1
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Sasaki K, Kubo M, Wang YC, Lu L, Vujevich V, Wood-Trageser MA, Golnoski K, Lesniak A, Gunabushanam V, Ganoza A, Wijkstrom MJ, Humar A, Demetris AJ, Thomson AW, Ezzelarab MB. Multiple infusions of ex vivo-expanded regulatory T cells promote CD163 + myeloid cells and kidney allograft survival in non-lymphodepleted non-human primates. Kidney Int 2024; 105:84-98. [PMID: 37839695 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Clinical verification of adoptively transferred regulatory T cell (Treg) efficacy in transplantation remains challenging. Here, we examined the influence of autologous ex vivo-expanded polyclonal Tregs on kidney graft survival in a clinically relevant non-human primate model. Peripheral blood Tregs were isolated and expanded using artificial antigen presenting cells. Immunosuppression was comprised of tapered tacrolimus and CTLA4 immunoglobulin, in five animals each without or with Treg infusions. Escalating Treg doses were administered 6, 10, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30 days after transplant. Infused Tregs were monitored for Treg signature, anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and proliferation (Ki67) marker expression. Treg infusions prolonged median graft survival time significantly from 35 to 70 days. Treg marker (Ki67 and Bcl-2) expression by infused Tregs diminished after their infusion but remained comparable to that of circulating native Tregs. No major changes in circulating donor-reactive T cell responses or total Treg percentages, or in graft-infiltrating T cell subsets were observed with Treg infusion. However, Treg infusion was associated with significant increases in CD163 expression by circulating HLA-DR+ myeloid cells and elevated levels of circulating soluble CD163. Further, graft-infiltrating CD163+ cells were increased with Treg infusion. Thus, multiple Treg infusions were associated with M2-like myeloid cell enhancement that may mediate immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and graft reparative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Sasaki
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Masahiko Kubo
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yu-Chao Wang
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lien Lu
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Veronica Vujevich
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle A Wood-Trageser
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kayla Golnoski
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew Lesniak
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vikraman Gunabushanam
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Armando Ganoza
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Martin J Wijkstrom
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abhinav Humar
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anthony J Demetris
- Department of Pathology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angus W Thomson
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Immunology, Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mohamed B Ezzelarab
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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2
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Ahuja HK, Azim S, Maluf D, Mas VR. Immune landscape of the kidney allograft in response to rejection. Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:1823-1838. [PMID: 38126208 DOI: 10.1042/cs20230493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Preventing kidney graft dysfunction and rejection is a critical step in addressing the nationwide organ shortage and improving patient outcomes. While kidney transplants (KT) are performed more frequently, the overall number of patients on the waitlist consistently exceeds organ availability. Despite improved short-term outcomes in KT, comparable progress in long-term allograft survival has not been achieved. Major cause of graft loss at 5 years post-KT is chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) characterized by interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). Accordingly, proactive prevention of CAD requires a comprehensive understanding of the immune mechanisms associated with either further dysfunction or impaired repair. Allograft rejection is primed by innate immune cells and carried out by adaptive immune cells. The rejection process is primarily facilitated by antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR). It is essential to better elucidate the actions of individual immune cell subclasses (e.g. B memory, Tregs, Macrophage type 1 and 2) throughout the rejection process, rather than limiting our understanding to broad classes of immune cells. Embracing multi-omic approaches may be the solution in acknowledging these intricacies and decoding these enigmatic pathways. A transition alongside advancing technology will better allow organ biology to find its place in this era of precision and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsimar Kaur Ahuja
- Surgical Sciences Division, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, U.S.A
| | - Shafquat Azim
- Surgical Sciences Division, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Maluf
- Program of Transplantation, School of Medicine, 29S Greene St, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, U.S.A
| | - Valeria R Mas
- Surgical Sciences Division, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, U.S.A
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3
