Gvhd Severity Is Regulated by the Adoptive Transfer Low Numbers of NKT Cells by a Mechanism Distinct From CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 229-229
Author(s):  
Dennis Leveson-Gower ◽  
Janelle Olson ◽  
Emanuela I Sega ◽  
Jeanette Baker ◽  
Robert Zeiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Donor Type ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Abstract 229 NKT cells, a subset of which are CD1d reactive, play an important immunoregulatory role in suppressing dysfunctional immune reactions, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To explore the biological activity and mechanism of donor-type NKT in suppression of GVHD, we utilized highly purified (>95%) populations of donor (C57Bl6; H-2b) NKT (DX5+TCR+CD4+) cells adoptively transferred into lethally irradiated recipient (Balb/c; H-2d) animals with T cell depleted bone marrow (TCD-BM). Highly purified (>95%) NKT cells (5.5×105) from luciferase positive (luc+) C57BL/6 mice were infused into lethally irradiated Balb/c recipients with TCD-BM(5×106) from wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, and the animals were monitored by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). By day 4 after transfer, an NKT derived signal was observed in spleen and lymph node (LN) sites, and between days 7 and 10, NKT had also migrated to the skin. Total photons emitted peaked near day 25 after transplantation, followed by a steady decline. To assess the impact of donor-type NKT cells on GVHD induction by conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Tcon), we co-transferred various doses of highly purified WT NKT at day 0 with TCD-BM, followed by 5×105 luc+Tcon/animal on day 2. As few as 2.5×104 NKT cells significantly improved survival of mice receiving 5×105 Tcon. Animal survival with Tcon only was 20% and for Tcon with NKT cells was 74%(p=0.0023). In contrast to what is observed with CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), the NKT cells did not suppress Tcon proliferation assayed by both in vivo BLI and in a mixed-leukocyte reaction. Analysis of serum cytokines with or without 2.5×104 NKT, following HCT with TCD-BM and Tcon, indicated the addition of NKT cells resulted in elevated levels of INF-γ, IL-5, and IL-6 in serum; significant differences were not observed in serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, or TNF-α. Intracellular levels of cytokines in Tcon were analyzed from the same groups. At 8 days after HCT, mice receiving NKT had fewer TNFα-positive cells in LNs (CD4: 45% to 27%; CD8 36% to 24%); by day 11, however, TNFαa levels between groups were equivalent. IFN-γ levels, which were high in both NKT treated and untreated groups at day 8 (85%-95%), decreased significantly in NKT treated mice by day 11 (CD4: 40%; CD8: 43%), but were abundant in Tcon only mice (CD4: 78%; CD8: 80%) (p=.0001). No significant changes were found in the intracellular levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, or IL-17 of Tcon in the presence or absence of NKT cells. NKT from both IL-4 -/- and IFN-γ -/- mice were less effective at suppressing GVHD than WT NKT, implicating these cytokines in the suppressive mechanism. Finally, we found that NKT do not have a major impact on the graft-versus-tumor effect of Tcon against a luc+ BCL-1 tumor. These studies indicate that NKT persist in vivo upon adoptive transfer and suppress GVHD, even at extremely low cell numbers, which is important given the relative paucity of this cell population. The mechanisms of GVHD suppression appear to be distinct to those of Treg and involve the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ by NKT resulting in a decrease in Tcon, which produce pro-inflamatory cytokines. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

NKT Cells Are Potent Regulators of GVHD Following Adoptive Transfer in Allogeneic BMT.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 353-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis B. Leveson-Gower ◽  
Janelle A. Olson ◽  
Jeanette Baker ◽  
Robert Zeiser ◽  
Andreas Beilhack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Graft Vs Host Disease ◽  
Donor Type ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The Impact

