scholarly journals Repertoire and frequency of immune cells reactive to Epstein-Barr virus–derived autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 1334-1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh ◽  
Marisa J. Rotenberg ◽  
Benjamin Gardner ◽  
Marie Robert ◽  
George Miller

AbstractAnswers to questions about frequency and repertoire of immune cells, relative contributions made by different types of immune cells toward the total Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–directed response and the variation of such responses in healthy persons have been elusive because of disparities in assays, antigen presenting cells, and antigenic sources used in previous experiments. In this study, we addressed these questions using an assay that allowed direct comparison of responses generated by different types of cells of the immune system. This short-term (20-hour) ex vivo assay measured interferon-γ production by blood cells in response to autologous EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Our experiments defined the variation in responses among persons and clearly distinguished 10 healthy EBV-immune from 10 healthy EBV-naive persons. In EBV-immune persons, 33% of responding cells were CD4+, 43.3% were CD8+, and 12.9% were γ-δ T cells. LCL-reactive CD8+ T cells were only 1.7-fold more frequent than similarly reactive CD4+T cells. Responses by γ-δ T cells were 6-fold higher in seropositive than in seronegative persons. Our findings emphasize the importance of CD4+ and γ-δ T-cell responses and have implications for immunotherapy and for identifying defects in T-cell populations that might predispose to development of EBV-associated lymphomas.

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (9) ◽  
pp. 3302-3309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Sun ◽  
Robert L. Burton ◽  
Kenneth G. Lucas

Abstract Ex vivo expanded Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–specific T cells have been successfully applied clinically for adoptive immunotherapy. However, the role of CD4+ T cells in the therapeutic T-cell culture has not been established for the reconstitution of EBV-specific immunity. We isolated and characterized CD4+ T-cell lines from the ex vivo T-cell cultures. Monoclonal line PD-F4 and oligoclonal lines ND-R4 and TD-B4 were CD3+CD4+CD8−. Cytolytic tests with targets of mismatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and anti-MHC antibodies confirmed that the cytotoxicity of these CD4+ cells was restricted by MHC class II. Single cells of ND-R4 expressed interferon-γ (IFN-γ, or interleukin 4 (IL-4), but rarely coexpressed these 2 cytokines. In contrast, PD-F4 coexpressed IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4. Kinetic studies with PD-F4 showed that expression of the 3 cytokines plateaued 5 hours upon stimulation and was then drastically reduced, with a pattern consistent with independent modulation and differential off-cycle signal requirements. The cytotoxicity of these CD4+ cells was largely resistant to brefeldin A, an inhibitor for cytolytic pathways by Fas-ligand family molecules. Although sensitive to concanamycin A and ethyleneglycotetraacetic acid, which inhibit cytotoxicity by granule exocytosis, the CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) did not express perforin, suggesting a cytotoxic mechanism independent of perforin although involving exocytosis. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the CD4+ CTLs expressed granulysin, a recently identified cytolytic molecule associated with exocytotic cytolytic granules. These data suggested that CD4+ T cells in the therapeutic B-lymphoblastoid cell lines–primed T-cell culture are diverse in producing TH1 and TH2 cytokines, and may exert specific cytotoxicity via exocytosis of granulysin.


2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 3903-3911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Adhikary ◽  
Uta Behrends ◽  
Regina Feederle ◽  
Henri-Jacques Delecluse ◽  
Josef Mautner

