Stimulation of Precursor-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells with Toll-Like Receptor Ligands Alters Their Immunogenicity.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1887-1887
Author(s):  
Gregor S.D. Reid ◽  
Kristin Wynne ◽  
Kevin She ◽  
Darko Curman ◽  
Kristy Garbutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Costimulatory Molecule ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract Pediatric pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common childhood cancer. Although current therapies achieve a high rate of remission, relapse of pre-B ALL remains a significant clinical challenge and new forms of therapy are needed. The graft-vs-leukemia (GVL) effect after bone marrow transplantation has shown that the immune system is capable of producing an effective anti-tumor response, which suggests that immune-mediated therapies may provide a complementary treatment strategy. Toll-like receptors (TLR), found on many immune cells, including B cells, have been shown to be important molecules in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Ligation of TLRs with their respective ligands results in an increase in the immunogenicity of antigen presenting cells (APC), through upregulation of MHC antigens and costimulatory molecules and production of cytokines and chemokines. We have previously reported that stimulation of pre-B ALL cells with the TLR9 ligand, CpG DNA, enhances the induction of Th1 immune responses by allogeneic T cells. In this study we examined the expression profile of TLRs 1-8 in precursor-B ALL cells and the effects of TLR ligation on the immune stimulatory capacity of precursor-B ALL cell lines. Eight precursor-B ALL cell lines were used in this study (Nalm6, REH, Sup-B15, KOPN-57bi, 380, 697, OP-1 and RS4:11). Standard RT-PCR analysis was used to examine the expression of TLRs 1-8 by the cell lines. The cell lines were stimulated with ligands for TLR2 (peptidoglycan), TLR3 (poly I:C) and TLR4 (LPS) and evaluated for changes in costimulatory molecule expression and allogeneic T cell stimulation. Non-quantatative PCR detected each TLR, with the exception of TLR8, in the majority of the cell lines. TLR8 was only detected, at low level, in RS4:11 cells. Despite the broad expression profile of the TLRs, significant differences in the effect of TLR ligation were observed between cell lines. In general, only modest increases in CD40 and CD86 expression were observed on responsive cell lines, with the majority of the lines showing no significant changes in response to TLR2, 3 or 4 ligation, despite receptor detection by PCR. Changes in allogeneic T cell proliferation in response to TLR stimulated ALL cell lines were observed, with the largest increases occurring with peptidoglycan and LPS. As was the case with costimulatory molecule expression, no T cell proliferative response change was common to all cell lines. However, analysis of cytokine production by T cells revealed a consistent increase in IFN-gamma and reduction in IL-5 levels in response to peptidoglycan stimulated ALL cells. The results reported in this study indicate that precursor-B ALL cell lines express several TLR molecules and that TLR ligation alters the immunogenicity of the majority of these lines. Interestingly, ligation of TLR2 with peptidoglycan induced a profound shift towards Th1 cytokine production. These observatios suggest that TLR ligation, most notably TLR2 ligation, may provide a strategy to influence anti-ALL immune responses and enhance immune mediated control of this disease.

A Drug Screen in Zebrafish Identifies a New Therapeutic Agent Active in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2129-2129
Author(s):  
Nikolaus Trede ◽  
Suzanne Ridges ◽  
Deepa Joshi ◽  
Jon Beck ◽  
Hossein Soffla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Zebrafish Larvae ◽  
In Vivo Screen

