scholarly journals In vivo administration of hypomethylating agents mitigate graft-versus-host disease without sacrificing graft-versus-leukemia

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaebok Choi ◽  
Julie Ritchey ◽  
Julie L. Prior ◽  
Matthew Holt ◽  
William D. Shannon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Allogeneic Bone ◽  
Hypomethylating Agents ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Suppressor Function ◽  
Graft Versus Leukemia

Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while preserving a beneficial graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. Thus, their use in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) provides a promising strategy to treat GVHD. However, 3 obstacles prevent their routine use in human clinical trials: (1) low circulating number of Tregs in peripheral blood, (2) loss of suppressor function after in vitro expansion, and (3) lack of Treg-specific surface markers necessary for efficient purification. FOXP3 is exclusively expressed in Tregs and forced expression in CD4+CD25− T cells can convert these non-Tregs into Tregs with functional suppressor function. Here, we show that the FDA-approved hypomethylating agents, decitabine (Dec) and azacitidine (AzaC), induce FOXP3 expression in CD4+CD25− T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Their suppressor function is dependent on direct contact, partially dependent on perforin 1 (Prf1), but independent of granzyme B (GzmB), and surprisingly, Foxp3. Independence of Foxp3 suggests that genes responsible for the suppressor function are also regulated by DNA methylation. We have identified 48 candidate genes for future studies. Finally, AzaC treatment of mice that received a transplant of major histocompatibility complex mismatched allogeneic bone marrow and T cells mitigates GVHD while preserving GVL by peripheral conversion of alloreactive effector T cells into FOXP3+ Tregs and epigenetic modulation of genes downstream of Foxp3 required for the suppressor function of Tregs.

Prevention of Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease by Photochemical Treatment

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
pp. 3140-3147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Grass ◽  
Tamim Wafa ◽  
Aaron Reames ◽  
David Wages ◽  
Laurence Corash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Peripheral Blood Cell ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host

Abstract Photochemical treatment (PCT) with the psoralen S-59 and long wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA) inactivates high titers of contaminating viruses, bacteria, and leukocytes in human platelet concentrates. The present study evaluated the efficacy of PCT to prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) in vivo using a well-characterized parent to F1 murine transfusion model. Recipient mice in four treatment groups were transfused with 108 splenic leukocytes. (1) Control group mice received syngeneic splenic leukocyte transfusions; (2) GVHD group mice received untreated allogeneic splenic leukocytes; (3) gamma radiation group mice received gamma irradiated (2,500 cGy) allogeneic splenic leukocytes; and (4) PCT group mice received allogeneic splenic leukocytes treated with 150 μmol/L S-59 and 2.1 J/cm2UVA. Multiple biological and clinical parameters were used to monitor the development of TA-GVHD in recipient mice over a 10-week posttransfusion observation period: peripheral blood cell levels, spleen size, engraftment by donor T cells, thymic cellularity, clinical signs of TA-GVHD (weight loss, activity, posture, fur texture, skin integrity), and histologic lesions of liver, spleen, bone marrow, and skin. Mice in the control group remained healthy and free of detectable disease. Mice in the GVHD group developed clinical and histological lesions of TA-GVHD, including pancytopenia, marked splenomegaly, wasting, engraftment with donor derived T cells, and thymic hypoplasia. In contrast, mice transfused with splenic leukocytes treated with (2,500 cGy) gamma radiation or 150 μmol/L S-59 and 2.1 J/cm2 UVA remained healthy and did not develop detectable TA-GVHD. Using an in vitro T-cell proliferation assay, greater than 105.1 murine T cells were inactivated by PCT. Therefore, in addition to inactivating high levels of pathogenic viruses and bacteria in PC, these data indicate that PCT is an effective alternative to gamma irradiation for prevention of TA-GVHD.

Characterization of in vitro antimurine thymocyte globulin–induced regulatory T cells that inhibit graft-versus-host disease in vivo

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 1726-1734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie C. Ruzek ◽  
James S. Waire ◽  
Deborah Hopkins ◽  
Gina LaCorcia ◽  
Jennifer Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Antithymocyte Globulin ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Regulatory Cells ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host

