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Pacini CP, Soares MVD, Lacerda JF. The impact of regulatory T cells on the graft-versus-leukemia effect. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339318. [PMID: 38711496 PMCID: PMC11070504 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only curative therapy for many hematologic malignancies, whereby the Graft-versus-Leukemia (GVL) effect plays a pivotal role in controlling relapse. However, the success of GVL is hindered by Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD), where donor T cells attack healthy tissues in the recipient. The ability of natural regulatory T cells (Treg) to suppress immune responses has been exploited as a therapeutical option against GVHD. Still, it is crucial to evaluate if the ability of Treg to suppress GVHD does not compromise the benefits of GVL. Initial studies in animal models suggest that Treg can attenuate GVHD while preserving GVL, but results vary according to tumor type. Human trials using Treg as GVHD prophylaxis or treatment show promising results, emphasizing the importance of infusion timing and Treg/Tcon ratios. In this review, we discuss strategies that can be used aiming to enhance GVL post-Treg infusion and the proposed mechanisms for the maintenance of the GVL effect upon the adoptive Treg transfer. In order to optimize the therapeutic outcomes of Treg administration in allo-HSCT, future efforts should focus on refining Treg sources for infusion and evaluating their specificity for antigens mediating GVHD while preserving GVL responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina P. Pacini
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria V. D. Soares
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João F. Lacerda
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Serviço de Hematologia e Transplantação de Medula, Hospital de Santa Maria, ULS Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
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Bader CS, Pavlova A, Lowsky R, Muffly LS, Shiraz P, Arai S, Johnston LJ, Rezvani AR, Weng WK, Miklos DB, Frank MJ, Tamaresis JS, Agrawal V, Bharadwaj S, Sidana S, Shizuru JA, Fernhoff NB, Putnam A, Killian S, Xie BJ, Negrin RS, Meyer EH. Single-center randomized trial of T-reg graft alone vs T-reg graft plus tacrolimus for the prevention of acute GVHD. Blood Adv 2024; 8:1105-1115. [PMID: 38091578 PMCID: PMC10907400 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapy for hematological malignancies for which graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major complication. The use of donor T-regulatory cells (Tregs) to prevent GVHD appears promising, including in our previous evaluation of an engineered graft product (T-reg graft) consisting of the timed, sequential infusion of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and high-purity Tregs followed by conventional T cells. However, whether immunosuppressive prophylaxis can be removed from this protocol remains unclear. We report the results of the first stage of an open-label single-center phase 2 study (NCT01660607) investigating T-reg graft in myeloablative HCT of HLA-matched and 9/10-matched recipients. Twenty-four patients were randomized to receive T-reg graft alone (n = 12) or T-reg graft plus single-agent GVHD prophylaxis (n = 12) to determine whether T-reg graft alone was noninferior in preventing acute GVHD. All patients developed full-donor myeloid chimerism. Patients with T-reg graft alone vs with prophylaxis had incidences of grade 3 to 4 acute GVHD of 58% vs 8% (P = .005) and grade 3 to 4 of 17% vs 0% (P = .149), respectively. The incidence of moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD was 28% in the T-reg graft alone arm vs 0% with prophylaxis (P = .056). Among patients with T-reg graft and prophylaxis, CD4+ T-cell-to-Treg ratios were reduced after transplantation, gene expression profiles showed reduced CD4+ proliferation, and the achievement of full-donor T-cell chimerism was delayed. This study indicates that T-reg graft with single-agent tacrolimus is preferred over T-reg graft alone for the prevention of acute GVHD. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01660607.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron S. Bader
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Anna Pavlova
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Robert Lowsky
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Cellular Immune Tolerance Program, Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Lori S. Muffly
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Parveen Shiraz
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Sally Arai
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Cellular Immune Tolerance Program, Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Laura J. Johnston
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Andrew R. Rezvani
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Wen-Kai Weng
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Cellular Immune Tolerance Program, Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - David B. Miklos
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Matthew J. Frank
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | | | - Vaibhav Agrawal
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Sushma Bharadwaj
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Surbhi Sidana
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Judith A. Shizuru
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert S. Negrin
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Cellular Immune Tolerance Program, Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Everett H. Meyer
- Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Cellular Immune Tolerance Program, Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Di Ianni M, Liberatore C, Santoro N, Ranalli P, Guardalupi F, Corradi G, Villanova I, Di Francesco B, Lattanzio S, Passeri C, Lanuti P, Accorsi P. Cellular Strategies for Separating GvHD from GvL in Haploidentical Transplantation. Cells 2024; 13:134. [PMID: 38247827 PMCID: PMC10814899 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
GvHD still remains, despite the continuous improvement of transplantation platforms, a fearful complication of transplantation from allogeneic donors. Being able to separate GvHD from GvL represents the greatest challenge in the allogeneic transplant setting. This may be possible through continuous improvement of cell therapy techniques. In this review, current cell therapies are taken into consideration, which are based on the use of TCR alpha/beta depletion, CD45RA depletion, T regulatory cell enrichment, NK-cell-based immunotherapies, and suicide gene therapies in order to prevent GvHD and maximally amplify the GvL effect in the setting of haploidentical transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Di Ianni
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Carmine Liberatore
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Nicole Santoro
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
| | - Paola Ranalli
- Hematology Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (C.L.); (N.S.); (P.R.)
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Guardalupi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Corradi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ida Villanova
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Barbara Di Francesco
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Stefano Lattanzio
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Cecilia Passeri
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Paola Lanuti
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (S.L.); (P.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Accorsi
- Blood Bank Unit, Pescara Hospital, 65124 Pescara, Italy; (I.V.); (B.D.F.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
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