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Jiang Y, Chen C, Liu Y, Wang R, Feng C, Cai L, Chang S, Zhao L. A novel dual mechanism-of-action bispecific PD-1-IL-2v armed by a "βγ-only" interleukin-2 variant. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1369376. [PMID: 38638426 PMCID: PMC11024467 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1369376] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is one of the first cytokines to be discovered as an immune agonist for cancer immunotherapy. Biased IL-2 variants had been discovered to eliminate Treg activation or enhance the tumor specific T cell cytotoxicity. However, all the biased IL-2 variants pose the risk to overstimulate immune response at a low-dose range. Here, we introduce a novel dual-MOA bispecific PD-1-IL-2v molecule with great anti-tumor efficacy in a high dosed manner. Methods The novel IL-2 variant was designed by structural truncation and shuffling. The single armed bispecific PD-1-IL-2v molecule and IL-2v were studied by immune cell activations in vitro and in vivo and anti-tumor efficacy in mouse model. Results and discussion The IL-2 variant in this bispecific antibody only binds to IL-2Rβγ complex in a fast-on/off manner without α, β or γ single receptor binding. This IL-2v mildly activates T and NK cells without over stimulation, meanwhile it diminishes Treg activation compared to the wild type IL-2. This unique bispecific molecule with "βγ-only" IL-2v can not only "in-cis" stimulate and expand CD8 T and NK cells moderately without Treg activation, but also block the PD-1/L1 interaction at a similar dose range with monoclonal antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongji Jiang
- Division of AAV Discovery, Department of Gene Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Chuyuan Chen
- Division of AAV Discovery, Department of Gene Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Division of Research & Development, Department of Cell Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Division of Research & Development, Department of Cell Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Chuan Feng
- Division of Research & Development, Department of Cell Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Lili Cai
- Division of AAV Discovery, Department of Gene Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuang Chang
- Division of AAV Discovery, Department of Gene Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Division of AAV Discovery, Department of Gene Therapy, Cure Genetics Co., LTD, Suzhou, China
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Quixabeira DCA, Zafar S, Santos JM, Cervera-Carrascon V, Havunen R, Kudling TV, Basnet S, Anttila M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic Adenovirus Coding for a Variant Interleukin 2 (vIL-2) Cytokine Re-Programs the Tumor Microenvironment and Confers Enhanced Tumor Control. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674400. [PMID: 34084172 PMCID: PMC8168464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The notion of developing variants of the classic interleukin 2 (IL-2) cytokine has emerged from the limitations observed with the systemic use of human IL-2 in the clinic: severe adverse events accompanied by low therapeutic response rate in treated patients. Modifications made in the IL-2 receptor-binding structure leads to preferential binding of IL-2 variant cytokine to receptors on effector anti-tumor lymphocytes over T regulatory (TReg) cells. Because of their inherent immunogenicity, oncolytic adenoviruses are useful for expression of immunomodulatory molecules in tumors, for induction of a pro-inflammatory state in the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we constructed an adenovirus coding for an IL-2 variant (vIL-2) protein, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2. Functionality of the new virus was tested in vitro, and anti-tumor efficacy and mechanism of action studies were performed in immunocompetent hamsters bearing pancreatic tumors. Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 treatment elicited efficient anti-tumor response, with 62.5% monotherapy complete response. Moreover, it promoted substantial repression of genes associated with myeloid cells mediated immunosuppression (CD11b, ARG1, CD206). This was seen in conjunction with upregulation of genes associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cytotoxicity (CD3G, SAP, PRF1, GZMM and GZMK). In summary, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 demonstrates therapeutic potential by counteracting immunosuppression and in efficiently coordinating lymphocytes mediated anti-tumor response in immunosuppressive tumors. Thus, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 is a promising candidate for translation into clinical trials in human immunosuppressive solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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