Abstract Antithymocyte/antilymphocyte globulins are polyclonal antihuman T-cell antibodies used clinically to treat acute transplant rejection. These reagents deplete T cells, but a rabbit antihuman thymocyte globulin has also been shown to induce regulatory T cells in vitro. To examine whether antithymocyte globulin–induced regulatory cells might be functional in vivo, we generated a corresponding rabbit antimurine thymocyte globulin (mATG) and tested its ability to induce regulatory cells in vitro and whether those cells can inhibit acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in vivo upon adoptive transfer. In vitro, mATG induces a population of CD4+CD25+ T cells that express several cell surface molecules representative of regulatory T cells. These cells do not express Foxp3 at either the protein or mRNA level, but do show suppressive function both in vitro and in vivo when adoptively transferred into a model of GVHD. These results demonstrate that in a murine system, antithymocyte globulin induces cells with suppressive activity that also function in vivo to protect against acute GVHD. Thus, in both murine and human systems, antithymocyte globulins not only deplete T cells, but also appear to generate regulatory cells. The in vitro generation of regulatory cells by anti-thymocyte globulins could provide ad-ditional therapeutic modalities for immune-mediated disease.

Host γd T cells Exacerbate Experimental Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease through Activation of Host Antigen Presenting Cells.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3045-3045
Author(s):  
Yoshinobu Maeda ◽  
Pavan Reddy ◽  
Chen Liu ◽  
D. Keith Bishop ◽  
James L.M. Ferrara
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mhc Class Ii ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Full Intensity

Abstract Large numbers of T cells bearing γd T cell receptors are present in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) target tissues. We investigated the potential role of host γd T cells during acute GVHD in a well-characterized GVHD model following full intensity conditioning (11 Gy TBI). BM and spleen T cells from BALB/c (H2d) donors were transplanted into wild type (wt) B6, aß T cell deficient B6 (aß −/−) or γd T cell deficient B6 (γd −/−) hosts. γd −/− hosts demonstrated significantly better day 35 survival (85%) than wt (40%) or aß−/− hosts (18%) (P<0.05). Reconstitution of γd −/− B6 hosts with B6 type γd T cells 24 hr prior to BMT restored lethal GVHD (50 % day 35 survival). In vivo, γd −/− B6 hosts demonstrated at least a five fold reduction in donor T cell expansion and cytokine production. In vitro, T cells proliferated less when co-cultured with allogeneic γd −/− dendritic cells (DCs) than with wt DCs (40,127 ± 1634 vs. 72,503 ± 1296, P<0.05). BM-derived DCs cultured with γd T cells caused greater proliferation of allogeneic T cells than DCs cultured with aß T cells (15.1 ± 21 x 104 vs. 5.1 ± 1.2 x 104, P<0.05). We next tested the effect of γd T cells on host DCs in vivo using a model system in which only the DCs injected prior to BMT expressed the alloantigen that stimulated the GVHD reaction. MHC Class II −/− B6 mice that had been depleted of γd T cells were given 11 Gy TBI and injected one day prior to BMT with B6 DCs that had been co-cultured either with γd T cells or with medium. On day 0 both groups of recipient mice were injected with BM plus splenic T cells from allogeneic bm12 donors. On day +5, CD4+ donor T cells expanded four times more in recipients of DCs co-cultured with γd T cells than in recipients of control DCs and serum levels of TNF-a were significantly higher (36.7 + 6.8 vs. 21.3 + 3.7 pg/ml, P<0.05). Together these data demonstrate that γd T cells amplify the stimulatory function of host DCs and increase the severity of GVHD, suggesting that a new therapeutic target for the prevention of the major BMT toxicity.

Donor Dual TCR T Cells Preferentially Expand and Mediate Pathologic Alloreactivity in Acute Graft Versus Host Disease

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1972-1972
Author(s):  
Gerald P. Morris ◽  
Geoffrey L Uy ◽  
David L Donermeyer ◽  
Paul M Allen ◽  
John F. DiPersio
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Thymic Selection ◽  
Cell Repertoire ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host

