A novel method for efficient generation of antigen-specific effector T-cells using dendritic cells transduced with recombinant adeno-associated virus and p38 kinase blockade

Abstract Background The inefficacy of standard therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer is reflected by the enduring poor prognosis of this malignancy. Due to the potential for exquisite specificity, sensitivity and long-term memory, immunotherapy offers an alternative modality for durable control of the disease, provided appropriate antigens can be identified and presented in the right context. Methods We tested a novel dendritic cell vaccine formulation to reprogram autologous antigen-specific T-cells in vitro, in vivo in a murine model of ovarian cancer, and ex vivo using human cells from patients. Results We show that dendritic cells (DCs) treated with a p38 MAPK inhibitor and transduced with a recombinant adenovirus associated vector (AAV) expressing Sperm protein (Sp) 17 are highly effective in generating antigen-specific T-cell cytotoxic response against ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, these DCs enhanced the differentiation of effector T-cells while reducing the frequency of Foxp3+ T-reg cells in vitro. Conclusions This work provides a rationale for translation of pharmacologically reprogrammed DCs into clinical trials for prevention of tumor recurrence and progression in high-risk ovarian cancer patients.

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Ex Vivo Expanded Human Vγ9Vδ2 T-Cells Can Suppress Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20051139 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 1139 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tsui Mao ◽

Carol Miao ◽

Yi Liao ◽

Ying Chen ◽

Chia Yeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

T Cells ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Γδ T Cells ◽

Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽

Cytotoxic Activities ◽

Antitumor Effects ◽

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear

γδ-T-cells have attracted attention because of their potent cytotoxicity towards tumors. Most γδ-T-cells become activated via a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent pathway by the interaction of their receptor, Natural Killer Group 2 Member D (NKG2D) with the tumor-specific NKG2D ligands, including MHC class I-related chain A/B (MICA/B) and UL16-binding proteins (ULBPs), to kill tumor cells. However, despite their potent antitumor effects, the treatment protocols specifically targeting ovarian tumors require further improvements. Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal and challenging female malignancies worldwide because of delayed diagnoses and resistance to traditional chemotherapy. In this study, we successfully enriched and expanded γδ-T-cells up to ~78% from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with mostly the Vγ9Vδ2-T-cell subtype in the circulation. We showed that expanded γδ-T-cells alone exerted significant cytotoxic activities towards specific epithelial-type OVCAR3 and HTB75 cells, whereas the combination of γδ-T cells and pamidronate (PAM), a kind of aminobisphosphonates (NBPs), showed significantly enhanced cytotoxic activities towards all types of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, in tumor xenografts of immunodeficient NSG mice, γδ-T-cells not only suppressed tumor growth but also completely eradicated preexisting tumors with an initial size of ~5 mm. Thus, we concluded that γδ-T-cells alone possess dramatic cytotoxic activities towards epithelial ovarian cancers both in vitro and in vivo. These results strongly support the potential of clinical immunotherapeutic application of γδ-T-cells to treat this serious female malignancy.

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CD14 Expressing Precursors Give Rise to Highly Functional Conventional Dendritic Cells for Use as Dendritic Cell Vaccine

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13153818 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3818

Author(s):

Maud Plantinga ◽

Denise A. M. H. van den Beemt ◽

Ester Dünnebach ◽

Stefan Nierkens

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cord Blood ◽

T Cell Activation ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Dendritic Cell Vaccine ◽

Cell Vaccine ◽

Activated T Cells

Induction of long-lasting immunity by dendritic cells (DCs) makes them attractive candidates for anti-tumor vaccination. Although DC vaccinations are generally considered safe, clinical responses remain inconsistent in clinical trials. This initiated studies to identify subsets of DCs with superior capabilities to induce effective and memory anti-tumor responses. The use of primary DCs has been suggested to overcome the functional limitations of ex vivo monocyte-derived DCs (moDC). The ontogeny of primary DCs has recently been revised by the introduction of DC3, which phenotypically resembles conventional (c)DC2 as well as moDC. Previously, we developed a protocol to generate cDC2s from cord blood (CB)-derived stem cells via a CD115-expressing precursor. Here, we performed index sorting and single-cell RNA-sequencing to define the heterogeneity of in vitro developed DC precursors and identified CD14+CD115+ expressing cells that develop into CD1c++DCs and the remainder cells brought about CD123+DCs, as well as assessed their potency. The maturation status and T-cell activation potential were assessed using flow cytometry. CD123+DCs were specifically prone to take up antigens but only modestly activated T-cells. In contrast, CD1c++ are highly mature and specialized in both naïve as well as antigen-experienced T-cell activation. These findings show in vitro functional diversity between cord blood stem cell-derived CD123+DC and CD1c++DCs and may advance the efficiency of DC-based vaccines.

