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Philippova J, Shevchenko J, Sennikov S. GD2-targeting therapy: a comparative analysis of approaches and promising directions. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1371345. [PMID: 38558810 PMCID: PMC10979305 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1371345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Disialoganglioside GD2 is a promising target for immunotherapy with expression primarily restricted to neuroectodermal and epithelial tumor cells. Although its role in the maintenance and repair of neural tissue is well-established, its functions during normal organism development remain understudied. Meanwhile, studies have shown that GD2 plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Its functions include proliferation, invasion, motility, and metastasis, and its high expression and ability to transform the tumor microenvironment may be associated with a malignant phenotype. Structurally, GD2 is a glycosphingolipid that is stably expressed on the surface of tumor cells, making it a suitable candidate for targeting by antibodies or chimeric antigen receptors. Based on mouse monoclonal antibodies, chimeric and humanized antibodies and their combinations with cytokines, toxins, drugs, radionuclides, nanoparticles as well as chimeric antigen receptor have been developed. Furthermore, vaccines and photoimmunotherapy are being used to treat GD2-positive tumors, and GD2 aptamers can be used for targeting. In the field of cell therapy, allogeneic immunocompetent cells are also being utilized to enhance GD2 therapy. Efforts are currently being made to optimize the chimeric antigen receptor by modifying its design or by transducing not only αβ T cells, but also γδ T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, and macrophages. In addition, immunotherapy can combine both diagnostic and therapeutic methods, allowing for early detection of disease and minimal residual disease. This review discusses each immunotherapy method and strategy, its advantages and disadvantages, and highlights future directions for GD2 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergey Sennikov
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia
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2
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Parwani KK, Branella GM, Burnham RE, Burnham AJ, Bustamante AYS, Foppiani EM, Knight KA, Petrich BG, Horwitz EM, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Directing the migration of serum-free, ex vivo-expanded Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331322. [PMID: 38487542 PMCID: PMC10937339 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Vγ9Vδ2 T cells represent a promising cancer therapy platform because the implementation of allogenic, off-the-shelf product candidates is possible. However, intravenous administration of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells manufactured under good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant, serum-free conditions are not tested easily in most mouse models, mainly because they lack the ability to migrate from the blood to tissues or tumors. We demonstrate that these T cells do not migrate from the circulation to the mouse bone marrow (BM), the site of many malignancies. Thus, there is a need to better characterize human γδ T-cell migration in vivo and develop strategies to direct these cells to in vivo sites of therapeutic interest. To better understand the migration of these cells and possibly influence their migration, NSG mice were conditioned with agents to clear BM cellular compartments, i.e., busulfan or total body irradiation (TBI), or promote T-cell migration to inflamed BM, i.e., incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), prior to administering γδ T cells. Conditioning with TBI, unlike busulfan or IFA, increases the percentage and number of γδ T cells accumulating in the mouse BM, and cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and BM display identical surface protein profiles. To better understand the mechanism by which cells migrate to the BM, mice were conditioned with TBI and administered γδ T cells or tracker-stained red blood cells. The mechanism by which γδ T cells enter the BM after radiation is passive migration from the circulation, not homing. We tested if these ex vivo-expanded cells can migrate based on chemokine expression patterns and showed that it is possible to initiate homing by utilizing highly expressed chemokine receptors on the expanded γδ T cells. γδ T cells highly express CCR2, which provides chemokine attraction to C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)-expressing cells. IFNγ-primed mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) (γMSCs) express CCL2, and we developed in vitro and in vivo models to test γδ T-cell homing to CCL2-expressing cells. Using an established neuroblastoma NSG mouse model, we show that intratumorally-injected γMSCs increase the homing of γδ T cells to this tumor. These studies provide insight into the migration of serum-free, ex vivo-expanded Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in NSG mice, which is critical to understanding the fundamental properties of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran K Parwani
- Cancer Biology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Gianna M Branella
- Cancer Biology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rebecca E Burnham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andre J Burnham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Austre Y Schiaffino Bustamante
- Cancer Biology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Elisabetta Manuela Foppiani
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kristopher A Knight
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Edwin M Horwitz
