Shono Y, Tuckett AZ, Ouk S, Liou HC, Altan-Bonnet G, Tsai JJ, Oyler JE, Smith OM, West ML, Singer NV, Doubrovina E, Pankov D, Undhad CV, Murphy GF, Lezcano C, Liu C, O'Reilly RJ, van den Brink MRM, Zakrzewski JL. A small-molecule c-Rel inhibitor reduces alloactivation of T cells without compromising antitumor activity.
Cancer Discov 2014;
4:578-91. [PMID:
24550032 DOI:
10.1158/2159-8290.cd-13-0585]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Preventing unfavorable GVHD without inducing broad suppression of the immune system presents a major challenge of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We developed a novel strategy to ameliorate GVHD while preserving graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity by small molecule-based inhibition of the NF-κB family member c-Rel. Underlying mechanisms included reduced alloactivation, defective gut homing, and impaired negative feedback on interleukin (IL)-2 production, resulting in optimal IL-2 levels, which, in the absence of competition by effector T cells, translated into expansion of regulatory T cells. c-Rel activity was dispensable for antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) activation, allowing c-Rel-deficient T cells to display normal GVT activity. In addition, inhibition of c-Rel activity reduced alloactivation without compromising antigen-specific cytotoxicity of human T cells. Finally, we were able to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of systemic c-Rel inhibitor administration. Our findings validate c-Rel as a promising target for immunomodulatory therapy and demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of pharmaceutical inhibition of c-Rel activity.
Collapse