scholarly journals Single-Cell Multi-Omic Analysis Uncovers Comprised Immune Function and Primary Resistance Mechanism in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 378-378
Author(s):  
Jianbiao Zhou ◽  
Jonathan Adam Scolnick ◽  
Stacy Xu ◽  
Melissa Ooi ◽  
Priscella Shirley Chia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Approximately 20% of AML patients do not respond to induction chemotherapy (primary resistance) and 40-60% of patients develop secondary resistance, eventually leading to relapse followed by refractory disease (RR-AML). Diversified molecular mechanisms have been proposed for drug resistance and RR phenotype. However, we still cannot predict when relapse will occur, nor which patients will become resistant to therapy. Single-cell multi-omic (ScMo) profiling may provide new insights into our understanding of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation trajectories, tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution. Here we applied ScMo to profile bone marrow (BM) from AML patients and healthy controls. Methods: AML samples were collected at diagnosis with institutional IRB approval. Cells were stained with a panel of 62 DNA barcoded antibodies and 10x Genomics Single Cell 3' Library Kit v3 was used to generate ScMo data. After normalization, clusters were identified using Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and annotated using MapCell (Koh and Hoon, 2019). We analyzed 23,933 cells from 4 adult AML BM samples, and 39,522 cells from 2 healthy adults and 3 sorted CD34+ normal BM samples. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and Enrichr program were used to examine underlying pathways among differentially expressed genes between healthy and AML samples. Results: We identified 16 cell types between the AML and normal samples (Fig 1a) amongst 45 clusters in the UMAP projection (Fig 1b). Comparative analysis of the T cell clusters in AML samples with healthy BM cells identified an "AML T-cell signature" with over-expression of genes such as granzymes, NK/T cell markers, chemokine and cytokine, proteinase and proteinase inhibitor (Fig 2a). Among them, IL32 is known to be involved in activation-induced cell death in T cells and has immunosuppressive role, while CD8+ GZMB+ and CD8+ GZMK+ cells are considered as dysfunctional or pre-dysfunctional T cells. Indeed, Enrichr analysis showed the top rank of phenotype term - "decreased cytotoxic T cell cytolysis". We next examined whether NK cells, are similarly dysfunctional in the AML ecosystem. The "AML NK cell signature" includes Fc Fragment family, IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), the effector protein-encoding genes and other genes when compared to normal NK cells (Fig 2b). GSEA analysis revealed "PD-1 signalling" among the top 5 ranked pathways in AML-NK cells, though no increase in PD-1 protein nor PDCD1 gene were identified in these cells. Inhibitory receptor CD160 was expressed higher in AML samples along with exhaustion (dysfunction) associated genes TIGIT, PRF1 and GZMB (Fig 2c). Enrichr analysis uncovered enrichment of "abnormal NK cell physiology and "impaired natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity". Similarly, the "AML monocyte signature" was significantly enriched with genes in "Tumor Infiltrating Macrophages in Cancer Progression and Immune Escape" and "Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in Cancer Immune Escape". We also analyzed HSPC component in one pair of cytogenetically matched, untreated complete remission (CR) /RR AML pair (Fig 2d). Notably, half of the 10 genes overexpressed in RR-AML, CXCR4, LGALS1, S100A8, S100A9, SRGN (Serglycin), regulate cell-matrix interaction and play pivotal roles in leukemic cells homing bone marrow niche. The first 4 of these genes have been demonstrated as prognostic indicators of poor survival and associated with chemo-resistance and anti-apoptotic function. Furthermore, single-cell trajectory analysis of this CR/RR pair illustrated a change in differentiation pattern of HSPCs in CR-AML to monocytes in RR-AML. We are currently analyzing more AML samples to validate these findings. Conclusions: Our ScMo analysis demonstrates that the immune cells are systematically reprogrammed and functionally comprised in the AML ecosystem. Upregulation of BM niche factors could be the underlying mechanism for RR-AML. Thus, reversing the inhibited immune system is an important strategy for AML therapy and targeting leukemic cell-BM niche interaction should be considered for cases with high expression of these molecules on AML HSPCs. Note: J.Z. and J.A.S. share co-first authorship. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Scolnick: Proteona Pte Ltd: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Xu: Proteona Pte Ltd: Current Employment. Ooi: Jansen: Honoraria; Teva Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Lovci: Proteona Pte Ltd: Current Employment. Chng: Aslan: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Johnson & Johnson: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Antengene: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria.

