host immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Raj Kumar Patro
- Infectious Disease Biology Group, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, India
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11
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Huth A, Liang X, Krebs S, Blum H, Moosmann A. Antigen-Specific TCR Signatures of Cytomegalovirus Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 202:979-990. [PMID: 30587531 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CMV is a prevalent human pathogen. The virus cannot be eliminated from the body, but is kept in check by CMV-specific T cells. Patients with an insufficient T cell response, such as transplant recipients, are at high risk of developing CMV disease. However, the CMV-specific T cell repertoire is complex, and it is not yet clear which T cells protect best against virus reactivation and disease. In this study, we present a highly resolved characterization of CMV-specific human CD8+ T cells based on enrichment by specific peptide stimulation and mRNA sequencing of their TCR β-chains (TCRβ). Our analysis included recently identified T cell epitopes restricted through HLA-C, whose presentation is resistant to viral immunomodulation, and well-studied HLA-B-restricted epitopes. In eight healthy virus carriers, we identified a total of 1052 CMV-specific TCRβ sequences. HLA-C-restricted, CMV-specific TCRβ clonotypes dominated the ex vivo T cell response and contributed the highest-frequency clonotype of the entire repertoire in two of eight donors. We analyzed sharing and similarity of CMV-specific TCRβ sequences and identified 63 public or related sequences belonging to 17 public TCRβ families. In our cohort, and in an independent cohort of 352 donors, the cumulative frequency of these public TCRβ family members was a highly discriminatory indicator of carrying both CMV infection and the relevant HLA type. Based on these findings, we propose CMV-specific TCRβ signatures as a biomarker for an antiviral T cell response to identify patients in need of treatment and to guide future development of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Huth
- German Center for Infection Research Group Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation, Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Center Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 81377 Munich, Germany; and
| | - Xiaoling Liang
- German Center for Infection Research Group Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation, Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Center Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Krebs
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Moosmann
- German Center for Infection Research Group Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation, Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Center Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; .,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 81377 Munich, Germany; and
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12
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Martin LK, Hollaus A, Stahuber A, Hübener C, Fraccaroli A, Tischer J, Schub A, Moosmann A. Cross-sectional analysis of CD8 T cell immunity to human herpesvirus 6B. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006991. [PMID: 29698478 PMCID: PMC5919459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is prevalent in healthy persons, causes disease in immunosuppressed carriers, and may be involved in autoimmune disease. Cytotoxic CD8 T cells are probably important for effective control of infection. However, the HHV-6-specific CD8 T cell repertoire is largely uncharacterized. Therefore, we undertook a virus-wide analysis of CD8 T cell responses to HHV-6. We used a simple anchor motif-based algorithm (SAMBA) to identify 299 epitope candidates potentially presented by the HLA class I molecule B*08:01. Candidates were found in 77 of 98 unique HHV-6B proteins. From peptide-expanded T cell lines, we obtained CD8 T cell clones against 20 candidates. We tested whether T cell clones recognized HHV-6-infected cells. This was the case for 16 epitopes derived from 12 proteins from all phases of the viral replication cycle. Epitopes were enriched in certain amino acids flanking the peptide. Ex vivo analysis of eight healthy donors with HLA-peptide multimers showed that the strongest responses were directed against an epitope from IE-2, with a median frequency of 0.09% of CD8 T cells. Reconstitution of T cells specific for this and other HHV-6 epitopes was also observed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We conclude that HHV-6 induces CD8 T cell responses against multiple antigens of diverse functional classes. Most antigens against which CD8 T cells can be raised are presented by infected cells. Ex vivo multimer staining can directly identify HHV-6-specific T cells. These results will advance development of immune monitoring, adoptive T cell therapy, and vaccines. This paper deals with the immune response to a very common virus, called human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Most people catch HHV-6 in early childhood, which often leads to a disease known as three-day fever. Later in life, the virus stays in the body, and an active immune response is needed to prevent the virus from multiplying and causing damage. It is suspected that HHV-6 contributes to autoimmune diseases