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Wyatt MM, Huff LW, Nelson MH, Neal LR, Medvec AR, Rangel Rivera GO, Smith AS, Rivera Reyes AM, Knochelmann HM, Riley JL, Lesinski GB, Paulos CM. Augmenting TCR signal strength and ICOS costimulation results in metabolically fit and therapeutically potent human CAR Th17 cells. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2120-2131. [PMID: 37081789 PMCID: PMC10362414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.04.010] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
IL-17-producing antigen-specific human T cells elicit potent antitumor activity in mice. Yet, refinement of this approach is needed to position it for clinical use. While activation signal strength regulates IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells, the degree to which T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and costimulation signal strength influences Th17 immunity remains unknown. We discovered that decreasing TCR/costimulation signal strength by incremental reduction of αCD3/costimulation beads progressively altered Th17 phenotype. Moreover, Th17 cells stimulated with αCD3/inducible costimulator (ICOS) beads produced more IL-17A, IFNγ, IL-2, and IL-22 than those stimulated with αCD3/CD28 beads. Compared with Th17 cells stimulated with the standard, strong signal strength (three beads per T cell), Th17 cells propagated with 30-fold fewer αCD3/ICOS beads were less reliant on glucose and favored the central carbon pathway for bioenergetics, marked by abundant intracellular phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Importantly, Th17 cells stimulated with weak αCD3/ICOS beads and redirected with a chimeric antigen receptor that recognizes mesothelin were more effective at clearing human mesothelioma. Less effective CAR Th17 cells generated with high αCD3/ICOS beads were rescued by overexpressing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a PEP regulator. Thus, Th17 therapy can be improved by using fewer activation beads during manufacturing, a finding that is cost effective and directly translatable to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Wyatt
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Logan W Huff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Michelle H Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lillian R Neal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Andrew R Medvec
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Guillermo O Rangel Rivera
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Aubrey S Smith
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Amalia M Rivera Reyes
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Hannah M Knochelmann
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - James L Riley
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Surgery: Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Abstract
T cells are critical in orchestrating protective immune responses to cancer and an array of pathogens. The interaction between a peptide MHC (pMHC) complex on antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T cell receptors (TCRs) on T cells initiates T cell activation, division, and clonal expansion in secondary lymphoid organs. T cells must also integrate multiple T cell-intrinsic and extrinsic signals to acquire the effector functions essential for the defense against invading microbes. In the case of T helper cell differentiation, while innate cytokines have been demonstrated to shape effector CD4+ T lymphocyte function, the contribution of TCR signaling strength to T helper cell differentiation is less understood. In this review, we summarize the signaling cascades regulated by the strength of TCR stimulation. Various mechanisms in which TCR signal strength controls T helper cell expansion and differentiation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan D Bhattacharyya
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Tuberculosis Research Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carl G Feng
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Tuberculosis Research Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Schilbach K, Krickeberg N, Kaißer C, Mingram S, Kind J, Siegers GM, Hashimoto H. Suppressive activity of Vδ2 + γδ T cells on αβ T cells is licensed by TCR signaling and correlates with signal strength. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:593-610. [PMID: 31982940 PMCID: PMC7113223 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02469-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent progress in the understanding of γδ T cells' roles and functions, their interaction with αβ T cells still remains to be elucidated. In this study, we sought to clarify what precisely endows peripheral Vδ2+ T cells with immunosuppressive function on autologous αβ T cells. We found that negatively freshly isolated Vδ2+ T cells do not exhibit suppressive behavior, even after stimulation with IL-12/IL-18/IL-15 or the sheer contact with butyrophilin-3A1-expressing tumor cell lines (U251 or SK-Mel-28). On the other hand, Vδ2+ T cells positively isolated through TCR crosslinking or after prolonged stimulation with isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) mediate strong inhibitory effects on αβ T cell proliferation. Stimulation with IPP in the presence of IL-15 induces the most robust suppressive phenotype of Vδ2+ T cells. This indicates that Vδ2+ T cells' suppressive activity is dependent on a TCR signal and that the degree of suppression correlates with its strength. Vδ2+ T cell immunosuppression does not correlate with their Foxp3 expression but rather with their PD-L1 protein expression, evidenced by the massive reduction of suppressive activity when using a blocking antibody. In conclusion, pharmacologic stimulation of Vδ2+ T cells via the Vδ2 TCR for activation and expansion induces Vδ2+ T cells' potent killer activity while simultaneously licensing them to suppress αβ T cell responses. Taken together, the study is a further step to understand-in more detail-the suppressive activity of Vδ2+ γδ T cells.