Abstract NKT cells, which are CD1d reactive and express an invariant TCR, are thought to play an immunoregulatory role in suppressing dysfunctional immune reactions including graft vs. host disease (GVHD). Whether non-manipulated donor-type NKT can suppress GVHD following adoptive transfer has not been addressed, nor has the trafficking pattern of NKT in a hematopoetic transplantation (HCT) setting. To determine how effectively NKT proliferate and traffic in a HCT setting, 5.5x105 highly purified (>95%) NKT (DX5+TCRβ+CD4+) from luciferase positive (luc+) C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice were transferred into lethally irradiated Balb/c (H-2d) recipients along with 5x106 T-cell depleted bone marrow (TCD-BM) from wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Proliferation and migration of luc+NKT was monitored by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). By day 4 after transfer, a prominent signal was observed in the spleen and lymph node (LN) sites. Between days 7 and 10, the NKT migrated to skin, while still remaining present in high numbers in LNs, but decreasing to low levels in spleen. The total photons emitted per mouse reached a peak at approximately 25 days after transplantation, followed by a steady decline. The NKT expansion was more vigorous than that of luc+CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which also peak around day 25, but do not show extensive migration to skin. Expansion of NKT was far less than conventional (CD4+ and CD8+) T cells (Tcon), with approximately 10 times more photons/mouse being emitted from 5x105 luc+Tcon as from 5.5x105 NKT. The NKT did not cause GVHD where Tcon rapidly resulted in acute GVHD and animal mortality. To assess the impact of donor-type NKT on GVHD induction by Tcon, we co-transferred various doses of highly purified wt NKT at day 0 with 5x106 TCD-BM, followed by 5x105 luc+Tcon at day 2. Weight and survival of groups were monitored, as well as the proliferation of Tcon by BLI. In groups receiving only Tcon, 50% of the mice died within 2 weeks, and 90% died by day 80. Remarkably, if 2.5x104 sorted NKT were transferred, 100% of the mice survived past day 100. To achieve the same effect with Tregs, 2.5x105 Tregs were required. Mice treated with 2.5x104 NKT lost more weight at early time points than those receiving 2.5x105 Tregs, but both groups recovered from this weight loss and did not exhibit other signs of GVHD (hair loss, hunched back, diarrhea, etc). Interestingly, 2.5x104 NKT caused only a slight reduction in Tcon proliferation, whereas 2.5x105 Treg strongly reduced Tcon proliferation. Surprisingly, when the dose of NKT was increased to 5x104, survival was only 62%, and when increased to 1x105 cells, only 50% of mice survived past day 100. To determine how NKT reduce GVHD, we examined intracellular levels of various cytokines in Tcon with or without 2.5x104 NKT, following HCT. At 8 days after HCT, mice receiving NKT had reductions in the number of IL-17-positive cells (CD4: 2.6% to 0.84%; CD8: 2.5% to 0.66%), and TNFα+ cells (CD4: 45% to 27%; CD8 36% to 24%) in cells from LNs. By day 11, IL-17-positive cells had declined to undetectable levels and TNF levels between groups were equivalent. IFNg levels, which were high in both NKT treated and untreated groups at day 8 (85%–95%), decreased significantly in NKT treated mice by day 11 (CD4: 40%; CD8: 43%), but were still abundant in Tcon only mice (CD4: 78%; CD8: 80%). Together these data indicate that NKT cells persist in vivo upon adoptive transfer and suppress GVHD by decreasing the percentage of Tcon secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines.

IL-9 Production by Regulatory T Cells Recruits Mast Cells That Are Essential for Regulatory T Cell-Induced Immune-Suppression

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2782-2782
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Wolf ◽  
Dominik Wolf ◽  
Andrew McKenzie ◽  
Marcus Maurer ◽  
Alexander R Rosenkranz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Mast Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Cell Populations ◽  
Perfect Agreement ◽  
Immunosuppressive Cell

