scholarly journals Editorial: Advances in Human Immune System Mouse Models for Studying Human Hematopoiesis and Cancer Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyuki Saito ◽  
Tim Willinger ◽  
Alexandre P. A. Theocharides
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A22.1-A22
Author(s):  
C Reitinger ◽  
F Nimmerjahn

BackgroundRecent findings in cancer immunotherapy have reinforced the hypothesis that the immune system is able to control most cancers. Immunomodulatory antibodies can enhance immune responses, having the potential to generate anti-cancer immunity.1–4Materials and MethodsMost current studies addressing this question are performed in murine mouse model systems or use in vitro culture systems, which do not reflect the human in vivo situation, potentially leading to results that cannot be fully translated into human cancer therapy. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new mouse model, which allows the study of cancer immunotherapy in the context of a human immune system. We focused on the establishment of a humanized mouse model, in which different immunomodulatory antibodies can be tested in the presence of a human immune system.ResultsFirst experiments concerning the suitability to test immunomodulatory antibodies in the humanized mouse model, revealed that effects of checkpoint-control antibody a-CTLA-4 were similar to the effects seen in patients of clinical studies. To analyse the anti-tumor activities of immunomodulatory antibodies in vivo we are establishing a human melanoma-like tumor model in humanized mice.ConclusionsThis enables us to test the efficacy of immunomodulatory agonistic antibodies (such as CP-870,893) and checkpoint control antibodies (such as anti-CTLA-4) in eliminating a melanoma-like tumor. Furthermore, parameters like tumor infiltrating human cells und cytokine/chemokine production can be analysed.ReferencesSchuster M, Nechansky A, Loibner H. Cancer immunotherapy. Biotechnol J 2006;1:138–147.Mellman I, Coukos G, Dranoff G. Cancer immunotherapy comes of age. Nature rev 2011;480:480–489.Finn OJ. Immuno-oncology: understanding the function and dysfunction of the immune system in cancer. Annals of Oncology 2012;23:vii6–vii9.Langer LF, Clay TM, Morse MA. Update on anti-CTLA-4 in clinical trials. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2007;8:1245–1256.Disclosure InformationC. Reitinger: None. F. Nimmerjahn: None.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
David M. Wozniak ◽  
Kerry J. Lavender ◽  
Joseph Prescott ◽  
Jessica R. Spengler

Human immune system (HIS) mice are a subset of humanized mice that are generated by xenoengraftment of human immune cells or tissues and/or their progenitors into immunodeficient mice. Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) cause severe disease in humans, typically with high case fatality rates. HIS mouse studies have been performed to investigate the pathogenesis and immune responses to VHFs that must be handled in high-containment laboratory facilities. Here, we summarize studies on filoviruses, nairoviruses, phenuiviruses, and hantaviruses, and discuss the knowledge gained from using various HIS mouse models. Furthermore, we discuss the complexities of designing and interpreting studies utilizing HIS mice while highlighting additional questions about VHFs that can still be addressed using HIS mouse models.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R Spengler ◽  
Joseph Prescott ◽  
Heinz Feldmann ◽  
Christina F Spiropoulou

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A763-A763
Author(s):  
Remko Schotte ◽  
Julien Villaudy ◽  
Martijn Kedde ◽  
Wouter Pos ◽  
Daniel Go ◽  
...  

BackgroundAdaptive immunity to cancer cells forms a crucial part of cancer immunotherapy. Recently, the importance of tumor B-cell signatures were shown to correlate with melanoma survival. We investigated whether tumor-targeting antibodies could be isolated from a patient that cured (now 13 years tumor-free) metastatic melanoma following adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded autologous T cells.MethodsPatient‘s peripheral blood B cells were isolated and tested for the presence of tumor-reactive B cells using AIMM’s immmortalisation technology. Antibody AT1412 was identified by virtue of its differential binding to melanoma cells as compared to healthy melanocytes. AT1412 binds the tetraspanin CD9, a broadly expressed protein involved in multiple cellular activities in cancer and induces ADCC and ADCP by effector cells.ResultsSpontaneous immune rejection of tumors was observed in human immune system (HIS) mouse models implanted with CD9 genetically-disrupted A375 melanoma (A375-CD9KO) tumor cells, while A375wt cells were not cleared. Most notably, no tumor rejection of A375-CD9KO tumors was observed in NSG mice, indicating that blockade of CD9 makes tumor cells susceptible to immune rejection.CD9 has been described to regulate integrin signaling, e.g. LFA-1, VLA-4, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. AT1412 was shown to modulate CD9 function by enhancing adhesion and transmigration of T cells to endothelial (HUVEC) cells. AT1412 was most potently enhancing transendothelial T-cell migration, in contrast to a high affinity version of AT1412 or other high affinity anti-CD9 reference antibodies (e.g. ALB6). Enhanced immune cell infiltration is also observed in immunodeficient mice harbouring a human immune system (HIS). AT1412 strongly enhanced CD8 T-cell and macrophage infiltration resulting in tumor rejection (A375 melanoma). PD-1 checkpoint blockade is further sustaining this effect. In a second melanoma model carrying a PD-1 resistant and highly aggressive tumor (SK-MEL5) AT1412 together with nivolumab was inducing full tumor rejection, while either one of the antibodies alone did not.ConclusionsThe safety of AT1412 has been assessed in preclinical development and is well tolerated up to 10 mg/kg (highest dose tested) by non human primates. AT1412 demonstrated a half-life of 8.5 days, supporting 2–3 weekly administration in humans. Besides transient thrombocytopenia no other pathological deviations were observed. No effect on coagulation parameters, bruising or bleeding were observed macro- or microscopically. The thrombocytopenia is reversible, and its recovery accelerated in those animals developing anti-drug antibodies. First in Human clinical study is planned to start early 2021.Ethics ApprovalStudy protocols were approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of the Leiden University Medical Center (Leiden, Netherlands).ConsentBlood was obtained after written informed consent by the patient.


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