scholarly journals Eradication of disseminated murine leukemia by chemoimmunotherapy with cyclophosphamide and adoptively transferred immune syngeneic Lyt-1+2- lymphocytes.

1981 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 952-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D Greenberg ◽  
M A Cheever ◽  
A Fefer
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Friend Virus ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Cytotoxic Responses ◽  
Murine Leukemia ◽  
T Cell Growth Factor

The phenotype of T cells therapeutically effective in immunotherapy of advanced Friend virus-induced (FBL) leukemia in vivo and cytotoxic to FBL in vitro was determined. Mice bearing disseminated FBL leukemia were successfully treated by a combination of cyclophosphamide and adoptive transfer of syngeneic immune lymphocytes. Therapeutic efficacy was largely dependent on the presence of Lyt-1+2- T cells in the transferred cells, whereas cells cytotoxic to FBL tumor in vitro were derived from the Lyt-1+2+ and Lyt-1-2+ subsets. Thus, the predominate cell required to eradicate tumor in adoptive chemoimmunotherapy was not cytolytic to tumor in vitro. Potentially, the Lyt-1+2- cell may operate in vivo as an amplifier cell rather than by a direct anti-tumor effect. Elimination of the Lyt-1+ population with alpha-Lyt-1 and complement prevented the generation of significant cytotoxic responses during both primary in vitro sensitization to alloantigens and in vitro sensitization of tumour-primed cells. The capacity of Lyt-1+ cell-depleted population to generate cytotoxic responses was partially reconstituted by addition, at the initiation of culture, of interluekin 2, a T cell growth factor derived from Lyt-1+2- cells, which contain the CTL and CTL precursors, were nearly as effective in vitro as unseparated immune cells. If the remaining effector cells (i.e., Lyt-1+2- T cells) function in vivo predominantly as amplifier cells, than the tumour-bearing host must be capable of making a positive contribution to the outcome of therapy.

scholarly journals 708 Novel ways to exploit IL-21 to augment adoptive T cell transfer therapy against tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A737-A737
Author(s):  
Anna Cole ◽  
Guillermo Rangel RIvera ◽  
Aubrey Smith ◽  
Megan Wyatt ◽  
Brandon Ware ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Striking Difference ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Emory University

BackgroundIL-21 enhances the anti-tumor capacity of adoptively transferred CD8+ T cells, while IL-2 and IL-15 impair T cell immunity by driving their expansion to a more differentiated status. Yet, these cytokines can act on many different immune cells. Given the potency of IL-21, we tested if this cytokine directly augments T cells or rather if it enhances other immune cells in the culture that indirectly improves T cell therapy.MethodsTo test this question, splenocytes from pmel-1 transgenic mice were used, as all CD8+ T cells express a transgenic TCR specific for tumor-antigen gp10025–33 overexpressed on melanoma. We then peptide activated naïve CD8+ T cells enriched or not from the spleen of pmel-1 mice and expanded them in the presence of IL-21 or IL-2 (10 ng/mL) for four days. Expanded pmel-1 from these various cultures were then restimulated with irradiated splenocytes pulsed with gp10025–33 and grown an additional seven days with IL-2 (10 ng/mL), irrespective of their initial cytokine condition. The in vitro memory phenotype, exhaustion profile, and cytokine secretion of these cultures were then assayed. Furthermore, mice bearing B16KVP melanoma tumors were infused with pmel-1 T cells expanded via these various approaches and compared for their relative capacity to engraft, persist, and regress tumor in vivo.ResultsInterestingly, we discovered that IL-21-treated T cells generated from bulk splenocytes are phenotypically and functionally distinct from IL-21-treated isolated T cells. Upon restimulation, IL-21-treated T cells from bulk splenocytes exhibited an exhausted phenotype that was like anergic IL-2-treated T cells. Moreover, few cells expressed CD62L but expressed heightened markers of suppression, including TIM3, PD-1, and EOMES. Moreover, they produced more effector molecules, including granzyme B and IFN-gamma. In vivo IL-21-treated T cells expanded from bulk splenocytes engrafted and persisted poorly, in turn mediating suboptimal regression of melanoma. Conversely, IL-21 dramatically bolstered the engraftment and antitumor activity of T cells only if they were first isolated from the spleen prior to their expansion and infusion into the animal.ConclusionsCollectively, our data shows that IL-21 may improve ACT therapy best when used directly on antitumor CD8+ T cells. Further studies will illuminate the mechanism behind this striking difference and determine whether other cell subsets reactive to IL-21 cause T cell dysfunction and/or reduced bioavailability. These findings are important for defining the best culture conditions in which to use IL-21 for ACT.AcknowledgementsWe would like to acknowledge Emory University, The Winship Cancer Institute, and the Pediatrics/Winship Flow Cytometry Core.Ethics ApprovalAll animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Emory University, protocol number 201900225.