and chronic fatigue. Moreover, patients with severely weakened immune responses, for example after some forms of transplantation, clearly have difficulties controlling HHV-6, which puts them at risk of severe disease and shortens their survival. This can potentially be prevented by giving them HHV-6-specific "killer" CD8 T cells, which are cells of the immune system that destroy body cells harboring the virus. However, little is known so far about such T cells. Here, we describe 16 new structures that CD8 T cells can use to recognize and kill HHV-6-infected cells. We show that very different viral proteins can furnish such structures. We also observe that such T cells are regularly present in healthy people and in transplant patients who control the virus. Our results will help develop therapies of disease due to HHV-6.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Anemia, Aplastic/immunology
- Anemia, Aplastic/therapy
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Case-Control Studies
- Cells, Cultured
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- HLA Antigens/immunology
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Herpesvirus 6, Human/immunology
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Roseolovirus Infections/immunology
- Roseolovirus Infections/virology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
- Transplantation, Homologous
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa K. Martin
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra Hollaus
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Stahuber
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Hübener
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessia Fraccaroli
- Internal Medicine III, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Klinikum der Universität München (LMU), Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Tischer
- Internal Medicine III, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Klinikum der Universität München (LMU), Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Schub
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Moosmann
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF–Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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13
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Schlott F, Steubl D, Ameres S, Moosmann A, Dreher S, Heemann U, Hösel V, Busch DH, Neuenhahn M. Characterization and clinical enrichment of HLA-C*07:02-restricted Cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193554. [PMID: 29489900 PMCID: PMC5831000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a major source of morbidity in patients after solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) with CMV-specific T cells is a promising therapeutic approach for HSCT recipients, but might be counteracted by CMV’s immune evasion strategies. HLA-C*07:02 is less susceptible to viral immune evasion suggesting HLA-C*07:02-restricted viral epitopes as promising targets for ACT. For a better understanding of HLA-C*07:02-restricted CMV-specific T cells we used recently generated reversible HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 multimers (Streptamers) recognizing a CMV-derived Immediate-Early-1 (IE-1) epitope and analyzed phenotypic and functional T cell characteristics. Initially, we detected very high frequencies of HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 multimer+ T cells (median = 11.35%), as well as robust functional responses after stimulation with IE-1 peptide (IFNγ+; median = 5.02%) in healthy individuals. However, MHC-multimer+ and IFNγ-secreting T cell frequencies showed a relatively weak correlation (r2 = 0.77), which could be attributed to an unexpected contribution of CMV-epitope-independent KIR2DL2/3-binding of HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 multimers. Therefore, we developed a MHC-multimer double-staining approach against a cancer epitope-specific HLA-C*07:02 multimer to identify truly HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 epitope-specific T cells. The frequencies of these truly HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 multimer+ T cells were still high (median = 6.86%) and correlated now strongly (r2 = 0.96) with IFNγ-secretion. Interestingly, HLA-C*07:02/IE-1-restricted T cells contain substantial numbers with a central memory T cell phenotype, indicating high expansion potential e.g. for ACT. In line with that, we developed a clinical enrichment protocol avoiding epitope-independent KIR-binding to make HLA-C*07:02/IE-1-restricted T cells available for ACT. Initial depletion of KIR-expressing CD8+ T cells followed by HLA-C*07:02/IE-1 Streptamer positive selection using paramagnetic labeling techniques allowed to enrich successfully HLA-C*07:02/IE-1-restricted T cells. Such specifically enriched populations of functional HLA-C*07:02/IE-1-restricted T cells with significant central memory T cell content could become a potent source for ACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schlott
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- DZIF—National Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Steubl
- Department of Nephrology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ameres
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Moosmann
- DZIF—National Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
