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Li X, Sun S, Zhang W, Liang Z, Fang Y, Sun T, Wan Y, Ma X, Zhang S, Xu Y, Tian R. Identification of genetic modifiers enhancing B7-H3-targeting CAR T cell therapy against glioblastoma through large-scale CRISPRi screening. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:95. [PMID: 38561797 PMCID: PMC10986136 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03027-6] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Current treatment options are limited and often ineffective. CAR T cell therapy has shown success in treating hematologic malignancies, and there is growing interest in its potential application in solid tumors, including GBM. However, current CAR T therapy lacks clinical efficacy against GBM due to tumor-related resistance mechanisms and CAR T cell deficiencies. Therefore, there is a need to improve CAR T cell therapy efficacy in GBM. METHODS We conducted large-scale CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens in GBM cell line U87 MG cells co-cultured with B7-H3 targeting CAR T cells to identify genetic modifiers that can enhance CAR T cell-mediated tumor killing. Flow cytometry-based tumor killing assay and CAR T cell activation assay were performed to validate screening hits. Bioinformatic analyses on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data and the TCGA database were employed to elucidate the mechanism underlying enhanced CAR T efficacy upon knocking down the selected screening hits in U87 MG cells. RESULTS We established B7-H3 as a targetable antigen for CAR T therapy in GBM. Through large-scale CRISPRi screening, we discovered genetic modifiers in GBM cells, including ARPC4, PI4KA, ATP6V1A, UBA1, and NDUFV1, that regulated the efficacy of CAR T cell-mediated tumor killing. Furthermore, we discovered that TNFSF15 was upregulated in both ARPC4 and NDUFV1 knockdown GBM cells and revealed an immunostimulatory role of TNFSF15 in modulating tumor-CAR T interaction to enhance CAR T cell efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the power of CRISPR-based genetic screening in investigating tumor-CAR T interaction and identifies potential druggable targets in tumor cells that confer resistance to CAR T cell killing. Furthermore, we devised targeted strategies that synergize with CAR T therapy against GBM. These findings shed light on the development of novel combinatorial strategies for effective immunotherapy of GBM and other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Shiyu Sun
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China
| | - Wansong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Ziwei Liang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Yitong Fang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Tianhu Sun
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Xingcong Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.
| | - Yang Xu
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
| | - Ruilin Tian
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
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