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Heinzelbecker J, Fauskanger M, Jonson I, Krengel U, Løset GÅ, Munthe L, Tveita A. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting the GM3(Neu5Gc) ganglioside. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331345. [PMID: 38370401 PMCID: PMC10869436 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331345] [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: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell technology has ushered in a new era of immunotherapy, enabling the targeting of a broad range of surface antigens, surpassing the limitations of traditional T cell epitopes. Despite the wide range of non-protein tumor-associated antigens, the advancement in crafting CAR T cells for these targets has been limited. Owing to an evolutionary defect in the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase (CMAH) that abolishes the synthesis of CMP-Neu5Gc from CMP-Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc is generally absent in human tissues. Despite this, Neu5Gc-containing antigens, including the ganglioside GM3(Neu5Gc) have consistently been observed on tumor cells across a variety of human malignancies. This restricted expression makes GM3(Neu5Gc) an appealing and highly specific target for immunotherapy. In this study, we designed and evaluated 14F7-28z CAR T cells, with a targeting unit derived from the GM3(Neu5Gc)-specific murine antibody 14F7. These cells exhibited exceptional specificity, proficiently targeting GM3(Neu5Gc)-expressing murine tumor cells in syngeneic mouse models, ranging from B cell malignancies to epithelial tumors, without compromising safety. Notably, human tumor cells enhanced with murine Cmah were effectively targeted and eliminated by the 14F7 CAR T cells. Nonetheless, despite the detectable presence of GM3(Neu5Gc) in unmodified human tumor xenografts, the levels were insufficient to trigger a tumoricidal T-cell response with the current CAR T cell configuration. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of targeting the GM3(Neu5Gc) ganglioside using CAR T cells across a variety of cancers and set the stage for the optimization of 14F7-based therapies for future human clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Heinzelbecker
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for B cell malignancies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marte Fauskanger
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for B cell malignancies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida Jonson
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ute Krengel
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir Åge Løset
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Nextera AS, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ludvig Munthe
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for B cell malignancies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Tveita
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for B cell malignancies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Dhar C, Sasmal A, Varki A. From "Serum Sickness" to "Xenosialitis": Past, Present, and Future Significance of the Non-human Sialic Acid Neu5Gc. Front Immunol 2019; 10:807. [PMID: 31057542 PMCID: PMC6481270 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The description of "serum sickness" more than a century ago in humans transfused with animal sera eventually led to identification of a class of human antibodies directed against glycans terminating in the common mammalian sialic acid N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), hereafter called "Neu5Gc-glycans." The detection of such glycans in malignant and fetal human tissues initially raised the possibility that it was an oncofetal antigen. However, "serum sickness" antibodies were also noted in various human disease states. These findings spurred further research on Neu5Gc, and the discovery that it is not synthesized in the human body due to a human-lineage specific genetic mutation in the enzyme CMAH. However, with more sensitive techniques Neu5Gc-glycans were detected in smaller quantities on certain human cell types, particularly epithelia and endothelia. The likely explanation is metabolic incorporation of Neu5Gc from dietary sources, especially red meat of mammalian origin. This incorporated Neu5Gc on glycans appears to be the first example of a "xeno-autoantigen," against which varying levels of "xeno-autoantibodies" are present in all humans. The resulting chronic inflammation or "xenosialitis" may have important implications in human health and disease, especially in conditions known to be aggravated by consumption of red meat. In this review, we will cover the early history of the discovery of "serum sickness" antibodies, the subsequent recognition that they were partly directed against Neu5Gc-glycans, the discovery of the genetic defect eliminating Neu5Gc production in humans, and the later recognition that this was not an oncofetal antigen but the first example of a "xeno-autoantigen." Further, we will present comments about implications for disease risks associated with red meat consumption such as cancer and atherosclerosis. We will also mention the potential utility of these anti-Neu5Gc-glycan antibodies in cancer immunotherapy and provide some suggestions and perspectives for the future. Other reviews in this special issue cover many other aspects of this unusual pathological process, for which there appears to be no other described precedent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chirag Dhar
- Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Aniruddha Sasmal
- Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Ajit Varki
- Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Abstract
Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) are emerging as a new type of cancer biomarker. TEX are membrane-bound, virus-size vesicles of endocytic origin present in all body fluids of cancer patients. Based on the expanding albeit incomplete knowledge of their biogenesis, secretion by tumor cells and cancer cell-specific molecular and genetic contents, TEX are viewed as promising, clinically-relevant surrogates of cancer progression and response to therapy. Preliminary proteomic, genetic and functional profiling of tumor cell-derived or cancer plasma-derived exosomes confirms their unique characteristics. Alterations in protein or nucleic acid profiles of exosomes in plasma of cancer patients responding to therapies appear to correlate with clinical endpoints. However, methods for TEX isolation and separation from the bulk of human plasma-derived exosomes are not yet established and their role as biomarkers remains to be confirmed. Further development and validation of TEX as noninvasive, liquid equivalents of tumor biopsies are necessary to move this effort forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa L. Whiteside