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christopher B Doering
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
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3
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Zhang Y, Fang H, Wang G, Yuan G, Dong R, Luo J, Lyu Y, Wang Y, Li P, Zhou C, Yin W, Xiao H, Sun J, Zeng X. Cyclosporine A-resistant CAR-T cells mediate antitumour immunity in the presence of allogeneic cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8491. [PMID: 38123592 PMCID: PMC10733396 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44176-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy requires autologous T lymphocytes from cancer patients, a process that is both costly and complex. Universal CAR-T cell treatment from allogeneic sources can overcome this limitation but is impeded by graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and host versus-graft rejection (HvGR). Here, we introduce a mutated calcineurin subunit A (CNA) and a CD19-specific CAR into the T cell receptor α constant (TRAC) locus to generate cells that are resistant to the widely used immunosuppressant, cyclosporine A (CsA). These immunosuppressant-resistant universal (IRU) CAR-T cells display improved effector function in vitro and anti-tumour efficacy in a leukemia xenograft mouse model in the presence of CsA, compared with CAR-T cells carrying wild-type CNA. Moreover, IRU CAR-T cells retain effector function in vitro and in vivo in the presence of both allogeneic T cells and CsA. Lastly, CsA withdrawal restores HvGR, acting as a safety switch that can eliminate IRU CAR-T cells. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of CsA-resistant CAR-T cells as a universal, 'off-the-shelf' treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Hongyu Fang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Guocan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Guangxun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Ruoyu Dong
- Department of Hematology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Jijun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yu Lyu
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Peng Li
- Puluoting Health Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Chun Zhou
- School of Public Health & Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Weiwei Yin
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Haowen Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Jie Sun
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
| | - Xun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
- Research Units of Infectious disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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Branella GM, Lee JY, Okalova J, Parwani KK, Alexander JS, Arthuzo RF, Fedanov A, Yu B, McCarty D, Brown HC, Chandrakasan S, Petrich BG, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Ligand-based targeting of c-kit using engineered γδ T cells as a strategy for treating acute myeloid leukemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1294555. [PMID: 38022523 PMCID: PMC10679681 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1294555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy or bi-specific T cell engager (BiTE) therapy to manage myeloid malignancies has proven more challenging than for B-cell malignancies. This is attributed to a shortage of leukemia-specific cell-surface antigens that distinguish healthy from malignant myeloid populations, and the inability to manage myeloid depletion unlike B-cell aplasia. Therefore, the development of targeted therapeutics for myeloid malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), requires new approaches. Herein, we developed a ligand-based CAR and secreted bi-specific T cell engager (sBite) to target c-kit using its cognate ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). c-kit is highly expressed on AML blasts and correlates with resistance to chemotherapy and poor prognosis, making it an ideal candidate for which to develop targeted therapeutics. We utilize γδ T cells as a cytotoxic alternative to αβ T cells and a transient transfection system as both a safety precaution and switch to remove alloreactive modified cells that may hinder successful transplant. Additionally, the use of γδ T cells permits its use as an allogeneic, off-the-shelf therapeutic. To this end, we show mSCF CAR- and hSCF sBite-modified γδ T cells are proficient in killing c-kit+ AML cell lines and sca-1+ murine bone marrow cells in vitro. In vivo, hSCF sBite-modified γδ T cells moderately extend survival of NSG mice engrafted with disseminated AML, but therapeutic efficacy is limited by lack of γδ T-cell homing to murine bone marrow. Together, these data demonstrate preclinical efficacy and support further investigation of SCF-based γδ T-cell therapeutics for the treatment of myeloid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna M. Branella
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jasmine Y. Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer Okalova
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Molecular Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kiran K. Parwani
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jordan S. Alexander
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Raquel F. Arthuzo
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andrew Fedanov
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bing Yu
- Expression Therapeutics, Inc., Tucker, GA, United States
| | - David McCarty
- Expression Therapeutics, Inc., Tucker, GA, United States
| | | | - Shanmuganathan Chandrakasan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Christopher B. Doering
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Molecular Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - H. Trent Spencer
