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Want MY, Bashir Z, Najar RA. T Cell Based Immunotherapy for Cancer: Approaches and Strategies. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040835. [PMID: 37112747 PMCID: PMC10142387 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are critical in destroying cancer cells by recognizing antigens presented by MHC molecules on cancer cells or antigen-presenting cells. Identifying and targeting cancer-specific or overexpressed self-antigens is essential for redirecting T cells against tumors, leading to tumor regression. This is achieved through the identification of mutated or overexpressed self-proteins in cancer cells, which guide the recognition of cancer cells by T-cell receptors. There are two main approaches to T cell-based immunotherapy: HLA-restricted and HLA-non-restricted Immunotherapy. Significant progress has been made in T cell-based immunotherapy over the past decade, using naturally occurring or genetically engineered T cells to target cancer antigens in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. However, limited specificity, longevity, and toxicity have limited success rates. This review provides an overview of T cells as a therapeutic tool for cancer, highlighting the advantages and future strategies for developing effective T cell cancer immunotherapy. The challenges associated with identifying T cells and their corresponding antigens, such as their low frequency, are also discussed. The review further examines the current state of T cell-based immunotherapy and potential future strategies, such as the use of combination therapy and the optimization of T cell properties, to overcome current limitations and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzamil Y Want
- Department of Immunology, Division of Translational Immuno-Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Zeenat Bashir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208, USA
| | - Rauf A Najar
- Department of Pediatrics, Lung Biology and Disease Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Wagner KI, Mateyka LM, Jarosch S, Grass V, Weber S, Schober K, Hammel M, Burrell T, Kalali B, Poppert H, Beyer H, Schambeck S, Holdenrieder S, Strötges-Achatz A, Haselmann V, Neumaier M, Erber J, Priller A, Yazici S, Roggendorf H, Odendahl M, Tonn T, Dick A, Witter K, Mijočević H, Protzer U, Knolle PA, Pichlmair A, Crowell CS, Gerhard M, D'Ippolito E, Busch DH. Recruitment of highly cytotoxic CD8 + T cell receptors in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Rep 2021; 38:110214. [PMID: 34968416 PMCID: PMC8677487 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110214] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell immunity is crucial for control of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and has been studied widely on a quantitative level. However, the quality of responses, in particular of CD8+ T cells, has only been investigated marginally so far. Here, we isolate T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires specific for immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 epitopes restricted to common human Leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules in convalescent individuals. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are detected up to 12 months after infection. TCR repertoires are diverse, with heterogeneous functional avidity and cytotoxicity toward virus-infected cells, as demonstrated for TCR-engineered T cells. High TCR functionality correlates with gene signatures that, remarkably, could be retrieved for each epitope:HLA combination analyzed. Overall, our data demonstrate that polyclonal and highly functional CD8+ TCRs—classic features of protective immunity—are recruited upon mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing tools to assess the quality of and potentially restore functional CD8+ T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin I Wagner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Laura M Mateyka
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Vincent Grass
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Weber
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Monika Hammel
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Teresa Burrell
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Behnam Kalali
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Holger Poppert
- Department of Neurology, Helios Klinikum München West, 81241 Munich, Germany; Neurologische Klinik, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Henriette Beyer
- Department of Neurology, Helios Klinikum München West, 81241 Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Schambeck
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Helios Klinikum München West, 81241 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Holdenrieder
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Munich Biomarker Research Center, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Strötges-Achatz
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Munich Biomarker Research Center, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Verena Haselmann
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Neumaier
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johanna Erber
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Alina Priller
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah Yazici
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Hedwig Roggendorf
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus Odendahl
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Dick
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Cellular Therapeutics and Hemostaseology, LMU University Hospital, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Witter
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Cellular Therapeutics and Hemostaseology, LMU University Hospital, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Hrvoje Mijočević
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Percy A Knolle
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Pichlmair
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia S Crowell
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Gerhard
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elvira D'Ippolito