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T-cell lines generated by repeated stimulation with EBV-immortalized lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (LCL) have been successfully used to treat EBV-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. However, PTLD in solid-organ transplant recipients and other EBV-associated malignancies respond less efficiently to this adoptive T-cell therapy. LCL-stimulated T-cell preparations are polyclonal and contain CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but the composition varies greatly between lines. Because T-cell lines with higher CD4+ T-cell proportions show improved clinical efficacy, we assessed which factors might compromise the expansion of this T-cell population. Here we show that spontaneous virus production by LCL and, hence, the presentation of viral antigens varies intra- and interindividually and is further impaired by acyclovir treatment of LCL. Moreover, the stimulation of T cells with LCL grown in medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) caused the expansion of FCS-reactive CD4+ T cells, whereas human serum from EBV-seropositive donors diminished viral antigen presentation. To overcome these limitations, we used peripheral blood mononuclear cells pulsed with nontransforming virus-like particles as antigen-presenting cells. This strategy facilitated the specific and rapid expansion of EBV-specific CD4+ T cells and, thus, might contribute to the development of standardized protocols for the generation of T-cell lines with improved clinical efficacy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e000736
Author(s):  
Anna Christina Dragon ◽  
Katharina Zimmermann ◽  
Thomas Nerreter ◽  
Deborah Sandfort ◽  
Julia Lahrberg ◽  
...  

BackgroundImmunosuppressive therapy or T-cell depletion in transplant patients can cause uncontrolled growth of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells resulting in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Current treatment options do not distinguish between healthy and malignant B cells and are thereby often limited by severe side effects in the already immunocompromised patients. To specifically target EBV-infected B cells, we developed a novel peptide-selective chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) based on the monoclonal antibody TÜ165 which recognizes an Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)−3C-derived peptide in HLA-B*35 context in a T-cell receptor (TCR)-like manner. In order to attract additional immune cells to proximity of PTLD cells, based on the TÜ165 CAR, we moreover generated T cells redirected for universal cytokine-mediated killing (TRUCKs), which induce interleukin (IL)-12 release on target contact.MethodsTÜ165-based CAR-T cells (CAR-Ts) and TRUCKs with inducible IL-12 expression in an all-in-one construct were generated. Functionality of the engineered cells was assessed in co-cultures with EBNA-3C-peptide-loaded, HLA-B*35-expressing K562 cells and EBV-infected B cells as PTLD model. IL-12, secreted by TRUCKs on target contact, was further tested for its chemoattractive and activating potential towards monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.ResultsAfter co-cultivation with EBV target cells, TÜ165 CAR-Ts and TRUCKs showed an increased activation marker expression (CD137, CD25) and release of proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α). Moreover, TÜ165 CAR-Ts and TRUCKs released apoptosis-inducing mediators (granzyme B and perforin) and were capable to specifically lyse EBV-positive target cells. Live cell imaging revealed a specific attraction of TÜ165 CAR-Ts around EBNA-3C-peptide-loaded target cells. Of note, TÜ165 TRUCKs with inducible IL-12 showed highly improved effector functions and additionally led to recruitment of monocyte and NK cell lines.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that TÜ165 CAR-Ts recognize EBV peptide/HLA complexes in a TCR-like manner and thereby allow for recognizing an intracellular EBV target. TÜ165 TRUCKs equipped with inducible IL-12 expression responded even more effectively and released IL-12 recruited additional immune cells which are generally missing in proximity of lymphoproliferation in immunocompromised PTLD patients. This suggests a new and promising strategy to specifically target EBV-infected cells while sparing and mobilizing healthy immune cells and thereby enable control of EBV-associated lymphoproliferation.


Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1446-1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Imai ◽  
M Sugiura ◽  
O Oikawa ◽  
S Koizumi ◽  
M Hirao ◽  
...  

