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de Streel G, Bertrand C, Chalon N, Liénart S, Bricard O, Lecomte S, Devreux J, Gaignage M, De Boeck G, Mariën L, Van De Walle I, van der Woning B, Saunders M, de Haard H, Vermeersch E, Maes W, Deckmyn H, Coulie PG, van Baren N, Lucas S. Selective inhibition of TGF-β1 produced by GARP-expressing Tregs overcomes resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4545. [PMID: 32917858 PMCID: PMC7486376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17811-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β1, β2 and β3 bind a common receptor to exert vastly diverse effects in cancer, supporting either tumor progression by favoring metastases and inhibiting anti-tumor immunity, or tumor suppression by inhibiting malignant cell proliferation. Global TGF-β inhibition thus bears the risk of undesired tumor-promoting effects. We show that selective blockade of TGF-β1 production by Tregs with antibodies against GARP:TGF-β1 complexes induces regressions of mouse tumors otherwise resistant to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Effects of combined GARP:TGF-β1/PD-1 blockade are immune-mediated, do not require FcγR-dependent functions and increase effector functions of anti-tumor CD8+ T cells without augmenting immune cell infiltration or depleting Tregs within tumors. We find GARP-expressing Tregs and evidence that they produce TGF-β1 in one third of human melanoma metastases. Our results suggest that anti-GARP:TGF-β1 mAbs, by selectively blocking a single TGF-β isoform emanating from a restricted cellular source exerting tumor-promoting activity, may overcome resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in patients with cancer. Inhibiting TGF-β1 to increase immune responses against tumors bears the risk of tumor-promoting toxicity. Here the authors show that selectively blocking TGF-β1 produced by immunosuppressive cells is feasible with anti-GARP:TGF-β1 antibodies and improves the efficacy of PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire de Streel
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Bertrand
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Chalon
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stéphanie Liénart
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Orian Bricard
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara Lecomte
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julien Devreux
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Gaignage
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elien Vermeersch
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, 8500 KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Wim Maes
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, 8500 KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Hans Deckmyn
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, 8500 KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Pierre G Coulie
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Baren
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie Lucas
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
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van der Woning B, De Boeck G, Blanchetot C, Bobkov V, Klarenbeek A, Saunders M, Waelbroeck M, Laeremans T, Steyaert J, Hultberg A, De Haard H. DNA immunization combined with scFv phage display identifies antagonistic GCGR specific antibodies and reveals new epitopes on the small extracellular loops. MAbs 2016; 8:1126-35. [PMID: 27211075 PMCID: PMC4968103 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2016.1189050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of functional monoclonal antibodies directed against G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) is challenging because of the membrane-embedded topology of these molecules. Here, we report the successful combination of llama DNA immunization with scFv-phage display and selections using virus-like particles (VLP) and the recombinant extracellular domain of the GPCR glucagon receptor (GCGR), resulting in glucagon receptor-specific antagonistic antibodies. By immunizing outbred llamas with plasmid DNA containing the human GCGR gene, we sought to provoke their immune system, which generated a high IgG1 response. Phage selections on VLPs allowed the identification of mAbs against the extracellular loop regions (ECL) of GCGR, in addition to multiple VH families interacting with the extracellular domain (ECD) of GCGR. Identifying mAbs binding to the ECL regions of GCGR is challenging because the large ECD covers the small ECLs in the energetically most favorable 'closed conformation' of GCGR. Comparison of Fab with scFv-phage display demonstrated that the multivalent nature of scFv display is essential for the identification of GCGR specific clones by selections on VLPs because of avid interaction. Ten different VH families that bound 5 different epitopes on the ECD of GCGR were derived from only 2 DNA-immunized llamas. Seven VH families demonstrated interference with glucagon-mediated cAMP increase. This combination of technologies proved applicable in identifying multiple functional binders in the class B GPCR context, suggesting it is a robust approach for tackling difficult membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vladimir Bobkov
- Argenx BVBA, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- AIMMS, Division Medicinal Chemistry, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Klarenbeek
- Dept. of Cell Biology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Jan Steyaert
- Confotherapeutics, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB Structural Biology Research Center, Brussels, Belgium