scholarly journals In Vivo Suppression of Autophagy via Lentiviral shRNA Targeting Atg5 Improves Lupus-Like Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Chi-Jui Liu ◽  
Shye-Jye Tang ◽  
Chun-Che Chou ◽  
Guang-Huan Sun ◽  
Kuang-Hui Sun
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
B Cell Activating Factor ◽  
Dsdna Antibody ◽  
Lymph Node Cells ◽  
Complex Deposition ◽  
Novel Strategy

In both mouse models and clinical patients with lupus, autophagy levels were significantly elevated and correlated with disease activity. Furthermore, autophagy can promote the survival of B and T cells, plasma cell differentiation, and antibody production. These results suggest that autophagy may promote the progression of lupus by regulating the survival of autoreactive immune cells. Therefore, we aimed at studying whether suppressing autophagy can modulate lupus progression in vivo. First, we found that the autophagy levels in splenocytes and lymphocytes of peripheral blood (PB) were elevated and positively correlated with disease severity in lupus-prone mice. The shAtg5-lentivirus, which effectively inhibits autophagy in vitro, was then injected into the lupus-prone mice. Autophagy levels in lymph node cells and PB lymphocytes were reduced following Atg5 suppression. We also found that lymphadenopathy and the numbers of plasma cells, CD4-CD8-, and CD4+ T cells decreased in mice treated with the shAtg5-lentivirus. The mice treated with shAtg5-lentivirus exhibited lower levels of proteinuria, serum anti-dsDNA antibody, B-cell activating factor (BAFF), and glomerular immune complex deposition. Therefore, targeting autophagy to moderate overactivated autophagy in immune cells seems to be a novel strategy for combination therapy of lupus.

Effective Prevention of Acute Graft-Verses-Host Disease by Targeting PKC Alpha and PKC Theta in Mice

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1898-1898
Author(s):  
Kelley M.K. Haarberg ◽  
Crystina Bronk ◽  
Dapeng Wang ◽  
Amer Beg ◽  
Xue-Zhong Yu
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Acute Gvhd ◽  
T Cell Signaling ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
T Effector Cells ◽  
Immunologic Synapse

