Low Incidence of Post-Transplant EBV-Related Disease After Alemtuzumab-Mediated T Cell Depletion Is Explained by the Differential Susceptibility to Alemtuzumab of B Cells and Protective CD8 and CD4 T Cells

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2330-2330
Author(s):  
Constantijn J.M. Halkes ◽  
Inge Jedema ◽  
Judith Olde Wolbers ◽  
Esther M van Egmond ◽  
Peter A. Von Dem Borne ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2330 In vivo T cell depletion with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or alemtuzumab (anti-CD52) before reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in combination with in vitro T cell depletion with alemtuzumab reduces the risk of GVHD. Detectable levels of circulating antibodies are present up to several months after the alloSCT, leading to a delayed immune reconstitution which is associated with an increased incidence of opportunistic infections and early relapses. Prior to 2007, combined in vitro (Alemtuzumab 20 mg added “to the bag”) and in vivo T cell depletion with horse-derived ATG (h-ATG) resulted in good engraftment without GVHD in the absence of GVHD prophylaxis after reduced intensity alloSCT using conditioning with fludarabine and busulphan. Due to the unavailability of h-ATG, rabbit-derived ATG (r-ATG) 10–14 mg/kg was introduced in the conditioning regimen in 2007. Strikingly, in this cohort of patients, early EBV reactivation and EBV-associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) was observed in 10 out of 18 patients at a median time of 6 weeks after alloSCT (range 5 to 11 weeks) in the absence of GVHD or immunosuppressive treatment. Analysis of T and B cell recovery early after transplantation revealed preferential depletion of T cells as compared to B cells, thereby allowing unrestricted proliferation of EBV infected B cells. Due to this unacceptable high incidence of EBV-related complications, in the conditioning regimen r-ATG was replaced by low dose alemtuzumab (15 mg i.v. day -4 and -3) in 2008. In this cohort of 60 patients, only 2 patients experienced transient EBV reactivation during the first 3 months after alloSCT and one patient developed an EBV-associated lymphoma 4 weeks after alloSCT. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the low incidence of EBV reactivation using alemtuzumab for T cell depletion, we studied the in vivo and in vitro effects of alemtuzumab on different lymphocyte subsets. First, lineage-specific reconstitution was studied in 20 patients from the alemtuzumab cohort with known CD52 negative diseases (11 AML and 9 multiple myeloma) to exclude the confounding effect of antibody absorption by malignant cells. Whereas at 3 weeks after alloSCT detectable numbers of circulating NK cells and T cells were observed (medians 71 (range 6–378), and 12 (range 1–1164)E6/L, respectively), no circulating B cells could be detected (median 0, range 0–1 E6/L). At 6 weeks after alloSCT, NK and T cell numbers further increased (medians 212 (52-813), and 130 (range 25–1509)E6/L, respectively), whereas B cell numbers still remained low in the majority of patients (median 15, range 0–813E6/L). In all patients, T cells were detectable before the appearance of circulating B cells. Furthermore, the expression of CD52 and the sensitivity to alemtuzumab-mediated complement-dependent cell lysis (CDC) of B cells, T cells and NK cells was measured in vitro. The highest CD52 expression was observed on B cells (mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 120), resulting in 95% lysis after incubation with 10ug/mL alemtuzumab and rabbit complement. NK cells showed a significantly lower CD52 expression (MFI 41), which was also reflected by a lower susceptibility to alemtuzumab-mediated CDC (62% lysis). Interestingly, differential expression of CD52 was observed on CD4 and CD8 T cells (MFI 120 and 101, respectively). Cytotoxicity analysis revealed relative protection of CD8 compared to CD4 T cells against alemtuzumab-mediated CDC, resulting in 52% and 90% lysis, respectively. Based on these results, we investigated in detail the presence and phenotype of the CD4 and CD8 subsets and EBV-specific CD8 T cells using tetramer staining at 6 weeks after alloSCT. In accordance with the in-vitro expression and susceptibility data, circulating CD52+ CD8 T cells including EBV-specific T cells were detectable. Interestingly, the majority of circulating CD4 T cells (64-93%, n=4) lacked CD52 expression, explaining their capacity to persist in the presence of alemtuzumab. We conclude that in vivo and in vitro T cell depletion with alemtuzumab is associated with a relatively low risk of EBV-associated PTLD because of efficient B cell depletion and persistent EBV immunity allowed by the relative insusceptibility for alemtuzumab of CD8 T cells and the development of CD52 negative escape variants of CD4 T cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1979-1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J.M. Halkes ◽  
