1
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Klebanoff CA, Chandran SS, Baker BM, Quezada SA, Ribas A. T cell receptor therapeutics: immunological targeting of the intracellular cancer proteome. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:996-1017. [PMID: 37891435 PMCID: PMC10947610 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00809-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The T cell receptor (TCR) complex is a naturally occurring antigen sensor that detects, amplifies and coordinates cellular immune responses to epitopes derived from cell surface and intracellular proteins. Thus, TCRs enable the targeting of proteins selectively expressed by cancer cells, including neoantigens, cancer germline antigens and viral oncoproteins. As such, TCRs have provided the basis for an emerging class of oncology therapeutics. Herein, we review the current cancer treatment landscape using TCRs and TCR-like molecules. This includes adoptive cell transfer of T cells expressing endogenous or engineered TCRs, TCR bispecific engagers and antibodies specific for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-bound peptides (TCR mimics). We discuss the unique complexities associated with the clinical development of these therapeutics, such as HLA restriction, TCR retrieval, potency assessment and the potential for cross-reactivity. In addition, we highlight emerging clinical data that establish the antitumour potential of TCR-based therapies, including tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, for the treatment of diverse human malignancies. Finally, we explore the future of TCR therapeutics, including emerging genome editing methods to safely enhance potency and strategies to streamline patient identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Klebanoff
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Smita S Chandran
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, New York, NY, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, ID, USA
- The Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, ID, USA
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Achilles Therapeutics, London, UK
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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2
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Li J, Xiao Z, Wang D, Jia L, Nie S, Zeng X, Hu W. The screening, identification, design and clinical application of tumor-specific neoantigens for TCR-T cells. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:141. [PMID: 37649123 PMCID: PMC10466891 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01844-5] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in neoantigen research have accelerated the development of tumor immunotherapies, including adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), cancer vaccines and antibody-based therapies, particularly for solid tumors. With the development of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics technology, the rapid identification and prediction of tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) has become possible. Compared with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), highly immunogenic TSAs provide new targets for personalized tumor immunotherapy and can be used as prospective indicators for predicting tumor patient survival, prognosis, and immune checkpoint blockade response. Here, the identification and characterization of neoantigens and the clinical application of neoantigen-based TCR-T immunotherapy strategies are summarized, and the current status, inherent challenges, and clinical translational potential of these strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangping Li
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhiwen Xiao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, People's Republic of China
| | - Donghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Jia
- International Health Medicine Innovation Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihong Nie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cancer Center, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingda Zeng
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China
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3
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Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Costa-Nunes CM, Bordry N, Guillaume P, Luescher I, Speiser DE, Rufer N, Hebeisen M. CD8 T cell function and cross-reactivity explored by stepwise increased peptide-HLA versus TCR affinity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:973986. [PMID: 36032094 PMCID: PMC9399405 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.973986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment and activation of CD8 T cells occur through specific triggering of T cell receptor (TCR) by peptide-bound human leucocyte antigen (HLA) ligands. Within the generated trimeric TCR-peptide:HLA complex, the molecular binding affinities between peptide and HLA, and between TCR and peptide:HLA both impact T cell functional outcomes. However, how their individual and combined effects modulate immunogenicity and overall T cell responsiveness has not been investigated systematically. Here, we established two panels of human tumor peptide variants differing in their affinity to HLA. For precise characterization, we developed the “blue peptide assay”, an upgraded cell-based approach to measure the peptide:HLA affinity. These peptide variants were then used to investigate the cross-reactivity of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cell clonotypes derived from blood of cancer patients after vaccination with either the native or an affinity-optimized Melan-A/MART-1 epitope, or isolated from tumor infiltrated lymph nodes (TILNs). Vaccines containing the native tumor epitope generated T cells with better functionality, and superior cross-reactivity against potential low affinity escape epitopes, as compared to T cells induced by vaccines containing an HLA affinity-optimized epitope. Comparatively, Melan-A/MART-1-specific TILN cells displayed functional and cross-reactive profiles that were heterogeneous and clonotype-dependent. Finally, we took advantage of a collection of T cells expressing affinity-optimized NY-ESO-1-specific TCRs to interrogate the individual and combined impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on overall CD8 T cell responses. We found profound and distinct effects of both biophysical parameters, with additive contributions and absence of hierarchical dominance. Altogether, the biological impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on T cell responses was carefully dissected in two antigenic systems, frequently targeted in human cancer immunotherapy. Our technology and stepwise comparison open new insights into the rational design and selection of vaccine-associated tumor-specific epitopes and highlight the functional and cross-reactivity profiles that endow T cells with best tumor control capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Carla-Marisa Costa-Nunes
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Bordry
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Guillaume
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Immanuel Luescher
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch - University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Michael Hebeisen, ; Petra Baumgaertner,
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4