- DZIF Research Group "Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation" (HOCOVLAR), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Dreher
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Heemann
- DZIF—National Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
- Department of Nephrology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Hösel
- Technical University Munich, Chair of Biomathematics, Garching, Germany
| | - Dirk H. Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- DZIF—National Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Neuenhahn
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- DZIF—National Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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14
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Hosie L, Pachnio A, Zuo J, Pearce H, Riddell S, Moss P. Cytomegalovirus-Specific T Cells Restricted by HLA-Cw*0702 Increase Markedly with Age and Dominate the CD8 + T-Cell Repertoire in Older People. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1776. [PMID: 29312307 PMCID: PMC5732243 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection elicits a strong T-cell immune response, which increases further during aging in a process termed "memory inflation." CMV downregulates the expression of HLA-A and HLA-B on the surface of infected cells to limit presentation of viral peptides to T-cells although HLA-C is relatively spared as it also engages with inhibitory killer immunoglobulin receptor receptors and therefore reduces lysis by natural killer cells. We investigated the magnitude and functional properties of CMV-specific CD8+ T-cells specific for 10 peptides restricted by HLA-C in a cohort of 53 donors between the age of 23 and 91 years. This was achieved via peptide stimulation of PBMCs followed by multicolor flow cytometry. Three peptides, derived from proteins generated in the immediate-early period of viral replication and restricted by HLA-Cw*0702, elicited strong immune responses, which increased substantially with age such that the average aggregate response represented 37% of the CD8+ T-cell pool within donors above 70 years of age. Remarkably, a single response represented 70% of the total CD8+ T-cell pool within a 91-year-old donor. HLA-Cw*0702-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses were immunodominant over HLA-A and HLA-B-restricted CMV-specific responses and did not show features of exhaustion such as PD-1 or CD39 expression. Indeed, such CTL exhibit a polyfunctional cytokine profile with co-expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α and a strong cytotoxic phenotype with intracellular expression of perforin and granzymeB. Functionally, HLA-Cw*0702-restricted CTL show exceptionally high avidity for cognate peptide-HLA and demonstrate very early and efficient recognition of virally infected cells. These observations indicate that CD8+ T-cells restricted by HLA-C play an important role in the control of persistent CMV infection and could represent a novel opportunity for CD8+ T-cell therapy of viral infection within immunosuppressed patients. In addition, the findings provide further evidence for the importance of HLA-C-restricted T-cells in the control of chronic viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Hosie
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Health Partners, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Pachnio
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Health Partners, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jianmin Zuo
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Health Partners, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hayden Pearce
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Health Partners, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stanley Riddell
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Paul Moss
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Health Partners, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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15
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Englhard AS, Palaras A, Volgger V, Stepp H, Mack B, Libl D, Gires O, Betz CS. Confocal laser endomicroscopy in head and neck malignancies using FITC-labelled EpCAM- and EGF-R-antibodies in cell lines and tumor biopsies. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2017; 10:1365-1376. [PMID: 28106950 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Intraoperative detection of residual malignant cells at tumor margins following excision of primary tumors could help improving surgery and thus patients' outcome. The feasibility of the tumor antigens epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) for antibody-dependent confocal laser scanning endomicroscopy (CLE)-mediated visualization of malignant cells was addressed. Both tumor antigens are highly and frequently expressed in the majority of carcinomas, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and represent prognostic and therapeutic tumor target molecules. FITC-conjugated EGF-R- and EpCAM-specific antibodies served as molecular tools for the detection of antigen-positive cells using the CLE technology. Specificity of both antibodies and their ability to discriminate tumor from non-tumor cells were assessed in vitro with human fibroblasts and PCI-1 HNSCC cell lines, and ex vivo on primary HNSCC samples (n = 11) and healthy mucosa (n = 5). Antigen specificity of the used EpCAM-specific antibody was superior to that of the EGF-R-specific antibody both in vitro and ex vivo (100% vs. 31.25%), and allowed visualization of cellular structures in CLE measurements. These results hold promise for possible future applications in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Englhard