Abstract Abstract 2129 Objectives: T cell lineage is an independent high risk factor in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). T-ALL requires high dose multi-agent chemotherapy, conferring many toxic side effects. T-ALL treatment therefore needs new, targeted agents that preserve or improve current treatment efficacy, yet cause fewer side effects than existing chemotherapeutic regimens. To identify such drugs, we pioneered an in vivo screen using transgenic zebrafish with T cell-specific green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression. We reasoned that immature T cells in 5-day-old zebrafish larvae are developmentally analogous to T-ALL lymphoblasts, and likely rely upon similar signaling pathways. Hence, compounds that specifically eliminate T cells in zebrafish larvae might likewise selectively target T-ALL cells. An added benefit of our in vivo screen is that drugs added to the water housing fish larvae must cross an epithelial barrier, can be metabolized by the liver, and can be renally cleared, characteristics not assessed in in vitro-based screening strategies. In addition, by using early larvae as our subjects, drugs lacking T cell specificity will likely impair normal development and/or survival, which we postulate is a predictor of unwanted toxicities. In these ways, our screen mimicked the scenario encountered in patients. Our use of the transgenic p56lck::EGFP zebrafish line facilitated rapid visual assessment of efficacy of a large number of compounds in 96-well format. Materials and Results: In a proof-of-principle experiment, we identified several known anti-T-ALL drugs, most prominently glucocorticoids, from the “Spectrum” library (MicroSource Discovery Systems, Inc., Gaylordsville, CT) of well-characterized compounds. We then screened 39,200 small molecules from the “ChemBridge DIVERSet” combinatorial chemistry library (ChemBridge Corp., San Diego, CA) for those active against zebrafish larval T cells. Of 20 novel “hits” identified, one compound, dubbed Lenaldekar (“LDK”), met additional prioritization criteria. LDK does not impair the cell cycle of developing zebrafish, is well tolerated and orally bioavailable with favorable pharmacokinetic properties in mice. In addition, pilot studies with LDK indicate it is efficacious in treating T-ALL in juvenile and adult fish from an established transgenic rag2::ER-human cMyc T-ALL model. LDK kills all of several murine T-lymphocytic malignancies, induces apoptosis in all human T-ALL lines tested, and shows some activity in human B-ALL lines. However, glioblastoma, colon carcinoma, melanoma, or immortalized human embryonic kidney cell lines are not affected by LDK, even at high concentration (up to 25μM). Using the recently established “phosflow” technique we measured phosphorylation status of key signaling proteins in permeabilized T- and B-ALL lines. Regardless of PTEN status, PDK1, AKT and mTOR downstream targets p4EBP1 and p70S6kinase were dephosphorylated by LDK treatment, as was the p65 subunit of NFκB on serine 529. Results were corroborated by conventional Western blots. However, phosphorylation of STAT3, STAT5, pERK1-2, and p38 were not affected by LDK. LDK's action is distinguished from other AKT/mTOR inhibitors by its lack of activity against AKT-dependent glioblastoma and melanoma cell lines, and its lack of effect on cell size. Finally, LDK decreased tumor burden of human T-ALL in murine xenografts. Conclusions: In view of its apparent lymphocyte selectivity, we posit that LDK modulates a pathway relatively unique to ALL (and immature lymphoblast) cells. This suggests that LDK can serve as a novel molecular tool for studies of normal and malignant lymphocyte biology. Moreover, with its favorable pharmacokinetics, apparent lack of toxicity, and in vivo efficacy in two vertebrate ALL models, LDK is an attractive molecule for development into a targeted treatment for ALL and perhaps other lymphocytic malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Growth Factor Independent-1 (Gfi1) Is Critically Required for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) Tumor Initiation and Maintenance

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 3156-3156
Author(s):  
James D. Phelan ◽  
Cyrus Khandanpour ◽  
Shane Horman ◽  
Marie-Claude Gaudreau ◽  
Jinfang Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Tumor Regression ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Apoptotic Genes

Abstract Abstract 3156 T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is one of the most common childhood cancers associated with mutations in NOTCH1. The Growth factor independent-1 (Gfi1) transcriptional repressor gene was originally discovered as a common target of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) proviral insertion in murine T-ALL. In fact, the Gfi1 locus is the most frequently activated gene in MMLV-induced T cell leukemia. Therefore, we investigated whether the most commonly activated gene in MMLV-induced murine T-ALL, Gfi1, could collaborate with the most commonly activated gene in human T-ALL, NOTCH1. Here, we show that GFI1 expression is associated with Notch signaling in human T-ALL (p'0.0003). Functionally, Gfi1 collaborates with Notch-induced murine T-ALL by accelerating an already rapid disease model (p=0.03) without altering the lymphoblastic nature of the disease. Furthermore, inducible deletion of Gfi1 is counter-selected in both Notch-driven retroviral and transgenic mouse models of T-ALL; whereas, constitutive absence of Gfi1 completely prevents transgenic Notch-induced T-ALL (p≤0.04). However, T-ALL tumors can form in Gfi1-/- animals using either ENU-mutagenesis or MMLV-infection, yet tumor formation is delayed (p≤0.02, p≤0.03 respectively). This suggests that Gfi1 deletion does not prevent the formation of the T-ALL initiating cell and that Gfi1 might be absolutely required for Notch-induced T-ALL. Most striking is that Gfi1 is required for T-ALL maintenance in vitro and in vivo. Using three separate Tal1-initiated murine T-ALL cell lines, the overexpression of the Gfi1 dominant-negative, Gfi1N382S, was quickly and completely counter-selected. As Gfi1 has previously been found to regulate pro-apoptotic genes in T cells, we attempted to rescue the above loss of function phenotype by overexpressing the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl2. Notably, counter-selection of Gfi1N382 is not observed or is significantly delayed in all three cell lines. In vivo, inducible deletion of Gfi1 leads to both mutagen- or Notch-induced tumor regression as measured by ultrasound. In fact, levels of Gfi1 expression directly correlate to tumor regression and disease free survival of T-ALL. Finally, targeting Gfi1 enhances the efficacy of radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation. Deletion of Gfi1 sensitizes T-ALL tumors and T cells to p53-dependent apoptosis after exposure to DNA-damaging agents such as radiation, Etoposide or Daunorubicin by de-repression of the pro-apoptotic Gfi1 target gene Bax. These data extend the role of Gfi1 to human T-ALL and suggest that T-ALL is dependent upon Gfi1 to repress pro-apoptotic genes for tumor survival, ultimately highlighting a new therapeutic target in the fight against lymphoid malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