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Departments of Pathology, Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, , Phone: 412-624-0096, FAX: 412-624-0264
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Rojas G, Pupo A, Gómez S, Krengel U, Moreno E. Engineering the binding site of an antibody against N-glycolyl GM3: from functional mapping to novel anti-ganglioside specificities. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:376-86. [PMID: 23138862 DOI: 10.1021/cb3003754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The structurally related gangliosides N-glycolyl GM3 and N-acetyl GM3 are potential targets for tumor immunotherapy. 14F7 is a monoclonal antibody able to discriminate the tumor-specific antigen N-glycolyl GM3 from the closely related N-acetyl GM3 on the basis of the presence of a single additional hydroxyl group in the former. A combinatorial phage display strategy, based on the screening of a large library followed by refined mutagenesis, allowed a thorough exploration of the binding chemistry of this unique antibody. Three essential features of the heavy chain variable region were identified: two aromatic rings (in positions 33 and 100D) contributing to the binding site architecture and an arginine residue (position 98) critical for recognition. Directed evolution of 14F7 resulted in novel variants that cross-react with the tumor-associated antigen N-acetyl GM3 and display recurrent replacements: the substitution W33Q and the appearance of additional arginine residues at several positions of CDR H1. Successful conversion of such engineered variable regions into whole cross-reactive anti-GM3 immunoglobulins validated our phage-based approach to study and modify the lead antibody 14F7. The resulting family of closely related antibodies offers new tools to study the mechanisms of cell death induced by antibodies targeting gangliosides. In vitro directed evolution was useful to overcome the technical limitations to obtain anti-ganglioside antibodies. The case of 14F7 illustrates the power of combining library screening with focused site-directed randomization for a comprehensive scanning of protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertrudis Rojas
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, Atabey, Playa, PO Box
16040, La Habana CP 11600, Cuba
| | - Amaury Pupo
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, Atabey, Playa, PO Box
16040, La Habana CP 11600, Cuba
| | - Silvia Gómez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, Atabey, Playa, PO Box
16040, La Habana CP 11600, Cuba
| | - Ute Krengel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033 Blindern, NO-0315 Oslo,
Norway
| | - Ernesto Moreno
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, Atabey, Playa, PO Box
16040, La Habana CP 11600, Cuba
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Antibody recognition of cancer-related gangliosides and their mimics investigated using in silico site mapping. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35457. [PMID: 22536387 PMCID: PMC3334985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified gangliosides may be overexpressed in certain types of cancer, thus, they are considered a valuable target in cancer immunotherapy. Structural knowledge of their interaction with antibodies is currently limited, due to the large size and high flexibility of these ligands. In this study, we apply our previously developed site mapping technique to investigate the recognition of cancer-related gangliosides by anti-ganglioside antibodies. The results reveal a potential ganglioside-binding motif in the four antibodies studied, suggesting the possibility of structural convergence in the anti-ganglioside immune response. The structural basis of the recognition of ganglioside-mimetic peptides is also investigated using site mapping and compared to ganglioside recognition. The peptides are shown to act as structural mimics of gangliosides by interacting with many of the same binding site residues as the cognate carbohydrate epitopes. These studies provide important clues as to the structural basis of immunological mimicry of carbohydrates.
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A cytotoxic humanized anti-ganglioside antibody produced in a murine cell line defective of N-glycolylated-glycoconjugates. Immunobiology 2011; 216:1239-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2011.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2010] [Accepted: 07/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Gabri MR, Otero LL, Gomez DE, Alonso DF. Exogenous incorporation of neugc-rich mucin augments n-glycolyl sialic acid content and promotes malignant phenotype in mouse tumor cell lines. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2009; 28:146. [PMID: 19951433 PMCID: PMC2795750 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-28-146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 12/01/2009] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Carbohydrates embedded in the plasma membrane are one of the main actors involved in the communication of cells with the microenvironment. Neuraminic sialic acids are glycocalyx sugars that play important roles in the modulation of malignant cell behaviour. N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) is synthesized by the cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH), an enzyme expressed in all mammals except humans. In mice, this sugar is synthesized in several somatic tissues. Methods We used the B16 melanoma and F3II mammary carcinoma mouse tumor cell lines. By CMAH directed RT-PCR and NeuGc detection with the specific anti-NeuGc-GM3 antibody 14F7 we evaluated enzyme and ganglioside expression in tumor cells, respectively. Expression of NeuGc-GM3 ganglioside was reached by in vitro incubation with NeuGc-rich bovine submaxillary mucin and evaluated by slot-blot and immunohistochemistry assays using the 14F7 antibody. Tumor cells treated with mucin or purified NeuGc were injected s.c. and i.v. in syngeneic mice to evaluate tumor and metastatic growth. Results In the present work we demonstrated the absence of expression of CMAH enzyme in B16 melanoma and F3II mammary carcinoma cells. In vitro incubation of these NeuGc-negative cells with NeuGc-rich mucin increased the presence of NeuGc in cell membranes for at least 48-72 h, as a component of the GM3 ganglioside. Preincubation with NeuGc-rich mucin reduced tumor latency and increased the metastatic potential of tumor cells in syngeneic animals. Similar results were obtained when cells were incubated with purified NeuGc alone. Conclusion Our results indicate that B16 and F3II mouse tumor cell lines do not express NeuGc in cell membranes but they are able to incorporate NeuGc from an exogenous source, contributing to the malignant phenotype of melanoma and mammary carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano R Gabri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Quilmes National University, (Roque Saenz Peña 352), Bernal, (B1876BXD), Argentina.