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Johanna I, Hernández-López P, Heijhuurs S, Scheper W, Bongiovanni L, de Bruin A, Beringer DX, Oostvogels R, Straetemans T, Sebestyen Z, Kuball J. Adding Help to an HLA-A*24:02 Tumor-Reactive γδTCR Increases Tumor Control. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752699. [PMID: 34759930 PMCID: PMC8573335 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
γδT cell receptors (γδTCRs) recognize a broad range of malignantly transformed cells in mainly a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent manner, making them valuable additions to the engineered immune effector cell therapy that currently focuses primarily on αβTCRs and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). As an exception to the rule, we have previously identified a γδTCR, which exerts antitumor reactivity against HLA-A*24:02-expressing malignant cells, however without the need for defined HLA-restricted peptides, and without exhibiting any sign of off-target toxicity in humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic NSG (NSG-A24:02) mouse models. This particular tumor-HLA-A*24:02-specific Vγ5Vδ1TCR required CD8αα co-receptor for its tumor reactive capacity when introduced into αβT cells engineered to express a defined γδTCR (TEG), referred to as TEG011; thus, it was only active in CD8+ TEG011. We subsequently explored the concept of additional redirection of CD4+ T cells through co-expression of the human CD8α gene into CD4+ and CD8+ TEG011 cells, later referred as TEG011_CD8α. Adoptive transfer of TEG011_CD8α cells in humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic NSG (NSG-A24:02) mice injected with tumor HLA-A*24:02+ cells showed superior tumor control in comparison to TEG011, and to mock control groups. The total percentage of mice with persisting TEG011_CD8α cells, as well as the total number of TEG011_CD8α cells per mice, was significantly improved over time, mainly due to a dominance of CD4+CD8+ double-positive TEG011_CD8α, which resulted in higher total counts of functional T cells in spleen and bone marrow. We observed that tumor clearance in the bone marrow of TEG011_CD8α-treated mice associated with better human T cell infiltration, which was not observed in the TEG011-treated group. Overall, introduction of transgenic human CD8α receptor on TEG011 improves antitumor reactivity against HLA-A*24:02+ tumor cells and further enhances in vivo tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inez Johanna
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Sabine Heijhuurs
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wouter Scheper
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Laura Bongiovanni
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Alain de Bruin
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Dennis X Beringer
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rimke Oostvogels
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Trudy Straetemans
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Zsolt Sebestyen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jürgen Kuball
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Campillo-Davo D, Anguille S, Lion E. Trial Watch: Adoptive TCR-Engineered T-Cell Immunotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4519. [PMID: 34572745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer with an extremely grim prognosis. This is due to the fact that the majority of patients will relapse after frontline treatment. Overall survival of relapsed AML is very low, and treatment options are few. T lymphocytes harnessed with antitumor T-cell receptors (TCRs) can produce objective clinical responses in certain cancers, such as melanoma, but have not entered the main road for AML. In this review, we describe the current status of the field of TCR-T-cell therapies for AML. Abstract Despite the advent of novel therapies, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains associated with a grim prognosis. This is exemplified by 5-year overall survival rates not exceeding 30%. Even with frontline high-intensity chemotherapy regimens and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the majority of patients with AML will relapse. For these patients, treatment options are few, and novel therapies are urgently needed. Adoptive T-cell therapies represent an attractive therapeutic avenue due to the intrinsic ability of T lymphocytes to recognize tumor cells with high specificity and efficiency. In particular, T-cell therapies focused on introducing T-cell receptors (TCRs) against tumor antigens have achieved objective clinical responses in solid tumors such as synovial sarcoma and melanoma. However, contrary to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells with groundbreaking results in B-cell malignancies, the use of TCR-T cells for hematological malignancies is still in its infancy. In this review, we provide an overview of the status and clinical advances in adoptive TCR-T-cell therapy for the treatment of AML.
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Campillo-Davo D, Flumens D, Lion E. The Quest for the Best: How TCR Affinity, Avidity, and Functional Avidity Affect TCR-Engineered T-Cell Antitumor Responses. Cells 2020; 9:E1720. [PMID: 32708366 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, adoptive transfer of T cells has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. In particular, T-cell receptor (TCR) engineering of T cells has marked important milestones in developing more precise and personalized cancer immunotherapies. However, to get the most benefit out of this approach, understanding the role that TCR affinity, avidity, and functional avidity play on how TCRs and T cells function in the context of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) recognition is vital to keep generating improved adoptive T-cell therapies. Aside from TCR-related parameters, other critical factors that govern T-cell activation are the effect of TCR co-receptors on TCR–peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) stabilization and TCR signaling, tumor epitope density, and TCR expression levels in TCR-engineered T cells. In this review, we describe the key aspects governing TCR specificity, T-cell activation, and how these concepts can be applied to cancer-specific TCR redirection of T cells.