CpG stimulation of precursor B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia induces a distinct change in costimulatory molecule expression and shifts allogeneic T cells toward a Th1 response

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 105 (9) ◽  
pp. 3641-3647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor S. D. Reid ◽  
Kevin She ◽  
Luke Terrett ◽  
Michael R. Food ◽  
Jacqueline D. Trudeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Costimulatory Molecule ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
T Helper 1 ◽  
Cpg Oligodeoxynucleotides ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stimulation Of

AbstractImmunostimulatory DNA containing unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) induces the development of T helper 1 (Th1) immune responses. The response of B cells to CpG stimulation involves increased proliferation, cytokine production, and costimulatory molecule expression. Similar effects have been observed following CpG stimulation of a variety of malignant B cells. Pediatric precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells express low levels of costimulatory molecules and are generally poor stimulators of T-cell responses. In this study, we evaluated the impact of CpG stimulation on precursor B-ALL cell lines and pediatric patient-derived samples. The ability to respond to CpG oligodeoxynucleotides was determined by the level of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression. In contrast to both nonleukemic B-cell precursors and mature B cells, the response of precursor B-ALL cells was characterized by increased CD40 expression but only small changes in CD86 levels and no induction of CD80 expression. CpG stimulation of ALL blasts produced increased levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10 but no detectable IL-12p70 and led to a skewing of allogeneic T cells, with enhanced interferon γ (IFN-γ) production and reduced secretion of IL-5. These results demonstrate the functional relevance of CpG stimulation of precursor B-ALL cells and provide a rational basis for study of these agents for use in treatment of this disease.

scholarly journals Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia generate abundant and functional neoantigen-specific CD8+T cell responses

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (498) ◽  
pp. eaat8549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony E. Zamora ◽  
Jeremy Chase Crawford ◽  
E. Kaitlynn Allen ◽  
Xi-zhi J. Guo ◽  
Jesse Bakke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Cell Responses

Cancer arises from the accumulation of genetic alterations, which can lead to the production of mutant proteins not expressed by normal cells. These mutant proteins can be processed and presented on the cell surface by major histocompatibility complex molecules as neoepitopes, allowing CD8+T cells to mount responses against them. For solid tumors, only an average 2% of neoepitopes predicted by algorithms have detectable endogenous antitumor T cell responses. This suggests that low mutation burden tumors, which include many pediatric tumors, are poorly immunogenic. Here, we report that pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have tumor-associated neoepitope-specific CD8+T cells, responding to 86% of tested neoantigens and recognizing 68% of the tested neoepitopes. These responses include a public neoantigen from the ETV6-RUNX1 fusion that is targeted in seven of nine tested patients. We characterized phenotypic and transcriptional profiles of CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) at the single-cell level and found a heterogeneous population that included highly functional effectors. Moreover, we observed immunodominance hierarchies among the CD8+TILs restricted to one or two putative neoepitopes. Our results indicate that robust antitumor immune responses are induced in pediatric ALL despite their low mutation burdens and emphasize the importance of immunodominance in shaping cellular immune responses. Furthermore, these data suggest that pediatric cancers may be amenable to immunotherapies aimed at enhancing immune recognition of tumor-specific neoantigens.