J.H.F. Falkenburg ◽  
H.M. van Egmond ◽  
J. Olde Wolbers ◽  
C.W.J. Starrenburg ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1979 Control of replication of endogenous viruses like CMV and EBV is fully dependent on CMV or EBV specific T cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). In the absence of specific CD8 T cell control, proliferation of EBV infected B cells can lead to post transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). In an initial cohort of patients treated with horse derived anti thymocyte globulin (h-ATG), no early PTLD was observed. However, due to unavailability in Europe, h-ATG had to be replaced by rabbit derived ATG (r-ATG), leading to an unacceptable high incidence of EBV-PTLD (26% during first 3 months after alloSCT). Replacement of r-ATG by alemtuzumab (ALT) significantly reduced the incidence of EBV-PTLD (3 months incidence of EBV-PTLD 2%). To determine the immunological basis of these findings we performed a detailed analysis of immune reconstitution in these three cohorts of transplanted patients. The first cohort (41 patients) received h-ATG (Lymphoglobulin) 10 mg/kg/day for 4 days. The second cohort (19 patients) received r-ATG (Thymoglobulin) 2.0 or 3.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days and the third cohort (60 patients) received ALT, 15 mg/day for 2 days. All grafts consisted of PBSC to which 20 mg of ALT was added for in vitro T cell depletion. All patients received a fludarabin and busulphan based conditioning regimen. No standard post transplantation immunosuppressive treatment was given. In the r-ATG cohort, early EBV-PTLD occurred after a median of 7 weeks (range 4–12 weeks) post alloSCT. Three r-ATG treated patients died while high levels of circulating EBV-DNA were present (> log 4.0 copies/mL). Incidence of CMV disease was not significantly different in the three cohorts (5%, 6% and 0%, respectively). In contrast to the other 2 cohorts, immune reconstitution in the r-ATG cohort was characterized by an imbalance between recovery of B cells and CD8 T cells. Already 3 weeks after alloSCT, the majority (67%) of r-ATG patients showed a more rapid reconstitution of B cells than CD8 T cells, leading to B cells outnumbering CD8 T cells. This was seen in only a small minority of patients after h-ATG and ALT (17% and 6%, respectively, p<0.01 versus r-ATG). Because rapid recovery of T cells in the alemtuzumab patients was frequently found in the presence of circulating ALT (mean concentration 0.43 μg/mL and 0.12 μg/mL after 3 and 6 weeks, respectively), the phenotype of circulating CD4 and CD8 T cells at 6 weeks after ALT was analyzed. The majority of circulating CD8 and CD4 T cells lacked CD52 expression (56% (range 0–99%) and 81% (range 0–93%), respectively). Using tetramer staining, cytotoxicity assays and analysis of cytokine production, we demonstrated the presence of functional CD52 negative as well as CD52 positive CMV and EBV specific CD8 T cells. Based on FLAER negativity, it was demonstrated that the CD52 negative T cells are GPI anchor deficient, representing a PNH-like clone escaping ALT induced cell lysis. Because almost half of the circulating CD8 T cells were CD52 positive, we examined expression of CD52 and the in-vitro sensitivity to ALT-mediated complement-dependent cell lysis (CDC) of B cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells of healthy donors. The highest CD52 expression was observed on B cells (mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 120), resulting in 95% lysis after incubation with ALT and complement. Differential expression of CD52 was observed on CD4 and CD8 T cells, MFI 120 and 101 respectively, resulting in relative protection of CD52 positive CD8 compared to CD4 T cells against ALT-mediated CDC (52% and 90% lysis). We conclude that the high incidence of EBV-PTLD after in-vivo T cell depletion with r-ATG is caused by an induced imbalance between B and T cell recovery, which is not seen after h-ATG or ALT. In-vivo T cell depletion with ALT is associated with a relatively low risk of EBV disease because of efficient B cell depletion and persistent EBV immunity due to the relative insusceptibility for ALT of CD8 T cells and the development of functional CD52 negative escape variants of CD4 and CD8 T cells. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Alemtuzumab and Anti Thymocyte Globulin used for in vivo T cell depletion prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 2785-2785
Author(s):  
Li Guo ◽  
Rukhsana Aslam ◽  
Yajing Zhao ◽  
Edwin R. Speck ◽  
Heyu Ni ◽  
...  