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3781-3781
Author(s):  
Eolia Brissot ◽  
Sawa Ito ◽  
Kit Lu ◽  
Carly Cantilena ◽  
B. Douglas Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains a therapeutic challenge with less than 40% long term survival. There is growing evidence that malignant diseases exert an “immune editing” effect which blocks antitumor immunity and permits tumor growth through immune evasion. Such tumor escape represents an obstacle for anticancer immunotherapy. In ALL such immune escape mechanisms are not well characterized. We therefore profiled cellular immunity in ALL, by characterizing the subsets of T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg), natural killers (NK) cells and γd T cells, using various functional markers including T cell exhaustion and NK cell activating or inhibitory molecules. Forty ALL patients were included in the study. The median age was 39 y (range, 18-75). Thirty-six presented with B-lineage ALL and 4 with T-lineage ALL. Mononuclear cells were isolated from blood (n=19) or bone marrow (n=21) at the onset of leukemia or at relapse. The median infiltration of blasts was 85% (range 24-96%). Healthy donor peripheral blood (n=12) and bone marrow (n=9), from age and gender matched population, were simultaneously analyzed as controls. Extra-and intra cellular staining were performed using using antibodies directed against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45, CD45, CD45RA, CD45RO, CCR7, CD95, CD27, CD19, CD14, CD127, CD25, Foxp3, Helios, αβTCR, HLA-DR, CD117, CD20, CD10, CD22, CD34, LAG3, PD1, PDL1, CD56, NKG2A, NKG2C, NKG2D, KIR2DL1, KIR2DL3, CD57, CD33, CD11b, CD15, CD38 and CD24. Data were acquired on a BD LSRFORTESSA flow cytometer. The expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1, CD279) receptor on CD8+T cells was significantly increased in blood and bone marrow of ALL patients compared to healthy donors (p<0.0001 and p=0.004, respectively) (Fig. 1). Focusing on the different subsets, CD8+ effector memory T cells significantly over-expressed PD-1 in blood and bone marrow of ALL patients compared to healthy donors (p=0.008 and p=0.04, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between PD-1 expression on CD8+ effector memory T cells and blast infiltration (R2=0.23, 95%CI 0.026-0.76, p=0.04). Expression of the co-inhibitory receptor lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3, CD223) was similar in ALL patients compared to healthy donors. A significantly higher frequency of T regulators (CD25+, CD127 low, Foxp3+) was found in bone marrow microenvironment in ALL patients (4.3% versus 1.6%, p=0.02). Concerning γd T cells, frequency was similar in blood and bone marrow of ALL patients compared with healthy donors. There was a significantly lower frequency of CD56dimNKG2A+KIR-CD57- (p=0.02) in the bone marrow of ALL patients indicating a maturation arrest. Interestingly, expression of the activating receptor NKG2D which plays an important role in triggering the NK cell–mediated tumor cell lysis was significantly reduced in NK cells of ALL patients while no difference in NK cell expression of NKG2C was found(Fig. 2). Adult patients with ALL show evidence of immune-editing of T cells and NK cells. This global immunosuppressive mechanism may contribute to the eventual escape of ALL from immune control. PD-1, overexpression, described in acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia has been implicated in T-cell exhaustion and subsequent tumor immune evasion. Our data suggests similar immune escape mechanisms pertain in ALL. Effective antileukemia immunotherapy will require targeting one or more of these immunosuppressive pathways to achieve optimum results. Disclosures Fathi: Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda pharmaceuticals International Co.: Research Funding; Exelixis: Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3953-3953
Author(s):  
Amy Guillaumet-Adkins ◽  
Praveen Anand ◽  
Huiyoung Yun ◽  
Yotam Drier ◽  
Anna Rogers ◽  
...  

Introduction: Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP T-ALL) is a distinct subtype of T-ALL characterized by higher rates of relapse and induction failure. Large-scale genetic sequencing studies have identified frequently mutated oncogenes and gene fusions in ETP T-ALL, while bulk transcriptome analyses have revealed expression features resembling myeloid precursors and myeloid malignancies. However, the contributions of intra-tumoral functional heterogeneity and microenvironment to tumor biology and treatment failure remain unknown. Methods: We performed full-length single-cell RNA-sequencing of 5,077 malignant and normal immune cells from bone marrow or blood from five patients with relapsed/refractory ETP T-ALL (based on immunophenotyping, all with NOTCH1 mutations), before and after targeted therapy against NOTCH1. These patients were enrolled on a phase I trial with the γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) BMS-906024 (NCT01363817). Expression of selected genes was validated by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: Single cell transcriptome analyses revealed a deranged developmental hierarchy characterized by co-expression of stemness programs in multiple malignant cells implying ineffectual commitment to either lymphoid or myeloid lineage. Most ETP T-ALL cells co-expressed HSC (hematopoietic stem cell), CMP (common myeloid progenitor) and CLP (common lymphoid progenitor) signatures simultaneously (Pearson correlation: CLP-CMP: R= 0.41, p < 2.2e-16; HSC-CLP: R= 0.53; p < 2.2e-16; HSC-CMP: R = 0.39, p <2.2e-16). Only a fraction of cells (less than 15%) demonstrated mutually exclusive CLP or HSC signatures. In contrast, CLP, CMP and HSC signatures were not co-expressed and always negatively correlated in normal bone marrow cells (CLP-CMP: R= -0.11, p < 2.2e-16; HSC-CLP: R= -0.38; p < 2.2e-16; HSC-CMP: R = -0.67, p <2.2e-16). Direct targeting of NOTCH1 as the driving oncogene has shown disappointing results in the clinical setting due to the rapid development of resistance. PI3K activation has been shown as a genetic mechanism of Notch resistance, however it is unclear if transcriptional rewiring can give rise to PI3K dependent cells after Notch