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Fuchs KJ, van de Meent M, Honders MW, Khatri I, Kester MGD, Koster EAS, Koutsoumpli G, de Ru AH, van Bergen CAM, van Veelen PA, ’t Hoen PAC, van Balen P, van den Akker EB, Veelken JH, Halkes CJM, Falkenburg JHF, Griffioen M. Expanding the repertoire reveals recurrent, cryptic, and hematopoietic HLA class I minor histocompatibility antigens. Blood 2024; 143:1856-1872. [PMID: 38427583 PMCID: PMC11076866 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is a curative treatment for hematological malignancies. After HLA-matched alloSCT, antitumor immunity is caused by donor T cells recognizing polymorphic peptides, designated minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs), that are presented by HLA on malignant patient cells. However, T cells often target MiHAs on healthy nonhematopoietic tissues of patients, thereby inducing side effects known as graft-versus-host disease. Here, we aimed to identify the dominant repertoire of HLA-I-restricted MiHAs to enable strategies to predict, monitor or modulate immune responses after alloSCT. To systematically identify novel MiHAs by genome-wide association screening, T-cell clones were isolated from 39 transplanted patients and tested for reactivity against 191 Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cell lines of the 1000 Genomes Project. By discovering 81 new MiHAs, we more than doubled the antigen repertoire to 159 MiHAs and demonstrated that, despite many genetic differences between patients and donors, often the same MiHAs are targeted in multiple patients. Furthermore, we showed that one quarter of the antigens are cryptic, that is translated from unconventional open reading frames, for example long noncoding RNAs, showing that these antigen types are relevant targets in natural immune responses. Finally, using single cell RNA-seq data, we analyzed tissue expression of MiHA-encoding genes to explore their potential role in clinical outcome, and characterized 11 new hematopoietic-restricted MiHAs as potential targets for immunotherapy. In conclusion, we expanded the repertoire of HLA-I-restricted MiHAs and identified recurrent, cryptic and hematopoietic-restricted antigens, which are fundamental to predict, follow or manipulate immune responses to improve clinical outcome after alloSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra J. Fuchs
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M. Willy Honders
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Indu Khatri
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michel G. D. Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eva A. S. Koster
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Georgia Koutsoumpli
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud H. de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter A. van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A. C. ’t Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter van Balen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Erik B. van den Akker
- Center for Computational Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J. Hendrik Veelken
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marieke Griffioen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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van Amerongen RA, Tuit S, Wouters AK, van de Meent M, Siekman SL, Meeuwsen MH, Wachsmann TLA, Remst DFG, Hagedoorn RS, van der Steen DM, de Ru AH, Verdegaal EME, van Veelen PA, Falkenburg JHF, Heemskerk MHM. PRAME and CTCFL-reactive TCRs for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1121973. [PMID: 37026005 PMCID: PMC10070997 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1121973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent disease emerges in the majority of patients with ovarian cancer (OVCA). Adoptive T-cell therapies with T-cell receptors (TCRs) targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are considered promising solutions for less-immunogenic 'cold' ovarian tumors. In order to treat a broader patient population, more TCRs targeting peptides derived from different TAAs binding in various HLA class I molecules are essential. By performing a differential gene expression analysis using mRNA-seq datasets, PRAME, CTCFL and CLDN6 were selected as strictly tumor-specific TAAs, with high expression in ovarian cancer and at least 20-fold lower expression in all healthy tissues of risk. In primary OVCA patient samples and cell lines we confirmed expression and identified naturally expressed TAA-derived peptides in the HLA class I ligandome. Subsequently, high-avidity T-cell clones recognizing these peptides were isolated from the allo-HLA T-cell repertoire of healthy individuals. Three PRAME TCRs and one CTCFL TCR of the most promising T-cell clones were sequenced, and transferred to CD8+ T cells. The PRAME TCR-T cells demonstrated potent and specific antitumor reactivity in vitro and in vivo. The CTCFL TCR-T cells efficiently recognized primary patient-derived OVCA cells, and OVCA cell lines treated with demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC). The identified PRAME and CTCFL TCRs are promising candidates for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer, and are an essential addition to the currently used HLA-A*02:01 restricted PRAME TCRs. Our selection of differentially expressed genes, naturally expressed TAA peptides and potent TCRs can improve and broaden the use of T-cell therapies for patients with ovarian cancer or other PRAME or CTCFL expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sander Tuit
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anne K. Wouters
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sterre L. Siekman
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Miranda H. Meeuwsen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Dennis F. G. Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Renate S. Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Arnoud H. de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Els M. E. Verdegaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Peter A. van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Mirjam H. M. Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Mirjam H. M. Heemskerk,