Abstract Abstract 1898 Protein kinase C theta (PKCθ), a T cell signaling molecule, has been implicated as a therapeutic target for several autoimmune diseases as well as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). PKCθ plays a vital role in stabilization of the immunologic synapse between T effector cells and antigen presenting cells (APC), but has been shown to be excluded from the immunologic synapse in T regulatory cells (T reg). PKCθ inhibition reduces the alloreactivity of donor T cells responsible for induction of GVHD while preserving graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) responses. The roles of PKCθ and the potential compensatory alpha isoform (PKCα) are not clearly defined with regard to alloresponses or T cell mediated responses in GVHD. In this context, we measured PKCθ and PKCα/θ gene deficient T cell activation upon TCR-ligation in vitro using [3H]-TdR incorporation and CSFE labeling assays. T cells from PKCθ and PKCα/θ gene deficient donor mice were utilized in vivo in a pre-clinical allogenic murine model of myeloablative bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The development of GVHD was monitored in recipient mice with or without injection of A20-luciferase cells to observe the progression of GVL in vivo. Combined blockade of PKCα and PKCθ causes a significant decrease in T cell proliferation compared to blocking PKCθ alone in vitro. Deficiency in PKCα and PKCθ had no effect on immune reconstitution following irradiation and BMT in vivo. Even with a high transplant load of 5×106 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, PKCα/θ deficient (PKCα/θ−/−) T cells failed to induce acute GVHD. Our data suggest that the ability of double deficient T cells to induce GVHD was further reduced than PKCθ-deficient T cells. Additionally, a greater number and percentage of B220+ B cells and FoxP3+ T regs were isolated from the spleens of PKCα/θ−/− T cell recipient mice 120 after BMT than were isolated from wild type (WT) or PKCθ−/− T cell recipients. Fewer CD4+ or CD8+ T effector cells were isolated from the spleens of PKCα/θ−/− T cell recipient mice 120 after BMT than were isolated from wild type or PKCθ−/− T cell recipients. Importantly, the activity of B cells isolated from PKCα/θ−/− T cell recipient mice 120 after BMT was greater on a per cell basis, while the activity of T effector cells isolated from these mice was greatly reduced compared to WT or PKCθ−/− T cell recipients. While not absent, GVL was reduced in PKCα/θ−/− T cell recipient mice when compared to WT or PKCθ−/− T cell recipients. This work demonstrates the requirement of PKCα and θ for optimal activation and function of T cells in vitro. These experiments highlight a potential compensatory role for PKCα in the absence of PKCθ in T cell signaling and activation. Combined deficiency of PKCα and θ prevents induction of acute GVHD while improving the maintenance of splenic cellularity in PKCα/θ T cell recipient mice. Additionally, PKCα/θ dual deficient T cell transplant shifts the splenic balance toward a greater number and percentage of T reg and B cells and away from T effector cells following BMT. The reduced and sub-optimally active T effector cells isolated from PKCα/θ−/− T cell recipient mice in combination with reduced GVL stresses the importance of PKCα and θ molecules and their roles in T cell activity in the context of both GVHD and GVL. Dual deficiency of PKCα/θ is associated with a decline of T effector function that is optimal for the amelioration of GVHD, but is perhaps too reduced to substantially maintain effective GVL. Modulation of PKCα and θ signaling presents a valid avenue of investigation as a therapeutic option for GVHD. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Elimination of syngeneic sarcomas in rats by a subset of T lymphocytes.

1980 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Fernandez-Cruz ◽  
B A Woda ◽  
J D Feldman
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Ia Antigens

Established subcutaneous Moloney sarcomas (MST-1) of large size and long duration were eliminated from syngeneic rats by intravenous infusion of varying numbers of specific syngeneic effector T lymphocytes. Spleen cells from BN rats in which tumor had regressed were cultured in an in vitro mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC) to augment cytotoxicity of effector cells. In the MLTC a T cell subset was expanded in response to MST-1 antigens and transformed into blast elements. With these changes, there was an increase in the W3/25 antigen on the T cell surface, a decrease of W3/13 antigen, and an increase in the number of T cells with Ia antigens. The subset associated with elimination of established tumors was a blast T cell W3/25+, W3/13+, as detected by monoclonal antibodies to rat T antigens. The W3/25+ subset was poorly cytotoxic in vitro for MST-1 and apparently functioned in vivo as an amplifier or helper cell in the tumor-bearing host. The W3/25- population was a melange of cells that included (W3/13+, W3/25-) T cells, null cells, Ig+ cells, and macrophages, and was associated with enhancement of tumor in vivo, suggesting the presence of suppressor cells.

scholarly journals Leishmania promastigotes evade interleukin 12 (IL-12) induction by macrophages and stimulate a broad range of cytokines from CD4+ T cells during initiation of infection.

1994 ◽  
Vol 179 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Reiner ◽  
S Zheng ◽  
Z E Wang ◽  
L Stowring ◽  
R M Locksley
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
T Helper 1 ◽  
Ifn Gamma ◽  
Effector Cells

