Establishing T Cell Memory by Adoptive Transfer of T Cell Clones.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 866-866
Author(s):  
Carolina Berger ◽  
Michael C. Jensen ◽  
Stanley R. Riddell

Abstract Adoptive transfer of T cells has been employed to reconstitute T cell immunity to viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) in immunodeficient allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) patients and is being investigated to treat malignancies. In the allogeneic SCT setting, the T cells are derived from the donor and need to be isolated as clones or highly pure populations to avoid graft-versus-host disease. CD8+ T cells can be divided into defined subsets including CD62L− effector memory (TEM) and central memory T cells (TCM) expressing the CD62L lymph node homing molecule. Both TCM and TEM can give rise to cytolytic effector T cells (TE) after antigen stimulation and can be expanded in vitro for immunotherapy. However, the potential of T cells derived from either the TEM or TCM subset to persist in vivo has not been investigated. We used a macaque model to determine whether reconstitution of T cell memory to CMV by adoptive transfer of CD8+ T cell clones depended on their origin from either the CD62L+ TCM or CD62L− TEM subset. T cell clones were retrovirally transduced to express the macaque CD19 or CD20 surface marker to allow tracking of T cells in vivo. Clones derived from both TCM and TEM had similar avidity and proliferative capacity in vitro, and had a TE phenotype (CD62L−CCR7−CD28−CD127−, granzyme B+). TCM and TEM-derived T cell clones were transferred to macaques at doses of 3–6×108/kg and were both detected in the blood one day after transfer at 1.2–2.7% (low dose) to 20–25% (high dose) of CD8+ T cells. However, the frequency of TEM-derived T cells was undetectable after 3–5 days, and the cells were not present in lymph node or bone marrow obtained at day 14. By contrast, TCM-derived clones persisted in peripheral blood, migrated to tissue sites, and were detectable long-term at significant levels. A distinguishing feature of TCM-derived cells was their responsiveness to homeostatic cytokines. Only TCM-derived clones were rescued from apoptotic cell death by low-dose IL15 for >30 days in vitro and this correlated with higher levels of IL15Rα, IL2Rβ, and IL2Rγ, and of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, which promote cell survival. To determine if the inability of TEM-derived clones to survive in vitro correlated with an increased susceptibility of cell death in vivo, we measured the proportion of infused cells that were positive for propidium iodide (PI) and Annexin V during the short period of in vivo persistence. One day after transfer, 41–45% of TEM-derived T cells were Annexin V+/PI+, analyzed directly in the blood or after 24 hours of culture. By contrast, only a minor fraction of an adoptively transferred TCM-derived T cell clone was Annexin V+/PI+ and the infused cells survived in vivo. A subset of the persisting T cells reacquired TCM marker (CD62L+CCR7+CD127+CD28+) in vivo and regained functional properties of TCM (direct lytic activity; rapid proliferation to antigen). These T cells produced IFN-γ and TNF-α after peptide stimulation, and studies are in progress to assess their in vivo response to antigen by delivery of T cells expressing CMV proteins. Our studies in a large animal model show for the first time that CD8+ TE derived from TCM but not TEM can persist long-term, occupy memory T cell niches, and restore TCM subsets of CMV-specific immunity. Thus, taking advantage of the genetic programming of cells that have become TCM might yield T cells with greater therapeutic activity and could be targeted for human studies of T cell therapy for both viral and malignant disease.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 770-770
Author(s):  
Carolina Berger ◽  
Michael Jensen ◽  
Stanley R. Riddell

