T cells and monocyte-derived myeloid cells mediate immunotherapy-related hepatitis in a mouse model
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ABSTRACT: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) which are more severe when ICIs are used in combination. A mouse model was developed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of immune-related hepatitis, one of the common irAEs associated with ICIs. Molecular profiling by single cell RNA sequencing was performed on Pdcd1-/- mice treated with anti-CTLA4 and/or the IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat or a 4-1BB agonistic antibody. ICI combination-induced hepatitis and 4-1BB agonist-mediated hepatitis share similar features yet maintain distinct immune signatures. Both were characterized by an expansion of activated T cells. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that the hepatitis induced by combination ICIs is associated with a robust immune activation signature in all subtypes of T cells and T helper 1 skewing. Expression profiling revealed a central role for IFNγ and liver monocyte-derived macrophages in promoting a pro-inflammatory T-cell response to ICI combination and 4-1BB agonism.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) which are more severe when ICIs are used in combination. A mouse model was developed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of immune-related hepatitis, one of the common irAEs associated with ICIs. Molecular profiling by single cell RNA sequencing was performed on Pdcd1-/- mice treated with anti-CTLA4 and/or the IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat or a 4-1BB agonistic antibody. ICI combination-induced hepatitis and 4-1BB agonist-mediated hepatitis share similar features yet maintain distinct immune signatures. Both were characterized by an expansion of activated T cells. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that the hepatitis induced by combination ICIs is associated with a robust immune activation signature in all subtypes of T cells and T helper 1 skewing. Expression profiling revealed a central role for IFNγ and liver monocyte-derived macrophages in promoting a pro-inflammatory T-cell response to ICI combination and 4-1BB agonism.
Project description:Severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occur in up to 60% of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, it remains unknown whether a common baseline immunological state precedes irAE development. Leveraging CyTOF, single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and T cell receptor sequencing to analyze pretreatment blood from metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICIs, we investigated cellular factors associated with severe irAE development regardless of organ system involvement. Our results demonstrate circulating T cell characteristics associated with ICI-induced toxicity, with implications for improved diagnostics and clinical management.
Project description:Severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occur in up to 60% of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, it remains unknown whether a common baseline immunological state precedes irAE development. Leveraging CyTOF, single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and T cell receptor sequencing to analyze pretreatment blood from metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICIs, we investigated cellular factors associated with severe irAE development regardless of organ system involvement. Our results demonstrate circulating T cell characteristics associated with ICI-induced toxicity, with implications for improved diagnostics and clinical management.
Project description:Severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occur in up to 60% of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, it remains unknown whether a common baseline immunological state precedes irAE development. Leveraging CyTOF, single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and T cell receptor sequencing to analyze pretreatment blood from metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICIs, we investigated cellular factors associated with severe irAE development regardless of organ system involvement. Our results demonstrate circulating T cell characteristics associated with ICI-induced toxicity, with implications for improved diagnostics and clinical management.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA4 have revolutionized cancer management but are associated with devastating immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including myocarditis. The main risk factor for ICI myocarditis is the use of combination PD-1 and CTLA4 inhibition. ICI-myocarditis is often fulminant and is pathophysiologically characterized by myocardial infiltration of T lymphocytes and macrophages. While much has been learned regarding the role of T-cells in ICI-myocarditis, little is understood regarding the identity, transcriptional diversity, and functions of infiltrating macrophages. We employed an established murine ICI myocarditis model (Ctla4+/-Pdcd1-/- mice) to explore the cardiac immune landscape using single-cell RNA-sequencing, immunostaining, and molecular imaging. We observed marked increases in CCR2+ monocyte-derived macrophages and CD8+ T-cells in this model. The macrophage compartment was heterogeneous and displayed marked enrichment in an inflammatory CCR2+ subpopulation expressing Cxcl9, Cxcl10, Gbp2b, and Fcgr4 that originated from CCR2+ monocytes. Importantly, a similar macrophage population expressing CXCL9, CXCL10, and CD16α (human homologue of mouse FcgR4) were found selectively in patients with ICI myocarditis compared to other forms of heart failure and myocarditis. In silico prediction of cell-cell communication suggested interactions between T-cells and Cxcl9+Cxcl10+ macrophages via IFN-γ and CXCR3 signaling pathways. Depleting CD8+T-cells and blockade of IFN-γ signaling blunted the emergence of Cxcl9+Cxcl10+ macrophages in the heart and attenuated myocarditis suggesting that this interaction was necessary for disease pathogenesis. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ICI-myocarditis is associated with the emergence of a specific population of inflammatory macrophages and suggest the possibility that IFN-γ blockade may serve as an effective treatment for this devastating condition.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4 are essential components of the cancer therapeutic armamentarium. The remarkable responses seen with ICIs however, are also accompanied by immune-related adverse events (irAEs). These inflammatory side-effects impact virtually all organ systems, with the most common being the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Here, we establish a mouse model of commensal bacteria-driven skin irAEs and demonstrate that immune checkpoint blockade aberrantly unleashes commensal-specific T cell responses. Such responses caused widespread immune cell infiltration and inflammation throughout the skin, recapitulating the skin irAEs seen in patients treated with ICIs. This skin inflammation was dependent on production of the cytokine IL-17 by commensal-specific T cells, which in turn induced hyperactive responses from macrophages and myeloid cells. Importantly, these responses had long-term consequences, with commensal-specific T cells elicited in the context of ICIs being highly sensitive to re-activation by commensals months later. Together, our results establish a mouse model of skin irAEs and show that immune checkpoint blockade can potentiate aberrant immunity to skin commensals with long-lasting consequences.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a standard-of-care for the treatment of advanced melanoma, but their use is limited by immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Proteomic analysis and multiplex cytokine/chemokine assay from serum at baseline and at irAEs onset in 82 patients indicated aberrant T-cell activity with differential expression of Type I and III immune signatures. This was in line with an increase in the proportions of monocytes and decrease of IL-17A producing CD4+ T-cells in the peripheral blood in single cell RNA sequencing. Multiplex immunohistochemistry on ICI-induced skin rash and inflamed colon showed increase in the proportion of CD4+ T-cells with IL-17A expression. Anti-IL17A antagonistic mAbs were administered in two patients with severe myocarditis, colitis and skin rash with resolution of the irAE. This study demonstrates the potential role of Type III CD4+ T-cells in the irAEs development and provides proof-of-principle evidence to support a clinical trial examining anti-IL17A in their management.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are improving cancer treatments strikingly. The raising use leads to the augmented occurrence of immune related events. Myocarditis is a rare, but severe form of these adverse events. Nine patients with proven ICI induced myocarditis were subjected to myocardial biopsy. The tissue was used for RNA-seq analyses.
Project description:We analyzed the mRNA changes iduced by treatment with IFNγ in the presence of the IDO1 inhibitors (indoximod, epacadostat and BMS986205) in wt and IDO1 ko HeLa cells.
Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) provide clinical benefits for various advanced malignancies. However, the predictive factors that determine sensitivity to ICIs have not been fully elucidated. To identify the mechanisms underlying ICI resistance, we performed a microarray analysis to compare the IFN-γ-inducible genes between ICI-sensitive AB1-HA and ICI-resistant LLC in vitro.