Leishmania major are intramacrophage parasites whose eradication requires the induction of T helper 1 (Th1) effector cells capable of activating macrophages to a microbicidal state. Interleukin 12 (IL-12) has been recently identified as a macrophage-derived cytokine capable of mediating Th1 effector cell development, and of markedly enhancing interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production by T cells and natural killer cells. Infection of macrophages in vitro by promastigotes of L. major caused no induction of IL-12 p40 transcripts, whereas stimulation using heat-killed Listeria or bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced readily detectable IL-12 mRNA. Using a competitor construct to quantitate a number of transcripts, a kinetic analysis of cytokine induction during the first few days of infection by L. major was performed. All strains of mice examined, including susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6, B10.D2, and C3H/HeN, had the appearance of a CD4+ population in the draining lymph nodes that contained transcripts for IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma (and in some cases, IL-10) that peaked 4 d after infection. In resistant mice, the transcripts for IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were subsequently downregulated, whereas in susceptible BALB/c mice, these transcripts were only slightly decreased, and IL-4 continued to be reexpressed at high levels. IL-12 transcripts were first detected in vivo by 7 d after infection, consistent with induction by intracellular amastigotes. Challenge of macrophages in vitro confirmed that amastigotes, in contrast to promastigotes, induced IL-12 p40 mRNA. Reexamination of the cytokine mRNA at 4 d revealed expression of IL-13 in all strains analyzed, suggesting that IL-2 and IL-13 may mediate the IL-12-independent production of IFN-gamma during the first days after infection. Leishmania have evolved to avoid inducing IL-12 from host macrophages during transmission from the insect vector, and cause a striking induction of mRNAs for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 in CD4+ T cells. Each of these activities may favor survival of the organism.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Suppress T-and B-Cells via Galectin-9 in a Donor Dependent Manner

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1248-1248
Author(s):  
Christopher Ungerer ◽  
Patricia Quade-Lyssy ◽  
Reinhard Henschler ◽  
Erhard Seifried ◽  
Heinfried Radeke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Immune Suppression ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Coagulation Factor ◽  
T And B Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Abstract 1248 Therapeutic approaches using multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are advancing in regenerative medicine, transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Until now the way of action for MSC-mediated immune suppression is still controversial and relies most probably on a multifactorial mechanism. MSCs have been demonstrated to produce the suppressive molecules hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Furthermore, it has been described that immunosuppression by MSCs is enhanced via stimulation with interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Recently, galectin-1, a β-galactoside binding lectin with immune modulatory properties, has been added to the group of immune modulatory molecules that are responsible for MSC-mediated immune suppression. Here, we identified galectin-9 (Gal-9) as a new molecule involved in MSC-mediated immune modulation. First, we isolated MSCs from bone marrow of randomly selected donors and performed several in vitro experiments regarding their immune modulatory potential (e.g proliferation and IgG production). Interestingly, Gal-9 was the only investigated protein, which was strongly upregulated in MSCs upon activation with IFN-γ. We moreover demonstrate that Gal-9 is a major mediator of the anti-proliferative effect of MSCs on T-cells. Although a B-cell suppressive function of Gal-9 has previously not been reported, we were surprised to detect the same inhibitory effect on isolated B-cells. Proliferation of immune cells was triggered upon either stimulation with either PHA and LPS, or CD40L and PHA. Activation of MSCs with IFN-γ resulted in a major decrease of proliferation of both T-cells and B-cells. In addition, Gal-9 and activated MSCs contribute to the suppression of VZV triggered immunoglobulin release as well. Again activation of MSCs with IFN-γ decreased the IgG release, whereas blocking Gal-9 with lactose, a well characterized inhibitor of Gal-9 function, reversed the effect almost completely. Further, we determined that Gal-9 expression levels (mRNA and protein) distinguish between MSC cultures from different donors after activation. Among donors, we could differentiate between individuals with high Gal-9 levels and higher immune modulatory potential and such with low Gal-9 expression and lower immune modulatory potential. Compared to untreated MSCs we demonstrated a three- to fifty-fold rise in Gal-9 levels after prior activation with IFN-γ. In addition, we demonstrated the upregulation of Gal-9 in MSCs by cell-cell contacts with either T-or B-cells. The upregulation was additionally at least two fold increased by previeously activating MSCs with IFN-γ. Because our group is interested in the therapy of hemophilia A and because of the unxpected suppressive effect of Gal-9 on B-cells and B-cell function, we next tested the effect of MSCs and Gal-9 on the induction of inhibitory antibodies to coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Mice were immunized with human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) in the presence or absence of either human MSCs, anti-murine Gal-9 or human Gal-9. As predicted, MSCs suppressed and anti-Gal-9 antibodies anhanced antibody formation. However in contrary to the expected, human Gal-9 co-treatment enhanced the anti-FVIII antibody response. A set of additional experiments revealed, that human Gal-9 suppresses murine regulatory T-cells in vivo. Further, in contrast to human immune cells, murine-derived T- and B-cells did not respond to human recombinant Gal-9 in vitro, but human IFN-γ activated MSCs were able to suppress proliferation of murine immune cells. Because of only 60% homology of murine and human Gal-9 we assume that the murine model cannot predict the function of human Gal-9 and that MSC-mediated immune modulatory functions are exerted via alternative pathways in this setting. Experiments with murine Gal-9 to demonstrate the in vivo function of Gal-9 are ongoing. In conclusion, Gal-9 is novel mediator of MSC immunomodulatory functions and affectsmultiple immune cell types including B-cells. Gal-9 is differentially expressed in MSCs from different donors and may therefore serve as a predictive indicator for clinical MSC functionality. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Th1 effector T cells selectively orchestrate cardiac fibrosis in nonischemic heart failure