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Guinan EC, Contreras-Ruiz L, Crisalli K, Rickert C, Rosales I, Makar R, Colvin R, Geissler EK, Sawitzki B, Harden P, Tang Q, Blancho G, Turka LA, Markmann JF. Donor antigen-specific regulatory T cell administration to recipients of live donor kidneys: A ONE Study consortium pilot trial. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1872-1881. [PMID: 37422112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can inhibit cellular immunity in diverse experimental models and have entered early phase clinical trials in autoimmunity and transplantation to assess safety and efficacy. As part of the ONE Study consortium, we conducted a phase I-II clinical trial in which purified donor antigen reactive (dar)-Tregs (CD4+CD25+CD127lo) were administered to 3 patients, 7 to 11 days after live donor renal transplant. Recipients received a modified immunosuppression regimen, without induction therapy, consisting of maintenance tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Steroids were weaned off over 14 weeks. No rejection was seen on any protocol biopsy. Therefore, all patients discontinued mycophenolate mofetil 11 to 13 months posttransplant, per protocol. An early for-cause biopsy in 1 patient, 5 days after dar-Treg infusion, revealed absence of rejection and accumulation of Tregs in the kidney allograft. All patients had Treg-containing lymphoid aggregates evident on protocol biopsies performed 8 months posttransplant. The patients are now all >6 years posttransplant on tacrolimus monotherapy with excellent graft function. None experienced rejection episodes. No serious adverse events were attributable to Treg administration. These results support a favorable safety profile of dar-Tregs administered early after renal transplant, suggest early biopsy might be an instructive research endpoint and provide preliminary evidence of potential immunomodulatory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Guinan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Laura Contreras-Ruiz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Kerry Crisalli
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Charles Rickert
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Ivy Rosales
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Robert Makar
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Robert Colvin
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Edward K Geissler
- University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Surgery, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Birgit Sawitzki
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Virchow - Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Paul Harden
- Oxford Transplant Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
| | - Giles Blancho
- Centre of Research in Transplantation and Immunology, Nantes University, Nantes, France.
| | - Laurence A Turka
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - James F Markmann
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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4
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Tuomela K, Salim K, Levings MK. Eras of designer Tregs: Harnessing synthetic biology for immune suppression. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:250-267. [PMID: 37522861 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery, CD4+ CD25hi FOXP3hi regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been firmly established as a critical cell type for regulating immune homeostasis through a plethora of mechanisms. Due to their immunoregulatory power, delivery of polyclonal Tregs has been explored as a therapy to dampen inflammation in the settings of transplantation and autoimmunity. Evidence shows that Treg therapy is safe and well-tolerated, but efficacy remains undefined and could be limited by poor persistence in vivo and lack of antigen specificity. With the advent of new genetic engineering tools, it is now possible to create bespoke "designer" Tregs that not only overcome possible limitations of polyclonal Tregs but also introduce new features. Here, we review the development of designer Tregs through the perspective of three 'eras': (1) the era of FOXP3 engineering, in which breakthroughs in the biological understanding of this transcription factor enabled the conversion of conventional T cells to Tregs; (2) the antigen-specificity era, in which transgenic T-cell receptors and chimeric antigen receptors were introduced to create more potent and directed Treg therapies; and (3) the current era, which is harnessing advanced genome-editing techniques to introduce and refine existing and new engineering approaches. The year 2022 marked the entry of "designer" Tregs into the clinic, with exciting potential for application and efficacy in a wide variety of immune-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoliina Tuomela
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kevin Salim
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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5
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Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) are naturally present in the immune system and have roles in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune system and tissue homeostasis. Treg cells suppress T cell activation, expansion and effector functions by various mechanisms, particularly by controlling the functions of antigen-presenting cells. They can also contribute to tissue repair by suppressing inflammation and facilitating tissue regeneration, for example, via the production of growth factors and the promotion of stem cell differentiation and proliferation. Monogenic anomalies of Treg cells and genetic variations of Treg cell functional molecules can cause or predispose patients to the development of autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory disorders, including kidney diseases. Treg cells can potentially be utilized or targeted to treat immunological diseases and establish transplantation tolerance, for example, by expanding natural Treg cells in vivo using IL-2 or small molecules or by expanding them in vitro for adoptive Treg cell therapy. Efforts are also being made to convert antigen-specific conventional T cells into Treg cells and to generate chimeric antigen receptor Treg cells from natural Treg cells for adoptive Treg cell therapies with the aim of achieving antigen-specific immune suppression and tolerance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihisa Mikami
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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6