inhibition. To address this question, we predicted the activity of signaling pathways in single cells after Notch inhibitor treatment using PROGENy. Most single cells demonstrated loss of Notch signaling. PI3K signaling activity was the most anti-correlated signaling pathway to Notch signaling (Pearson correlation: R= -0.51, p < 2.2e-16). Of note, this population preexisted at a frequency of ~30% in the untreated population, coexisting with cells with high Notch activation. Analysis of the immune microenvironment revealed an oligoclonal T-cell population in ETP T-ALL compared to normal donor T-cells. CD8+ T-cells from ETP patients expressed markers of T-cell exhaustion (PDCD1, TIGIT, LAG3, HAVCR2). Analyses of expression levels of the respective ligands on leukemic blasts and the predicted interaction with their receptors on endogenous CD8+ T-cells demonstrated the highest interaction score between HAVCR2 and its ligand LGALS9. LGALS9 was universally expressed in all leukemic cells, which was confirmed by flow cytometry staining in leukemic blasts and IHC staining in bone marrow of 8 patients with ETP T-ALL and 7 patients with T-ALL. T-ALL supernatant increased expression levels of the exhaustion markers HAVCR2,TIGIT and decreased effector marker GZMB in polyclonal activated normal donor CD8+ T-cells (RT-PCR). This effect was abrogated by neutralizing LGALS9 and could be rescued with recombinant LGALS9. Conclusion: We identified deranged developmental hierarchy characterized by co-expression of stemness programs in multiple malignant cell states and ineffectual commitment to either lymphoid or myeloid lineage in ETP T-ALL. Leukemic blasts demonstrate preexisting heterogeneity of diverse oncogenic states as evidenced by opposing PI3K and Notch activity, suggesting possible novel combination therapies. Notch inhibition abolishes the Notch high state without effecting the PI3K active state. Finally, we demonstrate a possible role for HAVCR2-LGALS9 interactions in causing CD8+ T-cell dysfunction in ETP T-ALL patients, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy in this disease. Disclosures Silverman: Takeda: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lane:AbbVie: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics: Research Funding; N-of-One: Consultancy. DeAngelo:Glycomimetics: Research Funding; Amgen, Autolus, Celgene, Forty-seven, Incyte, Jazzs, Pfizer, Shire, Takeda: Consultancy; Blueprint: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Lohr:Celgene: Research Funding; T2 Biosystems: Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 490-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasheed Hossain ◽  
Bita Sahaf ◽  
Matthew Abramian ◽  
Jay Y. Spiegel ◽  
Katie Kong ◽  
...  

Abstract Autologous CD19 directed CAR T-cell therapy has response rates of >70% in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and >40% in adult diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Large trials (ZUMA-1/JULIET/TRANSCEND) have highlighted that many patients fail to achieve durable responses. Several groups have reported on the phenomenon of CD19 immune escape as a cause (Grupp et al, NEJM 2013, Neelapu et al, NEJM 2017) and the NIH Pediatric Oncology Branch has shown CD22 as an alternative target (Fry et al, Nat Med. 2018). We developed a bi-specific CAR construct targeting CD19 & CD22 with intracellular signaling domains incorporating 4-1BB and CD3ζ (CD19/CD22.BB.z) to overcome CD19 immune escape. Here, we present our Phase I experience with this bi-specific CAR in adults. This is a single institution phase I dose escalation study enrolling patients Age ≥ 18 years with relapsed/refractory B-ALL or DLBCL after standard therapies. Primary aim is to determine feasibility of manufacturing the bi-specific CAR and safety at three dose levels (1 x 106 CAR T cells/kg, 3 x 106 CAR T cells/kg, 1 x 107 CAR T cells/kg). Clinical response was evaluated as a secondary endpoint utilizing standard response criteria for ALL and DLBCL. All patients underwent lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide (500mg/m2 daily x3 doses) and fludarabine (30mg/m2 daily x 3 doses) followed by CAR infusion two days later. Patients were assessed at pre-defined time-points (Day 28, Month 3, 6, 9, 12 then every 6-12 months) with correlative assessments including immunophenotyping, single cell RNAseq, CAR qtPCR, serum and single cell cytokine analysis. Seven adult patients (5 DLBCL, 2 ALL), aged 35 - 75 years have been enrolled and 6 treated, all at dose Level 1 [Table 1]. The first 3 patients received freshly harvested cells and the remaining received cryopreserved cells (1 patient treated twice received initial fresh then cryopreserved product). None received systemic bridging therapy before CAR T infusion. Six patients developed reversible cytokine release syndrome (CRS,4 with Grade 1, 2 with Grade 2), onset between Day 1 to 13, and 2 patients received tocilizumab & systemic steroids. Three patients developed neurotoxicity (1 with grade 2, Day 8-11 and the others grade 1) with grade 2 neurotoxicity managed with steroids. Four patients required growth factor support beyond Day 28 and all treated patients show persistent B-cell aplasia. Two patients achieved CR: an ALL patient with disease in bone marrow/blood/CNS was MRD negative at day 28 & 60; a 75yo DLBCL patient achieved PR at day 28 and CR at month 3. Three others have ongoing PR and one died of progressive disease after initial PR at Day 28. A patient with PD at Day 28 subsequently treated with radiation and 2-months of revlimid/rituximab, now has no detectable disease 6 months post CAR-T. One patient with initial 6-month PR received a second infusion due to PD, did not develop CRS or CRES with 2nd infusion and has SD at Day 28 Notably, the patient experienced a lack of CAR-T expansion with the second infusion, raising the possibility of an immunogenic response to the CAR-T cell infusion. Flow analysis of all patients' peripheral blood showed CAR expansion peaked at median Day 13 (range Day 10-20) and CARs remained detectable [Figure 1]. Multi-parametric CyTOF phenotyping of the CAR19-22 products showed significant numbers of transduced CAR-T memory stem cells (phenotype: CD3+CD8+CD45RA+CD127+CD27+CCR7+). Single cell cytokine