scholarly journals Influence of Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase and Its Metabolite Kynurenine on γδ T Cell Cytotoxicity against Ductal Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Jonescheit ◽  
Hans-Heinrich Oberg ◽  
Daniel Gonnermann ◽  
Martin Hermes ◽  
Vjola Sulaj ◽  
...  

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a malignant gastrointestinal disease. The enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxgenase (IDO) is often overexpressed in PDAC and its downstream metabolite kynurenine has been reported to inhibit T cell activation and proliferation. Since γδ T cells are of high interest for T cell-based immunotherapy against PDAC, we studied the impact of IDO and kynurenine on γδ T cell cytotoxicity against PDAC cells. Methods: IDO expression was determined in PDAC cells by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. PDAC cells were cocultured with γδ T cells in medium or were stimulated with phosphorylated antigens or bispecific antibody in the presence or absence of IDO inhibitors. Additionally, γδ T cells were treated with recombinant kynurenine. Read-out assays included degranulation, cytotoxicity and cytokine measurement as well as cell cycle analysis. Results: Since IDO overexpression was variable in PDAC, IDO inhibitors improved γδ T cell cytotoxicity only against some but not all PDAC cells. γδ T cell degranulation and cytotoxicity were significantly decreased after their treatment with recombinant kynurenine. Conclusions: Bispecific antibody drastically enhanced γδ T cell cytotoxicity against all PDAC cells, which can be further enhanced by IDO inhibitors against several PDAC cells, suggesting a striking heterogeneity in PDAC escape mechanisms towards γδ T cell-mediated anti-tumor response.

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 2444-2451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina García-Peydró ◽  
Virginia G. de Yébenes ◽  
María L. Toribio

Abstract Notch1 activity is essential for the specification of T-lineage fate in hematopoietic progenitors. Once the T-cell lineage is specified, T-cell precursors in the thymus must choose between αβ and γδ lineages. However, the impact of Notch1 signaling on intrathymic pro-T cells has not been addressed directly. To approach this issue, we used retroviral vectors to express constitutively active Notch1 in human thymocyte progenitors positioned at successive developmental stages, and we followed their differentiation in fetal thymus organ culture (FTOC). Here we show that sustained Notch1 signaling impairs progression to the double-positive (DP) stage and efficiently diverts the earliest thymic progenitors from the main αβ T-cell pathway toward development of γδ T cells. The impact of Notch1 signaling on skewed γδ production decreases progressively along intrathymic maturation and is restricted to precursor stages upstream of the pre-T-cell receptor checkpoint. Close to and beyond that point, Notch1 is not further able to instruct γδ cell fate, but promotes an abnormal expansion of αβ-committed thymocytes. These results stress the stage-specific impact of Notch1 signaling in intrathymic differentiation and suggest that regulation of Notch1 activity at defined developmental windows is essential to control αβ versus γδ T-cell development and to avoid deregulated expansion of αβ-lineage cells. (Blood. 2003;102:2444-2451)


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (43) ◽  
pp. E9056-E9065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorien Van hede ◽  
Barbara Polese ◽  
Chantal Humblet ◽  
Anneke Wilharm ◽  
Virginie Renoux ◽  
...  

It has been shown that γδ T cells protect against the formation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in several models. However, the role of γδ T cells in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated uterine cervical SCC, the third-leading cause of death by cancer in women, is unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of γδ T cells in a transgenic mouse model of carcinogenesis induced by HPV16 oncoproteins. Surprisingly, γδ T cells promoted the development of HPV16 oncoprotein-induced lesions. HPV16 oncoproteins induced a decrease in epidermal Skint1 expression and the associated antitumor Vγ5+ γδ T cells, which were replaced by γδ T-cell subsets (mainly Vγ6+ γδlowCCR2+CCR6−) actively producing IL-17A. Consistent with a proangiogenic role, γδ T cells promoted the formation of blood vessels in the dermis underlying the HPV-induced lesions. In human cervical biopsies, IL-17A+ γδ T cells could only be observed at the cancer stage (SCC), where HPV oncoproteins are highly expressed, supporting the clinical relevance of our observations in mice. Overall, our results suggest that HPV16 oncoproteins induce a reorganization of the local epithelial-associated γδ T-cell subpopulations, thereby promoting angiogenesis and cancer development.