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Cuende J, Liénart S, Dedobbeleer O, van der Woning B, De Boeck G, Stockis J, Huygens C, Colau D, Somja J, Delvenne P, Hannon M, Baron F, Dumoutier L, Renauld JC, De Haard H, Saunders M, Coulie PG, Lucas S. Monoclonal antibodies against GARP/TGF-β1 complexes inhibit the immunosuppressive activity of human regulatory T cells in vivo. Sci Transl Med 2016; 7:284ra56. [PMID: 25904740 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa1983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential to prevent autoimmunity, but excessive Treg function contributes to cancer progression by inhibiting antitumor immune responses. Tregs exert contact-dependent inhibition of immune cells through the production of active transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). On the Treg cell surface, TGF-β1 is in an inactive form bound to membrane protein GARP and then activated by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that GARP is involved in this activation mechanism. Two anti-GARP monoclonal antibodies were generated that block the production of active TGF-β1 by human Tregs. These antibodies recognize a conformational epitope that requires amino acids GARP137-139 within GARP/TGF-β1 complexes. A variety of antibodies recognizing other GARP epitopes did not block active TGF-β1 production by Tregs. In a model of xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease in NSG mice, the blocking antibodies inhibited the immunosuppressive activity of human Tregs. These antibodies may serve as therapeutic tools to boost immune responses to infection or cancer via a mechanism of action distinct from that of currently available immunomodulatory antibodies. Used alone or in combination with tumor vaccines or antibodies targeting the CTLA4 or PD1/PD-L1 pathways, blocking anti-GARP antibodies may improve the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Cuende
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stéphanie Liénart
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Dedobbeleer
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Gitte De Boeck
- arGEN-X BVBA, Technologiepark 30, B9052 Zwijnaarde, Gent, Belgium
| | - Julie Stockis
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Caroline Huygens
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Joan Somja
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, and Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delvenne
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, and Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Muriel Hannon
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, and Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Baron
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, and Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium
| | | | | | - Hans De Haard
- arGEN-X BVBA, Technologiepark 30, B9052 Zwijnaarde, Gent, Belgium
| | - Michael Saunders
- arGEN-X BVBA, Technologiepark 30, B9052 Zwijnaarde, Gent, Belgium
| | - Pierre G Coulie
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie Lucas
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and WELBIO, B1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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Hultberg A, Morello V, Huyghe L, De Jonge N, Blanchetot C, Hanssens V, De Boeck G, Silence K, Festjens E, Heukers R, Roux B, Lamballe F, Ginestier C, Charafe-Jauffret E, Maina F, Brouckaert P, Saunders M, Thibault A, Dreier T, de Haard H, Michieli P. Depleting MET-Expressing Tumor Cells by ADCC Provides a Therapeutic Advantage over Inhibiting HGF/MET Signaling. Cancer Res 2015; 75:3373-83. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Basilico C, Hultberg A, Blanchetot C, de Jonge N, Festjens E, Hanssens V, Osepa SI, De Boeck G, Mira A, Cazzanti M, Morello V, Dreier T, Saunders M, de Haard H, Michieli P. Four individually druggable MET hotspots mediate HGF-driven tumor progression. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:3172-86. [PMID: 24865428 DOI: 10.1172/jci72316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of MET by HGF plays a key role in tumor progression. Using a recently developed llama platform that generates human-like immunoglobulins, we selected 68 different antibodies that compete with HGF for binding to MET. HGF-competing antibodies recognized 4 distinct hotspots localized in different MET domains. We identified 1 hotspot that coincides with the known HGF β chain binding site on blades 2-3 of the SEMA domain β-propeller. We determined that a second and a third hotspot lie within blade 5 of the SEMA domain and IPT domains 2-3, both of which are thought to bind to HGF α chain. Characterization of the fourth hotspot revealed a region across the PSI-IPT 1 domains not previously associated with HGF binding. Individual or combined targeting of these hotspots effectively interrupted HGF/MET signaling in multiple cell-based biochemical and biological assays. Selected antibodies directed against SEMA blades 2-3 and the PSI-IPT 1 region inhibited brain invasion and prolonged survival in a glioblastoma multiforme model, prevented metastatic disease following neoadjuvant therapy in a triple-negative mammary carcinoma model, and suppressed cancer cell dissemination to the liver in a KRAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer model. These results identify multiple regions of MET responsible for HGF-mediated tumor progression, unraveling the complexity of HGF-MET interaction, and provide selective molecular tools for targeting MET activity in cancer.
