scholarly journals T-Cell Gene Therapy in Cancer Immunotherapy: Why It Is No Longer Just CARs on The Road

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Crowther ◽  
Inge Marie Svane ◽  
Özcan Met
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Antigen Receptors ◽  
The Road ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
On The Road ◽  
Cell Gene

T-cells have a natural ability to fight cancer cells in the tumour microenvironment. Due to thymic selection and tissue-driven immunomodulation, these cancer-fighting T-cells are generally low in number and exhausted. One way to overcome these issues is to genetically alter T-cells to improve their effectiveness. This process can involve introducing a receptor that has high affinity for a tumour antigen, with two promising candidates known as chimeric-antigen receptors (CARs), or T-cell receptors (TCRs) with high tumour specificity. This review focuses on the editing of immune cells to introduce such novel receptors to improve immune responses to cancer. These new receptors redirect T-cells innate killing abilities to the appropriate target on cancer cells. CARs are modified receptors that recognise whole proteins on the surface of cancer cells. They have been shown to be very effective in haematological malignancies but have limited documented efficacy in solid cancers. TCRs recognise internal antigens and therefore enable targeting of a much wider range of antigens. TCRs require major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction but novel TCRs may have broader antigen recognition. Moreover, there are multiple cell types which can be used as targets to improve the “off-the-shelf” capabilities of these genetic engineering methods.

scholarly journals Macrophage-Mediated Subversion of Anti-Tumour Immunity

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Quaranta ◽  
Michael C. Schmid
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Tumour Immunity ◽  
Cell Recruitment ◽  
Clinical Benefits

Despite the incredible clinical benefits obtained by the use of immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs), resistance is still common for many types of cancer. Central for ICBs to work is activation and infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells following tumour-antigen recognition. However, it is now accepted that even in the case of immunogenic tumours, the effector functions of CD8+ T cells are highly compromised by the presence of an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) at the tumour site. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant non-malignant stromal cell types within the TME and they are crucial drivers of tumour progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. TAMs are able to regulate either directly or indirectly various aspects of tumour immunity, including T cell recruitment and functions. In this review we discuss the mechanisms by which TAMs subvert CD8+ T cell immune surveillance and how their targeting in combination with ICBs represents a very powerful therapeutic strategy.

Inherent CD40L Expression Complements CD8+ T Cell Dependent Anti-Tumor Immunity

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 4494-4494
Author(s):  
Andreas Thiel ◽  
Marco Frentsch ◽  
Regina Stark ◽  
Alberto Sada Japp ◽  
Joanna Listopad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Tumor Immunity ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
Novel Treatment ◽  
Cd40l Expression

Introduction & Objective Adoptive T cell therapy with tumor-specific CD8+ T cells is a promising treatment option for a variety of malignant diseases. However, it is unclear which subset of CD8+ T cells characterized by distinct functions is most suitable for achieving effective and durable anti tumor responses. So far CD8+ T cells have been considered to act predominantly as cytotoxic effector cells in cellular anti-tumor immunity. In this respect cytolytic molecules such as perforin and granzymes and apoptosis-inducing receptors of the tumor necrosis family such as FasL, TNFα and TRAIL have been regarded as major CD8+ T cell effector mechanisms. Methods & Results We here demonstrate in an experimental tumor model that CD40L, the key molecule for “immunological help”, is expressed by up to 50% of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in B6 mice challenged with SV40 T antigen+ cancer cells. To study the influence of CD40L on anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity in vivo we challenged Rag1-/- mice with cancer cells and transferred wt or CD40L-/- CD8+ T cells. Transfer of wt CD8+ T cells prevented the establishment of a solid tumor, whereas injection of CD40L-/- CD8+ T cells alone or in addition with wt CD4+ T cells resulted in a non-controlled tumor development similar to non-treated tumors. The requirement of CD40L on CD8+ T cells for tumor rejection was further confirmed by injecting cancer cells in mice that lack CD40L expression only on mature CD8+ T cells. CD40Lflox x E8Icre mice were more susceptible to tumor formation than wt mice. Furthermore we demonstrated that CD8+ T-cell derived CD40L had to interact with CD40 on cancer cells, an eminent signal to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell types. Conclusion Our results reveal a crucial functional relevance of CD40L expressed by CD8+ T cells in anti-tumor immunity. Various cancer cell types express CD40 and its engagement induces pro-apoptotic or growth-inhibitory signals in a variety of cancer cells. Therefore CD40 agonists are recognized as promising agents for therapeutic interventions. We here introduce CD40L+ CD8+ memory T cells as a new major physiological source of CD40L, essential for rejection of tumors. Our data reveal that the presence or absence of CD40L+ CD8+ T cells represents a crucial element in control of CD40 expressing cancers disclosing novel treatment approaches in adoptive T-cell therapies novel treatment approaches. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Ionic Regulation of T-Cell Function and Anti-Tumour Immunity