scholarly journals G19.4(alpha CD3) x B43(alpha CD19) monoclonal antibody heteroconjugate triggers CD19 antigen-specific lysis of t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by activated CD3 antigen-positive cytotoxic T cells

Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 2826-2834
Author(s):  
PM Anderson ◽  
W Crist ◽  
D Hasz ◽  
AJ Carroll ◽  
DE Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Cytolytic Activity ◽  
Multiparameter Flow Cytometry ◽  
Specific Lysis

A highly purified, 300-Kd bispecific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) heteroconjugate was prepared by covalently linking the anti-CD3 MoAb, G19.4, to the anti-CD19 MoAb, B43. Dual-color staining techniques and multiparameter flow cytometry confirmed that this alpha CD3 x alpha CD19 heteroconjugate was able to bind to both CD3+ T cells and CD19+ t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. T-cell-mediated lysis of freshly isolated primary bone marrow blasts from nine newly diagnosed ALL patients with a t(4;11)(q21;q23) chromosomal translocation were studied with 51Cr-release assays. Picomolar concentrations of alpha CD3 x alpha CD19 MoAb heteroconjugate effectively triggered lysis of CD19+ t(4;11) ALL cells by interleukin-2- activated CD3+ peripheral blood T-cell (PBTC) effectors but did not augment the cytolytic activity of the same effectors against CD19- T- ALL cells. In contrast to the alpha CD3 x alpha CD19 heteroconjugate, neither the alpha CD3 x alpha CD3 homoconjugate control nor the alpha CD19 x alpha CD72 heteroconjugate control facilitated the cytolysis of t(4;11) ALL blasts. Occupation of the target CD19 binding sites on t(4;11) ALL blasts by preincubation with excess unconjugated alpha CD19 MoAb abrogated the potentiating effects of the alpha CD3 x alpha CD19 heteroconjugate on PBTC-mediated cytolysis. Thus, the cell type- specific cytolysis of t(4;11) ALL blasts by PBTC effectors is dependent on both the alpha CD19 and alpha CD3 moieties of the alpha CD3 x alpha CD19 heteroconjugate. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an effective bispecific antibody that facilitates the T-cell- mediated lysis of t(4;11) ALL blasts.

scholarly journals 583 Exploring the potential of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) for generating leukemia-specific T cell responses that can be therapeutically harnessed with immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A613-A613
Author(s):  
Todd Triplett ◽  
Joshua Rios ◽  
Alexander Somma ◽  
Sarah Church ◽  
Khrystyna North ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

BackgroundT cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) is a devastating malignancy found primarily in pediatric populations. Unfortunately, standard of care for T-ALL has not progressed from highly toxic, intensive regimens of chemotherapy, which fails to cure all patients. Immunotherapies designed to activate patients‘ leukemia-specific T cells may provide a new therapeutic avenue to increase complete response rates, reduce toxicity without the need to engineer (e.g. CAR) cells. However, it is unknown whether T-ALL is capable of being recognized by T cells due given its relatively low mutation-rate. These studies therefore sought to investigate whether signs of leukemia-specific T cell responses are generated by T-ALL. Because T-ALL results in systemic disease and infiltrates multiple lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, these studies also determined how the divergent immune contextures of these TMEs impacts T cell responses to T-ALL. From this, we aim to identify immunotherapeutic targets capable of activating T cells across tissues to eradicate leukemia systemically.MethodsPrimary leukemia cells isolated from a spontaneous murine model (LN3 mice) into immune-competent, congenic (CD45.1) recipient mice. Tissues were harvested at distinct stages of disease for analysis by flow cytometry or utilizing NanoString Technologies’ GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) platform.ResultsFlow cytometric analysis of T cells revealed extensive changes in response to T-ALL that included multiple features of exhaustion typically associated with anti-tumor responses as determined by upregulation of co-inhibitory receptors and TOX. This included a surprisingly high-frequency of PD1+ T cells, which was accompanied by PDL1- and PDL2-expressing myeloid cells that likely are restraining these subsets. Importantly, combination immunotherapy with OX40 agonists while inhibiting PD1 resulted in drastically reduced tumor burden and concomitant expansion of proliferating granzyme-expressing CD8 T cells. To gain better insight into T cell responses within distinct organs, we analyzed tissue sections using DSP. This technique enabled us to evaluate T cells in direct contact with leukemia infiltrates compared to T cells in regions without T-ALL, which further revealed an enrichment of activated subsets. Importantly, these studies have provided critical insight needed to better understand how T cells responding to T-ALL diverge between distinct types of tissues.ConclusionsThe results from these studies collectively suggest that T cells are activated by T-ALL and that they can be therapeutically harnessed despite relatively low mutation-rates. Future studies will continue analysis of individual organs and use these results to rationally design combinations of immunotherapies by tailoring to activate T cells in all tissue types.AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to all the support and analysis from everyone at NanoString, along with financial support provided by a SITC-NanoString DSP Fellowship awarded to Dr. Todd Triplett used for DSP analysis of all frozen tissues in these studies. Salary support for Dr. Triplett and pilot funding was provided by departmental funds via a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Scholar Award (Grant #RR160093; awarded to Dr. Gail Eckhardt).