Abstract Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by increased platelet destruction and/or impaired megakaryocyte production, mediated by autoreactive B cells and T cells. B cell depletion therapy by rituximab, a monoclonal human anti-CD20 antibody, has been shown effective in both anti-platelet antibody positive (B cell mediated) and negative (T cell mediated) ITP patients. Those patients responsive to rituximab therapy showed normalized CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses (Stasi et al. Blood. 2007), however, the mechanism of T cell regulation by B cell depletion is not clear. One possibility is through normalization of CD4+ T helper cells or up-regulation of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) (Stasi et al. Blood. 2008). Another possibility is by suppression of activated conventional CD8+ T cells or the up-regulation of CD8+ Tregs. We examined the changes of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and Tregs (CD25highFoxp3+) after B cell depletion in vivo in our ITP mouse model. Briefly, BALB/c GPIIIa (CD61) KO mice were either given PBS (ND) or mouse monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody (B-dep, Biogen) at day -1 and day 13 (250ug/mouse, ip). Residual CD19+ B cells in peripheral blood were less than 0.1% within 24hours in the latter group. All mice were immunized by transfusions of wildtype (WT) platelets at day 0, 7, 14, and 21 (1×108/mouse, iv). At day 28, we examined the percentages of T cell subsets in the spleens of the immunized mice. B cell-depleted immune CD61 KO mice showed significantly higher percentages of both CD3+CD8+ T cells and CD8+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells (Table 1). There was no significant difference in the CD3+CD4+ and CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cell populations. Both ND and B-dep immune CD61 KO splenocytes showed increased cytotoxicity activity against CD61+ PU5-1.8 target cells in vitro compared with naïve CD61 KO splenocytes, indicating the activation of CD8+ T cells. To test their in vivo effect on ITP development, splenocytes were engrafted from immune mice into irradiated and AsialoGM-1 treated severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice at a dose of 2.5×104/mouse and the mice were monitored for weekly platelet counts. ND and in vitro B cell depleted splenocytes from immune KO mice induced persistent ITP during 3 weeks observation whereas splenocytes from B-dep immune mice did not. To further confirm the role of B cell depletion on CD8+ T cell responses, CD8+ T cells from either ND or B-dep immune CD61 KO splenocytes were purified and transferred into SCID mice at 3×104/mouse. CD4+ T cells from ND immune CD61 KO splenocytes were added at 3×104/mouse to all the SCID mice to support the CD8+ T cell survival in vivo. SCID mice received CD8+ T cells from B-dep group showed higher platelet count at Day 14. Overall, our results indicate a protective role of CD8+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells against the development of cell mediated ITP that is enhanced by B cell depleting therapy in vivo. Table 1. CD61 KO MouseSpleens CD3+CD8+(%) CD8+CD25highFoxp3+ (%) Naïve Control 9.12±0.37 0.12±0.08 Immune, ND 6.78±2.37 0.0925±0.03 Immune, B-dep 14.15±5.1 0.2367±0.11 P value (ND vs B-dep) 0.0007 0.0064 Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 213 (11) ◽  
pp. 2413-2435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Wang ◽  
Cindy S. Ma ◽  
Yun Ling ◽  
Aziz Bousfiha ◽  
Yildiz Camcioglu ◽  
...  