Leukemia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajkumar Ganesan ◽  
Vijaykumar Chennupati ◽  
Balaji Ramachandran ◽  
Michael Riis Hansen ◽  
Sanjaya Singh ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite significant progress over the last few decades in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), there still remains a major unmet medical need for this disease. Immunotherapy approaches for redirecting pan CD3+ T cells to target leukemia blasts have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials and often accompanied with severe toxicity in AML patients. We designed an alternative engager molecule (Anti-TRGV9/anti-CD123), a bispecific antibody that can simultaneously bind to the Vγ9 chain of the Vγ9Vδ2+ γδ T cell receptor and to AML target antigen, CD123, to selectively recruit Vγ9+ γδ T cells rather than pan T cells to target AML blasts. Our results suggest that prototypic bispecific antibodies (a) selectively activate Vγ9+ γδ T cells as judged by CD69 and CD25 surface expression, and intracellular Granzyme B expression, (b) selectively recruit Vγ9+ γδ T cells into cell–cell conjugate formation of γδ T cells with tumor cells indicating selective and effective engagement of effector and target tumor cells, and (c) mediate γδ T cell cytotoxicity (in vitro and in vivo) against tumor antigen-expressing cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that selectively redirecting Vγ9+ γδ T cells to target AML blasts has a potential for immunotherapy for AML patients and favors further exploration of this concept.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e002051
Author(s):  
Ryan Michael Reyes ◽  
Yilun Deng ◽  
Deyi Zhang ◽  
Niannian Ji ◽  
Neelam Mukherjee ◽  
...  

BackgroundAnti-programmed death-ligand 1 (αPD-L1) immunotherapy is approved to treat bladder cancer (BC) but is effective in <30% of patients. Interleukin (IL)-2/αIL-2 complexes (IL-2c) that preferentially target IL-2 receptor β (CD122) augment CD8+ antitumor T cells known to improve αPD-L1 efficacy. We hypothesized that the tumor microenvironment, including local immune cells in primary versus metastatic BC, differentially affects immunotherapy responses and that IL-2c effects could differ from, and thus complement αPD-L1.MethodsWe studied mechanisms of IL-2c and αPD-L1 efficacy using PD-L1+ mouse BC cell lines MB49 and MBT-2 in orthotopic (bladder) and metastatic (lung) sites.ResultsIL-2c reduced orthotopic tumor burden and extended survival in MB49 and MBT-2 BC models, similar to αPD-L1. Using antibody-mediated cell depletions and genetically T cell-deficient mice, we unexpectedly found that CD8+ T cells were not necessary for IL-2c efficacy against tumors in bladder, whereas γδ T cells, not reported to contribute to αPD-L1 efficacy, were indispensable for IL-2c efficacy there. αPD-L1 responsiveness in bladder required conventional T cells as expected, but not γδ T cells, altogether defining distinct mechanisms for IL-2c and αPD-L1 efficacy. γδ T cells did not improve IL-2c treatment of subcutaneously challenged BC or orthotopic (peritoneal) ovarian cancer, consistent with tissue-specific and/or tumor-specific γδ T cell contributions to IL-2c efficacy. IL-2c significantly altered bladder intratumoral γδ T cell content, activation status, and specific γδ T cell subsets with antitumor or protumor effector functions. Neither IL-2c nor αPD-L1 alone treated lung metastatic MB49 or MBT-2 BC, but their combination improved survival in both models. Combination treatment efficacy in lungs required CD8+ T cells but not γδ T cells.ConclusionsMechanistic insights into differential IL-2c and αPD-L1 treatment and tissue-dependent effects could help develop rational combination treatment strategies to improve treatment efficacy in distinct cancers. These studies also provide insights into γδ T cell contributions to immunotherapy in bladder and engagement of adaptive immunity by IL-2c plus αPD-L1 to treat refractory lung metastases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Wang ◽  
Xiang Lin ◽  
Zihan Zheng ◽  
Bingtai Lu ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractInnate immunity is important for host defense by eliciting rapid anti-viral responses and bridging adaptive immunity. Here, we show that endogenous lipids released from virus-infected host cells activate lung γδ T cells to produce interleukin 17 A (IL-17A) for early protection against H1N1 influenza infection. During infection, the lung γδ T cell pool is constantly supplemented by thymic output, with recent emigrants infiltrating into the lung parenchyma and airway to acquire tissue-resident feature. Single-cell studies identify IL-17A-producing γδ T (Tγδ17) cells with a phenotype of TCRγδhiCD3hiAQP3hiCXCR6hi in both infected mice and patients with pneumonia. Mechanistically, host cell-released lipids during viral infection are presented by lung infiltrating CD1d+ B-1a cells to activate IL-17A production in γδ T cells via γδTCR-mediated IRF4-dependent transcription. Reduced IL-17A production in γδ T cells is detected in mice either lacking B-1a cells or with ablated CD1d in B cells. Our findings identify a local host-immune crosstalk and define important cellular and molecular mediators for early innate defense against lung viral infection.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Wilhelm ◽  
Volker Kunzmann ◽  
Susanne Eckstein ◽  
Peter Reimer ◽  
Florian Weissinger ◽  
...  