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Ashby JF, Schmidt J, Kc N, Kurum A, Koch C, Harari A, Tang L, Au SH. Microfluidic T Cell Selection by Cellular Avidity. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200169. [PMID: 35657072 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200169] [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: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
No T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapies have obtained clinical approval. The lack of strategies capable of selecting and recovering potent T cell candidates may be a contributor to this. Existing protocols for selecting TCR T cell clones for cell therapies such as peptide multimer methods have provided effective measurements on TCR affinities. However, these methods lack the ability to measure the collective strength of intercellular interactions (i.e., cellular avidity) and markers of T cell activation such as immunological synapse formation. This study describes a novel microfluidic fluid shear stress-based approach to identify and recover highly potent T cell clones based on the cellular avidity between living T cells and tumor cells. This approach is capable of probing approximately up to 10 000 T cell-tumor cell interactions per run and can recover potent T cells with up to 100% purity from mixed populations of T cells within 30 min. Markers of cytotoxicity, activation, and avidity persist when recovered high cellular avidity T cells are subsequently exposed to fresh tumor cells. These results demonstrate how microfluidic probing of cellular avidity may fast track the therapeutic T cell selection process and move the authors closer to precision cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian F Ashby
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1066, Switzerland
| | - Neelima Kc
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Armand Kurum
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Koch
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1066, Switzerland
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.,Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Sam H Au
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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5
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Lückemeier P, Molter KL, Jarosch S, Huppertz P, Purcarea A, Effenberger MJP, Nauerth M, D'Ippolito E, Schober K, Busch DH. Global k off -rates of polyclonal T cell populations merge subclonal avidities and predict functionality. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:582-596. [PMID: 35099805 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The avidity of T cell receptors (TCRs) for peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) is a governing factor in how T cells respond to antigen. TCR avidity is generally linked to T cell functionality and there is growing evidence for distinct roles of low and high avidity T cells in different phases of immune responses. While physiological immune responses and many therapeutic T cell products targeting infections or cancers consist of polyclonal T cell populations with a wide range of individual avidities, the role of T cell avidity is usually investigated only in monoclonal experimental settings. In this report, we induced polyclonal T cell responses with a wide range of avidities towards a model epitope by altered peptide ligands (APL), and benchmarked global avidity of physiological polyclonal populations by investigation of TCR-pMHC koff -rates. We then investigated how varying sizes and avidities of monoclonal subpopulations translate into global koff -rates. Global koff -rates integrate subclonal avidities in a predictably weighted manner and robustly correlate with the functionality of murine polyclonal T cell populations in vitro and in vivo. Surveying the full avidity spectrum is essential to accurately assess polyclonal immune responses and inform the design of polyclonal T cell therapeutics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Lückemeier
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Katherine L Molter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Patrick Huppertz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Purcarea
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Manuel J P Effenberger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Nauerth
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Elvira D'Ippolito
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany.,Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
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6
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The Quest for the Best: How TCR Affinity, Avidity, and Functional Avidity Affect TCR-Engineered T-Cell Antitumor Responses. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071720. [PMID: 32708366 PMCID: PMC7408146 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, adoptive transfer of T cells has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. In particular, T-cell receptor (TCR) engineering of T cells has marked important milestones in developing more precise and personalized cancer immunotherapies. However, to get the most benefit out of this approach, understanding the role that TCR affinity, avidity, and functional avidity play on how TCRs and T cells function in the context of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) recognition is vital to keep generating improved adoptive T-cell therapies. Aside from TCR-related parameters, other critical factors that govern T-cell activation are the effect of TCR co-receptors on TCR–peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) stabilization and TCR signaling, tumor epitope density, and TCR expression levels in TCR-engineered T cells. In this review, we describe the key aspects governing TCR specificity, T-cell activation, and how these concepts can be applied to cancer-specific TCR redirection of T cells.
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7
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Identification of a superagonist variant of the immunodominant Yellow fever virus epitope NS4b 214-222 by combinatorial peptide library screening. Mol Immunol 2020; 125:43-50. [PMID: 32645549 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.06.025] [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: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The CD8 T cell response to the HLA-A2-restricted epitope LLWNGPMAV (LLW) of the non-structural protein 4b of Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) is remarkably immunodominant, highly prevalent and powerful in YFV-vaccinated humans. Here we used a combinatorial peptide library screening in the context of an A2/LLW-specific CD8 T cell clone to identify a superagonist that features a methionine to isoleucine substitution at position 7. Based on in silico modeling, the functional enhancement of this LLW-7I mutation was associated with alterations in the structural dynamics of the peptide in the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) binding with the T cell receptor (TCR). While the TCR off-rate of LLW-7I pMHC is comparable to the wild type peptide, the rigidity of the 7I peptide seems to confer less entropy loss upon TCR binding. This LLW-7I superagonist is an example of improved functionality in human CD8 T cells associated with optimized ligand rigidity for TCR binding and not with changes in TCR:pMHC off-rate kinetics.
