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Perruche S, Kleinclauss F, Lienard A, Robinet E, Tiberghien P, Saas P. A single-platform approach using flow cytometry and microbeads to evaluate immune reconstitution in mice after bone marrow transplantation. J Immunol Methods 2004; 294:53-66. [PMID: 15604016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2004.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2004] [Revised: 07/23/2004] [Accepted: 08/12/2004] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The monitoring of immune reconstitution in murine models of HC transplantation, using accurate and automated methods, is necessary in view of the recent developments of hematopoietic cell (HC) transplantation (including reduced intensity conditioning regimens) as well as emerging immunological concepts (such as the involvement of dendritic cells or regulatory T cells). Here, we describe the use of a single-platform approach based on flow cytometry and tubes that contain a defined number of microbeads to evaluate absolute blood cell counts in mice. This method, previously used in humans to quantify CD34+ stem cells or CD4+ T cells in HIV infected patients, was adapted for mouse blood samples. A CD45 gating strategy in this "lyse no wash" protocol makes it possible to discriminate erythroblasts or red blood cell debris from CD45+ leukocytes, thus avoiding cell loss. Tubes contain a lyophilized brightly fluorescent microbead pellet permitting the acquisition of absolute counts of leukocytes after flow cytometric analysis. We compared this method to determine absolute counts of circulating cells with another method combining Unopette reservoir diluted blood samples, hemocytometer, microscopic examination and flow cytometry. The sensitivity of this single-platform approach was evaluated in different situations encountered in allogeneic HC transplantation, including immune cell depletion after different conditioning regimens, activation status of circulating cells after transplantation, evaluation of in vivo cell depletion and hematopoietic progenitor mobilization in the periphery. This single-platform flow cytometric assay can also be proposed to standardize murine (or other mammalian species) leukocyte count determination for physiological, pharmacological/toxicological and diagnostic applications in veterinary practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Perruche
- Unité Mixte EFS/Université EA2284/Inserm U645, IFR133, Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Etablissement Français du Sang Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM U645, 1 Boulevard A. Fleming, BP1937, F-25020 Besançon, France
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2
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Rettig MP, Ritchey JK, Prior JL, Haug JS, Piwnica-Worms D, DiPersio JF. Kinetics of in vivo elimination of suicide gene-expressing T cells affects engraftment, graft-versus-host disease, and graft-versus-leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 173:3620-30. [PMID: 15356106 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.6.3620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy is one approach being evaluated for the control of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We recently constructed a novel chimeric suicide gene in which the entire coding region of HSV thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) was fused in-frame to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of human CD34 (DeltaCD34-tk). DeltaCD34-tk is an attractive candidate as a suicide gene in man because of the ensured expression of HSV-tk in all selected cells and the ability to rapidly and efficiently purify gene-modified cells using clinically approved CD34 immunoselection techniques. In this study we assessed the efficacy of the DeltaCD34-tk suicide gene in the absence of extended ex vivo manipulation by generating transgenic animals that express DeltaCD34-tk in the peripheral and thymic T cell compartments using the CD2 locus control region. We found that DeltaCD34-tk-expressing T cells could be purified to near homogeneity by CD34 immunoselection and selectively eliminated ex vivo and in vivo when exposed to low concentrations of GCV. The optimal time to administer GCV after allogeneic BMT with DeltaCD34-tk-expressing transgenic T cells was dependent on the intensity of the conditioning regimen, the leukemic status of the recipient, and the dose and timing of T cell infusion. Importantly, we used a controlled graft-vs-host reaction to promote alloengraftment in sublethally irradiated mice and provide a graft-vs-leukemia effect in recipients administered a delayed infusion of DeltaCD34-tk-expressing T cells. This murine model demonstrates the potential usefulness of DeltaCD34-tk-expressing T cells to control GVHD, promote alloengraftment, and provide a graft-vs-leukemia effect in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Rettig
- Division of Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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3
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Qasim W, King D, Buddle J, Verfuerth S, Kinnon C, Thrasher AJ, Gaspar HB. The impact of retroviral suicide gene transduction procedures on T cells. Br J Haematol 2004; 123:712-9. [PMID: 14616977 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04672.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Retroviral vectors encoding the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene have been used to render T cells sensitive to the prodrug ganciclovir. Such genetically modified T cells have been used in clinical trials for their graft-versus-leukaemia effects following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In the event of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) the cells were susceptible to elimination through exposure to ganciclovir. We have investigated the impact of T-cell activation, required for successful retrovirus-mediated gene transfer, on T-cell receptor repertoire profile, subset distribution and antiviral potential. Using a combination of antibodies against CD3 and CD28, T cells were transduced at high efficiency when exposed to retrovirus between 48 and 72 h later. Lymphocytes had undergone up to seven cycles of cell division by the end of the procedure. Although the T-cell receptor Vbeta repertoire was not altered after retroviral transduction, there were notable shifts in subset profiles with an increased proportion of CD45RO cells in transduced populations. T cells continued to proliferate for several days after transduction and were difficult to sustain under the extended culture conditions required to generate virus-specific T cells. These observations may explain the lower than expected levels of GVHD and poor antiviral immunity reported in recent trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Qasim