2017 ◽  
Vol 214 (11) ◽  
pp. 3311-3329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Nevers ◽  
Ane M. Salvador ◽  
Francisco Velazquez ◽  
Njabulo Ngwenyama ◽  
Francisco J. Carrillo-Salinas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Th1 Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

Despite emerging data indicating a role for T cells in profibrotic cardiac repair and healing after ischemia, little is known about whether T cells directly impact cardiac fibroblasts (CFBs) to promote cardiac fibrosis (CF) in nonischemic heart failure (HF). Recently, we reported increased T cell infiltration in the fibrotic myocardium of nonischemic HF patients, as well as the protection from CF and HF in TCR-α−/− mice. Here, we report that T cells activated in such a context are mainly IFN-γ+, adhere to CFB, and induce their transition into myofibroblasts. Th1 effector cells selectively drive CF both in vitro and in vivo, whereas adoptive transfer of Th1 cells, opposite to activated IFN-γ−/− Th cells, partially reconstituted CF and HF in TCR-α−/− recipient mice. Mechanistically, Th1 cells use integrin α4 to adhere to and induce TGF-β in CFB in an IFN-γ–dependent manner. Our findings identify a previously unrecognized role for Th1 cells as integrators of perivascular CF and cardiac dysfunction in nonischemic HF.

scholarly journals Vitamin A Impairs the Reprogramming of Tregs into IL-17-Producing Cells during Intestinal Inflammation

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Tejón ◽  
Valeria Manríquez ◽  
Jaime De Calisto ◽  
Felipe Flores-Santibáñez ◽  
Yessia Hidalgo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Foxp3 Expression ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
T Effector Cells

Maintaining the identity of Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Tregs) is critical for controlling immune responses in the gut, where an imbalance between Tregs and T effector cells has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that Tregs can convert into Th17 cells and acquire an inflammatory phenotype. In this study, we used an adoptive transfer model of Ag-specific T cells to study the contribution of different factors to the reprogramming ofin vitro-generated Treg cells (iTreg) into IL-17-producing cells in a mouse model of gut inflammationin vivo. Our results show that intestinal inflammation induces the reprogramming of iTreg cells into IL-17-producing cells and that vitamin A restrains reprogramming in the gut. We also demonstrate that the presence of IL-2 during thein vitrogeneration of iTreg cells confers resistance to Th17 conversion but that IL-2 and retinoic acid (RA) cooperate to maintain Foxp3 expression following stimulation under Th17-polarizing conditions. Additionally, although IL-2 and RA differentially regulate the expression of different Treg cell suppressive markers, Treg cells generated under different polarizing conditions present similar suppressive capacity.

scholarly journals Microfluidic Systems to Study Neutrophil Forward and Reverse Migration

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehinde Adebayo Babatunde ◽  
Jose M. Ayuso ◽  
Sheena C. Kerr ◽  
Anna Huttenlocher ◽  
David J. Beebe
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Resolution Of Inflammation ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Reverse Migration ◽  
Inflammatory Site ◽  
And Behavior

During infection, neutrophils are the most abundantly recruited innate immune cells at sites of infection, playing critical roles in the elimination of local infection and healing of the injury. Neutrophils are considered to be short-lived effector cells that undergo cell death at infection sites and in damaged tissues. However, recent in vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that neutrophil behavior is more complex and that they can migrate away from the inflammatory site back into the vasculature following the resolution of inflammation. Microfluidic devices have contributed to an improved understanding of the interaction and behavior of neutrophils ex vivo in 2D and 3D microenvironments. The role of reverse migration and its contribution to the resolution of inflammation remains unclear. In this review, we will provide a summary of the current applications of microfluidic devices to investigate neutrophil behavior and interactions with other immune cells with a focus on forward and reverse migration in neutrophils.