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13668
Author(s):  
Pierpaolo Ginefra ◽  
Helen Carrasco Hope ◽  
Mattia Spagna ◽  
Alessandra Zecchillo ◽  
Nicola Vannini
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Tumour Immunity ◽  
T Cell Function

The capacity of T cells to identify and kill cancer cells has become a central pillar of immune-based cancer therapies. However, T cells are characterized by a dysfunctional state in most tumours. A major obstacle for proper T-cell function is the metabolic constraints posed by the tumour microenvironment (TME). In the TME, T cells compete with cancer cells for macronutrients (sugar, proteins, and lipid) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals/ions). While the role of macronutrients in T-cell activation and function is well characterized, the contribution of micronutrients and especially ions in anti-tumour T-cell activities is still under investigation. Notably, ions are important for most of the signalling pathways regulating T-cell anti-tumour function. In this review, we discuss the role of six biologically relevant ions in T-cell function and in anti-tumour immunity, elucidating potential strategies to adopt to improve immunotherapy via modulation of ion metabolism.

scholarly journals Exaggerated Proinflammatory and Th1 Responses in the Absence of γ/δ T Cells after Infection withListeria monocytogenes

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 7213-7223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne J. Skeen ◽  
Emily P. Rix ◽  
Molly M. Freeman ◽  
H. Kirk Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Response Models ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Precise Role

ABSTRACT While γ/δ T cells are involved in host defense and immunopathology in a variety of infectious diseases, their precise role is not yet clearly defined. In the absence of γ/δ T cells, mice die after infection with a dose of Listeria monocytogenes that is not lethal in immunologically intact animals. Morbidity might result from insufficient levels of cytokines normally produced by γ/δ T cells or conversely from an excess of cytokines due to a lack of down-regulation of the inflammatory response in the absence of γ/δ T cells. Consistent with a regulatory role, we found that systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-12, and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) were significantly higher in the absence of γ/δ T cells during the innate phase of the response. Using combinations of genetically altered and immunodepleted mice, we found evidence for γ/δ T-cell-mediated regulation of IFN-γ production by multiple cell types of both lymphoid and myeloid lineages. The antigen-specific α/β T-cell response that followed the exaggerated innate response was also increased in γ/δ T-cell-deficient mice. These findings are consistent with an emerging picture from a variety of immune response models of a critical role for γ/δ T cells in down-modulation of the immune response.

scholarly journals Cross-presentation of a TAP-independent signal peptide induces CD8 T immunity to escaped cancers but necessitates anchor replacement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen A. Marijt ◽  
Lisa Griffioen ◽  
Laura Blijleven ◽  
Sjoerd. H. van der Burg ◽  
Thorbald van Hall
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Cell Repertoire ◽  
Cross Presentation ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Cell Immunity

AbstractCancer cells frequently display defects in their antigen-processing pathway and thereby evade CD8 T cell immunity. We described a novel category of cancer antigens, named TEIPP, that emerge on cancers with functional loss of the peptide pump TAP. TEIPPs are non-mutated neoantigens despite their ‘self’ origin by virtue of their absence on normal tissues. Here, we describe the development of a synthetic long peptide (SLP) vaccine for the most immunogenic TEIPP antigen identified thus far, derived from the TAP-independent LRPAP1 signal sequence. LRPAP121–30-specific CD8 T cells were present in blood of all tested healthy donors as well as patients with non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma. SLPs with natural flanking, however, failed to be cross-presented by monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Since the C-terminus of LRPAP121–30 is an unconventional and weakly binding serine (S), we investigated if replacement of this anchor would result in efficient cross-presentation. Exchange into a valine (V) resulted in higher HLA-A2 binding affinity and enhanced T cell stimulation. Importantly, CD8 T cells isolated using the V-variant were able to bind tetramers with the natural S-variant and respond to TAP-deficient cancer cells. A functional screen with an array of N-terminal and C-terminal extended SLPs pointed at the 24-mer V-SLP, elongated at the N-terminus, as most optimal vaccine candidate. This SLP was efficiently cross-presented and consistently induced a strong polyclonal LRPAP121–30-specific CD8 T cells from the endogenous T cell repertoire. Thus, we designed a TEIPP SLP vaccine from the LRPAP1 signal sequence ready for validation in clinical trials.