Abstract Abstract 2782 Tipping the balance between effector and regulatory cell populations is of critical importance in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune disorders. Both, mast cells (MC) and regulatory T cells (Treg) have gained attention as immunosuppressive cell populations. To investigate a possible interaction, we used the Th1- and Th17-dependent model of nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTS), in which both MC and Treg have been shown to play a protective role. We recently provided evidence that adoptive transfer of wild-type (wt) Treg into wt recipients almost completely prevents development of NTS. We here show that Treg transfer induces a profound increase of MC in the kidney draining lymph nodes (LN). In contrast, transfer of wt Treg into animals deficient in MC, which are characterized by an exaggerated susceptibility to NTS, do not prevent acute renal inflammation. Blocking the pleiotropic cytokine IL-9, which is known to be critically involved in MC recruitment and proliferation, by means of an antagonizing monoclonal antibody in animals receiving wt Treg abrogated protection from NTS. Moreover, we provide clear evidence that Treg-derived IL-9 is critical for MC recruitment as mediators of their full immune-suppressive potential, as adoptive transfer of IL-9 deficient Treg failed to protect from NTS. In line with our hypothesis, absence of Treg-derived IL-9 does not induce MC accumulation into kidney-draining LN, despite the fact that IL-9 deficiency does not alter the general suppressive activity of Treg, as shown by in vitro testing of their functional capacities. Finally, we observed a significantly decreased expression of the MC chemoattractant Cxcl-1 in the LN of mice receiving IL-9 deficient Treg as compared to mice receiving wt Treg or control CD4+CD25− T cells, which might at least in part explain the deficient MC recruitment under these conditions. In summary, our data provide the first evidence that the immunosuppressive effects of adoptively transferred Treg depend on IL-9-mediated recruitment of MC to the kidney draining LN in NTS. This data is in perfect agreement with our previous report showing that CCR7-mediated LN occupancy of Treg is a prerequisite for their immune-suppressive potential and furthers adds a piece of information to the functional understanding of the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of Treg. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The In Vivo Impact of Human Regulatory T Cells on the Graft Versus Tumor Effect.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 349-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuna Mutis ◽  
Henk Rozemuller ◽  
Maarten E. Emmelot ◽  
Tineke Aarts-Riemens ◽  
Vivienne Verweij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Reactivity ◽  
Human Pbmc ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
T Cell Reactivity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The curative Graft-vs-Tumor effect (GvT) of allogeneic Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is frequently complicated with life threatening Graft-vs-Host Disease (GvHD). In mice, prevention of GvHD, without abrogation of GvT is possible by co-transplantation of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Tregs) with SC grafts. Consistent with these murine studies, we recently demonstrated that also human Tregs possess potent GvHD-downregulatory capacities in a xenogeneic(x) model, where x-GvHD is induced by infusion of autologous human T cells in RAG2−/−γc−/− mice (Mutis et al. Clin. Cancer Res.2006, 12: 5520–5525). Towards clinical application of Tregs, we now explored the impact of human Treg-administration on GvT in a bioluminescence imaging (BLI) based human-GvT model in the RAG2−/−γc−/− mice. In this model, mice inoculated with luciferase (LUC)-transduced human myeloma (MM) cell lines developed BLI-detectable, progressive, MM-like multifocal tumors exclusively in the bone marrow (BM). Full blown tumors were effectively eliminated by infusion of allogeneic human PBMC. This treatment also caused lethal x-GvHD as expected. In this setting, co-infusion of human PBMC with autologous, in vitro cultured Tregs at a 1:1 Treg: T effector cell ratio had no adverse effects on the development of GvT while significantly reducing the lethality of x-GvHD. In vitro analyses of sacrificed mice at day 21 revealed that administered Tregs homed to BM and spleen, significantly downregulated the total numbers of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responding to CD3 mediated signals, but had no downregulatory effect on the frequencies of IFN-γ-producing T cells responding to tumor cells. There was also no downregulation of cytotoxic activity against tumor cells in Treg-treated mice. Conclusively, these results showed that Tregs, at doses which are inhibitory for x-GvHD-inducing T cells, could maintain the GvT effect by allowing T cell reactivity against tumor cells. Human Tregs thus still hold promise as attractive cellular tools for separating GvT from GvHD.