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van Amerongen RA, Hagedoorn RS, Remst DFG, Assendelft DC, van der Steen DM, Wouters AK, van de Meent M, Kester MGD, de Ru AH, Griffioen M, van Veelen PA, Falkenburg JHF, Heemskerk MHM. WT1-specific TCRs directed against newly identified peptides install antitumor reactivity against acute myeloid leukemia and ovarian carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004409. [PMID: 35728869 PMCID: PMC9214430 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transcription factor Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) is an ideal tumor target based on its expression in a wide range of tumors, low-level expression in normal tissues and promoting role in cancer progression. In clinical trials, WT1 is targeted using peptide-based or dendritic cell-based vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies. Antitumor reactivities were reported, but T-cell reactivity is hampered by self-tolerance to WT1 and limited number of WT1 peptides, which were thus far selected based on HLA peptide binding algorithms. Methods In this study, we have overcome both limitations by searching in the allogeneic T-cell repertoire of healthy donors for high-avidity WT1-specific T cells, specific for WT1 peptides derived from the HLA class I associated ligandome of primary leukemia and ovarian carcinoma samples. Results Using broad panels of malignant cells and healthy cell subsets, T-cell clones were selected that demonstrated potent and specific anti-WT1 T-cell reactivity against five of the eight newly identified WT1 peptides. Notably, T-cell clones for WT1 peptides previously used in clinical trials lacked reactivity against tumor cells, suggesting limited processing and presentation of these peptides. The TCR sequences of four T-cell clones were analyzed and TCR gene transfer into CD8+ T cells installed antitumor reactivity against WT1-expressing solid tumor cell lines, primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts, and ovarian carcinoma patient samples. Conclusions Our approach resulted in a set of naturally expressed WT1 peptides and four TCRs that are promising candidates for TCR gene transfer strategies in patients with WT1-expressing tumors, including AML and ovarian carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A van Amerongen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Renate S Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis F G Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danique C Assendelft
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk M van der Steen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anne K Wouters
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michel G D Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud H de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Griffioen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Mari L, Hoefnagel SJM, Zito D, van de Meent M, van Endert P, Calpe S, Sancho Serra MDC, Heemskerk MHM, van Laarhoven HWM, Hulshof MCCM, Gisbertz SS, Medema JP, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Meijer SL, Bergman JJGHM, Milano F, Krishnadath KK. microRNA 125a Regulates MHC-I Expression on Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells, Associated With Suppression of Antitumor Immune Response and Poor Outcomes of Patients. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:784-798. [PMID: 29885883 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Immune checkpoint inhibition may affect growth or progression of highly aggressive cancers, such as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We investigated the regulation of expression of major histocompatibility complex, class 1 (MHC-I) proteins (encoded by HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C) and the immune response to EACs in patient samples. METHODS We performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction array analyses of OE33 cells and OE19 cells, which express different levels of the ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (TAP1) and TAP2, required for antigen presentation by MHC-I, to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate their expression. We performed luciferase assays to validate interactions between miRNAs and potential targets. We overexpressed candidate miRNAs in OE33, FLO-1, and OACP4 C cell lines and performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, and flow cytometry analyses to identify changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression; we studied the effects of cytotoxic T cells. We performed miRNA in situ hybridization, RNA-sequencing, and immunohistochemical analyses of tumor tissues from 51 untreated patients with EAC in the Netherlands. Clinical and survival data were collected for patients, and EAC subtypes were determined. RESULTS We found OE19 cells to have increased levels of 7 miRNAs. Of these, we found binding sites for miRNA 125a (MIR125a)-5p in the 3' untranslated region of the TAP2 mRNA and binding sites for MIR148a-3p in 3' untranslated regions of HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C mRNAs. Overexpression of these miRNAs reduced expression of TAP2 in OE33, FLO-1, and OACP4 C cells, and reduced cell-surface levels of MHC-I. OE33 cells that expressed the viral peptide BZLF1 were killed by cytotoxic T cells, whereas OE33 that overexpressed MIR125a-5p or MIR 148a along with BZLF1 were not. In EAC and nontumor tissues, levels of MIR125a-5p correlated inversely with levels of TAP2 protein. High expression of TAP1 by EAC correlated with significantly shorter overall survival times of patients. EACs that expressed high levels of TAP1 and genes involved in antigen presentation also expressed high levels of genes that regulate the adaptive immune response, PD-L1, PD-L2, and IDO1; these EACs had a poor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and associated with shorter overall survival times of patients. CONCLUSIONS In studies of EAC cell lines and tumor tissues, we found increased levels of MIR125a-5p and MIR148a-3p to reduce levels of TAP2 and MHC-I, required for antigen presentation. High expression of MHC-I molecules by EAC correlated with markers of an adaptive immune response and significantly shorter overall survival times of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Mari
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne J M Hoefnagel
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Domenico Zito
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter van Endert
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 1151, Université Paris Descartes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Silvia Calpe