secretion analysis (Isoplexis,Rossi et al Blood 2018) revealed high polyfunctional strength index (PSI) in both CD4+ and CD8+ cell subsets in each patient's pre-infusion CAR product that reflected phenotypic expansion in patients. Additional correlative studies, including cytokine analysis, qtPCR based CAR quantification and CyTOF phenotypic analysis of the CAR-T cells will be presented. This first adult phase I trial of bi-specific CAR targeting CD19 & CD22 shows low toxicity with promising efficacy including achievement of CR in adult DLBCL and ALL patients. We have escalated dose to 3x 106 CAR T cells/kg and an expansion study of 60 patients will follow. CAR-T cells expanded within the first 20 days and continue to be detectable through 6 months. Disclosures Muffly: Shire Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Miklos:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics - Abbot: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite - Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3825-3825
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Foltz ◽  
Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott ◽  
David A. Russler-Germain ◽  
Carly C. Neal ◽  
Jennifer Tran ◽  
...  

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that mediate anti-tumor responses and exhibit innate memory following stimulation with IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18, thereby differentiating into cytokine-induced memory-like (ML) NK cells. ML NK cells have well-described enhanced anti-tumor properties; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their enhanced functionality are not well-understood. Initial reports of allogeneic donor ML NK cellular therapy for relapsed/refractory (rel/ref) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) demonstrated safety and a 47% CR/CRi rate (PMID32826231). In this setting, allogeneic ML NK cells are rejected after 3 weeks by recipient T cells, which precludes long-term evaluation of their biology. To address this limitation, we conducted a clinical trial for rel/ref AML patients that added adoptive transfer of same-donor ML NK cells on day +7 of a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) MHC-haploidentical HCT, followed by 4 doses of IL-15 (N-803) over 2 weeks (NCT02782546). Since the ML NK cells are from the HCT donor, they are not rejected, but remain MHC-haploidentical to the patient leukemia. Using samples from these patients, we profiled the single cell transcriptomes of NK cells using multidimensional CITE-seq, combining scRNAseq with a custom NK panel of antibodies. To identify donor ML NK cells in an unbiased fashion, we developed a CITE-seq ML NK classifier from in vitro differentiated paired conventional NK (cNK) and ML NK cells. This classifier was applied via transfer learning to CITE-seq analyzed samples from the donor (cNK cells) and patients at days +28 and +60. This approach identified 28-40% of NK cells as ML at Day +28 post-HCT. Only 1-6% of donor peripheral blood NK cells and 4-7% of NK cells in comparator leukemia patients at day +28 after conventional haplo-HCT alone were identified as ML NK cells (Fig 1A). These ML NK cells had a cell surface receptor profile analogous to a previously reported mass cytometry phenotype. Within the CITE-seq data, ML NK cells expressed a transcriptional profile consistent with enhanced functionality (GZMK, GZMA, GNLY), secreted proteins (LTB, CKLF), a distinct adhesome, and evidence of prior activation (MHC Class II and interferon-inducible genes). ML NK cells had a unique NK receptor repertoire including increased KIR2DL4, KLRC1(NKG2A), CD300A, NCAM1(CD56) , and CD2 with decreased expression of the inhibitory receptor KLRB1(CD161). Furthermore, ML NK cells upregulated HOPX, a transcription factor implicated in memory T cells and murine CMV adaptive NK cells. Additionally, ML NK cells downregulated transcription factors related to terminal maturation (ZEB2) and exhaustion (NR4A2). We next sought to identify changes during ML differentiation in patients post-HCT from day +28 to +60 post-HCT. Trajectory analysis identified a ML NK cell state distinct from cNK cells that was present at least 60 days post-HCT (Fig 1B). The ML transcriptional phenotype continued to modulate during late differentiation, including downregulation of GZMK and NCAM1, and upregulation of maturation related transcription factors, while maintaining high expression of HOPX. ML NK cells retained their enhanced functionality during in vivo differentiation, as patient ML NK cells had significantly increased IFNγ production compared to cNK cells after restimulation with leukemia targets or cytokines using mass cytometry (Fig. 2). Subsequently, we confirmed the ML CITE-seq profile in an independent clinical trial treating pediatric AML relapsed after allogenic HCT with same-donor ML NK cells (NCT03068819). In this setting, ML NK cells expressed a similar transcriptional signature and persisted for at least 2 months in the absence of exogenous cytokine support. Thus, ML NK cells possess a distinct transcriptional and surface proteomic profile and undergo in vivo differentiation while persisting within patients for at least 2 months. These findings reveal novel and unique aspects of the ML NK cell molecular program, as well as their prolonged functional persistence in vivo in patients, assisting in future clinical trial design. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Foltz: Kiadis: Patents & Royalties: TGFbeta expanded NK cells; EMD Millipore: Other: canine antibody licensing fees. Berrien-Elliott: Wugen: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties: 017001-PRO1, Research Funding. Bednarski: Horizon Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fehniger: Wugen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties: related to memory like NK cells, Research Funding; ImmunityBio: Research Funding; Kiadis: Other; Affimed: Research Funding; Compass Therapeutics: Research Funding; HCW Biologics: Research Funding; OrcaBio: Other; Indapta: Other.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706-1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger N. Lode ◽  
Rong Xiang ◽  
Torsten Dreier ◽  
Nissi M. Varki ◽  
Stephen D. Gillies ◽  
...  