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Palaras
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE-Zentrum, Klinikum der Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 19, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Volgger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Herbert Stepp
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE-Zentrum, Klinikum der Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 19, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Urology, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Brigitte Mack
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Darko Libl
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Olivier Gires
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Group "Personalized Radiotherapy of Head and Neck Tumors", Helmholtz Zentrum, München, Germany
| | - Christian S Betz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
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16
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van der Ploeg K, Chang C, Ivarsson MA, Moffett A, Wills MR, Trowsdale J. Modulation of Human Leukocyte Antigen-C by Human Cytomegalovirus Stimulates KIR2DS1 Recognition by Natural Killer Cells. Front Immunol 2017; 8:298. [PMID: 28424684 PMCID: PMC5372792 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of inhibitory killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs) with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules has been characterized in detail. By contrast, activating members of the KIR family, although closely related to inhibitory KIRs, appear to interact weakly, if at all, with HLA class I. KIR2DS1 is the best studied activating KIR and it interacts with C2 group HLA-C (C2-HLA-C) in some assays, but not as strongly as KIR2DL1. We used a mouse 2B4 cell reporter system, which carries NFAT-green fluorescent protein with KIR2DS1 and a modified DAP12 adaptor protein. KIR2DS1 reporter cells were not activated upon coculture with 721.221 cells transfected with different HLA-C molecules, or with interferon-γ stimulated primary dermal fibroblasts. However, KIR2DS1 reporter cells and KIR2DS1+ primary natural killer (NK) cells were activated by C2-HLA-C homozygous human fetal foreskin fibroblasts (HFFFs) but only after infection with specific clones of a clinical strain of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Active viral gene expression was required for activation of both cell types. Primary NKG2A-KIR2DS1+ NK cell subsets degranulated after coculture with HCMV-infected HFFFs. The W6/32 antibody to HLA class I blocked the KIR2DS1 reporter cell interaction with its ligand on HCMV-infected HFFFs but did not block interaction with KIR2DL1. This implies a differential recognition of HLA-C by KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1. The data suggest that modulation of HLA-C by HCMV is required for a potent KIR2DS1-mediated NK cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiwen Chang
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ashley Moffett
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R. Wills
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,*Correspondence: Mark R. Wills, ; John Trowsdale,
| | - John Trowsdale
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,*Correspondence: Mark R. Wills, ; John Trowsdale,
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17
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Tomić A, Varanasi PR, Golemac M, Malić S, Riese P, Borst EM, Mischak-Weissinger E, Guzmán CA, Krmpotić A, Jonjić S, Messerle M. Activation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity by a Recombinant Human Cytomegalovirus Strain Expressing an NKG2D Ligand. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006015. [PMID: 27907183 PMCID: PMC5131914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of an effective vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a need of utmost medical importance. Generally, it is believed that a live attenuated vaccine would best provide protective immunity against this tenacious pathogen. Here, we propose a strategy for an HCMV vaccine that aims at the simultaneous activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. An HCMV strain expressing the host ligand ULBP2 for the NKG2D receptor was found to be susceptible to control by natural killer (NK) cells, and preserved the ability to stimulate HCMV-specific T cells. Infection with the ULBP2-expressing HCMV strain caused diminished cell surface levels of MHC class I molecules. While expression of the NKG2D ligand increased the cytolytic activity of NK cells, NKG2D engagement in CD8+ T cells provided co-stimulation and compensated for lower MHC class I expression. Altogether, our data indicate that triggering of both arms of the immune system is a promising approach applicable to the generation of a live attenuated HCMV vaccine. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in congenitally infected newborns and immunocompromised individuals, indicating an utmost need for a vaccine to protect these vulnerable groups. Recent experimental studies in animal models, including non-human primates, have shown that attenuated CMVs trigger a potent immune response and are attractive vaccine candidates. However, an effective CMV vaccine is still not available. Here, we demonstrate that rational engineering of a live attenuated human CMV vaccine candidate is feasible. We equipped a CMV strain with an immunostimulatory molecule that is a ligand for an activating receptor present on both Natural Killer cells and CD8+ T cells. Moreover, we deleted several immunoevasins involved in downregulation of MHC class I molecules and of a ligand for Natural Killer cells in order to elicit stronger immune responses. In vitro assays using human immune cells and a first assessment in a humanized mouse model in vivo suggest that the generated CMV strain is attenuated and has the ability to induce a virus-specific immune response. Our study proposes this novel approach for the development of a rationally engineered CMV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Tomić
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Pavankumar R. Varanasi
- Clinics of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mijo Golemac
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Suzana Malić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Peggy Riese
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eva M. Borst
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva Mischak-Weissinger
- Clinics of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Carlos A. Guzmán
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
- * E-mail: (MM); (SJ)
| | - Martin Messerle
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
- * E-mail: (MM); (SJ)
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18
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Proff J, Walterskirchen C, Brey C, Geyeregger R, Full F, Ensser A, Lehner M, Holter W. Cytomegalovirus-Infected Cells Resist T Cell Mediated Killing in an HLA-Recognition Independent Manner. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:844. [PMID: 27375569 PMCID: PMC4899442 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to explore the potential of HLA-independent T cell therapy for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections, we developed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against the HCMV encoded glycoprotein B (gB), which is expressed at high levels on the surface of infected cells. T cells engineered with this anti-gB CAR recognized HCMV-infected cells and released cytokines and cytotoxic granules. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to analogous approaches for HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus, we found that HCMV-infected cells were resistant to killing by the CAR-modified T cells. In order to elucidate whether this phenomenon was restricted to the use of CARs, we extended our experiments to T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated recognition of infected cells. To this end we infected fibroblasts with HCMV-strains deficient in viral inhibitors of antigenic peptide presentation and targeted these HLA-class I expressing peptide-loaded infected cells with peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). Despite strong degranulation and cytokine production by the T cells, we again found significant inhibition of lysis of HCMV-infected cells. Impairment of cell lysis became detectable 1 day after HCMV infection and gradually increased during the following 3 days. We thus postulate that viral anti-apoptotic factors, known to inhibit suicide of infected host cells, have evolved additional functions to directly abrogate T cell cytotoxicity. In line with this hypothesis, CAR-T cell cytotoxicity was strongly inhibited in non-infected fibroblasts by expression of the HCMV-protein UL37x1, and even more so by additional expression of UL36. Our data extend the current knowledge on Betaherpesviral evasion from T cell immunity and show for the first time that, beyond impaired antigen presentation, infected cells are efficiently protected by direct blockade of cytotoxic effector functions through viral proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Proff
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna KinderkrebsforschungVienna, Austria; Children's University Hospital, Universitätsklinikum ErlangenErlangen, Germany
| | | | - Charlotte Brey
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung Vienna, Austria
| | - Rene Geyeregger
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Full
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Universitätsklinikum ErlangenErlangen, Germany; Department of Microbiology, The University of ChicagoChicago, IL, USA
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manfred Lehner
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Holter
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna KinderkrebsforschungVienna, Austria; Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Kinderspital, Medical University of ViennaVienna, Austria
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19
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Schuren AB, Costa AI, Wiertz EJ. Recent advances in viral evasion of the MHC Class I processing pathway. Curr Opin Immunol 2016; 40:43-50. [PMID: 27065088 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