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Del Carmen Sancho Serra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology & Radiobiology (LEXOR), AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten C C M Hulshof
- Department of Radiation Oncology, AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne S Gisbertz
- Department of Surgery, AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Paul Medema
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Center for Experimental & Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sybren L Meijer
- Department of Pathology, AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jacques J G H M Bergman
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Milano
- Section of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Center for Hemato-Oncology Research (CREO), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Kausilia K Krishnadath
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Lam TS, van de Meent M, Marijt EWA, Falkenburg JHF, Jedema I. Immune surveillance by autoreactive CD4-positive helper T cells is a common phenomenon in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Eur J Haematol 2018; 101:665-675. [PMID: 30076646 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The importance of autologous T-cell responses in immune surveillance against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the presence and functional reactivity of autoreactive T-cell responses against autologous AML blasts. METHODS T cells purified from PB samples harvested from patients during first complete remission were stimulated with autologous AML material harvested at diagnosis. After 12-14 days of coculture, the T cells were restimulated with autologous AML cells, and leukemia-reactive T-cell clones were isolated based on their expression of the activation marker CD137. RESULTS We demonstrated that AML-induced autoreactivity was predominantly mediated by CD4 T cells. These autoreactive T cells showed abundant cytokine production, coincided by modest cytotoxic activity. Upon coculture, the autoreactive T cells were able to increase the immunogenicity of the AML blasts. Interestingly, similar AML-directed reactivity was observed using HLA-identical responder T cells from healthy donors. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that the presence of AML-directed autoreactive T cells is a common phenomenon which appears to be part of the general T-cell repertoire also in healthy individuals. This autoreactive AML-directed T-cell response may directly contribute to anti-AML immune surveillance especially in the situation of minimal residual disease, but furthermore the immune-modulatory effect on the AML phenotype may pave the way for other immunological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin Sing Lam
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Erik W A Marijt
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Inge Jedema
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Loeff FC, Falkenburg JHF, Hageman L, Huisman W, Veld SAJ, van Egmond HME, van de Meent M, von dem Borne PA, Veelken H, Halkes CJM, Jedema I. High Mutation Frequency of thePIGAGene in T Cells Results in Reconstitution of GPI Anchor−/CD52−T Cells That Can Give Early Immune Protection after Alemtuzumab-Based T Cell–Depleted Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation. J I 2018; 200:2199-2208. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Lam TS, van de Meent M, Falkenburg JHF, Jedema I. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells can induce autoreactive CD4+T cells showing myeloid lineage directed reactivity in healthy individuals. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:1030-42. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tin Sing Lam
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Department of Hematology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Department of Hematology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - JH Frederik Falkenburg
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Department of Hematology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Inge Jedema
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Department of Hematology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
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Falkenburg WJJ, Melenhorst JJ, van de Meent M, Kester MGD, Hombrink P, Heemskerk MHM, Hagedoorn RS, Gostick E, Price DA, Falkenburg JHF, Barrett AJ, Jedema I. Allogeneic HLA-A*02-restricted WT1-specific T cells from mismatched donors are highly reactive but show off-target promiscuity. J Immunol 2011; 187:2824-33. [PMID: 21821799 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
T cells recognizing tumor-associated Ags such as Wilms tumor protein (WT1) are thought to exert potent antitumor reactivity. However, no consistent high-avidity T cell responses have been demonstrated in vaccination studies with WT1 as target in cancer immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of negative thymic selection on the avidity and specificity of T cells directed against self-antigens. T cell clones directed against the HLA-A*0201-binding WT1(126-134) peptide were generated from both HLA-A*02-positive (self-HLA-restricted) and HLA-A*02-negative [nonself (allogeneic) HLA [allo-HLA]-restricted] individuals by direct ex vivo isolation using tetramers or after in vitro priming and selection. The functional avidity and specificity of these T cell clones was analyzed in-depth. Self-HLA-restricted WT1-specific clones only recognized WT1(126-134) with low avidities. In contrast, allo-HLA-restricted WT1 clones exhibited profound functional reactivity against a multitude of HLA-A*02-positive targets, even in the absence of exogenously loaded WT1 peptide, indicative of Ag-binding promiscuity. To characterize this potential promiscuity, reactivity of the T cell clones against 400 randomly selected HLA-A*0201-binding peptides was investigated. The self-HLA-restricted WT1-specific T cell clones only recognized the WT1 peptide. In contrast, the allo-HLA-restricted WT1-reactive clones recognized besides WT1 various other HLA-A*0201-binding peptides. In conclusion, allogeneic HLA-A*02-restricted WT1-specific T cells isolated from mismatched donors may be more tumor-reactive than their autologous counterparts but can show specific off-target promiscuity of potential clinical importance. As a result of this, administration of WT1-specific T cells generated from HLA-mismatched donors should be performed with appropriate precautions against potential off-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem J J Falkenburg
