1
|
Menon AP, Villanueva H, Meraviglia-Crivelli D, van Santen HM, Hellmeier J, Zheleva A, Nonateli F, Peters T, Wachsmann TL, Hernandez-Rueda M, Huppa JB, Schütz GJ, Sevcsik E, Moreno B, Pastor F. CD3 aptamers promote expansion and persistence of tumor-reactive T cells for adoptive T cell therapy in cancer. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2024; 35:102198. [PMID: 38745854 PMCID: PMC11091522 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The CD3/T cell receptor (TCR) complex is responsible for antigen-specific pathogen recognition by T cells, and initiates the signaling cascade necessary for activation of effector functions. CD3 agonistic antibodies are commonly used to expand T lymphocytes in a wide range of clinical applications, including in adoptive T cell therapy for cancer patients. A major drawback of expanding T cell populations ex vivo using CD3 agonistic antibodies is that they expand and activate T cells independent of their TCR antigen specificity. Therapeutic agents that facilitate expansion of T cells in an antigen-specific manner and reduce their threshold of T cell activation are therefore of great interest for adoptive T cell therapy protocols. To identify CD3-specific T cell agonists, several RNA aptamers were selected against CD3 using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment combined with high-throughput sequencing. The extent and specificity of aptamer binding to target CD3 were assessed through surface plasma resonance, P32 double-filter assays, and flow cytometry. Aptamer-mediated modulation of the threshold of T cell activation was observed in vitro and in preclinical transgenic TCR mouse models. The aptamers improved efficacy and persistence of adoptive T cell therapy by low-affinity TCR-reactive T lymphocytes in melanoma-bearing mice. Thus, CD3-specific aptamers can be applied as therapeutic agents which facilitate the expansion of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes while conserving their tumor specificity. Furthermore, selected CD3 aptamers also exhibit cross-reactivity to human CD3, expanding their potential for clinical translation and application in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwathi Puravankara Menon
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Helena Villanueva
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Daniel Meraviglia-Crivelli
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Hisse M. van Santen
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC/UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Joschka Hellmeier
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Lehargasse 6, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelina Zheleva
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Francesca Nonateli
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Timo Peters
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mercedes Hernandez-Rueda
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Johannes B. Huppa
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard J. Schütz
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Lehargasse 6, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Sevcsik
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Lehargasse 6, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Beatriz Moreno
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fernando Pastor
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Center for Applied Medical Research, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Spanish Center for Biomedical Research Network in Oncology (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hellmeier J, Strauss S, Xu S, Masullo LA, Unterauer EM, Kowalewski R, Jungmann R. Quantification of absolute labeling efficiency at the single-protein level. Nat Methods 2024:10.1038/s41592-024-02242-5. [PMID: 38658647 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02242-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
State-of-the-art super-resolution microscopy allows researchers to spatially resolve single proteins in dense clusters. However, accurate quantification of protein organization and stoichiometries requires a general method to evaluate absolute binder labeling efficiency, which is currently unavailable. Here we introduce a universally applicable approach that uses a reference tag fused to a target protein of interest. By attaching high-affinity binders, such as antibodies or nanobodies, to both the reference tag and the target protein, and then employing DNA-barcoded sequential super-resolution imaging, we can correlate the location of the reference tag with the target molecule binder. This approach facilitates the precise quantification of labeling efficiency at the single-protein level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shuhan Xu
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg, Germany
| | | | | | - Rafal Kowalewski
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ralf Jungmann
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg, Germany.