Combined immunodeficiency (CID) refers to inborn errors of human T cells that also affect B cells because of the T cell deficit or an additional B cell–intrinsic deficit. In this study, we report six patients from three unrelated families with biallelic loss-of-function mutations in RLTPR, the mouse orthologue of which is essential for CD28 signaling. The patients have cutaneous and pulmonary allergy, as well as a variety of bacterial and fungal infectious diseases, including invasive tuberculosis and mucocutaneous candidiasis. Proportions of circulating regulatory T cells and memory CD4+ T cells are reduced. Their CD4+ T cells do not respond to CD28 stimulation. Their CD4+ T cells exhibit a "Th2" cell bias ex vivo and when cultured in vitro, contrasting with the paucity of "Th1," "Th17," and T follicular helper cells. The patients also display few memory B cells and poor antibody responses. This B cell phenotype does not result solely from the T cell deficiency, as the patients’ B cells fail to activate NF-κB upon B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation. Human RLTPR deficiency is a CID affecting at least the CD28-responsive pathway in T cells and the BCR-responsive pathway in B cells.


1990 ◽  
Vol 172 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Kawabe ◽  
A Ochi

The cellular basis of the in vitro and in vivo T cell responses to Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) has been investigated. The proliferation and cytotoxicity of V beta 8.1,2+,CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed in in vitro response to SEB. In primary cytotoxicity assays, CD4+ T cells from control spleens were more active than their CD8+ counterparts, however, in cells derived from SEB-primed mice, CD8+ T cells were dominant in SEB-specific cytotoxicity. In vivo priming with SEB abrogated the response of V beta 8.1,2+,CD4+ T cells despite the fact that these cells exist in significant number. This SEB-specific anergy occurred only in V beta 8.1,2+,CD4+ T cells but not in CD8+ T cells. These findings indicate that the requirement for the induction of antigen-specific anergy is different between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in post-thymic tolerance, and the existence of coanergic signals for the induction of T cell anergy is suggested.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1182-1182
Author(s):  
Eva M Wagner ◽  
Aline N Lay ◽  
Sina Wenzel ◽  
Timo Schmitt ◽  
Julia Hemmerling ◽  
...  

Abstract The human CD52 molecule is the target of the monoclonal antibody Alemtuzumab, which is used for treating patients with chemo-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia as well as for T cell depletion (TCD) in the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The molecule is expressed on the surface of lymphocytes, dendritic cells and to a lesser extent on blood-derived monocytes. Previously, investigators have demonstrated that the surface expression of CD52 on T cells is down-regulated after in vitro incubation with Alemtuzumab. By treating purified human CD4 T cells over 4 hours with 10 μg/mL Alemtuzumab in medium supplemented with 10% human AB serum in vitro, we observed a strong decrease of CD52 expression by flow cytometry with a maximum 3–7 days after incubation. The CD52 down-regulation was also found at weaker intensity on CD8 T cells. From previous studies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, it is known that Alemtuzumab treatment also leads to a down-regulation of CD52 on T cells in vivo. However, similar experiments have not been performed in allogeneic HSCT patients receiving Alemtuzumab in vivo for T cell depletion. We therefore analyzed the expression of CD52 on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated at repeated time points from 22 allogeneic HSCT patients after reduced-intensity conditioning with fludarabine and melphalan and in vivo T cell