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
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4
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Litvinova E, Maury S, Boyer O, Bruel S, Benard L, Boisserie G, Klatzmann D, Cohen JL. Graft-versus-leukemia effect after suicide-gene-mediated control of graft-versus-host disease. Blood 2002; 100:2020-5. [PMID: 12200361 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2002-01-0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical data indicate that after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematological malignancies, the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect is in large part mediated by the graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR), which also often leads to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Controlling alloreactivity to prevent GVHD while retaining GVL poses a true dilemma for the successful treatment of such malignancies. We reasoned that suicide gene therapy, which kills dividing cells expressing the thymidine kinase (TK) "suicide" gene using time-controlled administration of ganciclovir (GCV), might solve this dilemma. We have previously shown that after infusion of allogeneic TK T cells along with HSCT to an irradiated recipient, an early and short GCV treatment efficiently prevents GVHD by selectively eliminating alloreactive T cells while sparing nonalloreactive T cells, which can then contribute to immune reconstitution. Nevertheless, it remained to be established that this therapeutic strategy retained the desired GVL effect. Hypothesizing that a contained GVHR would be essential, we evaluated the GVL effect using different protocols of GCV administration. We were able to show that when the GCV treatment is initiated at, or close to, the time of grafting, GVHD is controlled but GVL is lost. In contrast, when the onset of GCV administration is delayed until day 6, a potent GVL effect is retained while GVHD is still controlled. These data emphasize that, by a time-optimized scheduling of the administration of GCV, this TK/GCV strategy can be tuned to efficiently treat malignant hemopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Litvinova
- Biologie et Thérapeutique des Pathologies Immunitaires CNRS/UPMC UMR 7087, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 83 boulevard de l'Hôpital, F-75651 Paris Cedex 13, France
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5
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Cohen JL, Trenado A, Vasey D, Klatzmann D, Salomon BL. CD4(+)CD25(+) immunoregulatory T Cells: new therapeutics for graft-versus-host disease. J Exp Med 2002; 196:401-6. [PMID: 12163568 PMCID: PMC2193933 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20020090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 540] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4(+)CD25(+) immunoregulatory T cells play a pivotal role in preventing organ-specific autoimmune diseases and in tolerance induction to allogeneic organ transplants. We investigated whether these cells could also control graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the main complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Here, we show that the few CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells naturally present in the transplant regulate GVHD because their removal from the graft dramatically accelerates this disease. Furthermore, the addition of freshly isolated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells at time of grafting significantly delays or even prevents GVHD. Ex vivo-expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells obtained after stimulation by allogeneic recipient-type antigen-presenting cells can also modulate GVHD. Thus, CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells represent a new therapeutic tool for controlling GVHD in allogeneic HSCT. More generally, these results outline the tremendous potential of regulatory T cells as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Cohen
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Thérapeutique des Pathologies Immunitaires, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7087, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 756651 Paris, France
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6
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Maury S, Litvinova E, Boyer O, Benard L, Bruel S, Klatzmann D, Cohen JL. Effect of combined cytostatic cyclosporin A and cytolytic suicide gene therapy on the prevention of experimental graft-versus-host disease. Gene Ther 2002; 9:201-7. [PMID: 11859423 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2001] [Accepted: 11/30/2001] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) represents the standard preventive treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the main complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, its efficacy is only partial and many patients develop lethal GVHD despite CsA. A strategy of genetic immunosuppression based on conditional elimination of donor T cells expressing the Herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene was recently developed. In this system, ganciclovir (GCV) selectively kills dividing but not quiescent TK T cells. Since CsA is known to have a cytostatic effect on T cells, it could negatively interfere with the division-dependent TK gene therapy. We thus tested whether administration of CsA would antagonize elimination of alloreactive donor TK T cells mediated by GCV in a murine model of GVHD. In vivo experiments revealed that, contrary to GCV, CsA only transiently controlled alloactivation-induced T cell proliferation, and likewise could not prevent lethal GVHD. When T cells resumed proliferation under CsA, they were however still sensitive to GCV. Survival, as well as immune reconstitution, was excellent in mice treated with GCV alone or in combination with CsA. These observations should help to design improved suicide gene therapy trials in the field of allogeneic HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Maury