Abstract In principle, the adoptive transfer of T cell clones specific for antigens expressed by pathogens or malignant cells could be therapeutically effective and allow precise control of the specificity, function, and magnitude of T cell immunity. However, the infusion of large numbers of cultured T cells or T cell clones in clinical trials has frequently failed to eradicate tumors or provide long-term control of infection. This may be due in part to the acquisition of an effector phenotype by the T cells during in vitro culture, which reduces their ability to survive in vivo and establish an immune response of sufficient magnitude for sustained efficacy. Several approaches including the administration of cytokines such as IL15, or lymphodepletion prior to cell transfer might promote the establishment of T cell memory after T cell transfer. To facilitate the rational development of clinical trials of T cell therapy, we have employed a nonhuman primate model of adoptive T cell transfer in which culture conditions and cell doses identical to those in human studies are utilized, and designed strategies to permit rigorous analysis of the persistence, function, phenotype, and migration of transferred cells. CD8+ CTL specific for macaque CMV were detected using an overlapping peptide panel and cytokine flow cytometry, isolated as individual T cell clones by limiting dilution, and propagated to large numbers in vitro. The T cell clones were transduced to express an intracellular truncated CD19 (ΔCD19) surface marker to allow tracking and functional assessment of T cells in vivo, and enriched by immunomagnetic selection to high purity (>98%) prior to transfer. The persistence of transferred ΔCD19+ T cells in the blood and their migration to the bone marrow and lymph nodes was determined by flow cytometry after staining with anti CD19, CD8, and CD3 antibodies. The infusion of ΔCD19+CD8+ CTL (3 x 108/kg) was safe and the cells remained detectable in vivo for >5 months. ΔCD19+CD8+ T cells were easily detected in the blood 1 day after transfer at a level of 2.7% of CD8+ T cells and gradually declined over 56 days to a stable population of 0.15–0.2% of CD8+ T cells. At the time of transfer the ΔCD19+CD8+ T cells had an effector phenotype (CD62L− CD127−), but gradually converted to a CD62L+CD127+ memory phenotype in vivo. The infused T cells were found at high levels in lymph node and bone marrow at day 14 after transfer (1.4% and 2.5%, respectively) and the cells at these sites were predominantly CD62L+. The ΔCD19+CD62L+ T cells lacked direct lytic function and expressed low levels of granzyme B, consistent with memory T cells. Sorting of these cells from post-transfer PBMC showed that in vitro activation restored lytic activity. The transferred ΔCD19+CD62L+ T cells in post-infusion PBMC produced IFNγ and TNFα comparable to endogenous CMV-specific CD8+ CTL. These results demonstrate that a subset (5–10%) of transferred CD8+ CTL clones can persist long-term as functional memory T cells. The macaque CD8+ T cell clones are responsive to IL15 in vitro and a safe regimen for administering IL15 to macaques that boosts endogenous T cells has been identified. Studies are now in progress to determine if IL15 can enhance the efficiency with which effector and memory CD8+ T cell responses can be augmented after adoptive transfer of T cell clones.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 679-679
Author(s):  
Carolina Berger ◽  
Michael Berger ◽  
Michael C Jensen ◽  
Stanley R Riddell

Abstract The adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that have been expanded in vitro is a promising treatment for human malignancies and infections. Interleukin (IL)-2 is frequently administered to support the in vivo survival of transferred T cells, but causes systemic toxicity when given in high doses and promotes the expansion of CD4+ regulatory T cells, which can inhibit antitumor immunity. IL-15, like IL-2, belongs to the four α-helix bundle family of cytokines and shares functional activities with IL-2, including binding to the IL-2 receptor (R) β and γc signaling components and promoting the proliferation of activated T cells in vitro. Despite the similar structure and in vitro function of IL-2 and IL-15, mice deficient in IL-15 or IL-15Rα have a marked reduction in natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells, and CD8+ memory cells, whereas mice deficient in IL-2 or IL-2Rα have lymphoid hyperplasia and autoimmunity. Because of its critical role in the maintenance of T cell memory, IL-15 is an attractive alternative to IL-2 for augmenting adoptively transferred T cell immunity in humans. We administered IL-15 subcutaneously to nonhuman primates and evaluated toxicity, immunological effects, and peak and trough plasma levels. After establishing a safe regimen of IL-15 dosing, we evaluated the ability of IL-15 to support the survival of adoptively transferred CD8+ effector T cell (TE) clones in vivo. Results: IL-15 was administered subcutaneously to five macaques at doses ranging from 2.5 – 15 μg/kg, given either daily or every 3 days, respectively. The animals were monitored for clinical toxicity and plasma levels. Peripheral blood T cell subsets were enumerated at intervals and evaluated for phenotype and expression of Ki-67, a nuclear antigen expressed by cells undergoing proliferation. Daily administration of high-dose IL-15 resulted in a pronounced increase in the absolute numbers and Ki-67-expression of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, respectively, and preferentially expanded CD8+CD95+CCR7− effector memory (TEM) and CD8+CD95+CCR7+ central memory T cells (TCM). However, daily IL-15 in doses of 5 – 15 μg/kg was associated with accumulation of IL-15 in serum, and caused toxicities that were reversible when IL-15 was discontinued. By contrast, intermittent IL-15 treatment every 3 days was safe and induced only a moderate increase in NK cells, CD8+ TEM and TCM, and enhanced expression of Ki-67 in these cell subsets. This coincided with an increase of the absolute number of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood, but total numbers of CD4+ FoxP3+ T cells were not increased with IL-15. We then examined the ability of IL-15 administered every 3 – 4 days for 3 weeks to support the in vivo persistence of TCM-derived CMV-specific CD8+ TE clones that were marked to express a truncated macaque CD19 surface molecule and transferred to the animals without prior lymphodepletion. As previously reported, CD8+ TE clones derived from TCM precursors survive in vitro in low-doses of IL-15 in the absence of T cell receptor stimulation, persist long term in vivo after transfer and revert to the memory pool (Berger et al, JCI2008, 118:294). In comparison with animals that received CD8+ T cells alone in which transferred T cells persisted at a stable level of 0.2 – 0.8% of circulating CD8+ cells, the administration of IL-15 after T cell transfer resulted in the establishment of a high-level T cell response (10 – 15% of CD8+ T cells; >100 cells/μL) that persisted for >6 months after IL-15 was discontinued. The CD19+CD8+ TE clones re-acquired a memory T cell phenotype in vivo and expressed bcl-2, bcl-xL and Ki-67 comparable to endogenous CD8+ T cells. The transferred cells were present in large numbers in bone marrow and lymph node samples obtained on day 14 and day 56 after infusion suggesting that they efficiently occupied niches of T cell memory. This data in a large animal model predictive of clinical translation demonstrates that IL-15 can be safely administered, exerts a profound immunologic effect, and dramatically augments the long-term survival of ex vivo expanded antigen-specific CD8+ CTL clones after adoptive transfer without promoting in vivo expansion of CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory cells. Thus, IL-15 may be a safer and more effective alternative to IL-2 and/or lymphodepletion to support the in vivo persistence of adoptively transferred tumor or virus-specific T cells in human immunotherapy.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (22) ◽  
pp. 12088-12104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Nikiforow ◽  
Kim Bottomly ◽  
George Miller ◽  
Christian Münz