Targeted interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy with a genetically engineered antidisialoganglioside GD2 antibody–IL-2 fusion protein induced a cell-mediated antitumor response that effectively eradicated established bone marrow and liver metastases in a syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. The mechanism involved is exclusively natural killer (NK) cell–dependent, because NK-cell deficiency abrogated the antitumor effect. In contrast, the fusion protein remained completely effective in the T-cell–deficient mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD8+ T cells in vivo. A strong stimulation of NK-cell activity was also shown in vitro. Immunohistology of the leukocytic infiltrate of livers from treated mice revealed a strong staining for NK cells but not for CD8+ T cells. The therapeutic effect of the fusion protein was increased when combined with NK-cell–stimulating agents, such as poly I:C or recombinant mouse interferon-γ. In conclusion, these data show that targeted delivery of cytokines to the tumor microenvironment offers a new strategy to elicit an effective cellular immune response mediated by NK cells against metastatic neuroblastoma. This therapeutic effect may have general clinical implications for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease who suffer from T-cell suppression after high-dose chemotherapy but are not deficient in NK cells.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 2162-2162
Author(s):  
Janelle A. Olson ◽  
Dennis B. Leveson-Gower ◽  
Andreas Beilhack ◽  
Robert S. Negrin

Abstract Natural Killer (NK) cells have the ability to suppress graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while inducing a graft-versus-tumor response (GVT) during allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Previous studies in allogeneic BMT models have shown NK cell trafficking to and proliferation in lymphoid organs and GVHD target organs, which are also sites of donor T cell trafficking. This study aims to investigate the impact of NK cells on alloreactive, GVHD-inducing donor T cells. Interleukin-2 activated allogeneic NK cells isolated from C57Bl6 (H–2b) or FVB (H–2q) animals were transplanted along with T cell-depleted bone marrow into lethally irradiated BALB/c (H–2d) mice, followed 2 days later by luciferase-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ conventional T cells from the same donor strain (NK+Tcon group). Control mice received lethal irradiation and T cell-depleted bone marrow on day 0, and luciferase-expressing T cells on day 2 after transplant (Tcon group). Bioluminescence imaging of NK+Tcon mice revealed a significantly lower T cell bioluminescent signal (p=0.03 for FVB into BALB/c on day 6) than from Tcon mice. CFSE proliferation analysis of alloreactive T cells on day 3 after transplant showed no significant change in the percent of donor T cells that have divided in the spleen, and only a slight decrease in the percent of T cells that have divided in the lymph nodes when NK cells are present. However, at this timepoint 82% of the proliferating cells have divided past the third generation, in contrast to 64% in the NK+Tcon mice. Donor T cells in both groups become equally activated in vivo, expressing similar levels of the early-activation marker CD69. T cells re-isolated from NK+Tcon animals at day 5 stained 2 to 10-fold higher for the TUNEL apoptosis marker than those from Tcon mice in the mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes, respectively (p&lt;0.0001). Additionally, decreased numbers of T cells were re-isolated from the peripheral lymph nodes in the NK+Tcon group as compared to the Tcon group. This increase in TUNEL staining was not seen when the transplanted NK cells were isolated from a perforin-deficient donor. This indicates that NK cells in lymph nodes use a perforin-dependent mechanism to increase apoptosis in proliferating, alloreactive donor T-cells, which are syngeneic to the transplanted NK cells. Donor T cells re-isolated from the lymph nodes of transplanted mice up-regulate the NKG2D ligand Rae1γ as compared to naïve T cells, as shown by FACS. This suggests that NK cells may cause direct lysis of alloreactive donor T cells in vivo during GVHD induction, mediated by the NK cell activating receptor NKG2D. This study provides crucial mechanistic information regarding the function of NK cells in suppressing GVHD.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706-1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger N. Lode ◽  
Rong Xiang ◽  
Torsten Dreier ◽  
Nissi M. Varki ◽  
Stephen D. Gillies ◽  
...  