T-cell mediated adaptive immunity against viruses relies on recognition of virus-derived peptides by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Detection of pathogen-derived peptide-MHC-I complexes triggers CD8(+) T cells to eliminate the infected cells. Viruses have evolved several mechanisms to avoid recognition, many of which target the MHC-I antigen-processing pathway. While many immune evasion strategies have been described in the context of herpesvirus infections, it is becoming clear that this 'disguise' ability is more widespread. Here, we address recent findings in viral evasion of the MHC-I antigen presentation pathway and the impact on CD8(+) T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk Bc Schuren
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ana I Costa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emmanuel Jhj Wiertz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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20
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Virus-specific T-cell banks for 'off the shelf' adoptive therapy of refractory infections. Bone Marrow Transplant 2016; 51:1163-72. [PMID: 27042851 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2016.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy with transplant donor-derived virus-specific T cells has emerged as a potentially curative approach for the treatment of drug-refractory EBV+lymphomas as well as CMV and adenovirus infections complicating allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants. Adoptive transfer of HLA partially matched virus-specific T cells from healthy third party donors has also shown promise in the treatment of these conditions, with disease response rates of 50-76% and strikingly low incidences of toxicity or GVHD recorded in initial trials. In this review, we examine the reported experience with transplant donor and third party donor-derived virus-specific T cells, identifying characteristics of the viral pathogen, the T cells administered and the diseased host that contribute to treatment response or failure. We also describe the characteristics of virus-specific T-cell lines in our center's bank and the frequency with which in vitro culture promotes expansion of immunodominant T cells specific for epitopes that are presented by a limited array of prevalent HLA alleles, which facilitates their broad applicability for treatment.
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Ameres S, Liang X, Wiesner M, Mautner J, Moosmann A. A Diverse Repertoire of CD4 T Cells Targets the Immediate-Early 1 Protein of Human Cytomegalovirus. Front Immunol 2015; 6:598. [PMID: 26635812 PMCID: PMC4658442 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell responses to the immediate-early 1 (IE-1) protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) are associated with protection from viral disease. Thus, IE-1 is a promising target for immunotherapy. CD8 T-cell responses to IE-1 are generally strong. In contrast, CD4 T-cell responses to IE-1 were described to be comparatively infrequent or undetectable in HCMV carriers, and information on their target epitopes and their function has been limited. To analyze the repertoire of IE-1-specific CD4 T cells, we expanded them from healthy donors with autologous IE-1-expressing mini-Epstein–Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines and established IE-1-specific CD4 T-cell clones. Clones from seven out of seven HCMV-positive donors recognized endogenously processed IE-1 epitopes restricted through HLA-DR, DQ, or DP. Three to seven IE-1 epitopes were recognized per donor. Cumulatively, about 27 different HLA/peptide class II complexes were recognized by 117 IE-1-specific clones. Our results suggest that a highly diversified repertoire of IE-1-specific CD4 T cells targeting multiple epitopes is usually present in healthy HCMV carriers. Therefore, multiepitope approaches to immunomonitoring and immunotherapy will make optimal use of this potentially important class of HCMV-specific effector cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Ameres
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , Munich , Germany
| | - Xiaoling Liang
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , Munich , Germany ; Research Group Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation, Helmholtz Zentrum München , Munich , Germany ; German Research Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , Munich , Germany
| | - Martina Wiesner
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , Munich , Germany
| | - Josef Mautner
- German Research Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , Munich , Germany ; Clinical Cooperation Group Pediatric Tumor Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany
| | - Andreas Moosmann
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , Munich , Germany ; Research Group Host Control of Viral Latency and Reactivation, Helmholtz Zentrum München , Munich , Germany ; German Research Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , Munich , Germany