scholarly journals Chimeric non-antigen receptors in T cell-based cancer therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e002628
Author(s):  
Jitao Guo ◽  
Andrew Kent ◽  
Eduardo Davila
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Tumor Antigen ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Antigen Recognition ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Antigen Receptors ◽  
Natural Ligands ◽  
And Function

Adoptively transferred T cell-based cancer therapies have shown incredible promise in treatment of various cancers. So far therapeutic strategies using T cells have focused on manipulation of the antigen-recognition machinery itself, such as through selective expression of tumor-antigen specific T cell receptors or engineered antigen-recognition chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). While several CARs have been approved for treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, this kind of therapy has been less successful in the treatment of solid tumors, in part due to lack of suitable tumor-specific targets, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and the inability of adoptively transferred cells to maintain their therapeutic potentials. It is critical for therapeutic T cells to overcome immunosuppressive environmental triggers, mediating balanced antitumor immunity without causing unwanted inflammation or autoimmunity. To address these hurdles, chimeric receptors with distinct signaling properties are being engineered to function as allies of tumor antigen-specific receptors, modulating unique aspects of T cell function without directly binding to antigen themselves. In this review, we focus on the design and function of these chimeric non-antigen receptors, which fall into three broad categories: ‘inhibitory-to-stimulatory’ switch receptors that bind natural ligands, enhanced stimulatory receptors that interact with natural ligands, and synthetic receptor-ligand pairs. Our intent is to offer detailed descriptions that will help readers to understand the structure and function of these receptors, as well as inspire development of additional novel synthetic receptors to improve T cell-based cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Single-cell analysis reveals cell communication triggered by macrophages associated with the reduction and exhaustion of CD8+ T cells in COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei He ◽  
Quan Zhang ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Yixian Fan ◽  
Fahu Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Disease Group ◽  
Communication Analysis ◽  
Receptor Interactions

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has become an ongoing pandemic. Understanding the respiratory immune microenvironment which is composed of multiple cell types, together with cell communication based on ligand–receptor interactions is important for developing vaccines, probing COVID-19 pathogenesis, and improving pandemic control measures. Methods A total of 102 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Clinical information, routine laboratory tests, and flow cytometry analysis data with different conditions were collected and assessed for predictive value in COVID-19 patients. Next, we analyzed public single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which offers the closest available view of immune cell heterogeneity as encountered in patients with varying severity of COVID-19. A weighting algorithm was used to calculate ligand–receptor interactions, revealing the communication potentially associated with outcomes across cell types. Finally, serum cytokines including IL6, IL1β, IL10, CXCL10, TNFα, GALECTIN-1, and IGF1 derived from patients were measured. Results Of the 102 COVID-19 patients, 42 cases (41.2%) were categorized as severe. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that AST, D-dimer, BUN, and WBC were considered as independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19. T cell numbers including total T cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the severe disease group were significantly lower than those in the moderate disease group. The risk model containing the above mentioned inflammatory damage parameters, and the counts of T cells, with AUROCs ranged from 0.78 to 0.87. To investigate the molecular mechanism at the cellular level, we analyzed the published scRNA-seq data and found that macrophages displayed specific functional diversity after SARS-Cov-2 infection, and the metabolic pathway activities in the identified macrophage subtypes were influenced by hypoxia status. Importantly, we described ligand–receptor interactions that are related to COVID-19 serverity involving macrophages and T cell subsets by communication analysis. Conclusions Our study showed that macrophages driving ligand–receptor crosstalk contributed to the reduction and exhaustion of CD8+ T cells. The identified crucial cytokine panel, including IL6, IL1β, IL10, CXCL10, IGF1, and GALECTIN-1, may offer the selective targets to improve the efficacy of COVID-19 therapy. Trial registration: This is a retrospective observational study without a trial registration number.