scholarly journals Interleukin-30 Suppresses Not Only CD4+ T Cells but Also Regulatory T Cells in Murine Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Hung-Wen Chen ◽  
Chia-I. Lin ◽  
Ya-Hui Chuang
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Primary Biliary Cholangitis ◽  
Autoimmune Cholangitis ◽  
Liver Inflammation ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Ifn Γ

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver autoimmune disease with augmented T helper (Th) 1 and corresponding cytokine IFN-γ immune responses. Using 2-octynoic acid (2-OA) coupled to OVA (2-OA-OVA)-induced mouse models of autoimmune cholangitis (inducible chemical xenobiotic models of PBC), our previous study demonstrated that overexpression of IFN-γ in the model mice enhanced liver inflammation upon disease initiation, but subsequently led to the suppression of chronic inflammation with an increase in interleukin-30 (IL-30) levels. In this study, we investigated whether IL-30 had an immunosuppressive function and whether it could be part of an immune therapeutic regimen for PBC, by treating model mice with murine IL-30-expressing recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV-mIL-30). We first defined the effects of AAV-mIL-30 in vivo by administering it to a well-known concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis model of mice and found that AAV-mIL-30 reduced the numbers of activated CD25+CD4+ T cells and the levels of serum IFN-γ and IL-12. In autoimmune cholangitis, decreased numbers of activated CD4+ T cells and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells were noted in the mice treated with AAV-mIL-30 at 3 weeks after the 2-OA-OVA immunization. Treatment with IL-30 did not change the features of autoimmune cholangitis including autoantibodies, cell infiltration, and collagen deposition in the liver at 11 weeks of examination. However, increased levels of cytokines and chemokines were observed. These results suggest that IL-30 suppresses not only CD4+ T cells but also regulatory T cells. Additionally, the administration of IL-30 did not suppress liver inflammation in the murine model of PBC.

scholarly journals IL-2 administration increases CD4+CD25hi Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in cancer patients

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 2409-2414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojgan Ahmadzadeh ◽  
Steven A. Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is historically known as a T-cell growth factor. Accumulating evidence from knockout mice suggests that IL-2 is crucial for the homeostasis and function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo. However, the impact of administered IL-2 in an immune intact host has not been studied in rodents or humans. Here, we studied the impact of IL-2 administration on the frequency and function of human CD4+CD25hi T cells in immune intact patients with melanoma or renal cancer. We found that the frequency of CD4+CD25hi T cells was significantly increased after IL-2 treatment, and these cells expressed phenotypic markers associated with regulatory T cells. In addition, both transcript and protein levels of Foxp3, a transcription factor exclusively expressed on regulatory T cells, were consistently increased in CD4 T cells following IL-2 treatment. Functional analysis of the increased number of CD4+CD25hi T cells revealed that this population exhibited potent suppressive activity in vitro. Collectively, our results demonstrate that administration of high-dose IL-2 increased the frequency of circulating CD4+CD25hi Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Our findings suggest that selective inhibition of IL-2-mediated enhancement of regulatory T cells may improve the therapeutic effectiveness of IL-2 administration. (Blood. 2006;107:2409-2414)

scholarly journals Sustained expansion of NKT cells and antigen-specific T cells after injection of α-galactosyl-ceramide loaded mature dendritic cells in cancer patients

2005 ◽  
Vol 201 (9) ◽  
pp. 1503-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Chang ◽  
Keren Osman ◽  
John Connolly ◽  
Anjli Kukreja ◽  
Joseph Krasovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Galactosyl Ceramide ◽  
Inducible Protein

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are distinct glycolipid reactive innate lymphocytes that are implicated in the resistance to pathogens and tumors. Earlier attempts to mobilize NKT cells, specifically, in vivo in humans met with limited success. Here, we evaluated intravenous injection of monocyte-derived mature DCs that were loaded with a synthetic NKT cell ligand, α-galactosyl-ceramide (α-GalCer; KRN-7000) in five patients who had advanced cancer. Injection of α-GalCer–pulsed, but not unpulsed, dendritic cells (DCs) led to >100-fold expansion of several subsets of NKT cells in all patients; these could be detected for up to 6 mo after vaccination. NKT activation was associated with an increase in serum levels of interleukin-12 p40 and IFN-γ inducible protein-10. In addition, there was an increase in memory CD8+ T cells specific for cytomegalovirus in vivo in response to α-GalCer–loaded DCs, but not unpulsed DCs. These data demonstrate the feasibility of sustained expansion of NKT cells in vivo in humans, including patients who have advanced cancer, and suggest that NKT activation might help to boost adaptive T cell immunity in vivo.

Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (ATG) Differentially Depletes naïve and Memory T Cells and Permits Memory-Type Regulatory T Cells

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 4670-4670
Author(s):  
Chang-Qing Xia ◽  
Anna Chernatynskaya ◽  
Clive Wasserfall ◽  
Benjamin Looney ◽  
Suigui Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Memory T Cells ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Abstract 4670 Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) has been used in clinic for the treatment of allograft rejection and autoimmune diseases. However, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. To our knowledge, how ATG therapy affects naïve and memory T cells has not been well investigated. In this study, we have employed nonobese diabetic mouse model to investigate how administration of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) affects memory and naïve T cells as well as CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs; We also investigate how ATG therapy affects antigen-experienced T cells. Kinetic studies of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells post-ATG therapy shows that both populations decline to their lowest levels at day 3, while CD4+ T cells return to normal levels more rapidly than CD8+ T cells. We find that ATG therapy fails to eliminate antigen-primed T cells, which is consistent with the results that ATG therapy preferentially depletes naïve T cells relative to memory T cells. CD4+ T cell responses post-ATG therapy skew to T helper type 2 (Th2) and IL-10-producing T regulatory type 1 (Tr1) cells. Intriguingly, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are less sensitive to ATG depletion and remain at higher levels following in vivo recovery compared to controls. Of note, the frequency of Foxp3+ Tregs with memory-like immunophenotype is significantly increased in ATG-treated animals, which might play an important role in controlling effector T cells post ATG therapy. In summary, ATG therapy may modulate antigen-specific immune responses through modulation of naïve and memory T cell pools and more importantly through driving T cell subsets with regulatory activities. This study provides important data for guiding ATG therapy in allogenieic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and other immune-mediated disorders. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Unique Role of mTOR Inhibitor, Everolimus in Inducible Regulatory T Cells