ABSTRACT In the absence of immune surveillance, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells generate neoplasms in vivo and transformed cell lines in vitro. In an in vitro system which modeled the first steps of in vivo immune control over posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease and lymphomas, our investigators previously demonstrated that memory CD4+ T cells reactive to EBV were necessary and sufficient to prevent proliferation of B cells newly infected by EBV (S. Nikiforow et al., J. Virol. 75:3740-3752, 2001). Here, we show that three CD4+-T-cell clones reactive to the latent EBV antigen EBNA1 also prevent the proliferation of newly infected B cells from major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-matched donors, a crucial first step in the transformation process. EBNA1-reactive T-cell clones recognized B cells as early as 4 days after EBV infection through an HLA-DR-restricted interaction. They secreted Th1-type and Th2-type cytokines and lysed EBV-transformed established lymphoblastoid cell lines via a Fas/Fas ligand-dependent mechanism. Once specifically activated, they also caused bystander regression and bystander killing of non-MHC-matched EBV-infected B cells. Since EBNA1 is recognized by CD4+ T cells from nearly all EBV-seropositive individuals and evades detection by CD8+ T cells, EBNA1-reactive CD4+ T cells may control de novo expansion of B cells following EBV infection in vivo. Thus, EBNA1-reactive CD4+-T-cell clones may find use as adoptive immunotherapy against EBV-related lymphoproliferative disease and many other EBV-associated tumors.


1986 ◽  
Vol 164 (3) ◽  
pp. 962-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
M F Luciani ◽  
J F Brunet ◽  
M Suzan ◽  
F Denizot ◽  
P Golstein