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Molecular Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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5
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Pilgrim AA, Jonus HC, Ho A, Cole AC, Shim J, Goldsmith KC. The yes-associated protein (YAP) is associated with resistance to anti-GD2 immunotherapy in neuroblastoma through downregulation of ST8SIA1. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2240678. [PMID: 37554309 PMCID: PMC10405770 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2240678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma often relapse with chemotherapy-resistant, incurable disease. Relapsed neuroblastomas harbor chemo-resistant mesenchymal tumor cells and increased expression/activity of the transcriptional co-regulator, the Yes-Associated Protein (YAP). Patients with relapsed neuroblastoma are often treated with immunotherapy such as the anti-GD2 antibody, dinutuximab, in combination with chemotherapy. We have previously shown that YAP mediates both chemotherapy and MEK inhibitor resistance in relapsed RAS mutated neuroblastoma and so posited that YAP might also be involved in anti-GD2 antibody resistance. We now show that YAP genetic inhibition significantly enhances sensitivity of mesenchymal neuroblastomas to dinutuximab and gamma delta (γδ) T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, YAP inhibition induces increased GD2 cell surface expression through upregulation of ST8SIA1, the gene encoding GD3 synthase and the rate-limiting enzyme in GD2 biosynthesis. The mechanism of ST8SIA1 suppression by YAP is independent of PRRX1 expression, a mesenchymal master transcription factor, suggesting YAP may be the downstream effector of mesenchymal GD2 resistance. These results therefore identify YAP as a therapeutic target to augment GD2 immunotherapy responses in patients with neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeiye A. Pilgrim
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hunter C. Jonus
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew Ho
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna C. Cole
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jenny Shim
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kelly C. Goldsmith
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
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Becker SA, Petrich BG, Yu B, Knight KA, Brown HC, Raikar SS, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Enhancing the effectiveness of γδ T cells by mRNA transfection of chimeric antigen receptors or bispecific T cell engagers. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 29:145-157. [PMID: 37387794 PMCID: PMC10300408 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) utilizing γδ T cells is becoming a promising option for the treatment of cancer, because it offers an off-the-shelf allogeneic product that is safe, potent, and clinically effective. Approaches to engineer or enhance immune-competent cells for ACT, like expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or combination treatments with bispecific T cell engagers, have improved the specificity and cytotoxic potential of ACTs and have shown great promise in preclinical and clinical settings. Here, we test whether electroporation of γδ T cells with CAR or secreted bispecific T cell engager (sBite) mRNA is an effective approach to improve the cytotoxicity of γδ T cells. Using a CD19-specific CAR, approximately 60% of γδ T cells are modified after mRNA electroporation and these cells show potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo against two CD19-positive cancer cell lines. In addition, expression and secretion of a CD19 sBite enhances γδ T cell cytotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo, and promotes killing of target cells by modified and unmodified γδ T cells. Taken together, we show that transient transfection of γδ T cells with CAR or sBite mRNA by electroporation can be an effective treatment platform as a cancer therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Becker
- Molecular and System Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Bing Yu
- Expression Therapeutics, Inc, Tucker, GA, USA
| | - Kristopher A. Knight
- Molecular and System Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Sunil S. Raikar
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher B. Doering
- Molecular and System Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H. Trent Spencer
- Molecular and System Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Sha YL, Liu Y, Yang JX, Wang YY, Gong BC, Jin Y, Qu TY, Xia FT, Han L, Zhao Q. B3GALT4 remodels the tumor microenvironment through GD2-mediated lipid raft formation and the c-met/AKT/mTOR/IRF-1 axis in neuroblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:314. [PMID: 36284313 PMCID: PMC9594894 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02523-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase-4 (B3GALT4) plays a critical regulatory role in tumor biology. However, the role of B3GALT4 in modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) of neuroblastoma (NB) remains unknown. METHODS Public datasets and clinical NB samples were collected to evaluate the expression and clinical significance of GD2 and B3GALT4 in NB patients. CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell assays and experiments in tumor-bearing mouse models were conducted to investigate the function of B3GALT4. Flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and chemotaxis assays were conducted to ascertain the immunomodulatory mechanism of B3GALT4. The combined therapeutic effect of the lipid raft inhibitor MβCD and anti-GD2 mAb was validated in a murine model of NB. RESULTS GD2 was overexpressed in NB tissues and high expression of GD2 was associated with poor prognosis in NB patients. B3GALT4 was downregulated in NB tissues, and low expression of