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A rare population of tumor antigen-specific CD4+CD8+ double-positive ?? T lymphocytes uniquely provide CD8-independent TCR genes for engineering therapeutic T cells.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:High-affinity tumor antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) gene is required to engineer potent T cells for therapeutic treatment of cancer patients. However, discovery of suitable therapeutic TCR genes is hampered by the fact that naturally occurring tumor antigen-specific TCRs are generally of low-affinity, and artificial modification of TCRs can mediate cross-reactivity to other antigens expressed in normal tissues. Here, we discovered a naturally occurring T-cell clone which expressed high-affinity HLA-A*02:01 (A*02)-restricted TCR against NY-ESO-1 from a patient who had NY-ESO-1-expressing ovarian tumor. METHODS:A*02-restricted NY-ESO-1-specific T-cell clones were established from peripheral blood of patients who had NY-ESO-1-expressing ovarian tumors. TCR ? and ? chain genes were retrovirally transduced into polyclonally activated T cells. Phenotype and function of the parental and TCR-transduced T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, ELISA and cytotoxicity assay. In vivo therapeutic efficacy was investigated in a xenograft model using NOD/SCID/IL-2R?-deficient (NSG) mice. RESULTS:A rare population of NY-ESO-1-specific T cells, which we named 19305DP, expressed cell surface CD4, CD8?, and CD8? but not CD56 and recognized A*02+NY-ESO-1+ cancer cell lines in a CD4- and CD8-independent manner. 19305DP showed a gene expression profile that is consistent with a mixed profile of CD4+ and CD8+ single-positive T cells. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that were retrovirally transduced with 19305DP-derived TCR gene (19305DP-TCR) showed strong reactivity against A*02+NY-ESO-1+ cancer cells, whereas TCR genes from the conventional A*02-restricted NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ single-positive T-cell clones functioned only in CD8+ T cells. Both 19305DP-TCR gene-engineered CD4+ and CD8+ T cells eliminated A*02+NY-ESO-1+ tumor xenografts in NSG mice. Finally, based on reactivity against a series of alanine-substituted peptides and a panel of normal human tissue-derived primary cells, 19305DP-TCR was predicted to have no cross-reactivity against any human non-NY-ESO-1 proteins. CONCLUSION:Together, our results indicate that the naturally occurring 19305DP-TCR derived from CD4+CD8+ double-positive ?? T cells, is a promising therapeutic TCR gene for effective and safe adoptive T-cell therapy in A*02+ patients with NY-ESO-1-expressing tumor.

SUBMITTER: Matsuzaki J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6325755 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundAffinity-optimized T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered lymphocytes targeting tumor antigens can mediate potent antitumor responses in cancer patients, but also bear substantial risks for off-target toxicities. Most preclinical studies have focused on T cell responses to antigen-specific stimulation. In contrast, little is known on the regulation of T cell responsiveness through continuous TCR triggering and consequent tonic signaling. Here, we addressed the question whether increasing the TCR affinity can lead to chronic interactions occurring directly between TCRs and MHC-(self) molecules, which may modulate the overall functional potency of tumor-redirected CD8 T cells. For this purpose, we developed two complementary human CD8 T cell models (i.e. HLA-A2 knock-in and knock-out) engineered with incremental-affinity TCRs to the HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen.MethodsThe impact of HLA-A2 recognition, depending on TCR affinity, was assessed at the levels of the TCR/CD3 complex, regulatory receptors, and signaling, under steady-state conditions and in kinetic studies. The quality of CD8 T cell responses was further evaluated by gene expression and multiplex cytokine profiling, as well as real-time quantitative cell killing, combined with co-culture assays.ResultsWe found that HLA-A2 per se (in absence of cognate peptide) can trigger chronic activation followed by a tolerance-like state of tumor-redirected CD8 T cells with increased-affinity TCRs. HLA-A2pos but not HLA-A2neg T cells displayed an activation phenotype, associated with enhanced upregulation of c-CBL and multiple inhibitory receptors. T cell activation preceded TCR/CD3 downmodulation, impaired TCR signaling and functional hyporesponsiveness. This stepwise activation-to-hyporesponsive state was dependent on TCR affinity and already detectable at the upper end of the physiological affinity range (KD ≤ 1 μM). Similar findings were made when affinity-increased HLA-A2neg CD8 T cells were chronically exposed to HLA-A2pos-expressing target cells.ConclusionsOur observations indicate that sustained interactions between affinity-increased TCR and self-MHC can directly adjust the functional potential of T cells, even in the absence of antigen-specific stimulation. The observed tolerance-like state depends on TCR affinity and has therefore potential implications for the design of affinity-improved TCRs for adoptive T cell therapy, as several engineered TCRs currently used in clinical trials share similar affinity properties.

Project description:The role of conventional TCR??+CD4+ or TCR??+CD8?+ single-positive (sp) T lymphocytes in adaptive immunity is well-recognized. However, non-conventional T cells expressing TCR?? or TCR?? but lacking CD4 and CD8? expression [i.e., CD4-CD8?- double-negative (dn) T cells] are thought to play a role at the interface between the innate and adaptive immune system. Dn T cells are frequent in swine, cattle or sheep and predominantly express TCR??. In contrast, TCR??+ T cells are rare in dogs. In this study, we identified a high proportion of canine dn T cells in the TCR??+ T cell population of PBMC, lymphatic and non-lymphatic organs. In PBMC, the frequency of this T cell subpopulation made up one third of the frequency of TCR??+CD4+ sp, and almost half of the frequency of TCR??+CD8?+ sp T cells (i.e., ~15% of all TCR??+ T cells). Among TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells of PBMC and tissues, FoxP3+ cells were identified indicating regulatory potential of this T cell subset. 80% of peripheral blood FoxP3+TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells co-expressed CD25, and, interestingly, also the FoxP3-negative TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells comprised ~34% CD25+ cells. Some of the FoxP3-positive TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells co-expressed GATA-3 suggesting stable function of regulatory T cells. The frequency of GATA-3 expression by FoxP3-TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells was even higher as compared with TCR??+CD4+ sp T cells (20.6% vs. 11.9%). Albeit lacking FoxP3 and CD25 expression, TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells also expressed substantial proportions of GATA-3. In addition, TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells produced IFN-? and IL-17A upon stimulation. T-bet and granzyme B were only weakly expressed by both dn T cell subsets. In conclusion, this study identifies two dn T cell subsets in the dog: (i) a large (~7.5% in Peyer's patches, ~15% in lung) population of TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cells with subpopulations thereof showing an activated phenotype, high expression of FoxP3 or GATA-3 as well as production of IFN-? or IL-17A and (ii) a small TCR??+CD4-CD8?- dn T cell subset also expressing GATA-3 without production of IFN-? or IL-17A. It will be exciting to unravel the function of each subset during immune homeostasis and diseases of dogs.

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A rare population of tumor antigen-specific CD4+CD8+ double-positive ?? T lymphocytes uniquely provide CD8-independent TCR genes for engineering therapeutic T cells.

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