scholarly journals Homeobox protein TLX3 activates miR-125b expression to promote T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 733-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Renou ◽  
Pierre-Yves Boelle ◽  
Caroline Deswarte ◽  
Salvatore Spicuglia ◽  
Aissa Benyoucef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Host Gene ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Homeobox Protein ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Key Points TLX3 transactivates LINC00478, the host gene of oncogenic miR-125b-2 in T-ALL. TLX3 and miR-125b contribute to the differentiation arrest and the expansion of transformed T cells.

scholarly journals Fratricide-resistant CD1a-specific CAR T cells for the treatment of cortical T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (21) ◽  
pp. 2291-2304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Sánchez-Martínez ◽  
Matteo L. Baroni ◽  
Francisco Gutierrez-Agüera ◽  
Heleia Roca-Ho ◽  
Oscar Blanch-Lombarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Antileukemic Activity ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract Relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has a dismal outcome, and no effective targeted immunotherapies for T-ALL exist. The extension of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells (CARTs) to T-ALL remains challenging because the shared expression of target antigens between CARTs and T-ALL blasts leads to CART fratricide. CD1a is exclusively expressed in cortical T-ALL (coT-ALL), a major subset of T-ALL, and retained at relapse. This article reports that the expression of CD1a is mainly restricted to developing cortical thymocytes, and neither CD34+ progenitors nor T cells express CD1a during ontogeny, confining the risk of on-target/off-tumor toxicity. We thus developed and preclinically validated a CD1a-specific CAR with robust and specific cytotoxicity in vitro and antileukemic activity in vivo in xenograft models of coT-ALL, using both cell lines and coT-ALL patient–derived primary blasts. CD1a-CARTs are fratricide resistant, persist long term in vivo (retaining antileukemic activity in re-challenge experiments), and respond to viral antigens. Our data support the therapeutic and safe use of fratricide-resistant CD1a-CARTs for relapsed/refractory coT-ALL.

Adoptive T-Cell Therapy for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Preclinical Studies

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 3531-3540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo A. Cardoso ◽  
J. Pedro Veiga ◽  
Paolo Ghia ◽  
Hernani M. Afonso ◽  
W. Nicholas Haining ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Adoptive T Cell Therapy ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Acute Leukemias ◽  
T Cell Lines

We have previously shown that leukemia-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) can be generated from the bone marrow of most patients with B-cell precursor acute leukemias. If these antileukemia CTL are to be used for adoptive immunotherapy, they must have the capability to circulate, migrate through endothelium, home to the bone marrow, and, most importantly, lyse the leukemic cells in a leukemia-permissive bone marrow microenvironment. We demonstrate here that such antileukemia T-cell lines are overwhelmingly CD8+ and exhibit an activated phenotype. Using a transendothelial chemotaxis assay with human endothelial cells, we observed that these T cells can be recruited and transmigrate through vascular and bone marrow endothelium and that these transmigrated cells preserve their capacity to lyse leukemic cells. Additionally, these antileukemia T-cell lines are capable of adhering to autologous stromal cell layers. Finally, autologous antileukemia CTL specifically lyse leukemic cells even in the presence of autologous marrow stroma. Importantly, these antileukemia T-cell lines do not lyse autologous stromal cells. Thus, the capacity to generate anti–leukemia-specific T-cell lines coupled with the present findings that such cells can migrate, adhere, and function in the presence of the marrow microenvironment enable the development of clinical studies of adoptive transfer of antileukemia CTL for the treatment of ALL.

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