600 In vitro anticancer and immunomodulatory activities of NBT-167, a dimer of resveratrol

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A635-A635
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Zhang ◽  
Everett Henry ◽  
L Harris Zhang ◽  
Wanying Zhang
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cell Killing ◽  
Gamma Delta T Cells ◽  
Gamma Delta ◽  
Raw264.7 Macrophages

BackgroundResveratrol (3,4’,5-trihydroxystilbene), a stilbenoid isolated from many species of plants, is widely known for its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer activities. Recently, novel resveratrol oligomers have been isolated from various plants; their diverse structures are characterized by the polymerization of two or more resveratrol units. Little is known regarding the anticancer and immunomodulating activities of these oligomers. In this study, we designed in vitro models to compare resveratrol side by side with its natural dimer NBT-167 for their anticancer and immunological activities.MethodsWe isolated resveratrol and its dimer (NBT-167) from plants. The potency of the compounds was compared side by side using cancer cell survival assays and immunological assays with various types of human cells including cancer cell lines, PBMCs and enriched NK, gamma delta T cells, THP-1 monocytic cells, HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells as well as mouse RAW264.7 macrophages.ResultsNBT-167 was found to be more potent than resveratrol in inhibiting growth of various cancer cells and modulation of cytokine production from anti-IgM, LPS, PHA or SEB stimulated PBMC. Both compounds similarly enhanced IL-2 stimulated NK and gamma delta T cell killing activity against K562 cells and modulated nitric oxide production from LPS/IFN-g induced RAW264.7 macrophages and phagocytotic activity of HL-60 cells. NBT-167 was slightly more potently than resveratrol in inhibiting chemotaxis of HL-60 cells and blocking cell cycle of THP-1 and HL-60 cells at G1/S transition. In addition, NBT-167, but not resveratrol, could increase IL-2 production and T cell proliferation stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 and synergize with anti-PD-1 antibody to increase IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in co-culture of allotypic T cells and dendric cells (MLR).ConclusionsOur data showed that NBT-167, a dimer of resveratrol, had anticancer and immunomodulatory activities such as modulation of expression of cytokines in immune cells and induction of cancer cell-killing activities of NK and gamma delta T cells. Generally, NBT-167 appeared to have higher activities than resveratrol in modulating immune cells and inhibiting cancer cells. NBT-167 could be a promising cancer immunotherapeutic agent targeting both cancer cells and immune cells.

scholarly journals Transcriptional programs of neoantigen-specific TIL in anti-PD-1-treated lung cancers

Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justina X. Caushi ◽  
Jiajia Zhang ◽  
Zhicheng Ji ◽  
Ajay Vaghasia ◽  
Boyang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
T Cell Receptors ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Lung Cancers ◽  
Cell Receptors ◽  
Interleukin 7

AbstractPD-1 blockade unleashes CD8 T cells1, including those specific for mutation-associated neoantigens (MANA), but factors in the tumour microenvironment can inhibit these T cell responses. Single-cell transcriptomics have revealed global T cell dysfunction programs in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). However, the majority of TIL do not recognize tumour antigens2, and little is known about transcriptional programs of MANA-specific TIL. Here, we identify MANA-specific T cell clones using the MANA functional expansion of specific T cells assay3 in neoadjuvant anti-PD-1-treated non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). We use their T cell receptors as a ‘barcode’ to track and analyse their transcriptional programs in the tumour microenvironment using coupled single-cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor sequencing. We find both MANA- and virus-specific clones in TIL, regardless of response, and MANA-, influenza- and Epstein–Barr virus-specific TIL each have unique transcriptional programs. Despite exposure to cognate antigen, MANA-specific TIL express an incompletely activated cytolytic program. MANA-specific CD8 T cells have hallmark transcriptional programs of tissue-resident memory (TRM) cells, but low levels of interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) and are functionally less responsive to interleukin-7 (IL-7) compared with influenza-specific TRM cells. Compared with those from responding tumours, MANA-specific clones from non-responding tumours express T cell receptors with markedly lower ligand-dependent signalling, are largely confined to HOBIThigh TRM subsets, and coordinately upregulate checkpoints, killer inhibitory receptors and inhibitors of T cell activation. These findings provide important insights for overcoming resistance to PD-1 blockade.

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