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An Agonistic Anti-CD137 Antibody Disrupts Lymphoid Follicle Structure and T-Cell-Dependent Antibody Responses.

ABSTRACT: CD137 is a costimulatory receptor expressed on natural killer cells, T cells, and subsets of dendritic cells. An agonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD137 has been used to reduce tumor burden or reverse autoimmunity in animal models and clinical trials. Here, we show that mice treated with an agonistic anti-CD137 mAb have reduced numbers of germinal center (GC) B cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in lymphoid tissues, which impair antibody responses to multiple T-cell-dependent antigens, including infectious virus, viral proteins, and conjugated haptens. These effects are not due to enhanced apoptosis or impaired proliferation of B cells but instead correlate with changes in lymphoid follicle structure and GC B cell dispersal and are mediated by CD137 signaling in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. Our experiments in mice suggest that agonistic anti-CD137 mAbs used in cancer and autoimmunity therapy may impair long-term antibody and B cell memory responses.

SUBMITTER: Hong JP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7375459 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:CD137, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily of cell surface proteins, acts as a costimulatory receptor on T cells, natural killer cells, B cell subsets, and some dendritic cells. Agonistic anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapy has been combined with other chemotherapeutic agents in human cancer trials. Based on its ability to promote tumor clearance, we hypothesized that anti-CD137 MAb might activate immune responses and resolve chronic viral infections. We evaluated anti-CD137 MAb therapy in a mouse infection model of chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus that causes chronic polyarthritis in humans and is associated with reservoirs of CHIKV RNA that are not cleared efficiently by adaptive immune responses. Analysis of viral tropism revealed that CHIKV RNA was present preferentially in splenic B cells and follicular dendritic cells during the persistent phase of infection, and animals lacking B cells did not develop persistent CHIKV infection in lymphoid tissue. Anti-CD137 MAb treatment resulted in T cell-dependent clearance of CHIKV RNA in lymphoid tissue, although this effect was not observed in musculoskeletal tissue. The clearance of CHIKV RNA from lymphoid tissue by anti-CD137 MAb was associated with reductions in the numbers of germinal center B cells and follicular dendritic cells. Similar results were observed with anti-CD137 MAb treatment of mice infected with Mayaro virus, a related arthritogenic alphavirus. Thus, anti-CD137 MAb treatment promotes resolution of chronic alphavirus infection in lymphoid tissues by reducing the numbers of target cells for infection and persistence.IMPORTANCE Although CHIKV causes persistent infection in lymphoid and musculoskeletal tissues in multiple animals, the basis for this is poorly understood, which has hampered pharmacological efforts to promote viral clearance. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects on persistent CHIKV infection of an agonistic anti-CD137 MAb that can activate T cell and natural killer cell responses to clear tumors. We show that treatment with anti-CD137 MAb promotes the clearance of persistent alphavirus RNA from lymphoid but not musculoskeletal tissues. This occurs because anti-CD137 MAb-triggered T cells reduce the numbers of target germinal center B cells and follicular dendritic cells, which are the primary reservoirs for CHIKV in the spleen and lymph nodes. Our studies help to elucidate the basis for CHIKV persistence and begin to provide strategies that can clear long-term cellular reservoirs of infection.

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An Agonistic Anti-CD137 Antibody Disrupts Lymphoid Follicle Structure and T-Cell-Dependent Antibody Responses.

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