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Che YJ, Ren XH, Wang ZW, Wu Q, Xing K, Zhang M, Xu C, Han D, Yuan S, Zheng SH, Chen YY, Liao XR, Shi F, Zhong XH, Cai X, Cheng SX. Lymph-Node-Targeted Drug Delivery for Effective Immunomodulation to Prolong the Long-Term Survival After Heart Transplantation. Adv Mater 2023; 35:e2207227. [PMID: 36314402 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The chronic rejection responses and side effects of the systematic administration of immunosuppressants are the main obstacles to heart allograft and patient survival. The development of xenotransplantation also urgently requires more efficient immune regulation strategies. Herein, it is demonstrated that lymph-node (LN)-targeted drug delivery can realize LN-specific immunomodulation with attenuated immune suppression on distant peripheral immune organs to effectively prolong long-term survival after heart transplantation in a chronic murine heart transplantation model. A chemokine C-C motif ligand 21 (CCL21) specific aptamer for LN targeting is decorated onto the surface of the hybrid nanoparticular delivery vector mainly composed of CaCO3 /CaP/heparin. The targeting delivery system can dramatically enhance accumulation of the loaded immunosuppressant, fingolimod hydrochloride (FTY720), in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) for inducing powerful immune suppression. By promoting the generation of endogenous regulatory T cells (Tregs ) and decreasing the proportion of effector T cells (Teffs ) in dLNs after heart transplantation, the LN-targeting strategy can effectively regulate local immune responses instead of systemic immunity, which reduces the incidence of long-term complications. This study provides an efficient strategy to improve the survival rate after organ transplantation by precise and localized immunoregulation with minimized side effects of immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jia Che
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-He Ren
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Wei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Kai Xing
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Chang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Di Han
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Shun Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Si-Hao Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Yuan-Yang Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Ru Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Feng Shi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Han Zhong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Xin Cai
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Si-Xue Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
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7
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Steiner R, Pilat N. The potential for Treg-enhancing therapies in transplantation. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 211:122-137. [PMID: 36562079 PMCID: PMC10019131 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as crucial regulators of immune tolerance against self-antigens, these cells have become a promising tool for the induction of donor-specific tolerance in transplantation medicine. The therapeutic potential of increasing in vivoTreg numbers for a favorable Treg to Teff cell ratio has already been demonstrated in several sophisticated pre-clinical models and clinical pilot trials. In addition to improving cell quantity, enhancing Treg function utilizing engineering techniques led to encouraging results in models of autoimmunity and transplantation. Here we aim to discuss the most promising approaches for Treg-enhancing therapies, starting with adoptive transfer approaches and ex vivoexpansion cultures (polyclonal vs. antigen specific), followed by selective in vivostimulation methods. Furthermore, we address next generation concepts for Treg function enhancement (CARs, TRUCKs, BARs) as well as the advantages and caveats inherit to each approach. Finally, this review will discuss the clinical experience with Treg therapy in ongoing and already published clinical trials; however, data on long-term results and efficacy are still very limited and many questions that might complicate clinical translation remain open. Here, we discuss the hurdles for clinical translation and elaborate on current Treg-based therapeutic options as well as their potencies for improving long-term graft survival in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Steiner
- Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Pilat
- Correspondence: Nina Pilat, PhD, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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8
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Pilat N, Steiner R, Sprent J. Treg Therapy for the Induction of Immune Tolerance in Transplantation-Not Lost in Translation? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021752. [PMID: 36675265 PMCID: PMC9861925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of solid organ transplantation is still limited by the insufficiency of immunosuppressive regimens to control chronic rejection and late graft loss. Moreover, serious side effects caused by chronic immunosuppressive treatment increase morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have proven to be efficient in the induction of allograft tolerance and prolongation of graft survival in numerous preclinical models, and treatment has now moved to the clinics. The results of the first Treg-based clinical trials seem promising, proving the feasibility and safety of Treg therapy in clinical organ transplantation. However, many questions regarding Treg phenotype, optimum dosage, antigen-specificity, adjunct immunosuppressants and efficacy remain open. This review summarizes the results of the first Treg-based clinical trials for tolerance induction in solid organ transplantation and recapitulates what we have learnt so far and which questions need to be resolved before Treg therapy can become part of daily clinical practice. In addition, we discuss new strategies being developed for induction of donor-specific tolerance in solid organ transplantation with the clinical aims of prolonged graft survival and minimization of immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Pilat
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (J.S.); Tel.: +43-1-40400-52120 (N.P.)
