Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of blood B cells from human allogeneic hematopoietic transplant patients
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Single cell analysis of gene expression in blood B cells from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transpant (HCT) patients that either developed chronic GVHD, or never developed chronic GVHD.
Project description:The direct integration of chimeric-antigen-receptor (CAR) T cell with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) carries the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) induction by allogeneic CAR-T cells. Based on our past experiments, it has been shown that post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) prevents GVHD induction by other cell infusions after T-cell-replete MHC-haploidentical murine allo-HCT models. In this study, we investigated whether CAR-T cells, given in a similar manner in the same MHC-haploidentical murine allo-HCT model, could safely exert anti-tumor effects. We showed that anti-CD19 CAR-T cells administered early after (day +5 of transplant) or prior to (day 0 of transplant) PTCy for allo-HCT cleared leukemia without toxicity or GVHD exacerbation. Using next generation single-cell RNA sequencing approaches, we demonstrated that in comparison to CAR-T cells infused early after PTCy (day +5), CAR-T cells infused prior to PTCy (day 0) exhibited transcriptional changes consistent with increased CD4+ T-cell activation and CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity.
Project description:Biologic markers of immune tolerance may facilitate tailoring of immune suppression duration after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In a cross-sectional study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from tolerant (n=15, median 38.5 months post-HCT) and non-tolerant (n=17, median 39.5 post-HCT) HCT recipients and healthy control subjects (n=10) for analysis of immune cell subsets and differential gene expression. There were no significant differences in immune subsets across groups. We identified 281 probe sets unique to the tolerant (TOL) group and 122 for non-tolerant (non-TOL). These were enriched for process networks including NK cell cytotoxicity, antigen presentation, lymphocyte proliferation, and cell cycle and apoptosis. Differential gene expression was enriched for CD56, CD66, and CD14 human lineage-specific gene expression. Differential expression of 20 probe sets between groups was sufficient to develop a classifier with > 90% accuracy, correctly classifying 14/15 TOL cases and 15/17 non-TOL cases. These data suggest that differential gene expression can be utilized to accurately classify tolerant patients following HCT. Prospective investigation of immune tolerance biologic markers is warranted. Samples were collected after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) or in healthy control subjects. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from tolerant (n=15, median 38.5 months post-HCT) and non-tolerant (n=17, median 39.5 post-HCT) HCT recipients and healthy control subjects (n=10).
Project description:Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the most common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). However, our understanding of the molecular pathways that cause this disease remains incomplete, leading to inadequate treatment strategies. To address this, we measured the gene expression profile of non-human primate (NHP) T cells during acute GVHD (GSE73723). Within these profiles we discovered potentially druggable targets not previously implicated in GVHD, prominently including aurora kinase A (AURKA). In this study, we performed a planned comparison of AURKA gene expression in HCT-recipients with clinical GVHD and compared it to expression in HCT-recipients without clinical GVHD.
Project description:The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical benefit and characterize the safety profile of tabelecleucel for the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD) in the setting of (1) solid organ transplant (SOT) after failure of rituximab and rituximab plus chemotherapy or (2) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) after failure of rituximab.
Project description:Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is still one of the major complications following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) triggered by alloreactive donor T cells. Whereas murine data have clearly shown the beneficial effects of regulatory T cells (Tregs) on the development of GvHD, data from the human system are rare mainly due to low cell numbers of circulating or organ-infiltrating Tregs in lymphopenic patients. Here, we present a comparative analysis of Tregs from patients with and without acute/ chronic GvHD designed as a dynamical approach studying the whole genome profile over the first 6 months after SCT. For this purpose, blood samples were collected monthly for FACS-based isolation of CD4+CD25highCD127low/- Tregs. The Treg transcriptome showed a high stability in the first half year representing the most sensitive time window for tolerance induction. However, the comparison of the Treg transcriptome from patients with and without GvHD uncovered regulated gene transcripts that point to a reduced suppressive function of Tregs with diminished migration capacity to the target organs likely contributing to the development of GvHD. These findings highlight the critical role of human Tregs in the pathophysiology of GvHD and identify novel targets for the manipulation of Tregs to optimize cellular immune intervention strategies. Keywords: cell type comparison Relative gene expressions were determined by normalized intensity values. GeneSpring analysis was performed using the Treg transcriptome data with following comparisons: no GvHD d90 versus no GvHD d150, no GvHD d90 versus acute GvHD, no GvHD d150 versus chronic GvHD, acute GvHD versus chronic GvHD, acute GvHD versus GvHD d90 and chronic GvHD versus GvHD d150 (Figure 2). Cut-off was a transcript fold change of 2 or -2 in at least one comparison. Student´s t-test was used to identify significant expression changes.