Abstract There is increasing evidence that γδ T cells have potent innate antitumor activity. We described previously that synthetic aminobisphosphonates are potent γδ T cell stimulatory compounds that induce cytokine secretion (ie, interferon γ [IFN-γ]) and cell-mediated cytotoxicity against lymphoma and myeloma cell lines in vitro. To evaluate the antitumor activity of γδ T cells in vivo, we initiated a pilot study of low-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) in combination with pamidronate in 19 patients with relapsed/refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or multiple myeloma (MM). The objectives of this trial were to determine toxicity, the most effective dose for in vivo activation/proliferation of γδ T cells, and antilymphoma efficacy of the combination of pamidronate and IL-2. The first 10 patients (cohort A) who entered the study received 90 mg pamidronate intravenously on day 1 followed by increasing dose levels of continuous 24-hour intravenous (IV) infusions of IL-2 (0.25 to 3 × 106 IU/m2) from day 3 to day 8. Even at the highest IL-2 dose level in vivo, γδ T-cell activation/proliferation and response to treatment were disappointing with only 1 patient achieving stable disease. Therefore, the next 9 patients were selected by positive in vitro proliferation of γδ T cells in response to pamidronate/IL-2 and received a modified treatment schedule (6-hour bolus IV IL-2 infusions from day 1-6). In this patient group (cohort B), significant in vivo activation/proliferation of γδ T cells was observed in 5 patients (55%), and objective responses (PR) were achieved in 3 patients (33%). Only patients with significant in vivo proliferation of γδ T cells responded to treatment, indicating that γδ T cells might contribute to this antilymphoma effect. Overall, administration of pamidronate and low-dose IL-2 was well tolerated. In conclusion, this clinical trial demonstrates, for the first time, that γδ T-cell–mediated immunotherapy is feasible and can induce objective tumor responses. (Blood. 2003;102:200-206)


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A119-A119
Author(s):  
Lu Bai ◽  
Kevin Nishimoto ◽  
Mustafa Turkoz ◽  
Marissa Herrman ◽  
Jason Romero ◽  
...  

BackgroundAutologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of B cell malignancies; however, widespread adoption and application of CAR T cell products still face a number of challenges. To overcome these challenges, Adicet Bio is developing an allogeneic γδ T cell-based CAR T cell platform, which capitalizes on the intrinsic abilities of Vδ1 γδ T cells to recognize and kill transformed cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner, to migrate to epithelial tissues, and to function in hypoxic conditions. To gain a better understanding of the requirements for optimal intratumoral CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid assay, in which tumor cells acquire the structural organization of a solid tumor and establish a microenvironment that has oxygen and nutrient gradients. Moreover, through the addition of cytokines and/or tumor stromal cell types, the spheroid microenvironment can be modified to reflect hot or cold tumors. Here, we report on the use of a 3D CD20+ Raji lymphoma spheroid assay to evaluate the effects of IL-2 and IL-15, positive regulators of T cell homeostasis and differentiation, on the proliferative and antitumor capacities of CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cells.MethodsMolecular, phenotypic, and functional profiling were performed to characterize the in vitro dynamics of the intraspheroid CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell response to target antigen in the presence of IL-2, IL-15, or no added cytokine.ResultsWhen compared to no added cytokine, the addition of IL-2 or IL-15 enhanced CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner but were only able to alter the kinetics of Raji cell killing at low effector to target ratios. Notably, differential gene expression analysis using NanoString nCounter® Technology confirmed the positive effects of IL-2 or IL-15 on CAR-activated Vδ1 γδ T cells as evidenced by the upregulation of genes involved in activation, cell cycle, mitochondrial biogenesis, cytotoxicity, and cytokine production.ConclusionsTogether, these results not only show that the addition of IL-2 or IL-15 can potentiate CD20 CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and differentiation into antitumor effectors but also highlight the utility of the 3D spheroid assay as a high throughput in vitro method for assessing and predicting CAR Vδ1 γδ T cell activation, proliferation, survival, and differentiation in hot and cold tumors.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (20) ◽  
pp. 4422-4431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Gruenbacher ◽  
Hubert Gander ◽  
Andrea Rahm ◽  
Walter Nussbaumer ◽  
Nikolaus Romani ◽  
...  

Abstract CD56+ human dendritic cells (DCs) have recently been shown to differentiate from monocytes in response to GM-CSF and type 1 interferon in vitro. We show here that CD56+ cells freshly isolated from human peripheral blood contain a substantial subset of CD14+CD86+HLA-DR+ cells, which have the appearance of intermediate-sized lymphocytes but spontaneously differentiate into enlarged DC-like cells with substantially increased HLA-DR and CD86 expression or into fully mature CD83+ DCs in response to appropriate cytokines. Stimulation of CD56+ cells containing both DCs and abundant γδ T cells with zoledronate and interleukin-2 (IL-2) resulted in the rapid expansion of γδ T cells as well as in IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β but not in IL-4, IL-10, or IL-17 production. IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β production were almost completely abolished by depleting CD14+ cells from the CD56+ subset before stimulation. Likewise, depletion of CD14+ cells dramatically impaired γδ T-cell expansion. IFN-γ production could also be blocked by neutralizing the effects of endogenous IL-1β and TNF-α. Conversely, addition of recombinant IL-1β, TNF-α, or both further enhanced IFN-γ production and strongly up-regulated IL-6 production. Our data indicate that CD56+ DCs from human blood are capable of stimulating CD56+ γδ T cells, which may be harnessed for immunotherapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 923
Author(s):  
Josephine G. M. Strijker ◽  
Ronja Pscheid ◽  
Esther Drent ◽  
Jessica J. F. van der Hoek ◽  
Bianca Koopmans ◽  
...  

Currently ~50% of patients with a diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma will not survive due to relapsing or refractory disease. Recent innovations in immunotherapy for solid tumors are highly promising, but the low MHC-I expression of neuroblastoma represents a major challenge for T cell-mediated immunotherapy. Here, we propose a novel T cell-based immunotherapy approach for neuroblastoma, based on the use of TEG002, αβ-T cells engineered to express a defined γδ-T cell receptor, which can recognize and kill target cells independent of MHC-I. In a co-culture killing assay, we showed that 3 out of 6 neuroblastoma organoids could activate TEG002 as measured by IFNγ production. Transcriptional profiling showed this effect correlates with an increased activity of processes involved in interferon signaling and extracellular matrix organization. Analysis of the dynamics of organoid killing by TEG002 over time confirmed that organoids which induced TEG002 activation were efficiently killed independent of their MHC-I expression. Of note, efficacy of TEG002 treatment was superior to donor-matched untransduced αβ-T cells or endogenous γδ-T cells. Our data suggest that TEG002 may be a promising novel treatment option for a subset of neuroblastoma patients.


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