Abstract Targeted interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy with a genetically engineered antidisialoganglioside GD2 antibody–IL-2 fusion protein induced a cell-mediated antitumor response that effectively eradicated established bone marrow and liver metastases in a syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. The mechanism involved is exclusively natural killer (NK) cell–dependent, because NK-cell deficiency abrogated the antitumor effect. In contrast, the fusion protein remained completely effective in the T-cell–deficient mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD8+ T cells in vivo. A strong stimulation of NK-cell activity was also shown in vitro. Immunohistology of the leukocytic infiltrate of livers from treated mice revealed a strong staining for NK cells but not for CD8+ T cells. The therapeutic effect of the fusion protein was increased when combined with NK-cell–stimulating agents, such as poly I:C or recombinant mouse interferon-γ. In conclusion, these data show that targeted delivery of cytokines to the tumor microenvironment offers a new strategy to elicit an effective cellular immune response mediated by NK cells against metastatic neuroblastoma. This therapeutic effect may have general clinical implications for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease who suffer from T-cell suppression after high-dose chemotherapy but are not deficient in NK cells.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3069-3069
Author(s):  
Anna Kreutzman ◽  
Perttu Koskenvesa ◽  
Kasanen Tiina ◽  
Ulla Olsson-Strömberg ◽  
Jesper Stentoft ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are not entirely selective for the BCR-ABL1 kinase but also inhibit a variety of other kinases, sometimes triggering unpredicted biological effects. As an example, the TKIs dasatinib and bosutinib both inhibit Src-kinases, which are important mediators of T-cell function. Earlier in vitro data has shown that dasatinib can suppress activation and proliferation of T and NK cells, but it can also elicit signs of immunostimulation in patients, including rapid mobilization of lymphocytes and LGL lymphocytosis. No extensive analyses of the immunological in vivoeffects of bosutinib have been performed thus far. Therefore, we aimed at characterizing T and NK cell phenotypes and functional features in CML patients in a clinical setting in the context of first-line bosutinib and imatinib treatment. Methods:Peripheral blood samples were obtained from newly diagnosed CML CP patients enrolled in the BFORE clinical trial (NCT02130557), receiving bosutinib (n=13) or imatinib (n=20) as frontline TKI treatment. Samples were drawn at diagnosis and following 3 and 12 months of therapy. Detailed immunophenotyping of NK and T cells was performed with multicolor flow cytometry. In addition, mononuclear cells were used to study the function of NK and T cells (CD107ab degranulation upon stimulation with K562 cells and detection of IFN-γ/TNF-α secretion after stimulation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies, respectively). Moreover, blood differential counts were taken before and 2 hours after drug intake at 3 and 12 months to examine the direct effects on lymphocyte counts (mobilization). Results: No significant changes were observed in absolute white blood cell or lymphocyte counts directly (2 hours) after bosutinib or imatinib intake, in contrast to what has been observed in dasatinib treated patients. Analysis of T cell subsets during bosutinib treatment revealed that the proportion of CD4+ cells increased after the start of treatment (median dg. 60.0% vs. 3 months 62.0% p=0.06; vs. 12 months 72.8% p=0.03), but no significant changes were observed in the phenotype. Correspondingly, the proportion of CD8+ T-cells decreased moderately (dg. 31.6% vs. 3 months 25.5% p=0.01) after the therapy start. Interestingly, the proportion of PD1+ (dg. 19.6% vs. 3 months 11.9%, p=0.06; vs. 12 months 14.3%, p=0.11) and DNAM+ CD8+ T-cells decreased (dg. 73.1% vs. 3 months 66.2% p=0.004; vs. 12 months 64.6% p=0.02). No changes in the cytokine production of any of the studied subgroups of T-cells was observed. Moreover, the proportion, phenotype and function of NK-cells were not affected by bosutinib treatment. In contrast, during imatinib treatment the proportion of CD56+CD16+ NK-cells significantly increased (dg 4.3% vs. 3 months 9.9% p=0.0005; vs 12 months 14.4% p=0.002; 8.1% in bosutinib treated patients). Moreover, in imatinib patients NK-cells downregulated CD27 (dg 9.0% vs. 3 months 5.2% p=0.004; vs. 12 months 4.9%; p=0.002). Further, NK-cells from imatinib-treated patients expressed more CD107ab upon stimulation with K562 at 3 and 12 months, when compared to samples from diagnosis (dg 13.0% vs. 3 months 16.1%, p=0.01; vs. 12 months 23.2%, p=0.008). The proportion of CD4+ T-cells increased 3 months after the start of imatinib treatment (dg 60.1% vs. 3 months 63.5% p=0.01), whereas the percentage of CD8+ T-cells decreased (dg. 38.6% vs. 3 months 31.5% p=0.02). Decreased expression of DNAM (dg 73.5% vs. 3 months 67.9% p=0.0008; vs. 12 months 62.4% p=0.002) was observed in the CD4+ T-cells. Similarly as in bosutinib treated patients, the proportion of PD1+ CD8+ cells decreased during imatinib treatment (dg 18.2% vs. 3 months 14.7%, p=0.02; vs. 12 months 14.8%, p=0.03). Both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets from imatinib-treated patients secreted less cytokines after the start of treatment when compared to the pre-treatment samples. Conclusions: Despite of the Src-kinase inhibitory profile of bosutinib, no major changes were observed in T- or NK-cell phenotype or function during first-line bosutinib treatment. In contrast, in imatinib treated patients the proportion of NK-cells increased and their degranulation responses were significantly higher than in untreated CML patients. Comparison of these data with the clinical variables and treatment outcome is warranted. Disclosures Stentoft: Novartis: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding. Gjertsen:BerGenBio AS: Consultancy, Research Funding. Janssen:Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Ariad: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Brümmendorf:Pfizer: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Richter:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ariad: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mustjoki:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1578-1578