scholarly journals Pre-Clinical Development of Gene Modification of Hematopoietic Stem Cells with Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Cancer Immunotherapy

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 4430-4430
Author(s):  
Laurel Christine Truscott ◽  
Sarah Larson ◽  
Amie Patel ◽  
Roy L. Kao ◽  
Satiro N. De Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Suicide Gene ◽  
Antigen Specificity ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cancer Activity

Abstract Background: Patients with refractory or recurrent B-lineage hematological malignancies have less than 50% of chance of cure, despite intensive therapy. Innovative approaches are needed to decrease their morbidity and mortality. Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) successfully engineer antigen specificity in immune cells, with clinical trials currently being conducted using ex vivo expanded gene-modified mature T cells. Results from preclinical studies and clinical trials show that effector cells usually have transient in vivo persistence that could significantly limit clinical efficacy and allow tumor recurrence. Building upon the standard of care and seeking an approach that could foster persistence of the CAR-modified cells, we have published studies using anti-CD19 CAR-modified human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) engrafted in NSG immunodeficient mice. We hypothesize that modification of HSC with CD19-specific CAR will generate persistent multi-lineage anti-tumor activity for immunotherapy of CD19+ hematological malignancies. To increase the safety of the modification of HSC, a suicide gene can be inserted into the vector to eradicate the modified cells in the setting of toxicity. Thorough evaluation of this approach in relevant study models is required for advancement to clinical trials. Significance: This approach is untested in clinical translation to this date, and implies harnessing a patient's own HSC to create a whole self-renewing immune system directed to destroy cancer, a concept that can be applied to different cancers just by adjusting the target specificity. The prospect of modifying autologous cells to enhance graft-versus-cancer activity bears the possibility of decreased morbidity and mortality, being desirable for specifically vulnerable populations, as children and elderly patients, and offering alternative therapy for those without cell sources available for allogeneic HSC transplantation, benefiting patients from ethnic minorities. This approach can be easily adopted in the clinical setting for patients planned to receive autologous HSC transplant as their standard therapy, enhancing graft-versus-cancer activity with anti-CD19 specificity. Methods: High-titer third-generation lentiviral constructs were produced carrying second-generation CD19-specific CAR co-stimulated by CD28. These vectors also co-delivered HSV-sr39TK to provide a suicide gene to allow ablation of gene-modified cells if necessary. Human HSC isolated from umbilical cord blood and G-CSF-mobilized apheresed peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were transduced with such lentiviral vectors and injected into NSG pups after irradiation for in vivo evaluation of engraftment, function and suicide gene activation. Results: We have consistently achieved engraftment of human cells in about 95% of study mice, with engraftment of CAR+ cells in about 80% of the animals. Human HSC were successfully transduced with lentiviral vectors carrying anti-CD19 CAR with no impairment of differentiation or proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Immune cells differentiated in vivo from CAR+ HSC had antigen-specific cytotoxicity directed by CAR. CAR+ human cells were detected in BM, spleen, blood and thymus of injected mice. CAR+ T cells were stably detected in the blood of engrafted mice up to 40 weeks post-injection, demonstrating lymphopoiesis of CAR+ T cells successfully escaping thymic deletion and persisting throughout murine lifetime. As a surrogate of the antigen specificity and efficacy, CD19+ cells were significantly decreased in all mice engrafted with anti-CD19 CAR demonstrating that CAR+ immune cells were not inactivated or developed tolerance. Mice humanized with at least 4% of CAR+ cells in blood had significant protection against challenge with CD19+ tumor cell line, with inhibition or elimination of tumor development and consequent survival advantage. Activation of HSV-sr39TK suicide gene by ganciclovir treatment successfully led to ablation of gene-modified cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate feasibility of CAR modification of human HSC for cancer immunotherapy. It could be easily employed in the context of HSC transplantation to augment the anti-cancer activity, with CAR-expressing myeloid and NK cells to ensure tumor-specific immunity until de novo production of T cells from CAR-modified HSC. Disclosures Larson: BMS: Consultancy.

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