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Schober K, Müller TR, Busch DH. Orthotopic T-Cell Receptor Replacement-An "Enabler" for TCR-Based Therapies. Cells 2020; 9:E1367. [PMID: 32492858 PMCID: PMC7348731 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural adaptive immunity co-evolved with pathogens over millions of years, and adoptive transfer of non-engineered T cells to fight infections or cancer so far exhibits an exceptionally safe and functional therapeutic profile in clinical trials. However, the personalized nature of therapies using virus-specific T cells, donor lymphocyte infusion, or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes makes implementation in routine clinical care difficult. In principle, genetic engineering can be used to make T-cell therapies more broadly applicable, but so far it significantly alters the physiology of cells. We recently demonstrated that orthotopic T-cell receptor (TCR) replacement (OTR) by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) can be used to generate engineered T cells with preservation of near-physiological function. In this review, we present the current status of OTR technology development and discuss its potential for TCR-based therapies. By providing the means to combine the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of physiological T cells with the versatility of cell engineering, OTR can serve as an "enabler" for TCR-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas R. Müller
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H. Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
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7
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Johanna I, Hernández-López P, Heijhuurs S, Bongiovanni L, de Bruin A, Beringer D, van Dooremalen S, Shultz LD, Ishikawa F, Sebestyen Z, Straetemans T, Kuball J. TEG011 persistence averts extramedullary tumor growth without exerting off-target toxicity against healthy tissues in a humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic mice. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 107:1069-1079. [PMID: 32022317 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5ma0120-228r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
γδT cells play an important role in cancer immunosurveillance and are able to distinguish malignant cells from their healthy counterparts via their γδTCR. This characteristic makes γδT cells an attractive candidate for therapeutic application in cancer immunotherapy. Previously, we have identified a novel CD8α-dependent tumor-specific allo-HLA-A*24:02-restricted Vγ5Vδ1TCR with potential therapeutic value when used to engineer αβT cells from HLA-A*24:02 harboring individuals. αβT cells engineered to express this defined Vγ5Vδ1TCR (TEG011) have been suggested to recognize spatial changes in HLA-A*24:02 present selectively on tumor cells but not their healthy counterparts. However, in vivo efficacy and toxicity studies of TEG011 are still limited. Therefore, we extend the efficacy and toxicity studies as well as the dynamics of TEG011 in vivo in a humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic NSG (NSG-A24:02) mouse model to allow the preparation of a first-in-men clinical safety package for adoptive transfer of TEG011. Mice treated with TEG011 did not exhibit any graft-versus-host disease-like symptoms and extensive analysis of pathologic changes in NSG-A24:02 mice did not show any off-target toxicity of TEG011. However, loss of persistence of TEG011 in tumor-bearing mice was associated with the outgrowth of extramedullary tumor masses as also observed for mock-treated mice. In conclusion, TEG011 is well tolerated without harming HLA-A*24:02+ expressing healthy tissues, and TEG011 persistence seems to be crucial for long-term tumor control in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inez Johanna
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Hernández-López
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Heijhuurs
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Bongiovanni
- Department of Pathobiology, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alain de Bruin
- Department of Pathobiology, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Beringer
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne van Dooremalen
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard D Shultz
- Department of Immunology, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Fumihiko Ishikawa
- Laboratory for Human Disease Models, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Zsolt Sebestyen
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Trudy Straetemans
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jürgen Kuball
- Department of Hematology and Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Abu-Shah E, Demetriou P, Bálint Š, Mayya V, Kutuzov MA, Dushek O, Dustin ML. A tissue-like platform for studying engineered quiescent human T-cells' interactions with dendritic cells. eLife 2019; 8:e48221. [PMID: 31552826 PMCID: PMC6910819 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Research in the field of human immunology is restricted by the lack of a system that reconstitutes the in-situactivation dynamics of quiescent human antigen-specific T-cells interacting with dendritic cells. Here we report a tissue-like system that recapitulates the dynamics of engineered primary human immune cell. Our approach facilitates real-time single-cell manipulations, tracking of interactions and functional responses complemented by population-based measurements of cytokines, activation status and proliferation. As a proof of concept, we recapitulate immunological phenomenon such as CD4 T-cells' help to CD8 T-cells through enhanced maturation of DCs and the effect of PD-1 checkpoint blockades. In addition, we characterise unique dynamics of T-cell/DC interactions as a function of antigen affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas Abu-Shah
- Kennedy Institute of RheumatologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Štefan Bálint
- Kennedy Institute of RheumatologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Viveka Mayya
- Kennedy Institute of RheumatologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Mikhail A Kutuzov
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of RheumatologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular MedicineNew York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