depletion with Alemtuzumab (100 mg). Half of the patients received prophylactic CD8-depleted donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) to promote immune reconstitution. By flow cytometry, we observed that the CD52 expression on monocytes, B cells, and natural killer cells remained unaltered after transplantation and was not influenced by the application of DLI. In contrast, the majority of CD4 T cells were CD52-negative (median, 72%) after transplantation and they remained CD52-negative in patients who did not receive DLI throughout the first year after HSCT. The permanent lack of CD52 expression could not be explained by a continuous effect of Alemtuzumab, because earlier studies have shown that the antibody is not present in active plasma concentrations beyond day +60 after HSCT. In contrast, patients receiving CD8-depleted DLI demonstrated a significant increase in the proportion of CD52-positive CD4 T cells. In three of our patients (DLI: n=2, non-DLI: n=1) we analyzed the donor chimerism of CD52-positive and CD52-negative CD4 T cells sorted with high purity by flow cytometry. Three months after HSCT (before DLI), the proportion of donor T cells was clearly higher among the CD52-negative compared to the small proportion of CD52-positive cells in all patients (44% vs. 10%, 83% vs. 0%, and 100% vs. 40%). In the patient who did not receive DLI, the donor T cell chimerism remained mixed in the CD52-negative and CD52-positive fractions on days 200 (CD52-negative: 95%; CD52-positive: 15%) and 350 (CD52-negative: 92%; CD52-positive: 65%). In contrast, the two patients receiving CD8-depleted DLI showed a strong increase in the proportion of CD52-positive CD4 T cells that were of complete donor origin. Altogether, CD52 is permanently down-regulated in reconstituting CD4 T cells following HSCT with an Alemtuzumab-based TCD regimen unless DLI are applied. Our data support the idea of an active mechanism for CD52 down-regulation in CD4 T cells that is not related to B cells and natural killer cells and that appears to differently affect donor and host T cells, respectively.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3483-3483
Author(s):  
Jacopo Mariotti ◽  
Jason Foley ◽  
Kaitlyn Ryan ◽  
Nicole Buxhoeveden ◽  
Daniel Fowler

Abstract Although fludarabine and pentostatin are variably utilized for conditioning prior to clinical allogeneic transplantation, limited data exists with respect to their relative efficacy in terms of host immune T cell depletion and T cell suppression. To directly compare these agents in vivo in a murine model, we compared a regimen of fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC) similar to one that we previously developed (Petrus et al, BBMT, 2000) to a new regimen of pentostatin plus cyclophosphamide (PC). Cohorts of mice (n=5–10) received a three-day regimen consisting of P alone (1 mg/kg/d), F alone (100 mg/kg/d), C alone (50 mg/kg/d), or combination PC or FC. Similar to our previous data, administration of P, F, or C alone yielded minimal host T cell depletion (as measured by enumeration of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) and minimal T cell suppression (as determined by CD3, CD28 co-stimulation of a constant number of remaining splenic T cells and measuring resultant cytokine secretion by multi-analyte assay). The PC and FC regimens were similar in terms of myeloid suppression (p=.2). However, the PC regimen was more potent in terms of depleting host CD4+ T cells (remaining host CD4 number [× 10^6/spleen], 2.1±0.3 [PC] vs. 4.4±0.6 [FC], p<0.01) and CD8+ T cells (remaining host CD8 number, 1.7±0.2 [PC] vs. 2.4±0.5 [FC], p<0.01). Moreover, the PC regimen yielded greater T cell immune suppression than the FC regimen (cytokine values are pg/ml/0.5×10^6 cells/ml; all comparisons p<0.05) with respect to capacity to secrete IFN-γ (13±5 [PC] vs. 48±12 [FC]), IL-2 (59±44 [PC] vs. 258±32 [FC]), IL-4 (34±10 [PC] vs. 104±12 [FC]), and IL-10 (15±3 [PC] vs. 34±5 [FC]). In light of this differential in both immune T cell depletion and suppression of T cell effector function, we hypothesized that T cells from PC-treated recipients would have reduced capacity to mediate a host-versus-graft rejection response (HVGR) relative to FC-treated recipients. To directly test this hypothesis, we utilized a host T cell add-back model of rejection whereby BALB/c hosts were lethally irradiated (1050 cGy; day -2), reconstituted with host-type T cells from PC- or FC-treated recipients (day -1; 0.1 × 10^6 T cells transferred), and finally challenged with fully MHC-disparate transplantation (B6 donor bone marrow cells, 10 × 10^6 cells; day 0). In vivo HVGR was quantified by the following method at day 7 post-BMT: harvest of splenic T cells, stimulation with host- or donor-type dendritic cells, and use of six-color flow cytometry to detect host T cells, CD4 and CD8 subsets, and cytokine secretion by capture method. Consistent with our hypothesis, PC-treated cells acquired greatly reduced alloreactivity in vivo relative to FC-treated cells: the percentage of host CD4+ T cells secreting IFN-γ in an allospecific manner was 2.3±0.8% in recipients of PC-treated T cells and 62.7±13.4% in recipients of FC-treated cells (p<0.001). Similarly, the percentage of host CD8+ T cells secreting IFN-γ in an allospecific manner was 8.6±2.8% in recipients of PC-treated T cells and 92.7±4.1% in recipients of FC-treated T cells (p<0.001). We therefore conclude that at similar levels of myeloid suppression, the PC regimen is superior to the FC regimen in terms of murine T cell depletion, suppression of global T cell cytokine secretion, and inhibition of in vivo capacity to acquire allospecificity in response to fully genetically disparate marrow allografts. These data provide a rationale to develop PC regimens as an alternative to currently utilized FC regimens.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 1063-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad-Reza Rezvany ◽  
Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani ◽  
Hans Wigzell ◽  
Anders Österborg ◽  
Håkan Mellstedt

Abstract T-cell receptor–B-variable (TCR-BV) gene usage and the CDR3 size distribution pattern were analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) to assess the T-cell repertoire. The use of TCR-BV families in CD4 and CD8 T cells stimulated with autologous activated leukemic cells was compared with that of freshly obtained blood T cells. Overexpression of individual TCR-BV families was found in freshly isolated CD4 and CD8 T cells. Polyclonal, oligoclonal, and monoclonal TCR-CDR3 patterns were seen within such overexpressed native CD4 and CD8 TCR-BV families. In nonoverexpressed TCR-BV families, monoclonal and oligoclonal populations were noted only within the CD8 subset. After in vitro stimulation of T cells with autologous leukemic B cells, analyses of the CDR3 length patterns showed that in expanded TCR-BV populations, polyclonal patterns frequently shifted toward a monoclonal/oligoclonal profile, whereas largely monoclonal patterns in native overexpressed TCR-BV subsets remained monoclonal. Seventy-five percent of CD8 expansions found in freshly obtained CD8 T cells further expanded on in vitro stimulation with autologous leukemic B cells. This suggests a memory status of such cells. In contrast, the unusually high frequency of CD4 T-cell expansions found in freshly isolated peripheral blood cells did not correlate positively to in vitro stimulation as only 1 of 9 expansions continued to expand. Our data suggest that leukemia cell–specific memory CD4 and CD8 T cells are present in vivo of patients with CLL and that several leukemia cell–associated antigens/epitopes are recognized by the patients' immune system, indicating that whole leukemia cells might be of preference for vaccine development.