| | - Romy Steiner
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan Sprent
- Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (J.S.); Tel.: +43-1-40400-52120 (N.P.)
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9
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Kaljanac M, Abken H. Do Treg Speed Up with CARs? Chimeric Antigen Receptor Treg Engineered to Induce Transplant Tolerance. Transplantation 2023; 107:74-85. [PMID: 36226849 PMCID: PMC9746345 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg) can induce transplant tolerance in preclinical models by suppressing alloantigen-directed inflammatory responses; clinical translation was so far hampered by the low abundance of Treg with allo-specificity in the peripheral blood. In this situation, ex vivo engineering of Treg with a T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) provides a cell population with predefined specificity that can be amplified and administered to the patient. In contrast to TCR-engineered Treg, CAR Treg can be redirected toward a broad panel of targets in an HLA-unrestricted fashion' making these cells attractive to provide antigen-specific tolerance toward the transplanted organ. In preclinical models, CAR Treg accumulate and amplify at the targeted transplant, maintain their differentiated phenotype, and execute immune repression more vigorously than polyclonal Treg. With that, CAR Treg are providing hope in establishing allospecific, localized immune tolerance in the long term' and the first clinical trials administering CAR Treg for the treatment of transplant rejection are initiated. Here, we review the current platforms for developing and manufacturing alloantigen-specific CAR Treg and discuss the therapeutic potential and current hurdles in translating CAR Treg into clinical exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Kaljanac
- Division Genetic Immunotherapy, and Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division Genetic Immunotherapy, and Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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10
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Muckenhuber M, Mucha J, Mengrelis K, How C, Reindl-Schwaighofer R, Heinzel A, Kainz V, Worel N, Berlakovich G, Edinger M, Oberbauer R, Wekerle T. Optimum timing of antithymocyte globulin in relation to adoptive regulatory T cell therapy. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:84-92. [PMID: 36695625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the recipient's T cell repertoire is considered to increase the efficacy of regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy. This necessitates timing the administration of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) early enough before adoptive cell therapy (ACT) so that residual serum ATG does not deplete the transferred Tregs. The optimum time point in this regard has not been defined. Herein, we report the effects of residual serum ATG on the viability of an in vitro expanded Treg cell product used in a clinical trial of ACT in kidney transplant recipients (NCT03867617). Patients received ATG monotherapy (either 6 or 3 mg/kg body weight) without concomitant immunosuppression 2 to 3 weeks before transplantation and Treg transfer. An anti-ATG immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune response was elicited in all patients within 14 days. In turn, the elimination of total and Treg-specific ATG was accelerated substantially over control patients receiving the same dose of ATG with concomitant immunosuppression. However, ATG serum concentrations of <1 μg/mL, which had previously been reported as subtherapeutic threshold, triggered apoptosis of Tregs in vitro. Therefore, ATG levels need to decline to lower levels than those previously thought for efficacious Treg transfer. In 5 of 6 patients, such low levels of serum ATG considered safe for Treg transfer were reached within 2 weeks after ATG administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Muckenhuber
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Mucha
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konstantinos Mengrelis
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher How
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kainz
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Worel
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriela Berlakovich
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Edinger
- Leibniz Institute of Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine 3 (Hematology and Oncology), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wekerle
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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11
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Ellis GI, Coker KE, Winn DW, Deng MZ, Shukla D, Bhoj V, Milone MC, Wang W, Liu C, Naji A, Duran-Struuck R, Riley JL. Trafficking and persistence of alloantigen-specific chimeric antigen receptor regulatory T cells in Cynomolgus macaque. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100614. [PMID: 35551746 PMCID: PMC9133392 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor regulatory T cells (CAR Tregs) is a promising way to prevent allograft loss without the morbidity associated with current therapies. Non-human primates (NHPs) are a clinically relevant model to develop transplant regimens, but manufacturing and engraftment of NHP CAR Tregs have not been demonstrated yet. Here, we describe a culture system that massively expands CAR Tregs specific for the Bw6 alloantigen. In vitro, these Tregs suppress in an antigen-specific manner without pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion or cytotoxicity. In vivo, Bw6-specific CAR Tregs preferentially traffic to and persist in bone marrow for at least 1 month. Following transplant of allogeneic Bw6+ islets and autologous CAR Tregs into the bone marrow of diabetic recipients, CAR Tregs traffic to the site of islet transplantation and maintain a phenotype of suppressive Tregs. Our results establish a framework for the optimization of CAR Treg therapy in NHP disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin I. Ellis