Author(s):  
Sabrin Tahri ◽  
Zoltan Kellermayer ◽  
Madelon M.E. de Jong ◽  
Natalie Papazian ◽  
Cathelijne Fokkema ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Multiple Myeloma (MM) disease progression and therapy response are the net result of tumor cell-intrinsic features and tumor cell-extrinsic cues from the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. Natural killer (NK) cells are mediators of the cytotoxic immune response against MM and are important effector cells in antibody-based immune therapies, especially anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies such as Daratumumab. Classically, NK cells are divided into a cytotoxic CD56 dim subset, important for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and a cytokine-producing CD56 bright subset releasing inflammatory mediators such as IFNγ, TNFα and GM-CSF. However, accumulating evidence suggests greater heterogeneity in the NK cell compartment and modulation of these NK cell subsets could impact disease progression and response to NK cell-driven immunotherapies. Here, we combined the 5TGM1 murine model of MM with single-cell RNA sequencing of bone marrow (BM) NK cells of newly diagnosed MM patients to map NK cell heterogeneity and to investigate their role in MM progression. Results To gain insight in NK cell heterogeneity in MM disease we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on immune cells of viably frozen BM aspirates from 19 newly diagnosed MM patients and 5 non-cancer control patients. NK cells were identified in silico by transcription of KLRF1, KLRD1, GNLY and NKG7 resulting in a single-cell transcriptomic dataset of 30,373 NK cells from MM patients and 8,865 NK cells from control patients. Conventional CD56 bright and CD56 dim NK-cells were identified by increased transcription of GZMK or GZMB, respectively. The GZMK +CD56 bright NK cells contained clusters of naïve and activated NK cells. The GZMB+CD56 dim NK cells consisted of 5 subclusters. To identify MM-induced alterations in NK cell subsets, we compared GZMK +CD56 bright vs GZMB+CD56 dim cluster composition and distribution between controls and MM patients. Control BM was dominated by GZMB-transcribing cytotoxic CD56 dim NK cells, resulting in a low ratio of cytokine-producing GZMK +CD56 bright vs cytotoxic GZMB+CD56 dim NK cells. In contrast, MM bone marrow was characterized by heterogeneity of this ratio with a subset of patients presenting with complete reversal of this ratio . In this subset of patients, the altered composition was due to a loss of cytotoxic GZMB +CD56 dim NK cells, and more specifically a loss of NK cells with a transcriptome suggesting recent activation. To better examine the significance of cytotoxic NK cells in MM disease course we utilized the well-established 5TGM1 mouse model. C57Bl/6 and KaLwRij mice both received 10 6 5TGM1-GFP cells intravenously. Three weeks after tumor injection all KaLwRij mice (18/18) developed MM, defined by &gt;5% tumor cells in BM ("unrestrained tumor") and serum M-protein &gt;2mg/ml. Interestingly, while 39% (7/18) of C57Bl/6 mice had no tumor, 44% (8/18) had low but detectable levels of MM cells (0.1-5% of BM cells, "restrained tumor") and 17% (3/18) presented with an unrestrained MM with BM tumor load similar to that seen in KaLwRij mice. With time the percentage of mice with unrestrained tumor increased (5/12, 42%) at the expense of restrained tumor (2/12, 16%). We hypothesized that C57Bl/6 mice with low tumor load could represent a model of immune-mediated tumor control. Detailed analysis of the NK cell compartment revealed an expansion of activated mature (CD69 + CD11b +CD27 +) NK cells in C57Bl/6 mice with restrained BM MM (p=0.0031). In contrast, high BM tumor burden in both genotypes was associated with a sharp decline in absolute numbers of activated NK cells. Conclusion: Through a combination of single-cell transcriptomic analyses of the BM immune microenvironment in MM patients and experimental mouse models we found a loss of activated NK cells in a subset of patients and mice. Our data suggests that loss of these activated NK cells is associated with MM progression in vivo. A subset of MM patients presented with a loss of activated cytotoxic GZMB +CD56 dim NK cells in the BM, suggestive of reduced cytotoxic anti-tumor responses. Meanwhile, in vivo, high disease burden only occurred in mice with an absence of activated NK cells. Current analyses are focused on differences in human disease progression and efficacy of Daratumumab-based therapies in patients with various NK cell phenotypes. Disclosures Broijl: Janssen, Amgen, Sanofi, Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sonneveld: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; SkylineDx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1571-1571
Author(s):  
Patrick P. Ng ◽  
Mehrdad Mobasher ◽  
Kitman S. Yeung ◽  
Andrew N. Hotson ◽  
Craig M. Hill ◽  
...  

