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Halim L, Das KK, Larcombe-Young D, Ajina A, Candelli A, Benjamin R, Dillon R, Davies DM, Maher J. Engineering of an Avidity-Optimized CD19-Specific Parallel Chimeric Antigen Receptor That Delivers Dual CD28 and 4-1BB Co-Stimulation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:836549. [PMID: 35222427 PMCID: PMC8863855 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.836549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-stimulation is critical to the function of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. Previously, we demonstrated that dual co-stimulation can be effectively harnessed by a parallel (p)CAR architecture in which a CD28-containing second generation CAR is co-expressed with a 4-1BB containing chimeric co-stimulatory receptor (CCR). When compared to linear CARs, pCAR-engineered T-cells elicit superior anti-tumor activity in a range of pre-clinical models. Since CD19 is the best validated clinical target for cellular immunotherapy, we evaluated a panel of CD19-specific CAR and pCAR T-cells in this study. First, we generated a panel of single chain antibody fragments (scFvs) by alanine scanning mutagenesis of the CD19-specific FMC63 scFv (VH domain) and these were incorporated into second generation CD28+CD3ζ CARs. The resulting panel of CAR T-cells demonstrated a broad range of CD19 binding ability and avidity for CD19-expressing tumor cells. Each scFv-modified CAR was then converted into a pCAR by co-expression of an FMC63 scFv-targeted CCR with a 4-1BB endodomain. When compared to second generation CARs that contained an unmodified or mutated FMC63 scFv, each pCAR demonstrated a significant enhancement of tumor re-stimulation potential and IL-2 release, reduced exhaustion marker expression and enhanced therapeutic efficacy in mice with established Nalm-6 leukemic xenografts. These data reinforce the evidence that the pCAR platform delivers enhanced anti-tumor activity through effective provision of dual co-stimulation. Greatest anti-tumor activity was noted for intermediate avidity CAR T-cells and derived pCARs, raising the possibility that effector to target cell avidity is an important determinant of efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Halim
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Mechanics Laboratory, Guy's Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Daniel Larcombe-Young
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Mechanics Laboratory, Guy's Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Ajina
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Mechanics Laboratory, Guy's Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Reuben Benjamin
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical Haematology, King's College Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Dillon
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Guy's and St Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Medicine and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David M Davies
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Mechanics Laboratory, Guy's Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Maher
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Mechanics Laboratory, Guy's Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Leucid Bio, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, King's College Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
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Muliaditan T, Halim L, Whilding LM, Draper B, Achkova DY, Kausar F, Glover M, Bechman N, Arulappu A, Sanchez J, Flaherty KR, Obajdin J, Grigoriadis K, Antoine P, Larcombe-Young D, Hull CM, Buus R, Gordon P, Grigoriadis A, Davies DM, Schurich A, Maher J. Synergistic T cell signaling by 41BB and CD28 is optimally achieved by membrane proximal positioning within parallel chimeric antigen receptors. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100457. [PMID: 35028604 PMCID: PMC8714859 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Second generation (2G) chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) contain a CD28 or 41BB co-stimulatory endodomain and elicit remarkable efficacy in hematological malignancies. Third generation (3G) CARs extend this linear blueprint by fusing both co-stimulatory units in series. However, clinical impact has been muted despite compelling evidence that co-signaling by CD28 and 41BB can powerfully amplify natural immune responses. We postulate that effective dual co-stimulation requires juxta-membrane positioning of endodomain components within separate synthetic receptors. Consequently, we designed parallel (p)CARs in which a 2G (CD28+CD3ζ) CAR is co-expressed with a 41BB-containing chimeric co-stimulatory receptor. We demonstrate that the pCAR platform optimally harnesses synergistic and tumor-dependent co-stimulation to resist T cell exhaustion and senescence, sustaining proliferation, cytokine release, cytokine signaling, and metabolic fitness upon repeated stimulation. When engineered using targeting moieties of diverse composition, affinity, and specificity, pCAR T cells consistently elicit superior anti-tumor activity compared with T cells that express traditional linear CARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Muliaditan
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Leena Halim
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Lynsey M. Whilding
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Benjamin Draper
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Daniela Y. Achkova
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Fahima Kausar
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Maya Glover
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Natasha Bechman
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Appitha Arulappu
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jenifer Sanchez
- King’s College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Katie R. Flaherty
- King’s College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jana Obajdin
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Kristiana Grigoriadis
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Bioinformatics, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Pierre Antoine
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Daniel Larcombe-Young
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Caroline M. Hull
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Richard Buus
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Peter Gordon
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Anita Grigoriadis
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Bioinformatics, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - David M. Davies
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Anna Schurich
- King’s College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - John Maher
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
- King’s College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CAR Mechanics Lab, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
- Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Kings Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 2UD, UK
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