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El-Kadiry AEH, Beaudoin S, Plouffe S, Rafei M. Accum™ Technology: A Novel Conjugable Primer for Onco-Immunotherapy. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123807. [PMID: 35744930 PMCID: PMC9227040 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Compromised activity is a common impediment for biologics requiring endosome trafficking into target cells. In cancer cells, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are trapped in endosomes or subsequently pumped extracellularly, leading to a reduction in intracellular accumulation. In subsets of dendritic cells (DCs), endosome-engulfed antigens face non-specific proteolysis and collateral damage to epitope immunogenicity before proteasomal processing and subsequent surface presentation. To bypass these shortcomings, we devised Accum™, a conjugable biotechnology harboring cholic acid (ChAc) and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence for endosome escape and prompt nuclear targeting. Combined, these mechanisms culminate in enhanced intracellular accumulation and functionalization of coupled biologics. As proof-of-principle, we have biochemically characterized Accum, demonstrating its adaptability to ADCs or antigens in different cancer settings. Additionally, we have validated that endosome escape and nuclear routing are indispensable for effective intracellular accumulation and guaranteed target cell selectivity. Importantly, we have demonstrated that the unique mechanism of action of Accum translates into enhanced tumor cytotoxicity when coupled to ADCs, and durable therapeutic and prophylactic anti-cancer immunogenicity when coupled to tumor antigens. As more pre-clinical evidence accumulates, the adaptability, unique mechanism of action, and high therapeutic potency of Accum signal a promising transition into clinical investigations in the context of onco-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abed El-Hakim El-Kadiry
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - Simon Beaudoin
- Defence Therapeutics Inc., Research and Development Branch, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6, Canada; (S.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Sebastien Plouffe
- Defence Therapeutics Inc., Research and Development Branch, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6, Canada; (S.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Moutih Rafei
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(514)-343-6931
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Bikorimana JP, Salame N, Beaudoin S, Balood M, Crosson T, Abusarah J, Talbot S, Löbenberg R, Plouffe S, Rafei M. Promoting antigen escape from dendritic cell endosomes potentiates anti-tumoral immunity. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100534. [PMID: 35492876 PMCID: PMC9040180 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cross-presenting capacity of dendritic cells (DCs) can be limited by non-specific degradation during endosome maturation. To bypass this limitation, we present in this study a new Accum-based formulation designed to promote endosome-to-cytosol escape. Treatment of primary DCs with Accum linked to the xenoantigen ovalbumin (OVA) triggers endosomal damages and enhances protein processing. Despite multiple challenges using ascending doses of tumor cells, DC prophylactic vaccination results in complete protection due to increased levels of effector CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as high production of pro-inflammatory mediators. When combined with anti-PD-1, therapeutic vaccination using both syngeneic and allogeneic Accum-OVA-pulsed DCs triggers potent anti-tumoral responses. The net outcome culminates in increased CD11c, CD8, and NK infiltration along with a high CD8/Treg ratio. These highly favorable therapeutic effects highlight the promising potential of Accum as a distinct and potent technology platform suitable for the design of next generation cell cancer vaccines. Accum-linked antigen enhances antigen processing and presentation Pulsed dendritic cells elicit potent effector T cell responses Therapeutic vaccination using allogeneic DCs controls pre-established tumors The vaccine boosts tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and increases the CD8/Treg ratio
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Bikorimana
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Natasha Salame
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Beaudoin
- Research and Development Branch, Defence Therapeutics Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohammad Balood
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Théo Crosson
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jamilah Abusarah
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sebastien Talbot
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Raimar Löbenberg
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sebastien Plouffe
- Research and Development Branch, Defence Therapeutics Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Moutih Rafei
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Gil-Pulido J, Cochain C, Lippert MA, Schneider N, Butt E, Amézaga N, Zernecke A. Deletion of Batf3-dependent antigen-presenting cells does not affect atherosclerotic lesion formation in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181947. [PMID: 28771609 PMCID: PMC5542449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the main underlying cause for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke and its development might be influenced by immune cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) bridge innate and adaptive immune responses by presenting antigens to T cells and releasing a variety of cytokines. Several subsets of DCs can be discriminated that engage specific transcriptional pathways for their development. Basic leucine zipper transcription factor ATF-like 3 (Batf3) is required for the development of classical CD8α+ and CD103+ DCs. By crossing mice deficient in Batf3 with atherosclerosis-prone low density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr-/-)-deficient mice we here aimed to further address the contribution of Batf3-dependent CD8α+ and CD103+ antigen-presenting cells to atherosclerosis. We demonstrate that deficiency in Batf3 entailed mild effects on the immune response in the spleen but did not alter atherosclerotic lesion formation in the aorta or aortic root, nor affected plaque phenotype in low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice fed a high fat diet. We thus provide evidence that Batf3-dependent antigen-presenting cells do not have a prominent role in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Gil-Pulido