B3GALT4 indicated poor prognosis in NB patients. Silencing B3GALT4 significantly enhanced tumor progression both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, the overexpression of B3GALT4 increased the recruitment of CD8+ T lymphocytes via the chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10. Additionally, B3GALT4 regulated NB-cell GD2 expression and lipid raft formation. Mechanistically, B3GALT4 regulated the expression of CXCL9 and CXCL10 via the c-Met signaling in the lipid rafts and the downstream AKT/mTOR/IRF-1 pathway. The lipid raft inhibitor, MβCD, attenuated B3GALT4 deficiency-induced tumor progression and immune evasion. Last, MβCD combined with anti-GD2 mAb treatment significantly enhanced the antitumor effect and the infiltration of CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS Upregulation of B3GALT4 promotes the secretion of CXCL9 and CXCL10 to recruit CD8+ T lymphocytes via the GD2-mediated lipid rafts and the c-Met/AKT/mTOR/IRF-1 pathway. Moreover, lipid raft inhibitors may enhance the efficacy of anti-GD2 immunotherapy for NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Liang Sha
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jia-Xing Yang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang-Yang Wang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Bao-Cheng Gong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Tong-Yuan Qu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Fan-Tong Xia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Han
- Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Core, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
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8
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Jonus HC, Burnham RE, Ho A, Pilgrim AA, Shim J, Doering CB, Spencer HT, Goldsmith KC. Dissecting the cellular components of ex vivo γδ T cell expansions to optimize selection of potent cell therapy donors for neuroblastoma immunotherapy trials. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2057012. [PMID: 35371623 PMCID: PMC8966991 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2057012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T lymphocytes represent an emerging class of cellular immunotherapy with preclinical promise to treat cancer, notably neuroblastoma. The innate-like immune cell subset demonstrates inherent cytoxicity toward tumor cells independent of MHC recognition, enabling allogeneic administration of healthy donor-derived γδ T cell therapies. A current limitation is the substantial interindividual γδ T cell expansion variation among leukocyte collections. Overcoming this limitation will enable realization of the full potential of allogeneic γδ T-based cellular therapy. Here, we characterize γδ T cell expansions from healthy adult donors and observe that highly potent natural killer (NK) lymphocytes expand with γδ T cells under zoledronate and IL-2 stimulation. The presence of NK cells correlates with both the expansion potential of γδ T cells and the overall potency of the γδ T cell therapy. However, the potency of the cell therapy in combination with an antibody-based immunotherapeutic, dinutuximab, appears to be independent of γδ T/NK cell content both in vitro and in vivo, which minimizes the implication of interindividual expansion differences toward efficacy. Collectively, these studies highlight the utility of maintaining the NK cell population within expanded γδ T cell therapies and suggest a synergistic action of combined innate cell immunotherapy toward neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter C. Jonus
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rebecca E. Burnham
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew Ho
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adeiye A. Pilgrim
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jenny Shim
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher B. Doering
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H. Trent Spencer
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kelly C. Goldsmith
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
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9
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Thrombopoietin-based CAR-T cells demonstrate in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity to MPL positive acute myelogenous leukemia and hematopoietic stem cells. Gene Ther 2021; 29:1-12. [PMID: 34385604 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00283-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
While targeting CD19+ hematologic malignancies with CAR T cell therapy using single chain variable fragments (scFv) has been highly successful, novel strategies for applying CAR T cell therapy with other tumor types are necessary. In the current study, CAR T cells were designed using a ligand binding domain instead of an scFv to target stem-like leukemia cells. Thrombopoietin (TPO), the natural ligand to the myeloproliferative leukemia protein (MPL) receptor, was used as the antigen binding domain to engage MPL expressed on hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and erythropoietic and megakaryocytic acute myeloid leukemias (AML). TPO-CAR T cells were tested in vitro against AML cell lines with varied MPL expression to test specificity. TPO-CAR T cells were specifically activating and cytotoxic against MPL+ leukemia cell lines. Though the TPO-CAR T cells did not extend survival in vivo, it successfully cleared the MPL+ fraction of leukemia cells. As expected, we also show the TPO-CAR is cytotoxic against MPL expressing bone marrow compartment in AML xenograft models. The data collected demonstrate preclinical potential of TPO-CAR T cells for stem-like leukemia through assessment of targeted killing of MPL+ cells and may facilitate subsequent HSC transplant under reduced intensity conditioning regimens.