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8
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Bianchi V, Harari A, Coukos G. Neoantigen-Specific Adoptive Cell Therapies for Cancer: Making T-Cell Products More Personal. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1215. [PMID: 32695101 PMCID: PMC7333784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation-derived neoantigens are taking central stage as a determinant in eliciting effective antitumor immune responses following adoptive T-cell therapies. These mutations are patient-specific, and their targeting calls for highly personalized pipelines. The promising clinical outcomes of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy have spurred interest in generating T-cell infusion products that have been selectively enriched in neoantigen (or autologous tumor) reactivity. The implementation of an isolation step, prior to T-cell in vitro expansion and reinfusion, may provide a way to improve the overall response rates achieved to date by adoptive T-cell therapies in metastatic cancer patients. Here we provide an overview of the main technologies [i.e., peptide major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) multimers, cytokine capture, and activation markers] to enrich infiltrating or circulating T-cells in predefined neoantigen specificities (or tumor reactivity). The unique technical and regulatory challenges faced by such highly specialized and patient-specific manufacturing T-cell platforms are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bianchi
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Vanmeerbeek I, Sprooten J, De Ruysscher D, Tejpar S, Vandenberghe P, Fucikova J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L, Garg AD. Trial watch: chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death in immuno-oncology. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1703449. [PMID: 32002302 PMCID: PMC6959434 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1703449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The term ‘immunogenic cell death’ (ICD) denotes an immunologically unique type of regulated cell death that enables, rather than suppresses, T cell-driven immune responses that are specific for antigens derived from the dying cells. The ability of ICD to elicit adaptive immunity heavily relies on the immunogenicity of dying cells, implying that such cells must encode and present antigens not covered by central tolerance (antigenicity), and deliver immunostimulatory molecules such as damage-associated molecular patterns and cytokines (adjuvanticity). Moreover, the host immune system must be equipped to detect the antigenicity and adjuvanticity of dying cells. As cancer (but not normal) cells express several antigens not covered by central tolerance, they can be driven into ICD by some therapeutic agents, including (but not limited to) chemotherapeutics of the anthracycline family, oxaliplatin and bortezomib, as well as radiation therapy. In this Trial Watch, we describe current trends in the preclinical and clinical development of ICD-eliciting chemotherapy as partner for immunotherapy, with a focus on trials assessing efficacy in the context of immunomonitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaure Vanmeerbeek
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jenny Sprooten
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk De Ruysscher
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO Clinic), GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenberghe
- Department of Haematology, UZ Leuven, and Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France.,Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Suzhou Institute for Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou, China.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Abhishek D Garg
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Carretero-Iglesia L, Couturaud B, Baumgaertner P, Schmidt J, Maby-El Hajjami H, Speiser DE, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. High Peptide Dose Vaccination Promotes the Early Selection of Tumor Antigen-Specific CD8 T-Cells of Enhanced Functional Competence. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3016. [PMID: 31969886 PMCID: PMC6960191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8 T-cell response efficiency critically depends on the TCR binding strength to peptide-MHC, i.e., the TCR binding avidity. A current challenge in onco-immunology lies in the evaluation of vaccine protocols selecting for tumor-specific T-cells of highest avidity, offering maximal immune protection against tumor cells and clinical benefit. Here, we investigated the impact of peptide and CpG/adjuvant doses on the quality of vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells in relation to binding avidity and functional responses in treated melanoma patients. Using TCR-pMHC binding avidity measurements combined to phenotype and functional assays, we performed a comprehensive study on representative tumor antigen-specific CD8 T-cell clones (n = 454) from seven patients vaccinated with different doses of Melan-A/ELA peptide (0.1 mg vs. 0.5 mg) and CpG-B adjuvant (1–1.3 mg vs. 2.6 mg). Vaccination with high peptide dose favored the early and strong in vivo expansion and differentiation of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells. Consistently, T-cell clones generated from those patients showed increased TCR binding avidity (i.e., slow off-rates and CD8 binding independency) readily after 4 monthly vaccine injections (4v). In contrast, the use of low peptide or high CpG-B doses required 8 monthly vaccine injections (8v) for the enrichment of anti-tumor T-cells with high TCR binding avidity and low CD8 binding dependency. Importantly, the CD8 binding-independent vaccine-induced CD8 T-cells displayed enhanced functional avidity, reaching a plateau of maximal function. Thus, T-cell functional potency following peptide/CpG/IFA vaccination may not be further improved beyond a certain TCR binding avidity limit. Our results also indicate that while high peptide dose vaccination induced the early selection of Melan-A-specific CD8 T-cells of increased functional competence, continued serial vaccinations also promoted such high-avidity T-cells. Overall, the systematic assessment of T-cell binding avidity may contribute to optimize vaccine design for improving clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carretero-Iglesia