1989 ◽  
Vol 169 (6) ◽  
pp. 1993-2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
B D Jamieson ◽  
R Ahmed

This study documents that virus-specific CTL can persist indefinitely in vivo. This was accomplished by transferring Thy-1.1 T cells into Thy-1.2 recipient mice to specifically identify the donor T cell population and to characterize its antigenic specificity and function by using a virus-specific CTL assay. Thy-1.1+ T cells from mice previously immunized with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were transferred into Thy-1.2 mice persistently infected with LCMV. The transferred LCMV-specific CTL (Thy-1.1+ CD8+) eliminate virus from the chronically infected carriers and persist in the recipient mice in small numbers, comprising only a minor fraction of the total T cells. Upon re-exposure to virus, these long-lived "resting" CD8+ T cells proliferate in vivo to become the predominant cell population. These donor CD8+ T cells can be recovered up to a year post-transfer and still retain antigenic specificity and biological function. They kill LCMV infected H-2-matched cells in vitro and can eliminate virus upon transfer into a second infected host. In addition, these long-lived CD8+ T cells appear not to be dependent on help from CD4+ T cells, since depletion of CD4+ T cells has minimal or no effect on their biological properties (proliferation, CTL response, viral clearance). These donor CTL also exhibit an immunodominance over the host-derived LCMV-specific CTL response. When both host and donor T cells are present, the donor CTL response is dominant over the potential CTL response of the cured carrier host. Taken together, these results suggest that virus-specific CTL can persist for the life span of the host as memory cells.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2769-2769
Author(s):  
Justine Cunningham ◽  
Sundeep Chandra ◽  
Akinola Emmanuel ◽  
Allyse Mazzarelli ◽  
Carmela Passaro ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Ex vivo manufactured chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies are highly effective for treating B cell malignancies. However, the complexity, cost and time required to manufacture CAR T cells limits access. To overcome conventional ex vivo CAR T limitations, a novel gene therapy platform has been developed that can deliver CAR transgenes directly to T cells through systemic administration of a fusosome, an engineered, target-directed novel paramyxovirus-based integrating vector that binds specific cell surface receptors for gene delivery through membrane fusion. Here, we demonstrate that systemic administration of a CD8a-targeted, integrating vector envelope (i.e., fusogen) encoding an anti-CD20 CAR into Southern pig-tail macaques (M. nemestrina), which is a species permissive to the integrating vector-mediated transduction, results in T cell transduction and B cell depletion with no treatment-related toxicities. Methods: CD8a-specific single chain variable fragments (scFvs) were generated and measured for target specificity versus non-CD8-expressing cells in vitro. Cross-reactivity of the CD8a-specific fusogen for human and nemestrina T cells was confirmed in vitro. Targeted fusogens were then used to pseudotype integrating vector expressing an anti-CD20 CAR containing the 4-1BB and CD3zeta signaling domains (CD8a-anti-CD20CAR). Transduction and B cell killing was confirmed on human and nemestrina PBMCs. To evaluate in vivo activity, normal, healthy nemestrina macaques were treated with a single dose of CD8a-targeted anti-CD20 CAR fusosome (n=6) or saline (n=2) via intravenous infusion at 10mL/kg/hr for 1-hour and evaluated for up to 52 days for evidence of adverse effects, B cell depletion, CAR-mediated cytokine production, CAR T cell persistence and vector biodistribution using ddPCR and anti-CD20CAR transgene by RT-ddPCR to detect transgene levels. Histopathology of several organs and immunohistochemistry for CD3 and CD20 on lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow were performed at termination (days 35 and 52). Tolerability of the treatment was assessed by body weight, body temperature, neurological exams, serum chemistry panel, and complete blood counts pre-dose and post-dose up to 52 days. Results: The CD8a-targeted fusogen demonstrated CD8a-specificity versus human CD8 negative cell lines, and cross-reactivity and transduction efficiency in nemestrina PBMCs in vitro. Compared to a control vector (GFP), anti-CD20CAR-modified T cells showed a dose-dependent depletion of B cells using in vitro assays. Following infusion of CD8a-anti-CD20CAR fusosomes into macaques, pharmacological activity in peripheral blood was detected by a reduction of B cells in 4 of 6 animals after 7 to 10 days. Two animals showed persistent B cell depletion until study termination, with two others showing a temporary response. The presence of vector copy could be detected in the peripheral blood of all treated animals between days 3 and 10, and in isolated spleen cells in 5 of 6 animals. All control animals (saline) were negative for vector. RT-ddPCR mRNA expression similarly revealed the presence of anti-CD20CAR transcripts in isolated spleen cells from treated animals; no expression was detected in tissues from control animals. Elevations in inflammatory cytokines could be detected in the serum of treated animals between days 3 and 14. Fusosome treatment was well-tolerated in all animals with no evidence of adverse effects. Moreover, T cell transduction and B cell depletion