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Paloja K, Weiden J, Hellmeier J, Eklund AS, Reinhardt SCM, Parish IA, Jungmann R, Bastings MMC. Balancing the Nanoscale Organization in Multivalent Materials for Functional Inhibition of the Programmed Death-1 Immune Checkpoint. ACS Nano 2024; 18:1381-1395. [PMID: 38126310 PMCID: PMC10795474 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate immune priming by expressing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2, which interact with the inhibitory receptor PD-1 on activated T cells. PD-1 signaling regulates T cell effector functions and limits autoimmunity. Tumor cells can hijack this pathway by overexpressing PD-L1 to suppress antitumor T cell responses. Blocking this inhibitory pathway has been beneficial for the treatment of various cancer types, although only a subset of patients responds. A deepened understanding of the spatial organization and molecular interplay between PD-1 and its ligands may inform the design of more efficacious nanotherapeutics. We visualized the natural molecular PD-L1 organization on DCs by DNA-PAINT microscopy and created a template to engineer DNA-based nanoclusters presenting PD-1 at defined valencies, distances, and patterns. These multivalent nanomaterials were examined for their cellular binding and blocking ability. Our data show that PD-1 nano-organization has profound effects on ligand interaction and that the valency of PD-1 molecules modulates the effectiveness in restoring T cell function. This work highlights the power of spatially controlled functional materials to unravel the importance of multivalent patterns in the PD-1 pathway and presents alternative design strategies for immune-engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaltrina Paloja
- Programmable
Biomaterials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Jorieke Weiden
- Programmable
Biomaterials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Susanne C. M. Reinhardt
- Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg 82152, Germany
- Faculty
of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig
Maximilian University, Munich 80539, Germany
| | - Ian A. Parish
- Peter
MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir
Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3128, Australia
| | - Ralf Jungmann
- Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg 82152, Germany
- Faculty
of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig
Maximilian University, Munich 80539, Germany
| | - Maartje M. C. Bastings
- Programmable
Biomaterials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
- Interfaculty
Bioengineering Institute, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Platzer R, Hellmeier J, Göhring J, Perez ID, Schatzlmaier P, Bodner C, Focke‐Tejkl M, Schütz GJ, Sevcsik E, Stockinger H, Brameshuber M, Huppa JB. Monomeric agonist peptide/MHCII complexes activate T-cells in an autonomous fashion. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57842. [PMID: 37768718 PMCID: PMC10626418 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular crowding of agonist peptide/MHC class II complexes (pMHCIIs) with structurally similar, yet per se non-stimulatory endogenous pMHCIIs is postulated to sensitize T-cells for the recognition of single antigens on the surface of dendritic cells and B-cells. When testing this premise with the use of advanced live cell microscopy, we observe pMHCIIs as monomeric, randomly distributed entities diffusing rapidly after entering the APC surface. Synaptic TCR engagement of highly abundant endogenous pMHCIIs is low or non-existent and affects neither TCR engagement of rare agonist pMHCII in early and advanced synapses nor agonist-induced TCR-proximal signaling. Our findings highlight the capacity of single freely diffusing agonist pMHCIIs to elicit the full T-cell response in an autonomous and peptide-specific fashion with consequences for adaptive immunity and immunotherapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- René Platzer
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Joschka Hellmeier
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
- Present address:
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Imaging and BionanotechnologyMartinsriedGermany
| | - Janett Göhring
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Iago Doel Perez
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Present address:
Takeda Manufacturing Austria AGViennaAustria
| | - Philipp Schatzlmaier
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Clara Bodner
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
| | - Margarete Focke‐Tejkl
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy ResearchMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Eva Sevcsik
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
| | - Hannes Stockinger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Johannes B Huppa
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hellmeier J, Platzer R, Huppa JB, Sevcsik E. A DNA Origami-Based Biointerface to Interrogate the Spatial Requirements for Sensitized T-Cell Antigen Recognition. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2654:277-302. [PMID: 37106189 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3135-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
When T cells scan the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), they can detect the presence of just a few antigenic peptide/MHC complexes (pMHCs), in some cases even a single agonist pMHC. These are typically vastly outnumbered by structurally similar yet non-stimulatory endogenous pMHCs. How T cells achieve this enormous sensitivity and selectivity is still not clear, in particular in view of the rather moderate (1-100 μM) affinity that T-cell receptors (TCRs) typically exert for antigenic pMHCs. Experimental approaches that enable the control and quantification of physical input parameters within the context of the immunological synapse to precisely interrogate the molecular consequences of TCR-engagement, appear highly advantageous when searching for better answers.We here describe the implementation of a biointerface that allows to experimentally define molecular distances between T-cell ligands as a means to correlate them with molecular dynamics of antigen engagement, downstream signaling, and the overall T-cell response. The basis of this biointerface is DNA origami nanostructures, which are (i) rigid and highly versatile platforms that can (ii) be embedded as laterally mobile entities within supported lipid bilayers and functionalized (iii) in a site-specific and orthogonal manner with (iv) one or more proteins of choice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joschka Hellmeier