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Couturaud
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Maby-El Hajjami
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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11
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Allard M, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. Assessing T Cell Receptor Affinity and Avidity Against Tumor Antigens. Oncoimmunology 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-62431-0_40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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12
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Stockslager MA, Bagnall JS, Hecht VC, Hu K, Aranda-Michel E, Payer K, Kimmerling RJ, Manalis SR. Microfluidic platform for characterizing TCR-pMHC interactions. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2017; 11:064103. [PMID: 29204244 PMCID: PMC5685811 DOI: 10.1063/1.5002116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The physical characteristics of the T cell receptor (TCR)-peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) interaction are known to play a central role in determining T cell function in the initial stages of the adaptive immune response. State-of-the-art assays can probe the kinetics of this interaction with single-molecular-bond resolution, but this precision typically comes at the cost of low throughput, since the complexity of these measurements largely precludes "scaling up." Here, we explore the feasibility of detecting specific TCR-pMHC interactions by flowing T cells past immobilized pMHC and measuring the reduction in cell speed due to the mechanical force of the receptor-ligand interaction. To test this new fluidic measurement modality, we fabricated a microfluidic device in which pMHC-coated beads are immobilized in hydrodynamic traps along the length of a serpentine channel. As T cells flow past the immobilized beads, their change in speed is tracked via microscopy. We validated this approach using two model systems: primary CD8+ T cells from an OT-1 TCR transgenic mouse with beads conjugated with H-2Kb:SIINFEKL, and Jurkat T cells with beads conjugated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max A Stockslager
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Josephine Shaw Bagnall
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Vivian C Hecht
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Kevin Hu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Edgar Aranda-Michel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Kristofor Payer
- Microsystems Technology Laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Robert J Kimmerling
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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13
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Garg AD, More S, Rufo N, Mece O, Sassano ML, Agostinis P, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Immunogenic cell death induction by anticancer chemotherapeutics. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1386829. [PMID: 29209573 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1386829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression "immunogenic cell death" (ICD) refers to a functionally unique form of cell death that facilitates (instead of suppressing) a T cell-dependent immune response specific for dead cell-derived antigens. ICD critically relies on the activation of adaptive responses in dying cells, culminating with the exposure or secretion of immunostimulatory molecules commonly referred to as "damage-associated molecular patterns". Only a few agents can elicit bona fide ICD, including some clinically established chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, mitoxantrone, bleomycin, bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and oxaliplatin. In this Trial Watch, we discuss recent progress on the development of ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic regimens, focusing on studies that evaluate clinical efficacy in conjunction with immunological biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek D Garg
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sanket More
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicole Rufo
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Odeta Mece
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Livia Sassano
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Villejuif, France.,Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Paris, France.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Allard M, Couturaud B, Carretero-Iglesia L, Duong MN, Schmidt J, Monnot GC, Romero P, Speiser DE, Hebeisen M, Rufer N. TCR-ligand dissociation rate is a robust and stable biomarker of CD8+ T cell potency. JCI Insight 2017; 2:92570. [PMID: 28724801 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.92570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite influencing many aspects of T cell biology, the kinetics of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to peptide-major histocompatibility molecules (pMHC) remain infrequently determined in patient monitoring or for adoptive T cell therapy. Using specifically designed reversible fluorescent pMHC multimeric complexes, we performed a comprehensive study of TCR-pMHC off-rates combined with various functional assays on large libraries of self/tumor- and virus-specific CD8+ T cell clones from melanoma patients and healthy donors. We demonstrate that monomeric TCR-pMHC dissociation rates accurately predict the extent of cytotoxicity, cytokine production, polyfunctionality, cell proliferation, activating/inhibitory receptor expression, and in vivo antitumor potency of naturally occurring antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Our data also confirm the superior binding avidities of virus-specific T cells as compared with self/tumor-specific T cell clonotypes (n > 300). Importantly, the TCR-pMHC off-rate is a more stable and robust biomarker of CD8+ T cell potency than the frequently used functional assays/metrics that depend on the T cell's activation state, and therefore show major intra- and interexperimental variability. Taken together, our data show that the monomeric TCR-pMHC off-rate is highly useful for the ex vivo high-throughput functional assessment of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses and a strong candidate as a biomarker of T cell therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Allard