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MESH Headings
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/immunology
- B7-H1 Antigen/genetics
- B7-H1 Antigen/immunology
- B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cells, Cultured
- Gene Expression/drug effects
- Gene Expression/immunology
- Hemiterpenes/pharmacology
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance/drug effects
- Immune Tolerance/genetics
- Immune Tolerance/immunology
- Interleukin-15/pharmacology
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Organophosphorus Compounds/pharmacology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schilbach
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Naomi Krickeberg
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carlotta Kaißer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Simon Mingram
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janika Kind
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Hisayoshi Hashimoto
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Street 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Abstract
γδ T cells are the first T cell lineage to develop in the thymus and take up residence in a wide variety of tissues where they can provide fast, innate-like sources of effector cytokines for barrier defense. In contrast to conventional αβ T cells that egress the thymus as naïve cells, γδ T cells can be programmed for effector function during development in the thymus. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that determine γδ T cell effector fate is of great interest due to the wide-spread tissue distribution of γδ T cells and their roles in pathogen clearance, immunosurveillance, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we will integrate the current understanding of the role of the T cell receptor, environmental signals, and transcription factor networks in controlling mouse innate-like γδ T cell effector commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Ciofani
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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Conley JM, Gallagher MP, Berg LJ. T Cells and Gene Regulation: The Switching On and Turning Up of Genes after T Cell Receptor Stimulation in CD8 T Cells. Front Immunol 2016; 7:76. [PMID: 26973653 PMCID: PMC4770016 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Signaling downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR) is directly regulated by the dose and affinity of peptide antigen. The strength of TCR signaling drives a multitude of T cell functions from development to differentiation. CD8 T cells differentiate into a diverse pool of effector and memory cells after activation, a process that is critical for pathogen clearance and is highly regulated by TCR signal strength. T cells rapidly alter their gene expression upon activation. Multiple signaling pathways downstream of the TCR activate transcription factors, which are critical for this process. The dynamics between proximal TCR signaling, transcription factor activation and CD8 T cell function are discussed here. We propose that inducible T cell kinase (ITK) acts as a rheostat for gene expression. This unique regulation of TCR signaling by ITK provides a possible signaling mechanism for the promotion of a diverse T cell repertoire in response to pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Conley
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, MA , USA
| | - Michael P Gallagher
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, MA , USA
| | - Leslie J Berg
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, MA , USA
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Tubo NJ, Jenkins MK. TCR signal quantity and quality in CD4 + T cell differentiation. Trends Immunol 2014; 35:591-596. [PMID: 25457838 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The adaptive immune system protects its host from a myriad of pathogens. This ability stems from a vast set of lymphocytes, each with a different antigen receptor, a small number of which will bind to antigens derived from a given pathogen. Although the cells within any antigen-specific population appear to be relatively homogenous before antigenic encounter, recent work on T cells indicates that individual cells within the population differentiate in very different ways after exposure to the antigen. We focus here on studies of CD4+ T cells and review evidence indicating that variable differentiation of effector cells from single naïve cells is caused by both cell-extrinsic stochastic factors and cell-intrinsic factors related to T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signal quantity and quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah J Tubo
- Center for Immunology, Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Marc K Jenkins
- Center for Immunology, Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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