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Clement Cochain
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Malte A. Lippert
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Schneider
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elke Butt
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Núria Amézaga
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Photosensitisation facilitates cross-priming of adjuvant-free protein vaccines and stimulation of tumour-suppressing CD8 T cells. J Control Release 2015; 198:10-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Alfaro C, Suarez N, Oñate C, Perez-Gracia JL, Martinez-Forero I, Hervas-Stubbs S, Rodriguez I, Perez G, Bolaños E, Palazon A, de Sanmamed MF, Morales-Kastresana A, Gonzalez A, Melero I. Dendritic cells take up and present antigens from viable and apoptotic polymorphonuclear leukocytes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e29300. [PMID: 22206007 PMCID: PMC3243708 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) are endowed with the ability to cross-present antigens from other cell types to cognate T cells. DC are poised to meet polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) as a result of being co-attracted by interleukin-8 (IL-8), for instance as produced by tumor cells or infected tissue. Human monocyte-derived and mouse bone marrow-derived DC can readily internalize viable or UV-irradiated PMNs. Such internalization was abrogated at 4°C and partly inhibited by anti-CD18 mAb. In mice, DC which had internalized PMNs containing electroporated ovalbumin (OVA) protein, were able to cross-present the antigen to CD8 (OT-1) and CD4 (OT-2) TCR-transgenic T cells. Moreover, in humans, tumor cell debris is internalized by PMNs and the tumor-cell material can be subsequently taken up from the immunomagnetically re-isolated PMNs by DC. Importantly, if human neutrophils had endocytosed bacteria, they were able to trigger the maturation program of the DC. Moreover, when mouse PMNs with E. coli in their interior are co-injected in the foot pad with DC, many DC loaded with fluorescent material from the PMNs reach draining lymph nodes. Using CT26 (H-2(d)) mouse tumor cells, it was observed that if tumor cells are intracellularly loaded with OVA protein and UV-irradiated, they become phagocytic prey of H-2(d) PMNs. If such PMNs, that cannot present antigens to OT-1 T cells, are immunomagnetically re-isolated and phagocytosed by H-2(b) DC, such DC productively cross-present OVA antigen determinants to OT-1 T cells. Cross-presentation to adoptively transferred OT-1 lymphocytes at draining lymph nodes also take place when OVA-loaded PMNs (H-2(d)) are coinjected in the footpad of mice with autologous DC (H-2(b)). In summary, our results indicate that antigens phagocytosed by short-lived PMNs can be in turn internalized and productively cross-presented by DC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alfaro
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Natalia Suarez
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Oñate
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jose L. Perez-Gracia
- Medical Oncology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Guiomar Perez
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elixabet Bolaños
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Asis Palazon
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miguel Fernandez de Sanmamed
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Alvaro Gonzalez
- Biochemistry Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Gene Therapy Unit, CIMA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Matthews QL. Capsid-incorporation of antigens into adenovirus capsid proteins for a vaccine approach. Mol Pharm 2010; 8:3-11. [PMID: 21047139 DOI: 10.1021/mp100214b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Some viral vectors are potent inducers of cellular and humoral responses; therefore, viral vectors can be used to vaccinate against cancer or infectious diseases. This report will focus on adenovirus (Ad)-based vectors. Traditional viral-vector vaccination embodies the concept that the vector uses the host-cell machinery to express antigens that are encoded as transgenes within the viral vector. Several preclinical successes have used this approach in animal model systems. However, in some instances, these conventional Ad-based vaccines have yielded suboptimal clinical results. These suboptimal results are ascribed, in part, to preexisting Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) immunity. To address this issue, the "antigen capsid-incorporation" strategy has been developed to circumvent the drawbacks associated with conventional transgene expression of antigens by Ad vectors. This strategy embodies the incorporation of antigenic peptides within the capsid structure of viral vectors. Incorporating immunogenic peptides into the Ad capsid offers potential advantages. Importantly, vaccination by means of the antigen capsid-incorporated approach results in a strong humoral response, similar to the response generated by native Ad capsid proteins. This strategy also allows for the boosting of antigenic specific responses. This strategy may be the way forward for improved vaccine schemes, especially for those infections requiring a strong humoral antigenic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiana L Matthews
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Pathology, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Gene Therapy Center, and Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
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