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Jedema I, van de Meent M, Pots J, Kester MGD, van der Beek MT, Falkenburg JHF. Successful generation of primary virus-specific and anti-tumor T-cell responses from the naive donor T-cell repertoire is determined by the balance between antigen-specific precursor T cells and regulatory T cells. Haematologica 2011; 96:1204-12. [PMID: 21546501 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2010.039099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the major challenges in allogeneic stem cell transplantation is to find a balance between the harmful induction of graft-versus-host disease and the beneficial graft-versus-leukemia and pathogen-specific immune responses. Adoptive transfer of in-vitro generated donor T cells with specific anti-leukemic or pathogen-specific activity may be effective. However, in many cases this requires the in-vitro priming and expansion of antigen-specific precursor T cells from the naïve donor T-cell repertoire. DESIGN AND METHODS Antigen-specific CD8 T cells were generated by co-culture of CD45RO-depleted, regulatory T cell-depleted donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells with autologous peptide-loaded dendritic cells, followed by two re-stimulations with peptide-loaded autologous monocytes. Responding T cells were isolated based on CD137 expression and further purified using peptide/major histocompatibility complex tetramers. RESULTS Using this method we were able to reproducibly generate functionally high avidity T cells directed against multiple viral antigens and minor histocompatibility antigens from the naïve T-cell repertoire of seronegative, minor histocompatibility antigen-negative donors. Furthermore, we demonstrated that reduction of the regulatory T-cell frequency by depletion of CD45RO(+) responder cells resulted in improved priming and expansion of antigen-specific precursor T cells. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we present a robust method for the in-vitro induction and isolation of antigen-specific T cells from the naïve repertoire. We demonstrate that the likelihood of successful generation of primary immune responses is determined by a delicate balance between the numbers of antigen-specific precursor T cells and the numbers and activation state of regulatory T cells locally at the site of priming of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Jedema
- Dept. of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Jedema I, Meij P, Steeneveld E, Hoogendoorn M, Nijmeijer BA, van de Meent M, van Luxemburg-Heijs SAP, Willemze R, Falkenburg JHF. Early detection and rapid isolation of leukemia-reactive donor T cells for adoptive transfer using the IFN-gamma secretion assay. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:636-43. [PMID: 17255287 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The poor immunogenicity of most leukemias and the lack of specificity of the donor T cells limit the in vivo effectiveness of conventional donor lymphocyte infusions in many patients suffering from persistent or recurrent leukemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These limitations may be overcome by the adoptive transfer of in vitro generated leukemia-reactive T cells. Although the potential clinical efficacy of this approach has been shown previously, lack of reproducibility of the procedure and the inability to show persistence and survival of the transferred T cells hampered further clinical application. The purpose of this study was to develop a new, broadly applicable strategy for the efficient generation and isolation of leukemia-reactive T cells with a better probability to survive and expand in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Myeloid and B-cell leukemias were modified into professional immunogenic antigen-presenting cells, and used to stimulate HLA-matched donor T cells. After two stimulations, responding donor T cells were isolated based on their secretion of IFN-gamma and tested for their capacity to recognize and kill the primary leukemia. RESULTS Using one universal stimulation and isolation protocol for various forms of leukemia, T-cell populations containing high frequencies of leukemia-reactive T cells could reproducibly be generated and early isolated under mild stimulatory conditions. Isolated T cells still had high proliferative potential and their reactivity seemed to be restricted to cells of the patient's hematopoiesis. CONCLUSION We here show a new robust procedure for the generation and isolation of leukemia-reactive T cells for adoptive transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Jedema
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Saeij JPJ, van Muiswinkel WB, van de Meent M, Amaral C, Wiegertjes GF. Different capacities of carp leukocytes to encounter nitric oxide-mediated stress: a role for the intracellular reduced glutathione pool. Dev Comp Immunol 2003; 27:555-568. [PMID: 12697312 DOI: 10.1016/s0145-305x(02)00158-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Carp head kidney (HK) phagocytes can be stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to produce nitric oxide (NO). High production of NO can suppress the carp immune system. Carp peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) are highly susceptible but HK phagocytes are relatively resistant to the immunosuppressive effects of NO. This study demonstrates that the antioxidant glutathione plays an important role in the protection against nitrosative stress. Carp HK phagocytes, especially the neutrophilic granulocytes, contain higher levels of glutathione than PBL. Moreover, freshly isolated carp neutrophilic granulocytes have higher mRNA levels than PBL of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS). Since these molecules are part of the glutathione redox cycle, neutrophilic granulocytes have a higher capacity than PBL to maintain glutathione in a reduced state following nitrosative stress. When stimulated with LPS, neutrophilic granulocytes upregulate the expression of G6PD, MnSOD and gamma-GCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen P J Saeij
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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