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10
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Burnham RE, Tope D, Branella G, Williams E, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Human serum albumin and chromatin condensation rescue ex vivo expanded γδ T cells from the effects of cryopreservation. Cryobiology 2021; 99:78-87. [PMID: 33485898 PMCID: PMC7941345 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Clinical applications of gamma delta (γδ) T cells have advanced from initial interest in expanding γδ T cells in vivo to the development of a manufacturing process for the ex vivo expansion. To develop an "off-the-shelf" allogeneic γδ T cell product, the cell manufacturing process must be optimized to include cryopreservation. It is known that cryopreservation can dramatically reduce viability of primary cells and other cell types after thawing, although the exact effects of cryopreservation on γδ T cell health and functionality have not yet been characterized. Our aim was to characterize the effects of a freeze/thaw cycle on γδ T cells and to develop an optimized protocol for cryopreservation. γδ T cells were expanded under serum-free conditions, using a good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant protocol developed by our lab. We observed that cryopreservation reduced cell survival and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, two measures that could not be improved through the use of 5 GMP compliant freezing media. The choice of thawing medium, specifically human albumin (HSA), improved γδ T cell viability and in addition, chromatin condensation prior to freezing increased cell viability after thawing, which could not be further improved with the use of a general caspase inhibitor. Finally, we found that cryopreserved cells had depolarized mitochondrial membranes and reduced cytotoxicity when tested against a range of leukemia cell lines. These studies provide a detailed analysis of the effects of cryopreservation on γδ T cells and provide methods for improving viability in the post-thaw period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Burnham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donald Tope
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gianna Branella
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Erich Williams
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher B Doering
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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11
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Zhang Y, Li P, Fang H, Wang G, Zeng X. Paving the Way Towards Universal Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy in Cancer Treatment: Current Landscape and Progress. Front Immunol 2020; 11:604915. [PMID: 33362790 PMCID: PMC7758418 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.604915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy has been proved effective in a stream of clinical trials, especially in hematologic malignancies. However, current CAR therapy is highly personalized as cells used are derived from patients themselves, which can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes fails to achieve optimal therapeutic results due to poor quality/quantity of patient-derived cells. On the contrary, universal CAR therapy, which is based on healthy individuals’ cells, circumvents several limitations of current autologous CAR therapy. To achieve the universality of CAR therapy, the allogeneic cell transplantation related issues, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and host-versus-graft activities (HVGA), must be addressed. In this review, we focus on current progress regarding GVHD and HVGA in the universal CAR therapy, followed by a universal CAR design that may be applied to allogeneic cells and a summary of key clinical trials in this field. This review may provide valuable insights into the future design of universal CAR products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Fang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guocan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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12
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Burnham RE, Zoine JT, Story JY, Garimalla SN, Gibson G, Rae A, Williams E, Bixby L, Archer D, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Characterization of Donor Variability for γδ T Cell ex vivo Expansion and Development of an Allogeneic γδ T Cell Immunotherapy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:588453. [PMID: 33282892 PMCID: PMC7691424 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.588453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma delta (γδ) T cells recently emerged as an attractive candidate for cancer immunotherapy treatments due to their inherent cytotoxicity against both hematological and solid tumors. Moreover, γδ T cells provide a platform for the development of allogeneic cell therapies, as they can recognize antigens independent of MHC recognition and without the requirement for a chimeric antigen receptor. However, γδ T cell adoptive cell therapy depends on ex vivo expansion to manufacture sufficient cell product numbers, which remains challenging and limited by inter-donor variability. In the current study, we characterize the differences in expansion of γδ T cells