1
|
Lee IK, Sharma N, Noguera-Ortega E, Liousia M, Baroja ML, Etersque JM, Pham J, Sarkar S, Carreno BM, Linette GP, Puré E, Albelda SM, Sellmyer MA. A genetically encoded protein tag for control and quantitative imaging of CAR T cell therapy. Mol Ther 2023; 31:3564-3578. [PMID: 37919903 PMCID: PMC10727978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.10.020] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful for hematological malignancies. Still, a lack of efficacy and potential toxicities have slowed its application for other indications. Furthermore, CAR T cells undergo dynamic expansion and contraction in vivo that cannot be easily predicted or controlled. Therefore, the safety and utility of such therapies could be enhanced by engineered mechanisms that engender reversible control and quantitative monitoring. Here, we use a genetic tag based on the enzyme Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR), and derivatives of trimethoprim (TMP) to modulate and monitor CAR expression and T cell activity. We fused eDHFR to the CAR C terminus, allowing regulation with TMP-based proteolysis-targeting chimeric small molecules (PROTACs). Fusion of eDHFR to the CAR does not interfere with cell signaling or its cytotoxic function, and the addition of TMP-based PROTACs results in a reversible and dose-dependent inhibition of CAR activity via the proteosome. We show the regulation of CAR expression in vivo and demonstrate imaging of the cells with TMP radiotracers. In vitro immunogenicity assays using primary human immune cells and overlapping peptide fragments of eDHFR showed no memory immune repertoire for eDHFR. Overall, this translationally-orientied approach allows for temporal monitoring and image-guided control of cell-based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iris K Lee
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nitika Sharma
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Estela Noguera-Ortega
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Liousia
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Miren L Baroja
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jean M Etersque
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan Pham
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Swarbhanu Sarkar
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Beatriz M Carreno
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gerald P Linette
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ellen Puré
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven M Albelda
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mark A Sellmyer
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|