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Johanna I, Straetemans T, Heijhuurs S, Aarts-Riemens T, Norell H, Bongiovanni L, de Bruin A, Sebestyen Z, Kuball J. Evaluating in vivo efficacy - toxicity profile of TEG001 in humanized mice xenografts against primary human AML disease and healthy hematopoietic cells. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:69. [PMID: 30871629 PMCID: PMC6419469 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0558-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND γ9δ2T cells, which express Vγ9 and Vδ2 chains of the T cell receptor (TCR), mediate cancer immune surveillance by sensing early metabolic changes in malignant leukemic blast and not their healthy hematopoietic stem counterparts via the γ9δ2TCR targeting joined conformational and spatial changes of CD277 at the cell membrane (CD277J). This concept led to the development of next generation CAR-T cells, so-called TEGs: αβT cells Engineered to express a defined γδTCR. The high affinity γ9δ2TCR clone 5 has recently been selected within the TEG format as a clinical candidate (TEG001). However, exploring safety and efficacy against a target, which reflects an early metabolic change in tumor cells, remains challenging given the lack of appropriate tools. Therefore, we tested whether TEG001 is able to eliminate established leukemia in a primary disease model, without harming other parts of the healthy hematopoiesis in vivo. METHODS Separate sets of NSG mice were respectively injected with primary human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts and cord blood-derived human progenitor cells from healthy donors. These mice were then treated with TEG001 and mock cells. Tumor burden and human cells engraftment were measured in peripheral blood and followed up over time by quantifying for absolute cell number by flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric 2-tailed Mann-Whitney t-test. RESULTS We successfully engrafted primary AML blasts and healthy hematopoietic cells after 6-8 weeks. Here we report that metabolic cancer targeting through TEG001 eradicated established primary leukemic blasts in vivo, while healthy hematopoietic compartments derived from human cord-blood remained unharmed in spite of TEGs persistence up to 50 days after infusion. No additional signs of off-target toxicity were observed in any other tissues. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of humanized PD-X models, targeting CD277J by TEG001 is safe and efficient. Therefore, we have initiated clinical testing of TEG001 in a phase I first-in-human clinical trial (NTR6541; date of registration 25 July 2017).
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Affiliation(s)
- Inez Johanna
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Trudy Straetemans
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Heijhuurs
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tineke Aarts-Riemens
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Håkan Norell
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Laura Bongiovanni
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alain de Bruin
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Zsolt Sebestyen
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jürgen Kuball
- Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Chhabra A, Mukherji B, Batra D. Activation induced cell death (AICD) of human melanoma antigen-specific TCR engineered CD8 T cells involves JNK, Bim and p53. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 21:117-129. [PMID: 27935327 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1270941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adoptive cancer immunotherapy (ACT) with transgenic T cell receptor (TCR) engineered (TCReng) anti-tumor T cells has produced encouraging results, however, efficacy of these approaches need improvement. Since premature activation induced cell death (AICD) of adoptively administered T cells could be a major impediment, we examined the mechanism(s) underlying AICD in TCReng CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). METHODS AICD in human tumor antigen-specific MHC class I restricted TCR engineered CD8+ CTL was induced by exposing them to cognate peptide epitope. RESULTS We show that TCReng CD8+ human primary CTL undergo AICD even upon encountering their cognate peptide epitope for the very first time. AICD in TCReng CTL is a death-receptor-independent, JNK activation-driven intrinsic processes, in which p53-mediated mitochondria-centric, non-transcription-dependent pathway plays an essential role. Activated JNK modulates mitochondrial membrane integrity in CTL undergoing AICD by directly interacting with Bcl family protein, Bim, and the mitochondrial membrane pore complex, voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC), leading to the release of caspase-independent death executioner, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), accumulation of single strand DNA breaks and eventually to cell death. CONCLUSIONS Our findings offer opportunities to interfere with AICD in TCReng CD8+ anti-tumor CTL for sustaining them longer for producing better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Chhabra
- a Department of Medicine , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Bijay Mukherji
- a Department of Medicine , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Deepika Batra
- a Department of Medicine , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , CT , USA
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Hebeisen M, Oberle SG, Presotto D, Speiser DE, Zehn D, Rufer N. Molecular insights for optimizing T cell receptor specificity against cancer. Front Immunol 2013; 4:154. [PMID: 23801991 PMCID: PMC3685811 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic CD8 T cells mediate immunity to pathogens and they are able to eliminate malignant cells. Immunity to viruses and bacteria primarily involves CD8 T cells bearing high affinity T cell receptors (TCRs), which are specific to pathogen-derived (non-self) antigens. Given the thorough elimination of high affinity self/tumor-antigen reactive T cells by central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms, anti-cancer immunity mostly depends on TCRs with intermediate-to-low affinity for self-antigens. Because of this, a promising novel therapeutic approach to increase the efficacy of tumor-reactive T cells is to engineer their TCRs, with the aim to enhance their binding kinetics to pMHC complexes, or to directly manipulate the TCR-signaling cascades. Such manipulations require a detailed knowledge on how pMHC-TCR and co-receptors binding kinetics impact the T cell response. In this review, we present the current knowledge in this field. We discuss future challenges in identifying and targeting the molecular mechanisms to enhance the function of natural or TCR-affinity optimized T cells, and we provide perspectives for the development of protective anti-tumor T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), University of Lausanne , Lausanne , Switzerland
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