from various donors that expand (EX) and donors that fail to expand, i.e., non-expanders (NE). Further, we demonstrate that IL-21 can be used to increase the expansion potential of NE. In order to reduce the risk of graft vs. host disease (GVHD) induced by an allogeneic T cell product, αβ T cell depletions must be considered due to the potential for HLA mismatch. Typically, αβ T cell depletions are performed at the end of expansion, prior to infusion. We show that γδ T cell cultures can be successfully αβ depleted on day 6 of expansion, providing a better environment for the γδ T cells to expand, and that the αβ T cell population remains below clinically acceptable standards for T cell-depleted allogeneic stem cell products. Finally, we assess the potential for a mixed donor γδ T cell therapy and characterize the effects of cryopreservation on γδ T cells. Collectively, these studies support the development of an improved allogeneic γδ T cell product and suggest the possibility of using mixed donor γδ T cell immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Burnham
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jaquelyn T Zoine
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Cancer Biology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jamie Y Story
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Swetha N Garimalla
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Greg Gibson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Aaron Rae
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Erich Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lisa Bixby
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David Archer
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christopher B Doering
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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13
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Story JY, Zoine JT, Burnham RE, Hamilton JAG, Spencer HT, Doering CB, Raikar SS. Bortezomib enhances cytotoxicity of ex vivo-expanded gamma delta T cells against acute myeloid leukemia and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytotherapy 2020; 23:12-24. [PMID: 33168453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Engagement between the natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor and its ligands is one of the main mechanisms used by immune cells to target stressed cells for cell death. NKG2D ligands are known markers of cellular stress and are often upregulated on tumor cells. Certain drugs can further increase NKG2D ligand levels, thereby making tumor cells more susceptible to immune cell detection and destruction. However, the effectiveness of this approach appears to be limited with drug treatment alone, possibly due to immune dysregulation in the setting of malignancies. We hypothesized that a more effective approach would be a combination of NKG2D ligand-inducing drugs, such as the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, and ex vivo-expanded peripheral blood γδ T cells (i.e., Vγ9Vδ2 T cells). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a high-risk hematologic malignancy, and treatment has shown limited benefit with the addition of bortezomib to standard chemotherapy regimens. Two AML cells lines, Nomo-1 and Kasumi-1, were treated with increasing concentrations of bortezomib, and changes in NKG2D ligand expression were measured. Bortezomib treatment significantly increased expression of the NKG2D ligand UL16 binding protein (ULBP) 2/5/6 in both cell lines. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells were expanded and isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors to generate a final cellular product with a mean of 96% CD3+/γδ T-cell receptor-positive cells. Combination treatment of the AML cell lines with γδ T cells and bortezomib resulted in significantly greater cytotoxicity than γδ T cells alone, even at lower effector-to-target ratios. Based on the positive results against AML and the generalizable mechanism of this combination approach, it was also tested against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), another high-risk leukemia. Similarly, bortezomib increased ULBP 2/5/6 expression in T-ALL cell lines, Jurkat and MOLT-4 and improved the cytotoxicity of γδ T cells against each line. Collectively, these results show that bortezomib enhances γδ T-cell-mediated killing of both AML and T-ALL cells in part through increased NKG2D ligand-receptor interaction. Furthermore, proof-of-concept for the combination of ex vivo-expanded γδ T cells with stress ligand-inducing drugs as a therapeutic platform for high-risk leukemias is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Y Story
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jaquelyn T Zoine
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rebecca E Burnham
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jamie A G Hamilton
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christopher B Doering
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Sunil S Raikar
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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14