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CD133 Promotes Adhesion to the Ovarian Cancer Metastatic Niche

Cancer Growth and Metastasis ◽

10.1177/1179064418767882 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 117906441876788 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Lynn Roy ◽

Alexander Bobbs ◽

Rachel Sattler ◽

Jeffrey L Kurkewich ◽

Paige B Dausinas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cancer Metastasis ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Surface Protein ◽

Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽

Metastatic Niche ◽

Attractive Therapeutic Target ◽

Peritoneal Mesothelium

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are an attractive therapeutic target due to their predicted role in both metastasis and chemoresistance. One of the most commonly agreed on markers for ovarian CSCs is the cell surface protein CD133. CD133+ ovarian CSCs have increased tumorigenicity, resistance to chemotherapy, and increased metastasis. Therefore, we were interested in defining how CD133 is regulated and whether it has a role in tumor metastasis. Previously we found that overexpression of the transcription factor, ARID3B, increased the expression of PROM1 (CD133 gene) in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in xenograft tumors. We report that ARID3B directly regulates PROM1 expression. Importantly, in a xenograft mouse model of ovarian cancer, knockdown of PROM1 in cells expressing exogenous ARID3B resulted in increased survival time compared with cells expressing ARID3B and a control short hairpin RNA. This indicated that ARID3B regulation of PROM1 is critical for tumor growth. Moreover, we hypothesized that CD133 may affect metastatic spread. Given that the peritoneal mesothelium is a major site of ovarian cancer metastasis, we explored the role of PROM1 in mesothelial attachment. PROM1 expression increased adhesion to mesothelium in vitro and ex vivo. Collectively, our work demonstrates that ARID3B regulates PROM1 adhesion to the ovarian cancer metastatic niche.

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In Vivo Role of Dendritic Cells in a Murine Model of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00317-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. 3817-3824 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Karen L. Wozniak ◽

Jatin M. Vyas ◽

Stuart M. Levitz

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell Activation ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Interleukin 2 ◽

Mouse Lung

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to phagocytose and kill Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and are believed to be important for inducing protective immunity against this organism. Exposure to C. neoformans occurs mainly by inhalation, and in this study we examined the in vivo interactions of C. neoformans with DC in the lung. Fluorescently labeled live C. neoformans and heat-killed C. neoformans were administered intranasally to C57BL/6 mice. At specific times postinoculation, mice were sacrificed, and lungs were removed. Single-cell suspensions of lung cells were prepared, stained, and analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry. Within 2 h postinoculation, fluorescently labeled C. neoformans had been internalized by DC, macrophages, and neutrophils in the mouse lung. Additionally, lung DC from mice infected for 7 days showed increased expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II. Finally, ex vivo incubation of lung DC from infected mice with Cryptococcus-specific T cells resulted in increased interleukin-2 production compared to the production by DC from naïve mice, suggesting that there was antigen-specific T-cell activation. This study demonstrated that DC in the lung are capable of phagocytosing Cryptococcus in vivo and presenting antigen to C. neoformans-specific T cells ex vivo, suggesting that these cells have roles in innate and adaptive pulmonary defenses against cryptococcosis.

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Sunitinib Exerts In Vitro Immunomodulatory Activity on Sarcomas via Dendritic Cells and Synergizes With PD-1 Blockade

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.577766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Darina Ocadlikova ◽

Mariangela Lecciso ◽

Javier Martin Broto ◽

Katia Scotlandi ◽

Michele Cavo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Effector T Cells ◽