Project description:Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) is an increasingly used treatment for hematologic malignancies. Although post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PtCy) has improved graft vs. host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis in haplo-HCT, patients continue to experience life-threatening complications. IFN-γ and IL-6 are central in the pathophysiology of GvHD and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and both cytokines signal through Janus kinase (JAK)-1. We tested the effect of adding the JAK-1 selective inhibitor, itacitinib, to PtCy-haplo-HCT to mitigate these complications and improve overall survival. This open-label, single-arm study evaluated the safety and efficacy of itacitinib combined with standard GvHD prophylaxis after haplo-HCT. A total of 42 patients were treated with itacitinib 200 mg daily from day -3 through +100 or +180, followed by a taper. Itacitinib resulted in low CRS grades, all patients had grade 0 (22%) or grade 1 (78%) CRS and there were no cases of grade 2-5 CRS. There were no cases of primary graft failure. No patients developed grade 3-4 aGvHD through day +180. The cumulative incidence of grade 2 aGvHD at day +100 was 21.9%. The 1-year cumulative incidence of moderate or severe chronic GvHD was 5%. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 2 years was 14%. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was 80%. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at day 180 was 8%. Itacitinib, when added to standard GvHD prophylaxis, was well tolerated and resulted in low rates of CRS, acute and chronic GvHD, NRM and encouraging rates of GvHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) and OS after haplo-HCT.
Project description:Biologic markers of immune tolerance may facilitate tailoring of immune suppression duration after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In a cross-sectional study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from tolerant (n=15, median 38.5 months post-HCT) and non-tolerant (n=17, median 39.5 post-HCT) HCT recipients and healthy control subjects (n=10) for analysis of immune cell subsets and differential gene expression. There were no significant differences in immune subsets across groups. We identified 281 probe sets unique to the tolerant (TOL) group and 122 for non-tolerant (non-TOL). These were enriched for process networks including NK cell cytotoxicity, antigen presentation, lymphocyte proliferation, and cell cycle and apoptosis. Differential gene expression was enriched for CD56, CD66, and CD14 human lineage-specific gene expression. Differential expression of 20 probe sets between groups was sufficient to develop a classifier with > 90% accuracy, correctly classifying 14/15 TOL cases and 15/17 non-TOL cases. These data suggest that differential gene expression can be utilized to accurately classify tolerant patients following HCT. Prospective investigation of immune tolerance biologic markers is warranted.
Project description:Identifying the targets of immune response after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) promises to provide relevant immune therapy candidate proteins. We used protein microarrays to serologically identify Nucleolar and Spindle Associated Protein 1 (NuSAP1) and Chromatin Assembly Factor 1, subunit B (p60) [CHAF1b] as targets of new antibody responses that developed after allogeneic HCT. Western blots and ELISA validated their post-HCT recognition and enabled ELISA testing of 120 other allo-HCT patients. CHAF1b specific antibodies were predominantly detected in AML patients whereas NuSAP1 specific antibodies were exclusively detected in AML patients one year post-transplant (p<0.0001). Complete genomic exon sequencing failed to identify a nonsynonymous SNP for NuSAP1 and CHAF1b between the donor and recipient cells. Expression profiles and RT-PCR showed NuSAP1 was predominately expressed in the bone marrow CD34+CD90+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), leukemic cell lines and B lymphoblasts as compared to other tissues or cells. Thus, NuSAP1 is recognized as an immunogenic antigen in 65% AML patients and suggests a tumor antigen role. In conclusion, clinically important tumor antigens can be identified as new antibody targets after allogeneic HCT using high density protein microarrays
Project description:Lymphocyte subsets (CD8, CD4 Tconv, NK cells) were sorted from patients' peripheral blood obtained on day 28 after haploidentical-donor allogeneic bone marrow transplantation followed by posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), tacrolimus, and MMF as GVHD prophylaxis (NCT00796562). Cohort of patients developed GVHD, or remained GVHD-free. Cohort of patients developed disease relapse, or remained relapse-free. RNA-sequencing was performed to analyze the transcriptional landscape of alloresponse in post-PTCy breakthrough GVHD and relapse.
Project description:Lymphocyte subsets (CD8, CD4 Tconv, CD4 Treg) were sorted from patients' peripheral blood obtained 180 days after matched-donor allogeneic bone marrow transplantation followed by posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as a single agent GVHD prophylaxis (NCT00809276). Cohort of patients developed GVHD, or remained GVHD-free. RNA-sequencing was performed to analyze the transcriptional landscape of alloresponse in post-PTCy breakthrough GVHD.