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Fleischer LC, Becker SA, Ryan RE, Fedanov A, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Non-signaling Chimeric Antigen Receptors Enhance Antigen-Directed Killing by γδ T Cells in Contrast to αβ T Cells. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2020; 18:149-160. [PMID: 32671190 PMCID: PMC7341062 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells have demonstrated efficacy against B cell leukemias/lymphomas. However, redirecting CAR T cells to malignant T cells is more challenging due to product-specific cis- and trans-activation causing fratricide. Other challenges include the potential for product contamination and T cell aplasia. We expressed non-signaling CARs (NSCARs) in γδ T cells since donor-derived γδ T cells can be used to prevent product contamination, and NSCARs lack signaling/activation domains, but retain antigen-specific tumor cell-targeting capability. As a result, NSCAR targeting requires an alternative cytotoxic mechanism, which can be achieved through utilization of γδ T cells that possess major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent cytotoxicity. We designed two distinct NSCARs and demonstrated that they do not enhance tumor-killing by αβ T cells, as predicted. However, both CD5-NSCAR- and CD19-NSCAR-modified γδ T cells enhanced cytotoxicity against T and B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL and B-ALL) cell lines, respectively. CD5-NSCAR expression in γδ T cells resulted in a 60% increase in cytotoxicity of CD5-expressing T-ALL cell lines. CD19-NSCAR-modified γδ T cells exhibited a 350% increase in cytotoxicity against a CD19-expressing B-ALL cell line compared to the cytotoxicity of naive cells. NSCARs may provide a mechanism to enhance antigen-directed anti-tumor cytotoxicity of γδ T cells through the introduction of a high-affinity interaction while avoiding self-activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C. Fleischer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Scott A. Becker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rebecca E. Ryan
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew Fedanov
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher B. Doering
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H. Trent Spencer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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15
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Saito Y, Shultz LD, Ishikawa F. Understanding Normal and Malignant Human Hematopoiesis Using Next-Generation Humanized Mice. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:706-720. [PMID: 32631635 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Rodent models for human diseases contribute significantly to understanding human physiology and pathophysiology. However, given the accelerating pace of drug development, there is a crucial need for in vivo preclinical models of human biology and pathology. The humanized mouse is one tool to bridge the gap between traditional animal models and the clinic. The development of immunodeficient mouse strains with high-level engraftment of normal and diseased human immune/hematopoietic cells has made in vivo functional characterization possible. As a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, humanized mice functionally correlate putative mechanisms with in vivo behavior and help to reveal pathogenic mechanisms. Combined with single-cell genomics, humanized mice can facilitate functional precision medicine such as risk stratification and individually optimized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoriko Saito
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | | | - Fumihiko Ishikawa
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
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16
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Yazdanifar M, Barbarito G, Bertaina A, Airoldi I. γδ T Cells: The Ideal Tool for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cells 2020; 9:E1305. [PMID: 32456316 PMCID: PMC7290982 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells have recently gained considerable attention as an attractive tool for cancer adoptive immunotherapy due to their potent anti-tumor activity and unique role in immunosurveillance. The remarkable success of engineered T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies has revolutionized the field of adoptive cell immunotherapy. Accordingly, major efforts are underway to translate this exciting technology to the treatment of solid tumors and the development of allogeneic therapies. The unique features of γδ T cells, including their major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent anti-cancer activity, tissue tropism, and multivalent response against a broad spectrum of the tumors, render them ideal for designing universal 'third-party' cell products, with the potential to overcome the challenges of allogeneic cell therapy. In this review, we describe the crucial role of γδ T cells in anti-tumor immunosurveillance and we summarize the different approaches used for the ex vivo and in vivo expansion of γδ T cells suitable for the development of novel strategies for cancer therapy. We further discuss the different transduction strategies aiming at redirecting or improving the function of γδ T cells, as well as, the considerations for the clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboubeh Yazdanifar
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; (M.Y.); (G.B.)