Sarcoma Cell ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Sarcoma Cells

BackgroundHigh-grade sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of aggressive tumors arising in bone and soft tissues. After relapse, treatment options are limited. The multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sunitinib and inhibitor of PD-1 (anti-PD-1) nivolumab have shown antitumor activity in selected subtypes. In this study, we examine the role of TKIs and PD-1 based therapy in in vitro cocultures of sarcoma.MethodsThe human osteosarcoma (SaOS-2) and synovial sarcoma (SYO-1) cell lines were treated with sunitinib. After cell death and proliferation assessment, expression of PD-L1 was analyzed by flow cytometry. Sunitinib-treated sarcoma cells were cocultured with dendritic cells (DCs), and the phenotype of mature DCs was determined by flow cytometry. Mature DCs were cultured with autologous T cells. PD-1 expression on T cells, their proliferation, T regulatory cell (Tregs) induction and IFN-γ production, before and after nivolumab exposure, were analyzed.ResultsAlong with its anti-proliferative and direct pro-apoptotic effect on sarcoma cell lines, sunitinib prompted PD-L1 upregulation on sarcoma cells. Interestingly, sunitinib-treated sarcoma cells drive DCs to full maturation and increase their capacity to induce sarcoma-reactive T cells to produce IFN-γ. Conversely, no effect on T cell proliferation and T cell subpopulation composition was observed. Moreover, both bone and synovial sarcoma cell lines induced Tregs through DCs but sunitinib treatment completely abrogated Treg induction. Finally, sarcoma cell lines induced PD-1 upregulation on both effector T cells and Tregs when loaded into DCs, providing a rationale for using PD-1 blockade. Indeed, PD-1 blockade by nivolumab synergized with sunitinib in inducing IFN-γ-producing effector T cells.ConclusionsTaken together, our in vitro data indicate that the treatment of sarcoma cells with sunitinib can exert significant changes on immune cell subsets toward immune activation, leading to DC-based cross-priming of IFN-γ-producing effector T cells and reduced Treg induction. PD-1 blockade with nivolumab has a synergistic effect with sunitinib, supporting the use of TKI and anti-PD-1 approach in sarcomas, and perhaps in other cancers. DC-targeted drugs, including toll-like receptor 3 inhibitors and CD47 inhibitors, are under development and our preclinical model might help to better design their clinical application.

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STK3 Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Activating NF-κB Signaling to Recruit CD8+ T-Cells

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2020/7263602 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Xiangyu Wang ◽

Fengmian Wang ◽

Zhi-Gang Zhang ◽

Xiao-Mei Yang ◽

Rong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

T Cells ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽

And Migration

Serine/threonine protein kinase-3 (STK3) is a critical molecule of the Hippo pathway but little is known about its biological functions in the ovarian cancer development. We demonstrated the roles of STK3 in ovarian cancer. Existing databases were used to study the expression profile of STK3. STK3 was significantly downregulated in OC patients, and the low STK3 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis. In vitro cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration assays, and in vivo subcutaneous xenograft tumor models were used to determine the roles of STK3. The overexpression of STK3 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Bisulfite sequencing PCR analysis was performed to validate the methylation of STK3 in ovarian cancer. RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to compare the transcriptome changes in the STK3 overexpression ovarian cancer and control cells. The signaling pathway was analyzed by western blotting. STK3 promoted the migration of CD8+ T-cells by activating nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. STK3 is a potential predictor of OC. It plays an important role in suppressing tumor growth of ovarian cancer and in chemotaxis of CD8+ T-cells.

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Cord-Blood-Stem-Cell-Derived Conventional Dendritic Cells Specifically Originate from CD115-Expressing Precursors

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11020181 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 181 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maud Plantinga ◽

Colin G. de Haar ◽

Ester Dünnebach ◽

Denise A.M.H. van den Beemt ◽

Kitty W.M. Bloemenkamp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Treatment Success ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Long Term Memory ◽

Vaccination Strategies

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells which instruct both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Once mature, they have the capacity to activate and prime naïve T cells for recognition and eradication of pathogens and tumor cells. These characteristics make them excellent candidates for vaccination strategies. Most DC vaccines have been generated from ex vivo culture of monocytes (mo). The use of mo-DCs as vaccines to induce adaptive immunity against cancer has resulted in clinical responses but, overall, treatment success is limited. The application of primary DCs or DCs generated from CD34+ stem cells have been suggested to improve clinical efficacy. Cord blood (CB) is a particularly rich source of CD34+ stem cells for the generation of DCs, but the dynamics and plasticity of the specific DC lineage development are poorly understood. Using flow sorting of DC progenitors from CB cultures and subsequent RNA sequencing, we found that CB-derived DCs (CB-DCs) exclusively originate from CD115+-expressing progenitors. Gene set enrichment analysis displayed an enriched conventional DC profile within the CD115-derived DCs compared with CB mo-DCs. Functional assays demonstrated that these DCs matured and migrated upon good manufacturing practice (GMP)-grade stimulation and possessed a high capacity to activate tumor-antigen-specific T cells. In this study, we developed a culture protocol to generate conventional DCs from CB-derived stem cells in sufficient numbers for vaccination strategies. The discovery of a committed DC precursor in CB-derived stem cell cultures further enables utilization of conventional DC-based vaccines to provide powerful antitumor activity and long-term memory immunity.