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Talavera A, Eriksson A, Okvist M, López-Requena A, Fernández-Marrero Y, Pérez R, Moreno E, Krengel U. Crystal structure of an anti-ganglioside antibody, and modelling of the functional mimicry of its NeuGc-GM3 antigen by an anti-idiotypic antibody. Mol Immunol 2009; 46:3466-75. [PMID: 19748674 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2009.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Revised: 07/24/2009] [Accepted: 07/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
N-Glycolylated (NeuGc) gangliosides are tumor-specific antigens and as such represent attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy. The chimeric antibody chP3 selectively recognizes a broad variety of NeuGc gangliosides, showing no cross-reactivity to the highly similar N-acetylated (NeuAc) gangliosides that are common cellular antigens in humans. Here, we report the crystal structure of the chP3 Fab and its computer-docking model with the trisaccharide NeuGcalpha3Galbeta4Glcbeta, which represents the carbohydrate moiety of the tumor-antigen NeuGc-GM3. The interaction involves only the heavy chain of the chP3 antibody. The modelled complex is consistent with all available experimental data and shows good surface complementarity. The negatively charged sialic acid residue NeuGc is buried in a pocket flanked by two arginine residues, VH Arg31 and VH Arg100A. We have further investigated the interaction of chP3 with its anti-idiotypic antibody, 1E10 (also known as Racotumomab), currently in clinical trials as a cancer vaccine. While many of the chP3 residues predicted to interact with the NeuGc ganglioside also feature prominently in the modelled complex of chP3 and 1E10, we do not observe structural mimicry. Rather, we suspect that the anti-idiotype 1E10 may serve as an imprint of the structural characteristics of the chP3 idiotype and, consequently, give rise to antibodies with P3-like properties upon immunization.
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Roque-Navarro L, Chakrabandhu K, de León J, Rodríguez S, Toledo C, Carr A, de Acosta CM, Hueber AO, Pérez R. Anti-ganglioside antibody-induced tumor cell death by loss of membrane integrity. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7:2033-41. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Hernández AM, Rodríguez M, López-Requena A, Beausoleil I, Pérez R, Vázquez AM. Generation of anti-Neu-glycolyl-ganglioside antibodies by immunization with an anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody: A self versus non-self-matter. Immunobiology 2005; 210:11-21. [PMID: 16076030 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2005.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have previously generated a murine anti-idiotype (Ab2) monoclonal antibody (mAb) to a murine Ab1 mAb, named P3, which selectively binds Neu-glycolyl (NeuGc)-sialic acid on several monosialo- and disialogangliosides, and also reacts with sulfatides and antigens expressed in human melanoma and breast tumors. This Ab2 mAb, designated as 1E10, induced anti-anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab3) in mice and cancer patients. These Ab3 generated by 1E10 mAb were characterized by bearing P3 mAb idiotopes (Ab3, Id +). But when the specificity of these Ab3 antibodies was tested, no specific humoral response against NeuGc-containing gangliosides was detected in sera from immunized mice. However, hyperimmune sera from melanoma and breast cancer patients vaccinated with this Ab2 mAb were able to react specifically with these gangliosides. The different expression of NeuGc-containing gangliosides in the normal tissues of mice and humans could explain these results. In order to demonstrate these findings in other animal species with a different NeuGc-sialic acid expression, we performed similar studies in monkeys and chickens. In monkeys, as in most mammals, NeuGc-containing gangliosides are self-antigens. In contrast, chickens, like humans, lack the expression of these antigens in normal tissues. Here we report that the antibody response against NeuGc-containing gangliosides induced by immunization with 1E10 mAb was completely different in both species. No specific antibody response against these gangliosides was detected in hyperimmune monkey sera. In contrast, a strong and specific Ab3 response against GM3(NeuGc) and GM2(NeuGc) gangliosides (Ab3, Ag+) was generated in chickens due to the administration of 1E10 mAb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana María Hernández
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Center of Molecular Immunology, P.O. Box 16040, Havana 11600, Cuba
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