Introduction ITK is a tyrosine kinase critical to T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Overexpression of this gene has been reported in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Genomic analyses have demonstrated the contribution of aberrant TCR signaling in the pathogenesis of T-cell lymphomas (TCL). RLK, a closely related kinase, is co-expressed with ITK in T and NK cells, and is partially functionally redundant with ITK signaling. In NK cells, ITK has been shown to be involved in FcγRIII signaling and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, the relative contribution of ITK vs RLK in ADCC is not well understood. Thus, selective inhibition of ITK, but not other signal transduction components such as RLK, may be an effective strategy to treat TCL while preserving normal T and NK cell functions. CPI-818 is an orally bioavailable, covalent inhibitor of ITK with &gt;100-fold selectivity over RLK and BTK. It was well tolerated and exhibited anti-tumor activity in companion dogs with spontaneous TCL (2019 AACR Annual Meeting Abstract #1313). A phase 1/1b trial with CPI-818 in human TCL has been initiated (NCT03952078). Here we present preclinical evidence that CPI-818 inhibits the proliferation of human malignant T cells with relative sparing of normal lymphocytes and report early results from the clinical trial. Methods Eligible patients for the dose-escalation/expansion trial of CPI-818 have relapsed/refractory TCL (PTCL, CTCL and others). Starting dose of CPI-818 is 100 mg BID continuously. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of CPI-818 in ascending dose levels; evaluate pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and potential biomarkers. In in vitro studies, T cells from the blood of Sézary syndrome patients were stimulated for 6 days with αCD3/CD28. Sézary cells were identified by antibodies to specific TCR Vβ. For assays of ADCC, αCD20-coated lymphoma B cells were cultured with NK cells from multiple healthy donors for 18 h with inhibitors. In animal studies, mice received control or CPI-818-formulated diet (300 mg/kg/day). C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or subcutaneously implanted with the TCL line EL4. MRL/lpr mice began treatment at 9 weeks old. Lymph nodes were calipered weekly. Spleens and lungs were harvested at 22 weeks. Results Mouse models were studied to assess the impact of CPI-818 on normal, autoreactive and malignant T cells in vivo. No changes in total blood cell counts or T, B, NK cell subsets in lymphoid organs were seen in normal mice receiving daily doses of CPI-818 sufficient to continuously inhibit ITK for 28 days. Immune responses to antigen re-challenge were not affected in these mice, as determined by levels of antibody or CD4 T cell response to vaccination with KLH. In mice with established EL4 lymphoma, administration of CPI-818 reduced the growth of tumors at the primary site and in the draining lymph nodes (P values &lt;0.033). CPI-818 also reduced lymphadenopathy and expansion of autoreactive T cells in the spleens of MRL/lpr mice (P values &lt;0.0001), without affecting CD4 or CD8 cells. Sézary cells from 3 of 3 patients tested in vitro were more sensitive to growth inhibition with CPI-818 than autologous normal CD4 or CD8 cells, or T cells from a healthy donor (Figure 1). CPI-818 showed minimal inhibition of NK-mediated ADCC (5%), whereas CP-2193, an ITK/RLK dual inhibitor with an IC50 for ITK comparable to CPI-818, reduced ADCC by 50%. CPI-818 has been administered to two patients at the first dose level cohort (100 mg BID) with no DLTs, and with no changes to B, T, and NK cell counts in blood during the first dosing cycle (21 days). Pharmacokinetic and occupancy studies have revealed 80% and 50% occupancy of ITK at peak and trough drug levels, respectively in peripheral blood T cells. Conclusions CPI-818 is a selective covalent ITK inhibitor that has greater antiproliferative effects on malignant and autoreactive T cells compared to normal T cells. The drug has a minimal impact on NK mediated ADCC compared with a less selective inhibitor that also blocks RLK. Preliminary data from a phase 1/1b study shows CPI-818 at 100 mg BID was tolerable with acceptable bioavailability and ITK occupancy. Further dose escalation is ongoing. Disclosures Ng: Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mobasher:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yeung:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hotson:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hill:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Madriaga:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dao-Pick:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Verner:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Radeski:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Khodadoust:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Kim:Innate Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eisai: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Horizon: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Galderma: Research Funding; Elorac: Research Funding; Soligenix: Research Funding; Medivir: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; miRagen: Research Funding; Forty Seven Inc: Research Funding; Neumedicine: Research Funding; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Corvus: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Trillium: Research Funding. Miller:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Buggy:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Janc:Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership.


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