- Biologie et Thérapeutique des Pathologies Immunitaires CNRS/UPMC ESA 7087, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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7
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Cavazzana-Calvo M, André-Schmutz I, Hacein-Bey-Abina S, Bensoussan D, Le Deist F, Fischer A. Improving immune reconstitution while preventing graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Semin Hematol 2002; 39:32-40. [PMID: 11799527 DOI: 10.1053/shem.2002.29251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for many hematologic malignancies or inherited disorders. Ex vivo T-cell depletion (TCD) of the graft and post-transplantation immunosuppression efficiently prevent the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the consequence of these nonspecific approaches is a long-lasting immunodeficiency associated with increased disease relapse, graft rejection, and reactivation of viral infections. Donor lymphocyte infusion, to treat leukemic relapse after allogeneic HSCT, can cause severe GVHD. Several strategies are being optimized to specifically inactivate anti-host T cells while preserving antileukemic or antimicrobial immunocompetence, based on ex vivo or in vivo elimination of anti-host T cells or on the modulation of their anti-host activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Cavazzana-Calvo
- Laboratoire de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, INSERM U429, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
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8
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Cohen JL, Boyer O, Klatzmann D. Suicide gene therapy of graft-versus-host disease: immune reconstitution with transplanted mature T cells. Blood 2001; 98:2071-6. [PMID: 11567992 DOI: 10.1182/blood.v98.7.2071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), mature transplanted T cells play a major role in restoration of the immune system. However, they can also induce a life-threatening complication: graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Suicide gene therapy of GVHD aims to selectively eliminate alloreactive T cells mediating GVHD while sparing nonalloreactive T cells that should contribute to immune reconstitution. It was demonstrated previously that treatment with ganciclovir (GCV) can control GVHD in mice by killing donor T cells engineered to express the thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene. TK allows phosphorylation of nontoxic GCV into triphosphate GCV, which is selectively toxic for dividing cells. Thus, in the TK-GCV system, the specificity of cell killing depends on the cycling status of TK T cells rather than allogeneic recognition. This is a potential drawback because in recipients of lymphopenic allogeneic HSCT, alloreactive and homeostatic signals drive the proliferation of donor T cells. It is shown here that the onset of alloreactive T-cell division occurs earlier than that of nonalloreactive T cells, thus establishing a time frame for GCV administration. A 7-day GCV treatment initiated at the time of HSCT allowed efficient prevention of GVHD, while sparing a pool of nondividing donor TK T cells. These cells later expanded and contributed to the replenishment of the recipient immune system with a diversified T-cell receptor repertoire. These results provide a rationale for designing the therapeutic scheme when using TK-GCV suicide gene therapy in allogeneic HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Cohen
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Thérapeutique des Pathologies Immunitaires CNRS/UPMC ESA 7087, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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9
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Tiberghien P. Use of suicide gene-expressing donor T-cells to control alloreactivity after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. J Intern Med 2001; 249:369-77. [PMID: 11298857 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00809.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Conditional ablation of alloreactive donor T-cells to prevent or treat graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in the context of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation could significantly contribute to expand the use of alloreactivity as a treatment modality. The prevention and treatment of GvHD induced by herpes simplex virus 1-thymidine kinase (HS-tk)-expressing donor T-cells by ganciclovir (GCV) has been demonstrated. Early clinical findings suggest that the use of such cells early or late after transplantation is associated with no acute toxicity, persistent circulation of the gene-modified cells (GMC) and GCV-sensitive GvHD. However, a number of limitations such as reduced immune function of gene-modified T-cells, immunogenicity of GMC as well as presence of a truncated HS-tk gene have emerged and need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tiberghien
- Etablissement Français du Sang de Bourgogne/Franche-Comté, UPRES-EA 2284 Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