Abstract Abstract 1972 The nature of the T cell repertoire mediating pathologic in vivo alloreactivity is an important question for understanding the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) following clinical allogeneic transplantation. We have previously demonstrated that the small proportion of T cells that naturally express 2 T cell receptors (TCR) as a consequence of incomplete TCRa allelic exclusion during thymic development contribute disproportionately to the alloreactive T cell repertoire, both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of graft versus host disease (GvHD) (J. Immunol., 182:6639, 2009). Here, we extend these findings to human biology, examining dual TCR T cells from healthy volunteer donors (n = 12) and patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 19). Peripheral blood was collected at day 30 post-HSCT or at the time of presentation with symptomatic acute GvHD. Dual TCR T cells were measured in peripheral blood by pair-wise staining with 3 commercially-available and 2 novel TCRa mAbs. Dual TCR T cells were consistently and significantly expanded in patients with symptomatic aGvHD, representing 5.3±3.8 % of peripheral T cells, compared to 1.7±0.8 % of T cells in healthy controls (p < 0.005) (Figure 1). There was no correlation between dual TCR T cell frequency and GvHD severity. Furthermore, sequential analysis of peripheral blood in 2 patients demonstrated expansion of dual TCR T cells concurrent with the development of aGvHD (Figure 2). Dual TCR T cells from patients with symptomatic aGvHD demonstrated increased expression of CD69 as compared to T cells expressing a single TCR, indicative of preferential activation of dual TCR T cells during aGvHD. Similarly, dual TCR T cells isolated from patients with symptomatic aGvHD demonstrate increased production of IFN-g ex vivo, indicative of the ability to mediate pathogenic alloreactive responses. Dual TCR T cell clones isolated from healthy donors and patients post-HSCT by single cell FACS sorting demonstrate alloreactive responses against a range of allogeneic cell lines in vitro. We propose that the increased alloreactivity of dual TCR T cells results from the less stringent thymic selection for secondary TCR, and thus provides a link between thymic selection, the TCR repertoire, and alloreactivity. These findings may lead to simple ways of phenotypically identifying specific T cells predisposed to inducing aGvHD for subsequent examination of T cell repertoires and functional studies. Furthermore, these data suggest that dual TCR T cells represent a potential predictive biomarker for aGvHD and a potential target for selective T cell depletion in HSCT. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Maintain Graft-Versus-Leukemia in Murine Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1907-1907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery J Auletta ◽  
Saada Eid ◽  
Matthew Keller ◽  
Leland Metheny ◽  
Rocio Guardia-Wolff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Allogeneic Bone ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Graft Versus Leukemia

Abstract Abstract 1907 Defining in vivo effects and biodistribution of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT) could impact the clinical utility of MSC therapy for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Using an established model of murine alloBMT, we defined hMSC effects on GvHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) activity. We first studied whether hMSC could modulate in vitro murine T-cell (TC) alloreactivity in mixed leukocyte cultures (MLCs). Specifically, hMSCs added to MLCs significantly reduced TC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner distinct from human fibroblasts. In contrast to MLC cultures alone, MLCs containing hMSCs had significant reduction in TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-10 levels and higher levels of PGE2 and TGFβ1. Modulation in the inflammatory milieu was associated with changes in TC phenotypes, including more naïve and less activated TC surface marker expression (CD62L+CD69−) and the induction of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T-regulatory cells. To determine whether hMSCs could modulate in vivo mTC alloreactivity, irradiated recipient B6D2F1 (H-2bxd) mice were transplanted with allogeneic C57BL/6 (H-2b) BM and purified splenic TCs (B6→B6D2F1) and then were tail-vein injected with hMSC infusions (1 million per injection) on days one and four post-transplant. Syngeneic transplant recipients (B6D2F1→B6D2F1) were used as controls. hMSC-treated alloBMT mice had significantly prolonged survival and improved clinical GvHD scores, reduced splenic TC expansion and TNFα and IFNγ-producing TCs, and lower circulating TNFα and IFNγ levels versus untreated alloBMT mice. Bioluminescence imaging showed redistribution of labeled hMSCs from the lungs to abdominal organs within 72 hours following infusion. Importantly, GvHD target tissues (small and large bowel and liver) harvested from hMSC-treated alloBMT mice had significantly lower GvHD pathology scores than untreated alloBMT mice. We next determined the effects of hMSCs on GvL activity using the murine mastocytoma cell line, P815 (H-2d). TCs co-cultured with hMSCs maintained potent in vitro cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity comparable to untreated control CTLs. After challenge with P815 tumor cells, hMSCs-treated alloBMT mice had less severe GvHD, eradication of tumor burden, and improved leukemia-free survival compared to alloBMT control mice. Lastly, indomethacin (IM) added to MLC-hMSC co-cultures significantly reversed attenuation in both murine TC alloreactivity and surface activation expression. In addition, IM administered to hMSC-treated alloBMT mice reversed hMSC-associated survival advantage, suggesting that PGE2 in part mediates hMSC immunomodulatory effects. Together, our results show that hMSC infusions effectively attenuate GvHD and maintain GvL potency in alloBMT mice and reveal potential biomarkers and mechanisms of action underlying hMSC effects. Disclosures: Solchaga: Bimemetic Therapeutics: Employment. Cooke:Amgen: Provides experimental drug and central pharmacy support for 2 trials for which I am Co-PI.