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Koehne G, Hasan A, Doubrovina E, Prockop S, Tyler E, Wasilewski G, O'Reilly RJ. Immunotherapy with Donor T Cells Sensitized with Overlapping Pentadecapeptides for Treatment of Persistent Cytomegalovirus Infection or Viremia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2015; 21:1663-78. [PMID: 26028505 PMCID: PMC4537838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We conducted a phase I trial of allogeneic T cells sensitized in vitro against a pool of pentadecapeptides (15-mer peptides) spanning the sequence of CMVpp65 for adoptive therapy of 17 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia or clinical infection persisting despite prolonged treatment with antiviral drugs. All but 3 of the patients had received T cell-depleted transplants without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis with immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation. The CMVpp65-specific T cells (CMVpp65CTLs) generated were oligoclonal and specific for only 1 to 3 epitopes, presented by a limited set of HLA class I or II alleles. T cell infusions were well tolerated without toxicity or GVHD. Of 17 patients treated with transplant donor (n = 16) or third-party (n = 1) CMVpp65CTLs, 15 cleared viremia, including 3 of 5 with overt disease. In responding patients, the CMVpp65CTLs infused consistently proliferated and could be detected by T cell receptor Vβ usage in CMVpp65/HLA tetramer + populations for period of 120 days to up to 2 years after infusion. Thus, CMVpp65CTLs generated in response to synthetic 15-mer peptides of CMVpp65 are safe and can clear persistent CMV infections in the post-transplantation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guenther Koehne
- Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
| | - Aisha Hasan
- Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ekaterina Doubrovina
- Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Susan Prockop
- Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Eleanor Tyler
- Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Gloria Wasilewski
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard J O'Reilly
- Transplantation Biology Laboratory, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Characterization of the HCMV-Specific CD4 T Cell Responses that Are Associated with Protective Immunity. Viruses 2015; 7:4414-37. [PMID: 26258786 PMCID: PMC4576189 DOI: 10.3390/v7082828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Most humans become infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Typically, the immune system controls the infection, but the virus persists and can reactivate in states of immunodeficiency. While substantial information is available on the contribution of CD8 T cells and antibodies to anti-HCMV immunity, studies of the TH1, TH2, and TH17 subsets have been limited by the low frequency of HCMV-specific CD4 T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Using the enzyme-linked Immunospot® assay (ELISPOT) that excels in low frequency measurements, we have established these in a sizable cohort of healthy HCMV controllers. Cytokine recall responses were seen in all seropositive donors. Specifically, interferon (IFN)-γ and/or interleukin (IL)-17 were seen in isolation or with IL-4 in all test subjects. IL-4 recall did not occur in isolation. While the ratios of TH1, TH2, and TH17 cells exhibited substantial variations between different individuals these ratios and the frequencies were relatively stable when tested in samples drawn up to five years apart. IFN-γ and IL-2 co-expressing polyfunctional cells were seen in most subjects. Around half of the HCMV-specific CD4 cells were in a reversible state of exhaustion. The data provided here established the TH1, TH2, and TH17 characteristic of the CD4 cells that convey immune protection for successful immune surveillance against which reactivity can be compared when the immune surveillance of HCMV fails.
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O'Reilly RJ, Koehne G, Hasan AN, Doubrovina E, Prockop S. T-cell depleted allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants as a platform for adoptive therapy with leukemia selective or virus-specific T-cells. Bone Marrow Transplant 2015; 50 Suppl 2:S43-50. [PMID: 26039207 PMCID: PMC4787269 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2015.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants adequately depleted of T-cells can reduce or prevent acute and chronic GVHD in both HLA-matched and haplotype-disparate hosts, without post-transplant prophylaxis with immunosuppressive drugs. Recent trials indicate that high doses of CD34+ progenitors from G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood leukocytes isolated and T-cell depleted by immunoadsorption to paramagnetic beads, when administered after myeloablative conditioning with TBI and chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone can secure consistent engraftment and abrogate GVHD in patients with acute leukemia without incurring an increased risk of a recurrent leukemia. Early clinical trials also indicate that high doses of in vitro generated leukemia-reactive donor T-cells can be adoptively transferred and can induce remissions of leukemia relapse without GVHD. Similarly, virus-specific T-cells generated from the transplant donor or an HLA partially matched third party, have induced remissions of Rituxan-refractory EBV lymphomas and can clear CMV disease or viremia persisting despite antiviral therapy in a high proportion of cases. Analyses of treatment responses and failures illustrate both the advantages and limitations of donor or banked, third party-derived T-cells, but underscore the potential of adoptive T-cell therapy in the absence of ongoing immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J O'Reilly