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 4349-4349
Author(s):  
Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue ◽  
Yuki Yamamoto ◽  
Seiichiro Kobayashi ◽  
Kazuo Ogami ◽  
Kiyoko Izawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Mtor Inhibitor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Foxp3 Expression ◽  
Induction Rate ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Abstract 4349 Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in immune-tolerance to allograft. Unbalance between Tregs and effector T cells is involved in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other autoimmune disorders. Adoptive use of inducible Tregs (iTregs) is a candidate immunosuppressive therapy, and major concern has been focused on sustained expression of Foxp3 in iTregs. We previously reported that iTregs can be efficiently expanded from cord blood (CB)-derived CD4+ T cells in the presence of IL2, TGFb and a mTOR inhibitor, Everolimus (Eve). However, the effect of Eve on in vitro induction of iTreg remains to be elucidated. Here we studied the impact of Eve on CB-CD4+ T cells. Methods: CD4+ T cells were prepared from CB with a purity of >95% and put into the flask coated with anti-CD3/CD28 MAb. For Treg induction, these cultures were supplemented with IL2, IL-2/TGFb, IL2/TGFb/Eve, or IL2/Eve and kept for two weeks. The resulting CD4+ T cells including variable proportion of iTregs were subjected to mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) along with CFSE-labeled autologous responder T cells and allogeneic dendritic cells (DCs) as stimulator. Results: The basal proportion of CD25+Foxp3+ cells in CB-CD4+ T cells was 0.60 ± 0.59%. After two weeks, the induction rate of CD25+Foxp3+CD4+ T cells was higher in the culture with IL2/TGFb/Eve than that with IL2/TGFb, but Eve itself could not significantly induce iTregs in the absence of TGFb (Figure1.). The iTreg ratio (CD25+Foxp3+ cells/total CD4+ T cells) was 79.3 ± 17.4% in the culture with IL2/TGFb/Eve, 53.1 ± 23.8% with IL2/TGFb, 35.5±18.6% with IL2/Eve and 22.7 ± 18.6% with IL2, respectively. There was no significant relationship between the dose of Eve and the iTreg ratio, but the highest ratio and induction rate of iTregs were observed at 10nM Eve. Thus, an average of 2.95 ± 2.8 ×107 iTregs was obtained from 5 ×104 CB-CD4+ T cells after two weeks of culture with IL2/TGFb/Eve. The iTreg-rich population cultured with IL2/TGFb/Eve and IL2/TGFb, but not IL2 alone, efficiently inhibited MLR triggered by allogeneic DCs (Figure 2.). These iTregs were also active in MLR using allogeneic responder T cells. Interestingly, IL2/Eve-treated CB-CD4+ T cells also inhibited MLR, irrespective of the low or moderate iTreg ratio. The inhibitory effect on MLR was much less observed by another mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, rather than Eve (Figure2). Expression of CD26 on CD4+ T cells was inversely correlated to Foxp3 expression and significantly down-regulated by TGFb with or without Eve. Discussion: Treatment of CB-CD4+ T cells with IL2/TGFb/Eve results in the efficient ex vivo expansion of functional iTregs. Eve enhanced TGFb induction of Foxp3 expression, but did not induce Foxp3 expression by itself. mTOR is a complex of TORC1 and 2. Rapamycin is reported to inhibit TORC1, while Eve inhibits both of them, at general dose. In recent report, mTOR-deficient T cells (TORC1/2, not TORC1 alone) displayed normal activation and IL-2 production upon initial stimulation, but failed to differentiate into effecter T cells, instead, differentiated into Tregs. Although the direct mechanism to inhibit MLR by CB-CD4+ T cells treated with Eve remained to be elucidated, these results suggested the aberrant pathways of immunological inhibition. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Immunotherapy for HER2-positive medulloblastoma: Regression of experimental tumors by transfer of HER2-redirected T cells in vivo

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9008-9008
Author(s):  
N. M. Ahmed ◽  
M. K. Ratnayake ◽  
B. Savoldo ◽  
L. Perlaky ◽  
G. P. Dotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Her2 Positive ◽  
Immunotherapeutic Approach ◽  
Murine Xenograft Model ◽  
Healthy Donors ◽  
Ifn Γ

9008 Background: The long-term objective of this project is to develop an innovative HER2-targeted immunotherapeutic approach for medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. HER2 is expressed in 40% of medulloblastomas and at present less than one third of patients with HER2-positive tumors are cured by conventional therapies. The aim of this study was to determine if T cells grafted with a HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) recognize and kill HER2-positive medulloblastomas. Methods: Mitogen-activated T cells from healthy donors and medulloblastoma patients were transduced with a retroviral vector encoding a HER2-specific CAR with a ζ-signaling domain (HER2T-cells). We analyzed the ability of HER2T-cells to 1) proliferate, 2) produce immunostimulatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2), and 3) kill HER2-positive targets in cytoxicity assays upon exposure to HER2-positive primary medulloblastoma cells and cell lines. The in vivo function was tested in an orthotopic murine xenograft model of human medulloblastoma, which allows for serial imaging by bioluminescence. Results: HER2T-cells killed both HER2-positive primary medulloblastoma cells and cell lines in cytotoxicity assays, whereas HER2-negative tumor cells were not killed. Stimulation of HER2T-cells resulted in T-cell proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 in a HER2-dependent manner. No functional difference was observed between cells generated from medulloblastoma patients receiving dexamethasone and healthy donors. In vivo, the adoptive transfer of HER2T-cells resulted in sustained regression of established medulloblastomas in an orthotopic murine xenograft model as judged by bioluminescence imaging. In contrast, delivery of non-transduced T cells did not change tumor growth in comparison to untreated tumors. Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that HER2 is a target antigen for the immunotherapy of medulloblastoma. HER2-redirected T-cells not only recognized and killed HER2-positive medulloblastomas ex vivo, but also induced regression of experimental medulloblastoma in vivo. Hence, adoptive transfer of HER2-redirected T-cells may represent a promising immunotherapeutic approach for medulloblastoma. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Averted NFATc1 Sumoylation in Alloreactive T Cells Ameliorates Acute GvHD