Prevention of graft-versus-host-disease with preserved graft-versus-leukemia-effect by ex vivo and in vivo modulation of CD4+ T-cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2135-2148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Fricke ◽  
Nadja Hilger ◽  
Christian Fricke ◽  
Uta Schönfelder ◽  
Gerhard Behre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Graft Versus Leukemia ◽  
Graft Versus Leukemia Effect

G-CSF as immune regulator in T cells expressing the G-CSF receptor: implications for transplantation and autoimmune diseases

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 734-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Franzke ◽  
Wenji Piao ◽  
Jörg Lauber ◽  
Patricia Gatzlaff ◽  
Christian Könecke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Acute Graft

Abstract Results from experimental models, in vitro studies, and clinical data indicate that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulation alters T-cell function and induces Th2 immune responses. The immune modulatory effect of G-CSF on T cells results in an unexpected low incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease in peripheral stem cell transplantation. However, the underlying mechanism for the reduced reactivity and/or alloreactivity of T cells upon G-CSF treatment is still unknown. In contrast to the general belief that G-CSF acts exclusively on T cells via monocytes and dendritic cells, our results clearly show the expression of the G-CSF receptor in class I– and II– restricted T cells at the single-cell level both in vivo and in vitro. Kinetic studies demonstrate the induction and functional activity of the G-CSF receptor in T cells upon G-CSF exposure. Expression profiling of T cells from G-CSF–treated stem cell donors allowed identification of several immune modulatory genes, which are regulated upon G-CSF administration in vivo (eg, LFA1-α, ISGF3-γ) and that are likely responsible for the reduced reactivity and/or alloreactivity. Most importantly, the induction of GATA-3, the master transcription factor for a Th2 immune response, could be demonstrated in T cells upon G-CSF treatment in vivo accompanied by an increase of spontaneous interleukin-4 secretion. Hence, G-CSF is a strong immune regulator of T cells and a promising therapeutic tool in acute graft-versus-host disease as well as in conditions associated with Th1/Th2 imbalance, such as bone marrow failure syndromes and autoimmune diseases.

Inhibition of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDAC) SAHA Leads to Downregulation of STAT1 Activation.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1311-1311
Author(s):  
Corinna Leng ◽  
Cuiling Li ◽  
Judy Ziegler ◽  
Anna Lokshin ◽  
Suzanne Lentzsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Histone Deacetylase ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to reduce development of graft versus host disease [GVHD] following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation [BMT]. Administration of the HDAC inhibitor suberonylanilide hydroxamic acid [SAHA] resulted in a significantly reduced GVHD-dependent mortality following fully MHC-mismatched allogeneic BMT. Median Survival Time (MST) for vehicle and SAHA-treated mice were 7.5 days and 38 days respectively. However, SAHA treatment did not affect T cell activation nor T cell expansion in vitro and in vivo as determined by MLR assays, phenotypic analysis of donor T cells with regard to expression of the CD25 activation antigen and calculation of donor CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers on days +3 and +6 post-BMT. Thus, SAHA treatment was not able to inhibit the strong upregulation of CD25 antigen on CD8+ T cells observed during induction of GVHD on days +3 and +6 post-BMT. We therefore focused on the effects of SAHA treatment on efferent immune effects including cytokine secretion and intracellular signaling events in vitro and in vivo following GVHD induction. SAHA treatment broadly inhibited lipopolysaccharide [LPS] and allo-antigen-induced cytokine/chemokine secretion in vitro like MIP-1-α, IP-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6 and led also to a significant decrease in IFN-γ and TNF-α levels in vivo following induction of GVHD. Concomitantly, SAHA treatment inhibited phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3 in response to LPS and allo-activation in vitro. Furthermore, analysis of liver tissue and spleens from SAHA-treated animals with GVHD showed a significant decrease in phosphorylated STAT1. In contrast SAHA treatment had only moderate effects on p38 or ERK1,2 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway underscoring the relevance of the inhibition of the STAT1 pathway. In conclusion, GVHD is associated with a strong induction of phosphorylation of STAT1 in the liver and spleen and SAHA-dependent reduction of GVHD is associated with systemic and local inhibition of pSTAT1 and modulation of the inflammatory cytokine milieu during the efferent immune response.

Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 Are Involved in the Induction of Graft-Versus-Host-Disease in Mice.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 5175-5175
Author(s):  
Axel Nogai ◽  
Markus M. Heimesaat ◽  
Marc Thiele ◽  
Stefan Bereswill ◽  
Eckhard Thiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Vitro Data ◽  
In Vitro Data

Abstract BACKGROUND: Intestinal Graft-versus-Host disease is a frequent and often lethal complication after allogenic stem cell transplantation. Since NOD2 polymorphisms have been recognized as potential triggers of severe intestinal GvHD in humans, we have developed murine transplantation models to investigate the role of different pattern recognition receptors (PRR) in GvHD and GvL. Here we report our results on the role of TLR2 and TLR4 for the induction of GvHD. METHODS: Severity of GvHD in wildtype (wt) C57B/10 (H-2Db), TLR2−/−, TLR4−/−, and combined TLR2−/−TLR4−/− C57B/10 mice was investigated. Mice received treosulfan 2000 mg/kg from day -3 to -1 and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg day -1 prior to injection of 10×10^6 H-2Dd BM cells and 5×10^6 splenocytes (SC). Survival and GvHD score were assessed daily. Engraftment was determined every 2 weeks in pB and at the end of the experiments in bone marrow by flow cytometry. T cell alloreactivity in GvH direction was assessed by MLR using splenocytes as stimulators from PRR-deficient mice or wt as control and CFSE-staining as read-out. The relevance of PRR ligands for the enhancement of GvH alloreactivity was determined by addition of lipid A, lipopetides, or CpG. RESULTS: in vivo data: The transfer of 10×10^6 BMC + 5×10^6 SC induced a severe GvHD in all wt recipients, leading to death of 90% of the animals within 20 days. Recipient mice lacking either TLR2 or TLR4 showed only a slightly and not significantly decreased GvHD lethality. In recipients lacking both PPRs, i.e. TLR2 and TLR4, GvHD was generally milder and the majority (60%) of the animals survived until day 20 (p<0.05). However, the long term survival was not significantly improved. Differences in clinical severity of GvHD were confirmed histologically. In vitro data: Stimulation with cells from TLR2−/− and TLR4−/− mice resulted in a decreased alloreactivity in MLR. A median of 2% of Balb/c CD4+ T cells proliferated in response to C57B/10 stimulators. The addition of the TLR2 and TLR4 ligands lipopeptide, Lipid A and CpG significantly (p<0.05) increased the proliferation of CD4+ T cells in a specific manner more than twofold. CONCLUSION: Our in vivo and in vitro data consistantly show that bacterial components are involved in triggering GvH alloreactivity via different types of PPRs. Binding of bacterial substances to TLR2 and TLR4 leads to activation of the immune system and subsequent induction of GvHD. Our data provide an experimental basis for the development of strategies for modulation of the intestinal gut flora by selective gut decontamination and/or probiotic regimens to prevent GvHD in humans.

Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Allogeneic T Cells Mitigate Graft-Versus-Host Disease but Retain Graft-Versus-Leukemia Activity

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3820-3820
Author(s):  
Lingling Zhang ◽  
Shuting Zhao ◽  
Steven M. Devine ◽  
Xiaoming He ◽  
Jianhua Yu
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Electrostatic Deposition ◽  
Graft Versus Leukemia ◽  
Donor T Cells

Abstract Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has curative potential for hematological malignancies, but is often associated with life-threatening complications including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity which accompanies HSCT is responsible for eradication of tumor cells and prevention of relapse. GVHD and GVL are usually associated with each other and the separation of the two activities occurs in limited circumstances. In this study, we aimed to mitigate GVHD but retain GVL through transplantation of allogeneic T cells encapsulated with bio-degradable nanoparticle materials. For the above purpose, donor T cells were encapsulated with chitosan and alginate through layer-by-layer coating using electrostatic deposition. Encapsulated donor T cells were characterized in vitro, and their ability to inhibit GVHD and retain GVL was determined in vivo after being transplanted together with non-encapsulated donor bone marrow (BM) cells in a C57BL/6 → BALB/c HSCT mouse model. We found 85.7% of donor T cells were successfully encapsulated by the above method (Fig 1A). In vitro studies showed that the encapsulation did not change the phenotype of T cells as defined through the following parameters: size, viability, proliferation, antibody binding, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxicity of T cells (Fig. 1B and data not shown). Mice transplanted with encapsulated allogeneic T cells exhibited less severe acute GVHD and prolonged survival (Fig. 1 C-E). The mice showed a lower GVHD score, less liver damage, a smaller CD8/CD4 T cell ratio, and a higher number of donor BM-derived cells following transplantation with encapsulated donor T cells (Fig. 1 C-E and data not shown). When this GVHD model was combined with implantation of A20 lymphoma cells, GVL of encapsulated T cells was not compromised, while GVHD was still suppressed and the mouse survival also prolonged (Figure 2). In summary, nanoencapsulation of T cells with bio-degradable materials attenuated the severity of GVHD but retained GVL, presenting a novel and potentially safer and effective approach of allogeneic HSCT for future clinical application. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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