was not associated with cytokine-related toxicities, and blood chemistry and histopathology were within normal limits. Conclusion: These data obtained in an immunologically competent animal demonstrate the proof-of-concept that systemic administration of a CD8a-anti-CD20CAR fusosome can specifically transduce T cells in vivo without pre-conditioning or T cell activation, resulting in B cell depletion in the absence of vector- or CAR T-related toxicities. Therefore, fusosome technology represents a novel therapeutic opportunity to treat patients with B cell malignancies and potentially overcome some of the treatment barriers that exist with conventional CAR T therapies. Disclosures Cunningham: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Chandra: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Emmanuel: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Mazzarelli: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Passaro: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Baldwin: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Nguyen-McCarty: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Rocca: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Joyce: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Kim: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Vagin: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Kaczmarek: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Chavan: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Jewell: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Lipsitz: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Shamashkin: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Hlavaty: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Rodriguez: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Co: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Cruite: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Ennajdaoui: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Duback: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Elman: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Amatya: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Harding: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Lyubinetsky: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Patel: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Pepper: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Ruzo: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Iovino: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Varghese: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Foster: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Gorovits: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Elpek: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Laska: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. McGill: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Shah: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment. Fry: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dambach: Sana Biotechnology: Current Employment.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3482-3482
Author(s):  
Minghui Li ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
Mark Hubbard ◽  
Doug Redelman ◽  
Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari ◽  
...  

Abstract IL-17-producing CD4 T cells (Th17) are a recently identified T helper subset that plays a role in mediating host defense to extracellular bacteria infections and is involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. In vitro induction of IL-17 in murine CD4+ T cells has been shown to be dependent on the presence of the proinflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-6 whereas IFNγ can suppress the development of Th17 cells. In the current study, we examined the roles of TNFα and IFNγ on IL-17 production by purified T cells in vitro and in vivo after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We present findings that expression of TNFα by the T cell itself is necessary for optimal development of Th17 under in vitro polarizing conditions. A novel role for T cell-derived TNFα in Th17 induction was observed when in vitro polarization of Tnf−/−CD4+ T cells resulted in marked reductions in IL-17+CD4+ T cells compared to Tnf+/+CD4+ T cells. In marked contrast, T cell-derived IFNγ markedly inhibited Th17 development as more IL-17+CD4+ T cells were found in Ifnγ−/−CD4+ T cells than in Ifnγ+/+CD4+ T cells, and of particular interest was the dramatic increase in IL-17+CD8+ cells from Ifnγ−/− mice. To determine if T cell-derived TNFα or IFNγ can regulate Th17 development in vivo we examined the differentiation of alloreactive donor T cells following allogeneic BMT. We have found that donor-derived Th17 cells can be found in lymphoid tissues and GVHD-affected organs after allogeneic BMT. However, transfer of Tnf−/− CD4+ T cells after allogeneic BMT resulted in marked reductions in Th17 cells in the spleen (18×103 vs 7×103, P<0.05). In agreement with the in vitro data and in contrast to what was observed with transfer of Tnf−/− CD4+ T cells, transfer of donor Ifnγ−/− T cells resulted in marked increases in not only IL-17+CD4+ but also IL-17+CD8+ T cells infiltrating the liver (7×103 vs 14×103, P<0.05; 4×104 vs 12.5×104, P<0.05). These results suggest that the donor T cell-derived TNFα and IFNγ opposingly regulate IL-17 induction of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro and after allogeneic BMT which correlates with GVHD pathology.


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