Faculty Opinions recommendation of T cell activation: in vivo veritas.

Author(s):  
Kendall Smith
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Lee ◽  
Sarah Szvetecz ◽  
Ryan Polli ◽  
Angelo Grauel ◽  
Jayson Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) represent the most common subtype of ovarian malignancies. Due to the frequency of late-stage diagnosis and high rates of recurrence following standard of care treatments, novel therapies are needed to promote durable responses. We investigated the anti-tumor activity of CD3 T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) directed against the PAX8 lineage-driven HGSOC tumor antigen LYPD1 and demonstrated that anti-LYPD1 TCBs induce T cell activation and promote in vivo tumor growth inhibition in LYPD1-expressing HGSOC. To selectively target LYPD1-expressing tumor cells with high expression while sparing cells with low expression, we coupled bivalent low-affinity anti-LYPD1 antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) with the anti-CD3 scFv. In contrast to the monovalent anti-LYPD1 high-affinity TCB (VHP354), the bivalent low-affinity anti-LYPD1 TCB (QZC131) demonstrated antigen density-dependent selectivity and showed tolerability in cynomolgus monkeys at the maximum dose tested of 3 mg/kg. Collectively, these data demonstrate that bivalent TCBs directed against LYPD1 have compelling efficacy and safety profiles to support its use as a treatment for high-grade serous ovarian cancers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e001925
Author(s):  
Shujuan Zhou ◽  
Fanyan Meng ◽  
Shiyao Du ◽  
Hanqing Qian ◽  
Naiqing Ding ◽  
...  

BackgroundPoor infiltration and limited activation of transferred T cells are fundamental factors impeding the development of adoptive cell immunotherapy in solid tumors. A tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD has been widely used to deliver drugs deep into tumor tissues. CD3-targeting bispecific antibodies represent a promising immunotherapy which recruits and activates T cells.MethodsT-cell penetration was demonstrated in tumor spheroids using confocal microscope, and in xenografted tumors by histology and in vivo real-time fluorescence imaging. Activation and cytotoxicity of T cells were assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscope. Bioluminescence imaging was used to evaluate in vivo antitumor effects, and transmission electron microscopy was used for mechanistic studies.ResultsWe generated a novel bifunctional agent iRGD-anti-CD3 which could immobilize iRGD on the surface of T cells through CD3 engaging. We found that iRGD-anti-CD3 modification not only facilitated T-cell infiltration in 3D tumor spheroids and xenografted tumor nodules but also induced T-cell activation and cytotoxicity against target cancer cells. T cells modified with iRGD-anti-CD3 significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival in several xenograft mouse models, which was further enhanced by the combination of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade. Mechanistic studies revealed that iRGD-anti-CD3 initiated a transport pathway called vesiculovacuolar organelles in the endothelial cytoplasm to promote T-cell extravasation.ConclusionAltogether, we show that iRGD-anti-CD3 modification is an innovative and bifunctional strategy to overcome major bottlenecks in adoptive cell therapy. Moreover, we demonstrate that combination with PD-1 blockade can further improve antitumor efficacy of iRGD-anti-CD3-modified T cells.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Urso ◽  
Arantzazu Alfranca ◽  
Sara Martínez-Martínez ◽  
Amelia Escolano ◽  
Inmaculada Ortega ◽  
...  

Abstract The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors plays important roles in many biologic processes, including the development and function of the immune and vascular systems. Cells usually express more than one NFAT member, raising the question of whether NFATs play overlapping roles or if each member has selective functions. Using mRNA knock-down, we show that NFATc3 is specifically required for IL2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene expression in transformed and primary T cells and for T-cell proliferation. We also show that NFATc3 regulates COX2 in endothelial cells, where it is required for COX2, dependent migration and angiogenesis in vivo. These results indicate that individual NFAT members mediate specific functions through the differential regulation of the transcription of target genes. These effects, observed on short-term suppression by mRNA knock-down, are likely to have been masked by compensatory effects in gene-knockout studies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 4233-4239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Leisewitz ◽  
Kirk A. Rockett ◽  
Bonginkosi Gumede ◽  
Margaret Jones ◽  
Britta Urban ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells, particularly those residing in the spleen, are thought to orchestrate acquired immunity to malaria, but it is not known how the splenic dendritic cell population responds to malaria infection and how this response compares with the responses of other antigen-presenting cells. We investigated this question for Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection in C57BL/6 mice. We found that dendritic cells, defined here by the CD11c marker, migrated from the marginal zone of the spleen into the CD4+ T-cell area within 5 days after parasites entered the bloodstream. This contrasted with the results observed for the macrophage and B-cell populations, which expanded greatly but did not show any comparable migration. Over the same time period dendritic cells showed upregulation of CD40, CD54, and CD86 costimulatory molecules that are required for successful T-cell activation. In dendritic cells, the peak intracellular gamma interferon expression (as shown by fluorescence-activated cell sorting) was on day 5, 2 days earlier than the peak expression in B-cells or macrophages. These findings show that splenic dendritic cells are actively engaged in the earliest phase of malarial infection in vivo and are likely to be critical in shaping the subsequent immune response.


2012 ◽  
Vol 209 (6) ◽  
pp. 1201-1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Yokosuka ◽  
Masako Takamatsu ◽  
Wakana Kobayashi-Imanishi ◽  
Akiko Hashimoto-Tane ◽  
Miyuki Azuma ◽  
...  

Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is a negative costimulatory receptor critical for the suppression of T cell activation in vitro and in vivo. Single cell imaging elucidated a molecular mechanism of PD-1–mediated suppression. PD-1 becomes clustered with T cell receptors (TCRs) upon binding to its ligand PD-L1 and is transiently associated with the phosphatase SHP2 (Src homology 2 domain–containing tyrosine phosphatase 2). These negative costimulatory microclusters induce the dephosphorylation of the proximal TCR signaling molecules. This results in the suppression of T cell activation and blockade of the TCR-induced stop signal. In addition to PD-1 clustering, PD-1–TCR colocalization within microclusters is required for efficient PD-1–mediated suppression. This inhibitory mechanism also functions in PD-1hi T cells generated in vivo and can be overridden by a neutralizing anti–PD-L1 antibody. Therefore, PD-1 microcluster formation is important for regulation of T cell activation.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels C. Lory ◽  
Mikolaj Nawrocki ◽  
Martina Corazza ◽  
Joanna Schmid ◽  
Valéa Schumacher ◽  
...  

Antigen recognition by the T-cell receptor induces a cytosolic Ca2+ signal that is crucial for T-cell function. The Ca2+ channel TRPM2 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 2) has been shown to facilitate influx of extracellular Ca2+ through the plasma membrane of T cells. Therefore, it was suggested that TRPM2 is involved in T-cell activation and differentiation. However, these results are largely derived from in vitro studies using T-cell lines and non-physiologic means of TRPM2 activation. Thus, the relevance of TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ signaling in T cells remains unclear. Here, we use TRPM2-deficient mice to investigate the function of TRPM2 in T-cell activation and differentiation. In response to TCR stimulation in vitro, Trpm2-/- and WT CD4+ and CD8+ T cells similarly upregulated the early activation markers NUR77, IRF4, and CD69. We also observed regular proliferation of Trpm2-/- CD8+ T cells and unimpaired differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1, Th17, and Treg cells under specific polarizing conditions. In vivo, Trpm2-/- and WT CD8+ T cells showed equal specific responses to Listeria monocytogenes after infection of WT and Trpm2-/- mice and after transfer of WT and Trpm2-/- CD8+ T cells into infected recipients. CD4+ T-cell responses were investigated in the model of anti-CD3 mAb-induced intestinal inflammation, which allows analysis of Th1, Th17, Treg, and Tr1-cell differentiation. Here again, we detected similar responses of WT and Trpm2-/- CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, our results argue against a major function of TRPM2 in T-cell activation and differentiation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A730-A730
Author(s):  
Wenqing Jiang ◽  
Zhengyi Wang ◽  
Zhen Sheng ◽  
Jaeho Jung ◽  
Taylor Guo

Background4-1BB (CD137) is a co-stimulatory receptor that stimulates the function of multiple immune cells. Its ability to induce potent anti-tumor activity makes 4-1BB an attractive target for immuno-oncology. However, clinical development of a monospecific 4-1BB agonistic antibody has been hampered by dose-limiting hepatic toxicities. To minimize systemic toxicities, we have developed a novel Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) x 4-1BB bispecific antibody, TJ-CD4B (ABL111) that stimulates 4-1BB pathway only when it engages with Claudin 18.2, a tumor-associated antigen specifically expressed in gastrointestinal cancers. TJ-CD4B (ABL111) is now being evaluated in patients with advanced solid tumors in a first-in-human trial (NCT04900818).MethodsTJ-CD4B (ABL111) was evaluated in vivo using the human 4-1BB knock-in mice bearing CLDN18.2 expressing MC38 tumor cells. Pharmacodynamic effects upon treatment were characterized in tumor tissue and blood. Immunophenotyping of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and peripheral blood was performed by flow cytometry. Soluble biomarkers were measured using Luminex-based multiplex assay. In-depth gene expression analysis was performed on primary human CD8+ T cells that were co-cultured with CLDN18.2 expressing cells in the presence of anti-CD3 using NanoString nCounter®. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicity study were performed in cynomolgus monkeys.ResultsTJ-CD4B (ABL111) elicited complete tumor regression in 13 out of 18 MC38 tumor bearing mice given at a dose above 2 mg/kg. Dose-dependent anti-tumor activity was associated with enhanced T cell activation in TME and expansion of memory T cells in the peripheral blood. Increased CD8+ T cells number and proliferation were observed in both tumor nest and surrounding stroma while the level of soluble 4-1BB in the serum was also elevated in response to the treatment. In vitro gene expression analysis by Nanostring revealed TJ-CD4B(ABL111) effectively activated immune pathways characterized by IFN?-signaling and T cell inflammation. Preclinically, TJ-CD4B was well tolerated at the repeated doses up to 100 mg/kg/wk in cynomolgus monkeys without the adverse influence on the liver function which is generally affected by 4-1BB activation. Besides, no cytokine release or immune activation was observed in the periphery.ConclusionsTJ-CD4B (ABL111) is a novel CLDN18.2 dependent 4-1BB bispecific agonist antibody that induced T cell activation and memory response in tumor with CLDN18.2 expression, leading to a strong anti-tumor activity in vivo. TJ-CD4B did not induce systemic immune response nor hepatic toxicity due to the CLDN18.2 dependent 4-1BB stimulation. These data warrant the current clinical development in phase I trial to validate the safety properties and tumor specific responses.


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