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Dendritic cells transduced by multiply deleted HIV-1 vectors exhibit normal phenotypes and functions and elicit an HIV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in vitro

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v96.4.1327 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 1327-1333 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Andreas Gruber ◽

June Kan-Mitchell ◽

Kelli L. Kuhen ◽

Tetsu Mukai ◽

Flossie Wong-Staal

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Adoptive T Cell Therapy ◽

Cytotoxic T Cell ◽

T Cell Therapy ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) genetically modified to continually express and present antigens may be potent physiologic adjuvants for induction of prophylactic or therapeutic immunity. We have previously shown that an env and nef deleted HIV-1 vector (HIV-1ΔEN) pseudotyped with VSV-G transduced monocyte-derived macrophages as well as CD34+ precursors of DCs. Here we extended these findings with HIV-1ΔEN to highly differentiated human DCs derived in culture from circulating monocytes (DCs). In addition, a new vector derived from HIV-1ΔEN but further deleted in its remaining accessory genes vif, vpr, and vpu(HIV-1ΔEN V3) was also tested. Both vectors efficiently transduced DCs. Transduction of DCs did not significantly alter their viability or their immunophenotype when compared with untransduced DCs. Furthermore, the phagocytic potential of immature DCs, as well as their ability to differentiate into mature DCs capable of stimulating T-cell proliferation, was not affected. Finally, DCs transduced by the HIV-1ΔEN vector were able to elicit a primary antiviral cytotoxic T-cell response in autologous CD8 T cells. These results suggest that HIV-1–based vectors expressing viral antigens may be useful for in vivo active immunization as well as ex vivo priming of cytotoxic T cells for adoptive T-cell therapy.

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A Comparison of Ex Vivo Expanded Human Regulatory T Cells Using Allogeneic Stimulated B Cells or Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.679675 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Linda M. Lee ◽

Hong Zhang ◽

Karim Lee ◽

Horace Liang ◽

Alexander Merleev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Regulatory T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Low Frequencies ◽

Almost All

Alloreactive regulatory T cells (arTregs) are more potent than polyclonal Tregs at suppressing immune responses to transplant antigens. Human arTregs can be expanded with allogeneic CD40L-stimulated B cells (sBcs) or stimulated-matured monocyte-derived dendritic cells (sDCs). Here, we compared the expansion efficiency and properties of arTregs stimulated ex vivo using these two types of antigen-presenting cells. Compared to sBcs, sDCs stimulated Tregs to expand two times more in number. The superior expansion-inducing capacity of sDCs correlated with their higher expression of CD80, CD86, and T cell-attracting chemokines. sBc- and sDC-arTregs expressed comparable levels of FOXP3, HELIOS, CD25, CD27, and CD62L, demethylated FOXP3 enhancer and in vitro suppressive function. sBc- and sDCs-arTregs had similar gene expression profiles that were distinct from primary Tregs. sBc- and sDC-arTregs exhibited similar low frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17A-producing cells, and the cytokine-producing arTregs expressed high levels of FOXP3. Almost all sBc- and sDC-arTregs expressed CXCR3, which may enable them traffic to inflammatory sites. Thus, sDCs-arTregs that expand more readily, are phenotypically similar to sBc-arTregs, supporting sDCs as a viable alternative for arTreg production for clinical evaluation.

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Dendritic cells transduced by multiply deleted HIV-1 vectors exhibit normal phenotypes and functions and elicit an HIV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in vitro

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v96.4.1327.h8001327_1327_1333 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 1327-1333 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andreas Gruber ◽

June Kan-Mitchell ◽

Kelli L. Kuhen ◽

Tetsu Mukai ◽

Flossie Wong-Staal

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Adoptive T Cell Therapy ◽

Cytotoxic T Cell ◽

T Cell Therapy ◽

Hiv 1

Dendritic cells (DCs) genetically modified to continually express and present antigens may be potent physiologic adjuvants for induction of prophylactic or therapeutic immunity. We have previously shown that an env and nef deleted HIV-1 vector (HIV-1ΔEN) pseudotyped with VSV-G transduced monocyte-derived macrophages as well as CD34+ precursors of DCs. Here we extended these findings with HIV-1ΔEN to highly differentiated human DCs derived in culture from circulating monocytes (DCs). In addition, a new vector derived from HIV-1ΔEN but further deleted in its remaining accessory genes vif, vpr, and vpu(HIV-1ΔEN V3) was also tested. Both vectors efficiently transduced DCs. Transduction of DCs did not significantly alter their viability or their immunophenotype when compared with untransduced DCs. Furthermore, the phagocytic potential of immature DCs, as well as their ability to differentiate into mature DCs capable of stimulating T-cell proliferation, was not affected. Finally, DCs transduced by the HIV-1ΔEN vector were able to elicit a primary antiviral cytotoxic T-cell response in autologous CD8 T cells. These results suggest that HIV-1–based vectors expressing viral antigens may be useful for in vivo active immunization as well as ex vivo priming of cytotoxic T cells for adoptive T-cell therapy.

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