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Cohen JL, Saron MF, Boyer O, Thomas-Vaslin V, Bellier B, Lejeune L, Charlotte F, Klatzmann D. Preservation of graft-versus-infection effects after suicide gene therapy for prevention of graft-versus-host disease. Hum Gene Ther 2000; 11:2473-81. [PMID: 11119419 DOI: 10.1089/10430340050207966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The main complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are graft-versus-host disease and poor immune reconstitution leading to severe infections. Mature donor T cells present in the transplant facilitate T cell reconstitution in adults, but also induce graft-versus-host disease, which itself impairs immune reconstitution. Thus, infusing a large number of donor T cells with a diverse repertoire should accelerate functional immune reconstitution after transplantation, only if graft-versus-host disease can be controlled. We previously demonstrated that preventive treatment with ganciclovir could control graft-versus-host disease in mice if donor T cells are made to express viral thymidine kinase as a "suicide" gene. Here we evaluated the recovery of functional antiviral immune responses in such mice. Irradiated mice received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with thymidine kinase-expressing T cells and were protected from graft-versus-host disease by ganciclovir treatment, and then challenged with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Grafted mice could mount efficient antilymphocytic choriomeningitis virus immune responses leading to viral elimination. Furthermore, when transplanted cells were obtained from mice previously immunized against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, grafted mice developed memory-type accelerated responses against the virus. We conclude that efficient graft-versus-infection effects can be mediated by naive T cells and memory donor T cells that persist after suicide gene therapy for prevention of graft-versus-host disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Cohen
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Thérapeutique des Pathologies Immunitaires, CNRS/UPMC ESA 7087, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75651 Paris Cedex 13, France
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11
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Boyer O, Cohen JL, Bellier B, Thomas-Vaslin V, Klatzmann D, Saron MF. Transient control of a virus-induced immunopathology by genetic immunosuppression. Gene Ther 2000; 7:1536-42. [PMID: 11021591 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The ability to control T cell reactivity using suicide genes opens new perspectives for the treatment of T cell-mediated diseases. The therapeutic effect is achieved by the selective killing of thymidine kinase gene-modified activated T cells by ganciclovir (GCV). This strategy has been shown to control T cell alloreactivity efficiently after bone marrow or solid organ transplantation. Here, we aimed to determine whether an immunopathological process induced by a viral infection could be controlled by GCV when T cells express a thymidine kinase transgene. When transgenic mice were infected with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, administration of GCV resulted in an efficient, but only transient, control of the immunopathological immune response. Further analysis revealed the existence of a minute population of GCV-insensitive T cells. These cells expand in response to the virus despite the presence of GCV and cause immunopathology before viral elimination is finally obtained. Thus, when confronted with a replicative virus, the efficacy of this genetic immunosuppression strategy is highly dependent on the presence of even small numbers of GCV-insensitive cells. These results emphasize the need for sufficient preclinical investigations with regard to the pathology and the nature of the immune response if suicide gene transfer is envisioned for new therapeutic indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Boyer
- ESA 7087 CNRS/UPMC, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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12
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Contassot E, Ferrand C, Angonin R, Cohen JL, de Carvalho Bittencourt M, Lorchel F, Laithier V, Cahn JY, Klatzmann D, Herve P, Tiberghien P. Ganciclovir-sensitive acute graft-versus-host disease in mice receiving herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase-expressing donor T cells in a bone marrow transplantation setting. Transplantation 2000; 69:503-8. [PMID: 10708102 DOI: 10.1097/00007890-200002270-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of donor T cells expressing the herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene followed by ganciclovir (GCV) treatment could allow for specific modulation of the alloreactivity occurring after bone marrow transplantation. We are presently exploring such an approach in a phase I clinical trial. METHODS To examine the beneficial effect of administrating HSV-TK-expressing donor T lymphocytes +/- GCV treatment on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) control, irradiated Balb/c or C57BL/6 mice underwent transplantation with allogeneic bone marrow cells in conjunction with CD3+ allogeneic splenocytes from transgenic mice expressing an HSV-TK transgene. GCV treatment was initiated upon the occurrence of severe aGVHD. RESULTS GCV treatment resulted in a 40-60% long-term survival rate of GVHD-free recipients having received HSV-TK-expressing T cells, whereas only 0-6% of mice survived without GCV treatment. Lethal aGVHD occurred in all the control animals having received non-HSV-TK-expressing T cells, irrespective of GCV treatment. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the administration of donor HSV-TK-expressing T cells to hematopoietic stem cell graft recipients followed by GCV treatment at the onset of severe aGVHD significantly reduces aGVHD-induced mortality and results in GVHD-free surviving recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Contassot
- Laboratoire de Thérapeutique Immuno-moléculaire, Etablissement de Transfusion Sanguine, Besançon, France
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