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 809-809
Author(s):  
Musga Qureischi ◽  
Lena Dietz ◽  
Martin Vaeth ◽  
Andreas Beilhack ◽  
Friederike Berberich-Siebelt
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Acute Gvhd ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Immunosuppressive Agents ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is an established therapy for the treatment of malignant diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma. Unfortunately, this often leads to an immunological complication, termed graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), in which donor T cells attack host tissues. Patients with acute GvHD can be efficiently treated with immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin A and tacrolimus. These agents inhibit the phosphatase calcineurin, which leads to suppression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). However, inhibition of calcineurin causes severe side effects and impairs the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. Therefore, we evaluate new therapeutic options. Previously, we have demonstrated that posttranslational modification of NFATc1 by SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier) modulates its transcriptional activity in vitro (Nayak et al. 2009. J Biol Chem 284:10935-46). To elucidate the importance of NFATc1 SUMOylation in vivo, we generated an NFAT mutant mouse with lysine to arginine exchanges within the C-terminal SUMOylation motifs, Nfatc1K702/914R, encoding NFATc1ΔSumo. NFATc1ΔSumo mice were healthy and developed a normal lymphoid compartment. In line with our former in vitro studies, however, NFATc1ΔSumo CD4+ T cells produced more IL-2 and less effector lymphokines like IFN-γ when challenged ex vivo. Since enhanced IL-2 levels can protect from GvHD, we compared NFATc1ΔSumovs WT T cells in an murine MHC major mismatch allo-HSCT model (C57BL/6, H-2b into BALB/c, H-2d), leading to acute GvHD. For noninvasive bioluminescence imaging of transplanted T cells, we crossed NFATc1ΔSumo mice with firefly luciferase-expressing mice. Recipients of NFATc1ΔSumo T cells survived much longer than WT T-cell recipients, correlating with a significant reduction of in vivo expansion and GvHD target organ infiltration. Surface expression of α4β7-integrin, which guides T cells into the intestine, was slightly decreased on CD4+ T cells of NFATc1ΔSumo mice. Accordingly, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed reduced NFATc1 SUMOylation-deficient CD4+ T cells infiltrating the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, intracellular TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were significantly decreased in alloreactive NFATc1ΔSumoT cells. In contrast, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells increased in mice with transplanted NFATc1ΔSumo T cells. To evaluate whether higher IL-2 production from conventional T cells (Tcons) would enhance Treg frequency, we transplanted NFATc1ΔSumo or WT Tcons, always in combination with WT Tregs to suppress GvHD in vivo. Indeed, WT Tregs frequencies were 2-fold higher in the presence of Tcons from NFATc1ΔSumo mice as compared to WT Tcons. Consequently, expansion of NFATc1ΔSumo alloreactive Tcons was inhibited. Accordingly, an in vitro suppression assay demonstrated that NFATc1ΔSumo regulatory T cells (Tregs) exhibit similar suppressive capacities as WT Tregs and, thus, may mainly benefit from the beneficial condition provided by NFAT1ΔSumoTcons. Conclusively, NFATc1 SUMOylation in T cells is critical for balancing inflammation and tolerance by regulating the ratio of Tcons vs Tregs. We postulate that averted NFATc1 SUMOylation ameliorates inflammatory diseases due to higher IL-2 production, which supports Treg proliferation. Blocking NFATc1 SUMOylation in T cells before allo-HSCT poses a potential therapeutic option similar to IL-2 treatment against GvHD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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