At least some long-term in vitro-cultured cytotoxic T cell clones and uncloned cell populations are able, in the presence of Con A, to lyse other cells, to be lysed by other cells, but not to lyse themselves. This as-yet-unexplained result may have implications as to the mechanism of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 4981-4988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Lyadova ◽  
Vladimir Yeremeev ◽  
Konstantin Majorov ◽  
Boris Nikonenko ◽  
Sergei Khaidukov ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT I/St mice, previously characterized as susceptible toMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, were given 103 or 105 CFU intravenously. At two time points postinoculation, the cell suspensions that resulted from enzymatic digestion of lungs were enumerated and further characterized phenotypically and functionally. Regarding the T-cell populations recovered at 2 and 5 weeks postinfection, two main results were obtained: (i) the population of CD44− CD45RB+cells disappeared within 2 weeks postinfection, while the number of CD44+ CD45RB−/low cells slowly increased between weeks 2 and 5; (ii) when cocultured with irradiated syngeneic splenocytes, these lung T cells proliferated in the presence of H37Rv sonicate. Using H37Rv sonicate and irradiated syngeneic splenocytes to reactivate lung T cells, we selected five CD3+CD4+ CD8− T-cell clones. In addition to the H37Rv sonicate, the five clones react to both a short-term culture filtrate and an affinity-purified 15- to 18-kDa mycobacterial molecule as assessed by the proliferative assay. However, there was a clear difference between T-cell clones with respect to cytokine (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and interleukin-4 [IL-4] and IL-10) profiles: besides one Th1-like (IFN-γ+ IL-4−) clone and one Th0-like (IFN-γ+ IL-4+IL-10+) clone, three clones produced predominantly IL-10, with only marginal or no IL-4 and IFN-γ responses. Inhibition of mycobacterial growth by macrophages in the presence of T cells was studied in a coculture in vitro system. It was found that the capacity to enhance antimycobacterial activity of macrophages fully correlated with INF-γ production by individual T-cell clones following genetically restricted recognition of infected macrophages. The possible functional significance of cytokine diversity among T-cell clones is discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1439-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hagenstein ◽  
Simon Melderis ◽  
Anna Nosko ◽  
Matthias T. Warkotsch ◽  
Johannes V. Richter ◽  
...  

BackgroundNew therapies blocking the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) have recently become available and are successfully being used to treat inflammatory diseases like arthritis. Whether IL-6 blockers may help patients with kidney inflammation currently remains unknown.MethodsTo learn more about the complex role of CD4+ T cell-intrinsic IL-6R signaling, we induced nephrotoxic nephritis, a mouse model for crescentic GN, in mice lacking T cell–specific IL-6Ra. We used adoptive transfer experiments and studies in reporter mice to analyze immune responses and Treg subpopulations.ResultsLack of IL-6Ra signaling in mouse CD4+ T cells impaired the generation of proinflammatory Th17 cells, but surprisingly did not ameliorate the course of GN. In contrast, renal damage was significantly reduced by restricting IL-6Ra deficiency to T effector cells and excluding Tregs. Detailed studies of Tregs revealed unaltered IL-10 production despite IL-6Ra deficiency. However, in vivo and in vitro, IL-6Ra classic signaling induced RORγt+Foxp3+ double-positive Tregs (biTregs), which carry the trafficking receptor CCR6 and have potent immunoregulatory properties. Indeed, lack of IL-6Ra significantly reduced Treg in vitro suppressive capacity. Finally, adoptive transfer of T cells containing IL-6Ra−/− Tregs resulted in severe aggravation of GN in mice.ConclusionsOur data refine the old paradigm, that IL-6 enhances Th17 responses and suppresses Tregs. We here provide evidence that T cell–intrinsic IL-6Ra classic signaling indeed induces the generation of Th17 cells but at the same time highly immunosuppressive RORγt+ biTregs. These results advocate caution and indicate that IL-6–directed therapies for GN need to be cell-type specific.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucine Marotte ◽  
Sylvain Simon ◽  
Virginie Vignard ◽  
Emilie Dupre ◽  
Malika Gantier ◽  
...  

BackgroundGenome editing offers unique perspectives for optimizing the functional properties of T cells for adoptive cell transfer purposes. So far,PDCD1editing has been successfully tested mainly in chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells and human primary T cells. Nonetheless, for patients with solid tumors, the adoptive transfer of effector memory T cells specific for tumor antigens remains a relevant option, and the use of high avidity T cells deficient for programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) expression is susceptible to improve the therapeutic benefit of these treatments.MethodsHere we used the transfection of CAS9/sgRNA ribonucleoproteic complexes to editPDCD1gene in human effector memory CD8+T cells specific for the melanoma antigen Melan-A. We cloned edited T cell populations and validatedPDCD1editing through sequencing and cytometry in each T cell clone, together with T-cell receptor (TCR) chain’s sequencing. We also performed whole transcriptomic analyses on wild-type (WT) and edited T cell clones. Finally, we documented in vitro and in vivo through adoptive transfer in NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice, the antitumor properties of WT and PD-1KO T cell clones, expressing the same TCR.ResultsHere we demonstrated the feasibility to editPDCD1gene in human effector memory melanoma-specific T lymphocytes. We showed that PD-1 expression was dramatically reduced or totally absent onPDCD1-edited T cell clones. Extensive characterization of a panel of T cell clones expressing the same TCR and exhibiting similar functional avidity demonstrated superior antitumor reactivity against a PD-L1 expressing melanoma cell line. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a downregulation of genes involved in proliferation and DNA replication in PD-1-deficient T cell clones, whereas genes involved in metabolism and cell signaling were upregulated. Finally, we documented the superior ability of PD-1-deficient T cells to significantly delay the growth of a PD-L1 expressing human melanoma tumor in an NSG mouse model.ConclusionThe use of such lymphocytes for adoptive cell transfer purposes, associated with other approaches modulating the tumor microenvironment, would be a promising alternative to improve immunotherapy efficacy in solid tumors.


Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 1487-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Hertenstein ◽  
B Wagner ◽  
D Bunjes ◽  
C Duncker ◽  
A Raghavachar ◽  
...  

CD52 is a phosphatidylinositolglycan (PIG)-anchored glycoprotein (PIG- AP) expressed on normal T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, and the majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We observed the emergence of CD52- T cells in 3 patients after intravenous treatment with the humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody Campath-1H for refractory B- cell lymphoma and could identify the underlaying mechanism. In addition to the absence of CD52, the PIG-AP CD48 and CD59 were not detectable on the CD52- T cells in 2 patients. PIG-AP-deficient T-cell clones from both patients were established. Analysis of the mRNA of the PIG-A gene showed an abnormal size in the T-cell clones from 1 of these patients, suggesting that a mutation in the PIG-A gene was the cause of the expression defect of PIG-AP. An escape from an immune attack directed against PIG-AP+ hematopoiesis has been hypothesized as the cause of the occurrence of PIG-AP-deficient cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia. Our results support the hypothesis that an attack against the PIG-AP CD52 might lead to the expansion of a PIG-anchor-deficient cell population with the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of PNH cells.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 4449-4456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumiti Jain ◽  
Matthew T. Trivett ◽  
Victor I. Ayala ◽  
Claes Ohlen ◽  
David E. Ott

ABSTRACTThe expression of xenogeneic TRIM5α proteins can restrict infection in various retrovirus/host cell pairings. Previously, we have shown that African green monkey TRIM5α (AgmTRIM5α) potently restricts both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus mac239 (SIVmac239) replication in a transformed human T-cell line (L. V. Coren, et al., Retrovirology 12:11, 2015,http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12977-015-0137-9). To assess AgmTRIM5α restriction in primary cells, we transduced AgmTRIM5α into primary rhesus macaque CD4 T cells and infected them with SIVmac239. Experiments with T-cell clones revealed that AgmTRIM5α could reproducibly restrict SIVmac239replication, and that this restriction synergizes with an intrinsic resistance to infection present in some CD4 T-cell clones. AgmTRIM5α transduction of virus-specific CD4 T-cell clones increased and prolonged their ability to suppress SIV spread in CD4 target cells. This increased antiviral function was strongly linked to decreased viral replication in the AgmTRIM5α-expressing effectors, consistent with restriction preventing the virus-induced cytopathogenicity that disables effector function. Taken together, our data show that AgmTRIM5α restriction, although not absolute, reduces SIV replication in primary rhesus CD4 T cells which, in turn, increases their antiviral function. These results support priorin vivodata indicating that the contribution of virus-specific CD4 T-cell effectors to viral control is limited due to infection.IMPORTANCEThe potential of effector CD4 T cells to immunologically modulate SIV/HIV infection likely is limited by their susceptibility to infection and subsequent inactivation or elimination. Here, we show that AgmTRIM5α expression inhibits SIV spread in primary effector CD4 T cellsin vitro. Importantly, protection of effector CD4 T cells by AgmTRIM5α markedly enhanced their antiviral function by delaying SIV infection, thereby extending their viability despite the presence of virus. Ourin vitrodata support priorin vivoHIV-1 studies suggesting that the antiviral CD4 effector response is impaired due to infection and subsequent cytopathogenicity. The ability of AgmTRIM5α expression to restrict SIV infection in primary rhesus effector CD4 T cells now opens an opportunity to use the SIV/rhesus macaque model to further elucidate the potential and scope of anti-AIDS virus effector CD4 T-cell function.


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