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kimberly E. Coker
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Delaine W. Winn
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mosha Z. Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Divanshu Shukla
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vijay Bhoj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael C. Milone
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chengyang Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ali Naji
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - James L. Riley
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Corresponding author
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Udomkarnjananun S, Dieterich M, Boer K, Hesselink DA, Baan CC. Immune Subsets From Ficoll Density Gradient Separation in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Transplant Direct 2022; 8:e1319. [PMID: 35464877 PMCID: PMC9018993 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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13
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Bottomley MJ, Brook MO, Shankar S, Hester J, Issa F. Towards regulatory cellular therapies in solid organ transplantation. Trends Immunol 2021; 43:8-21. [PMID: 34844848 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Organ transplantation is a modern medical success story. However, since its inception it has been limited by the need for pharmacological immunosuppression. Regulatory cellular therapies offer an attractive solution to these challenges by controlling transplant alloresponses through multiple parallel suppressive mechanisms. A number of cell types have seen an accelerated development into human trials and are now on the threshold of a long-awaited breakthrough in personalized transplant therapeutics. Here we assess recent developments with a focus on the most likely candidates, some of which have already facilitated successful immunosuppression withdrawal in early clinical trials. We propose that this may constitute a promising approach in clinical transplantation but also evaluate outstanding issues in the field, providing cause for cautious optimism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Bottomley
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Transplant Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew O Brook
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Transplant Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Sushma Shankar
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Transplant Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Joanna Hester
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fadi Issa
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Thomson AW, Sasaki K, Ezzelarab MB. Non-human Primate Regulatory T Cells and Their Assessment as Cellular Therapeutics in Preclinical Transplantation Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:666959. [PMID: 34211972 PMCID: PMC8239398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.666959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-human primates (NHP) are an important resource for addressing key issues regarding the immunobiology of regulatory T cells (Treg), their in vivo manipulation and the translation of adoptive Treg therapy to clinical application. In addition to their phenotypic and functional characterization, particularly in cynomolgus and rhesus macaques, NHP Treg have been isolated and expanded successfully ex vivo. Their numbers can be enhanced in vivo by administration of IL-2 and other cytokines. Both polyclonal and donor antigen (Ag) alloreactive NHP Treg have been expanded ex vivo and their potential to improve long-term outcomes in organ transplantation assessed following their adoptive transfer in combination with various cytoreductive, immunosuppressive and "Treg permissive" agents. In addition, important insights have been gained into the in vivo fate/biodistribution, functional stability, replicative capacity and longevity of adoptively-transferred Treg in monkeys. We discuss current knowledge of NHP Treg immunobiology, methods for their in vivo expansion and functional validation, and results obtained testing their safety and efficacy in organ and pancreatic islet transplantation models. We compare and contrast results obtained in NHP and mice and also consider prospects for future, clinically relevant studies in NHP aimed at improved understanding of Treg biology, and innovative approaches to promote and evaluate their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus W Thomson
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kazuki Sasaki
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mohamed B Ezzelarab
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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