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De Boeck G, Forsyth RG, Praet M, Hogendoorn PCW. Telomere-associated proteins: cross-talk between telomere maintenance and telomere-lengthening mechanisms. J Pathol 2009; 217:327-44. [PMID: 19142887 DOI: 10.1002/path.2500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, have been the subject of intense investigation over the last decade. As telomere dysfunction has been associated with ageing and developing cancer, understanding the exact mechanisms regulating telomere structure and function is essential for the prevention and treatment of human cancers and age-related diseases. The mechanisms by which cells maintain telomere lengthening involve either telomerase or the alternative lengthening of the telomere pathway, although specific mechanisms of the latter and the relationship between the two are as yet unknown. Many cellular factors directly (TRF1/TRF2) and indirectly (shelterin-complex, PinX, Apollo and tankyrase) interact with telomeres, and their interplay influences telomere structure and function. One challenge comes from the observation that many DNA damage response proteins are stably associated with telomeres and contribute to several other aspects of telomere function. This review focuses on the different components involved in telomere maintenance and their role in telomere length homeostasis. Special attention is paid to understanding how these telomere-associated factors, and mainly those involved in double-strand break repair, perform their activities at the telomere ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitte De Boeck
- N. Goormaghtigh Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Van Herrewege Y, Michiels J, Waeytens A, De Boeck G, Salden E, Heyndrickx L, van den Mooter G, de Béthune MP, Andries K, Lewi P, Praet M, Vanham G. A dual chamber model of female cervical mucosa for the study of HIV transmission and for the evaluation of candidate HIV microbicides. Antiviral Res 2006; 74:111-24. [PMID: 17097156 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2006.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2005] [Revised: 10/10/2006] [Accepted: 10/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A dual chamber system was established to model heterosexual HIV transmission. Cell-associated, but not cell-free HIV, added to a confluent layer of cervical epithelial cells in the apical chamber, reproducibly infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MO-DC) and CD4(+) T cells in the basal compartment. Only minimal epithelial transmigration of HIV-infected mononuclear cells (HIV-PBMCs) was observed. Most evidence points to transepithelial migration of virus, released from HIV-PBMCs after their activation by epithelial cells. We used this model for evaluation of the therapeutic index of various potentially preventive antiviral compounds, including non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs, including UC781 and various diaryltriazines and diarylpyrimidines), poly-anionic entry inhibitors (including PRO2000, cellulose sulphate, dextrane sulphate 5000 and polystyrene sulphonate) and the fusion inhibitor T-20. The epithelium was pre-treated with compound and incubated with HIV-PBMCs for 24 h. Afterwards the apical chamber was removed and MO-DC/CD4(+) T cell co-cultures were further cultured without compound. NNRTIs, including a TMC120 gel, blocked infection of the sub-epithelial targets at sub-micromolar concentrations. Polyanionic entry inhibitors (up to 100 microg/ml) and T-20 (up to 449 microg/ml) failed to inhibit transmission. Moreover, whereas the NNRTIs used interfered with epithelial integrity with cervical epithelium only at very high concentrations, the evaluated entry inhibitors showed toxicity at concentrations that did not prevent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yven Van Herrewege
- Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 155 Nationalestraat, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
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