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Planegg, Germany
| | - René Platzer
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Sevcsik
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kopittke C, Hellmeier J, Fölser M, Schrangl L, Schütz GJ, Brameshuber MO. Immuno-modulating effect of temperature on early T cell activation. Biophys J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
|
7
|
Hellmeier J, Platzer R, Mühlgrabner V, Schneider MC, Kurz E, Schütz GJ, Huppa JB, Sevcsik E. Strategies for the Site-Specific Decoration of DNA Origami Nanostructures with Functionally Intact Proteins. ACS Nano 2021; 15:15057-15068. [PMID: 34463486 PMCID: PMC8482763 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
DNA origami structures provide flexible scaffolds for the organization of single biomolecules with nanometer precision. While they find increasing use for a variety of biological applications, the functionalization with proteins at defined stoichiometry, high yield, and under preservation of protein function remains challenging. In this study, we applied single molecule fluorescence microscopy in combination with a cell biological functional assay to systematically evaluate different strategies for the site-specific decoration of DNA origami structures, focusing on efficiency, stoichiometry, and protein functionality. Using an activating ligand of the T-cell receptor (TCR) as the protein of interest, we found that two commonly used methodologies underperformed with regard to stoichiometry and protein functionality. While strategies employing tetravalent wildtype streptavidin for coupling of a biotinylated TCR-ligand yielded mixed populations of DNA origami structures featuring up to three proteins, the use of divalent (dSAv) or DNA-conjugated monovalent streptavidin (mSAv) allowed for site-specific attachment of a single biotinylated TCR-ligand. The most straightforward decoration strategy, via covalent DNA conjugation, resulted in a 3-fold decrease in ligand potency, likely due to charge-mediated impairment of protein function. Replacing DNA with charge-neutral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) in a ligand conjugate emerged as the coupling strategy with the best overall performance in our study, as it produced the highest yield with no multivalent DNA origami structures and fully retained protein functionality. With our study we aim to provide guidelines for the stoichiometrically defined, site-specific functionalization of DNA origami structures with proteins of choice serving a wide range of biological applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - René Platzer
- Center
for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University
of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Vanessa Mühlgrabner
- Center
for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University
of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | | | - Elke Kurz
- Kennedy
Institute of Rheumatology, University of
Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FY, U.K.
| | | | - Johannes B. Huppa
- Center
for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University
of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Eva Sevcsik
- Institute
of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, 1060, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hellmeier J, Platzer R, Eklund AS, Schlichthaerle T, Karner A, Motsch V, Schneider MC, Kurz E, Bamieh V, Brameshuber M, Preiner J, Jungmann R, Stockinger H, Schütz GJ, Huppa JB, Sevcsik E. DNA origami demonstrate the unique stimulatory power of single pMHCs as T cell antigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2016857118. [PMID: 33468643 PMCID: PMC7848602 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016857118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells detect with their T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) the presence of rare agonist peptide/MHC complexes (pMHCs) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). How extracellular ligand binding triggers intracellular signaling is poorly understood, yet spatial antigen arrangement on the APC surface has been suggested to be a critical factor. To examine this, we engineered a biomimetic interface based on laterally mobile functionalized DNA origami platforms, which allow for nanoscale control over ligand distances without interfering with the cell-intrinsic dynamics of receptor clustering. When targeting TCRs via stably binding monovalent antibody fragments, we found the minimum signaling unit promoting efficient T cell activation to consist of two antibody-ligated TCRs within a distance of 20 nm. In contrast, transiently engaging antigenic pMHCs stimulated T cells robustly as well-isolated entities. These results identify pairs of antibody-bound TCRs as minimal receptor entities for effective TCR triggering yet validate the exceptional stimulatory potency of single isolated pMHC molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rene Platzer
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra S Eklund
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Schlichthaerle
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Karner
- University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | | | | | - Elke Kurz
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Victor Bamieh
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Johannes Preiner
- University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Ralf Jungmann
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Hannes Stockinger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Johannes B Huppa
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Sevcsik
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria;
| |
Collapse
|