Four novel Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-carrying T-cell lines, designated SIS, AIK-T8, AIK-T4, and SKN, were established from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with severe chronic active EBV infection, in the presence of interleukin-2 and 4-deoxyphorbol ester. AIK-T8 and - T4 were derived from a single patient. Cell marker and genotype analyses showed that SIS, AIK-T8, and AIK-T4 had mature T-cell phenotypes with clonally rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, whereas SKN had an immature T-cell phenotype without TCR gene rearrangement. None of the cell lines expressed B, natural killer, or myeloid antigens or had Ig gene rearrangement. All lines carried EBV genomes in a single episomal form. SIS, AIK-T8, and SKN showed the same phenotype, TCR gene configuration, and/or EBV clonotype as their source or biopsied materials; therefore, they represented EBV-infected T cells proliferating in the patients. TCR gene and EBV episomal structures similar to those of AIK-T4 were not found in its source PBL, probably due to the few parental clones in vivo. All lines expressed EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) 1, nuclear antigen (EBNA) 1, and latent membrane protein (LMP) 1, -2A, and -2B, but not other EBNAs that could be recognized by EBV-specific immune T cells. EBV replicative antigens were rarely expressed or induced. Such EBV latency reflects the in vivo situation, in which the T cells may evade immune surveillance and be insensitive to antiherpesvirus drugs. Collectively, the data suggest that EBV can target and latently infect T cells at any stage of differentiation in vivo, thus potentially causing uncontrolled T-cell proliferation. These cell lines will facilitate further analyses of possible EBV-induced oncogenicity in T cells.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 6192-6198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey Smith ◽  
Leone Beagley ◽  
Rajiv Khanna

ABSTRACT Latent membrane antigen 1 and -2 (LMP-1/2)-specific CD8+ T cells from newly diagnosed and relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients display a selective functional impairment. In contrast, CD8+ T cells specific for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear proteins and lytic antigens retain normal T-cell function. Reversion to a dysfunctional phenotype of LMP-1/2-specific T cells is coincident with the regression of HL. To delineate the potential basis for this differential susceptibility for the loss of function, we have carried out a comprehensive functional analysis of EBV-specific T cells using ex vivo multiparametric flow cytometry in combination with assessment of antigen-driven proliferative potential. This analysis revealed that LMP-1/2-specific T cells from healthy virus carriers display a deficient polyfunctional profile compared to that of T cells specific for epitopes derived from EBV nuclear proteins and lytic antigens. Furthermore, LMP-specific T-cells are highly susceptible to galectin-1-mediated immunosuppression and are less likely to degranulate following exposure to cognate peptide epitopes and poorly recognized endogenously processed epitopes from virus-infected B cells. More importantly, ex vivo stimulation of these T cells with an adenoviral vector encoding multiple minimal CD8+ T-cell epitopes as a polyepitope, in combination with a γC cytokine, interleukin-2, restored polyfunctionality and shielded these cells from the inhibitory effects of galectin-1.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 3242-3250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Sun ◽  
Karen E. Pollok ◽  
Robert L. Burton ◽  
Li Jun Dai ◽  
William Britt ◽  
...  

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced lymphoproliferative disease are serious complications associated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Immunotherapy using ex vivo expanded, virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been explored and proven to be effective in therapeutic or prophylactic regimens for CMV and EBV infections. To generate CTL specific for both CMV and EBV, we engineered EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL) to express CMV pp65 for use as antigen-presenting cells (APC). BLCL were transduced with a recombinant retrovirus encoding pp65, the immunodominant CMV polypeptide. Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry confirmed the expression of pp65 in the transduced cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy CMV seropositive donors were stimulated with autologous pp65-expressing BLCL weekly for 3 weeks. Chromium release assays showed that the resulting CTL cultures possessed specific cytotoxicity against EBV and CMV. Recombinant vaccinia viruses encoding individual CMV peptides were used to demonstrate that this CMV-specific cytotoxicity was specific for pp65. Assays on CD4- and CD8-depleted CTL fractions indicated that CD8+ CTL mediated the pp65-specific cytotoxicity. These CMV/EBV-specific CTL recognized CMV- and EBV-infected targets sharing HLA class I antigens, but not HLA mismatched targets. Our results demonstrate that BLCL can be used as APC to stimulate expansion of EBV- and CMV-specific CTL simultaneously. These findings have potential implications for posttransplant CMV and EBV immunotherapy in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplants.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document