| | - Giulia Barbarito
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; (M.Y.); (G.B.)
| | - Alice Bertaina
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; (M.Y.); (G.B.)
| | - Irma Airoldi
- Laboratorio Cellule Staminali post-natali e Terapie Cellulari, IRCCS G. Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
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17
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Joalland N, Scotet E. Emerging Challenges of Preclinical Models of Anti-tumor Immunotherapeutic Strategies Utilizing Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:992. [PMID: 32528477 PMCID: PMC7256197 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances, the eradication of cancers still represents a challenge which justifies the exploration of additional therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapies, including adoptive cell transfers. Human peripheral Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, which constitute a major transitional immunity lymphocyte subset, represent attractive candidates because of their broad and efficient anti-tumor functions, as well as their lack of alloreactivity and easy handling. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells act like immune cell stress sensors that can, in a tightly controlled manner but through yet incompletely understood mechanisms, detect subtle changes of levels of phosphorylated metabolites of isoprenoid synthesis pathways. Consequently, various anti-tumor immunotherapeutic strategies have been proposed to enhance their reactivity and cytotoxicity, as well as to reduce the deleterious events. In this review, we expose these advances based on different strategies and their validation in preclinical models. Importantly, we next discuss advantages and limits of each approach, by highlighting the importance of the use of relevant preclinical model for evaluation of safety and efficacy. Finally, we propose novel perspectives and strategies that should be explored using these models for therapeutic improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Joalland
- Université de Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, CRCINA, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
| | - Emmanuel Scotet
- Université de Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, CRCINA, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
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18
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Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells: Can We Re-Purpose a Potent Anti-Infection Mechanism for Cancer Therapy? Cells 2020; 9:cells9040829. [PMID: 32235616 PMCID: PMC7226769 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapies based on in vivo stimulation, or on adoptive T cell transfer of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, have been tested in the past decades but have failed to provide consistent clinical efficacy. New, promising concepts such as γδ Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) -T cells and γδ T-cell engagers are currently under preclinical evaluation. Since the impact of factors, such as the relatively low abundance of γδ T cells within tumor tissue is still under investigation, it remains to be shown whether these effector T cells can provide significant efficacy against solid tumors. Here, we highlight key learnings from the natural role of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in the elimination of host cells bearing intracellular bacterial agents and we translate these into the setting of tumor therapy. We discuss the availability and relevance of preclinical models as well as currently available tools and knowledge from a drug development perspective. Finally, we compare advantages and disadvantages of existing therapeutic concepts and propose a role for Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in immune-oncology next to Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 3 activating therapies.
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19
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Fleischer LC, Spencer HT, Raikar SS. Targeting T cell malignancies using CAR-based immunotherapy: challenges and potential solutions. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:141. [PMID: 31884955 PMCID: PMC6936092 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0801-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful in treating B cell malignancies in clinical trials; however, fewer studies have evaluated CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of T cell malignancies. There are many challenges in translating this therapy for T cell disease, including fratricide, T cell aplasia, and product contamination. To the best of our knowledge, no tumor-specific antigen has been identified with universal expression on cancerous T cells, hindering CAR T cell therapy for these malignancies. Numerous approaches have been assessed to address each of these challenges, such as (i) disrupting target antigen expression on CAR-modified T cells, (ii) targeting antigens with limited expression on T cells, and (iii) using third party donor cells that are either non-alloreactive or have been genome edited at the T cell receptor α constant (TRAC) locus. In this review, we discuss CAR approaches that have been explored both in preclinical and clinical studies targeting T cell antigens, as well as examine other potential strategies that can be used to successfully translate this therapy for T cell disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C Fleischer
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sunil S Raikar
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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