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - G Koehne
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - A N Hasan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - E Doubrovina
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Prockop
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Gabaev I, Elbasani E, Ameres S, Steinbrück L, Stanton R, Döring M, Lenac Rovis T, Kalinke U, Jonjic S, Moosmann A, Messerle M. Expression of the human cytomegalovirus UL11 glycoprotein in viral infection and evaluation of its effect on virus-specific CD8 T cells. J Virol 2014; 88:14326-39. [PMID: 25275132 PMCID: PMC4249143 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01691-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) UL11 open reading frame (ORF) encodes a putative type I transmembrane glycoprotein which displays remarkable amino acid sequence variability among different CMV isolates, suggesting that it represents an important virulence factor. In a previous study, we have shown that UL11 can interact with the cellular receptor tyrosine phosphatase CD45, which has a central role for signal transduction in T cells, and treatment of T cells with large amounts of a soluble UL11 protein inhibited their proliferation. In order to analyze UL11 expression in CMV-infected cells, we constructed CMV recombinants whose genomes either encode tagged UL11 versions or carry a stop mutation in the UL11 ORF. Moreover, we examined whether UL11 affects the function of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). We found that the UL11 ORF gives rise to several proteins due to both posttranslational modification and alternative translation initiation sites. Biotin labeling of surface proteins on infected cells indicated that only highly glycosylated UL11 forms are present at the plasma membrane, whereas less glycosylated UL11 forms were found in the endoplasmic reticulum. We did not find evidence of UL11 cleavage or secretion of a soluble UL11 version. Cocultivation of CTLs recognizing different CMV epitopes with fibroblasts infected with a UL11 deletion mutant or the parental strain revealed that under the conditions applied UL11 did not influence the activation of CMV-specific CD8 T cells. For further studies, we propose to investigate the interaction of UL11 with CD45 and the functional consequences in other immune cells expressing CD45. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) belongs to those viruses that extensively interfere with the host immune response, yet the precise function of many putative immunomodulatory CMV proteins remains elusive. Previously, we have shown that the CMV UL11 protein interacts with the leukocyte common antigen CD45, a cellular receptor tyrosine phosphatase with a central role for signal transduction in T cells. Here, we examined the proteins expressed by the UL11 gene in CMV-infected cells and found that at least one form of UL11 is present at the cell surface, enabling it to interact with CD45 on immune cells. Surprisingly, CMV-expressed UL11 did not affect the activity of virus-specific CD8 T cells. This finding warrants investigation of the impact of UL11 on CD45 functions in other leukocyte subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildar Gabaev
- Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Endrit Elbasani
- Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ameres
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lars Steinbrück
- Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Richard Stanton
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Marius Döring
- Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Twincore, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tihana Lenac Rovis
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Twincore, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stipan Jonjic
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Andreas Moosmann
- Clinical Cooperation Group Immunooncology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites, Hannover and Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Messerle
- Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites, Hannover and Munich, Germany
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Classical and non-classical MHC I molecule manipulation by human cytomegalovirus: so many targets—but how many arrows in the quiver? Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 12:139-53. [PMID: 25418469 PMCID: PMC4654289 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Major mechanisms for the recognition of pathogens by immune cells have evolved to employ classical and non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules. Classical MHC I molecules present antigenic peptide ligands on infected cells to CD8+ T cells, whereas a key function for non-classical MHC I molecules is to mediate inhibitory or activating stimuli in natural killer (NK) cells. The structural diversity of MHC I puts immense pressure on persisting viruses, including cytomegaloviruses. The very large coding capacity of the human cytomegalovirus allows it to express a whole arsenal of immunoevasive factors assigned to individual MHC class I targets. This review summarizes achievements from more than two decades of intense research on how human cytomegalovirus manipulates MHC I molecules and escapes elimination by the immune system.
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