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Couturaud
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Laura Carretero-Iglesia
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Minh Ngoc Duong
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Pedro Romero
- Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.,Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.,Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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15
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Heterogeneity assessment of functional T cell avidity. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44320. [PMID: 28287160 PMCID: PMC5347081 DOI: 10.1038/srep44320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The potency of cellular immune responses strongly depends on T cell avidity to antigen. Yet, functional avidity measurements are rarely performed in patients, mainly due to the technical challenges of characterizing heterogeneous T cells. The mean functional T cell avidity can be determined by the IFN-γ Elispot assay, with titrated amounts of peptide. Using this assay, we developed a method revealing the heterogeneity of functional avidity, represented by the steepness/hillslope of the peptide titration curve, documented by proof of principle experiments and mathematical modeling. Our data show that not only natural polyclonal CD8 T cell populations from cancer patients, but also monoclonal T cells differ strongly in their heterogeneity of functional avidity. Interestingly, clones and polyclonal cells displayed comparable ranges of heterogeneity. We conclude that besides the mean functional avidity, it is feasible and useful to determine its heterogeneity (hillslope) for characterizing T cell responses in basic research and patient investigation.
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16
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Rapid and Continued T-Cell Differentiation into Long-term Effector and Memory Stem Cells in Vaccinated Melanoma Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 23:3285-3296. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Mathematical Models for Immunology: Current State of the Art and Future Research Directions. Bull Math Biol 2016; 78:2091-2134. [PMID: 27714570 PMCID: PMC5069344 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-016-0214-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The advances in genetics and biochemistry that have taken place over the last 10 years led to significant advances in experimental and clinical immunology. In turn, this has led to the development of new mathematical models to investigate qualitatively and quantitatively various open questions in immunology. In this study we present a review of some research areas in mathematical immunology that evolved over the last 10 years. To this end, we take a step-by-step approach in discussing a range of models derived to study the dynamics of both the innate and immune responses at the molecular, cellular and tissue scales. To emphasise the use of mathematics in modelling in this area, we also review some of the mathematical tools used to investigate these models. Finally, we discuss some future trends in both experimental immunology and mathematical immunology for the upcoming years.
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18
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Nauerth M, Stemberger C, Mohr F, Weißbrich B, Schiemann M, Germeroth L, Busch DH. Flow cytometry-based TCR-ligandKoff-rate assay for fast avidity screening of even very small antigen-specific T cell populations ex vivo. Cytometry A 2016; 89:816-25. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Nauerth
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - Christian Stemberger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
- Juno Therapeutics; Munich Germany
| | - Fabian Mohr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - Bianca Weißbrich
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - Matthias Schiemann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | | | - Dirk H. Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
- DZIF - National Centre for Infection Research; Munich Germany
- Focus Group ‘‘Clinical Cell Processing and Purification”; Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
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19
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Hebeisen M, Allard M, Gannon PO, Schmidt J, Speiser DE, Rufer N. Identifying Individual T Cell Receptors of Optimal Avidity for Tumor Antigens. Front Immunol 2015; 6:582. [PMID: 26635796 PMCID: PMC4649060 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T cells recognize, via their T cell receptors (TCRs), small antigenic peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) on the surface of professional antigen-presenting cells and infected or malignant cells. The efficiency of T cell triggering critically depends on TCR binding to cognate pMHC, i.e., the TCR–pMHC structural avidity. The binding and kinetic attributes of this interaction are key parameters for protective T cell-mediated immunity, with stronger TCR–pMHC interactions conferring superior T cell activation and responsiveness than weaker ones. However, high-avidity TCRs are not always available, particularly among self/tumor antigen-specific T cells, most of which are eliminated by central and peripheral deletion mechanisms. Consequently, systematic assessment of T cell avidity can greatly help distinguishing protective from non-protective T cells. Here, we review novel strategies to assess TCR–pMHC interaction kinetics, enabling the identification of the functionally most-relevant T cells. We also discuss the significance of these technologies in determining which cells within a naturally occurring polyclonal tumor-specific T cell response would offer the best clinical benefit for use in adoptive therapies, with or without T cell engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Mathilde Allard
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Philippe O Gannon
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Julien Schmidt
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland ; TCMetrix Sàrl , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland ; Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland ; Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland
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