Project description:Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a strong immune system response that can occur as a result of the reaction of a cellular immunotherapy with malignant cells. While the frequency and management of CRS in CAR T-cell therapy has been well documented, there is emerging interest in pre-emptive treatment to reduce CRS severity and improve overall outcomes. Accordingly, identification of genomic determinants that contribute to cytokine release may lead to the development of targeted therapies to prevent or abrogate the severity of CRS. We examined CD22 CAR T-cells using the Nanostring nCounter platform and found that the expression of the PFKFB4 gene and glycolytic pathway activity were upregulated in CAR T-cells in those who developed CRS compared to those who did not have CRS.
Project description:CD22 (Siglec-2) is a member of the Siglec family. It is an inhibitory co-receptor of the B-cell-receptor (BCR) and inhibits B–cell activation. Upon BCR stimulation ITIMs in the cytoplasmic tail of CD22 are phosphorylated. This triggers CD22 signalling pathways, which lead to a decreased calcium mobilization in the B cell and thus an inhibition of BCR signalling. Although some CD22 binding partners, such as the phosphatase SHP-1, have already been identified, we deciphered the CD22 interactome in more detail, to gain a deeper understanding of CD22 molecular mechanisms and signalling events after BCR activation. Stable isotope labelling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in combination with mass spectrometry analysis enabled the identification of specific CD22 interaction partners in a quantitative proteomics approach. Hereby, several new CD22 associated proteins were identified that have not been linked to CD22 yet. One of those interacting proteins is cullin 3, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. It was revealed that cullin 3 is important for clathrin-dependent CD22 internalization after BCR stimulation and CD22 surface expression. Further analysis of B-cell specific cullin 3 deficient mice showed an important role of cullin 3 in B cell development. These mice have strongly reduced numbers of mature B cells in the periphery, which are characterized by increased CD22 expression and additionally by pre-activated and apoptotic phenotypes.
Project description:While therapies targeting CD19 by antibodies, CAR-T cells and T cell engagers have improved the response rates in B-cell malignancies; the emergence of resistant cell populations with low CD19 expression can lead to relapsed disease. We developed an in vitro model of adaptive resistance facilitated by chronic exposure of leukemia cells to a CD19-immunotoxin. Single-cell (sc) RNAseq showed increase in transcriptionally distinct CD19low populations in resistant cells. Mass cytometry demonstrated that CD22 was also decreased in these CD19low resistant cells. ATAC-seq showed decreased chromatin accessibility at promoters of both CD19 and CD22 in the resistant cell populations. Combined loss of both CD19 and CD22 antigens was validated in samples from pediatric and young adult patients with B-ALL that relapsed after CD19 CAR-T targeted therapy. Functionally, resistant cells were characterized by slower growth and lower basal levels of MEK activation. CD19low resistant cells exhibited preserved B cell receptor signaling and were more sensitive to both BTK and MEK inhibition. These data demonstrate that resistance to CD19 immunotherapies can result in decreased expression of both CD19 and CD22 and can result in dependency on BTK pathways.
Project description:While therapies targeting CD19 by antibodies, CAR-T cells and T cell engagers have improved the response rates in B-cell malignancies; the emergence of resistant cell populations with low CD19 expression can lead to relapsed disease. We developed an in vitro model of adaptive resistance facilitated by chronic exposure of leukemia cells to a CD19-immunotoxin. Single-cell (sc) RNAseq showed increase in transcriptionally distinct CD19low populations in resistant cells. Mass cytometry demonstrated that CD22 was also decreased in these CD19low resistant cells. ATAC-seq showed decreased chromatin accessibility at promoters of both CD19 and CD22 in the resistant cell populations. Combined loss of both CD19 and CD22 antigens was validated in samples from pediatric and young adult patients with B-ALL that relapsed after CD19 CAR-T targeted therapy. Functionally, resistant cells were characterized by slower growth and lower basal levels of MEK activation. CD19low resistant cells exhibited preserved B cell receptor signaling and were more sensitive to both BTK and MEK inhibition. These data demonstrate that resistance to CD19 immunotherapies can result in decreased expression of both CD19 and CD22 and can result in dependency on BTK pathways.
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was two-fold. The first was to examine how the gene expression profile changes over time in C7R-CAR NK cells. C7R is a constitutively active IL-7 receptor that provides persistent activation of STAT5. The second was to examine the differential gene expression in C7R CAR NK cells or CAR NK treated with exogenous IL-15 (exIL15) after 2 weeks of stimulation.
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell adoptive therapy is set to transform the treatment of a rapidly expanding range of malignancies. Although the activation process of normal T cells is well characterized, comparatively little is known about the activation of cells via the CAR. Here we have used flow cytometry together with single cell transcriptome profiling to characterize the starting material (peripheral blood mononuclear cells –PBMCs-) and CAR therapeutic products of 3 healthy donors in the presence and absence of antigen specific stimulation. Bioinformatic analysis of the 57,676 single cell transcriptomes showed the CAR products to contain several subpopulations of cells, with the cellular composition reproducible from donor to donor, and all major cellular subsets compatible with CAR expression. Only 50% of CAR-expressing cells displayed transcriptional changes upon CAR-specific antigen exposure. The resulting molecular signature for CAR T-cell activation provides a rich resource for future dissection of the underlying mechanisms. Targeted data interrogation also revealed that a small proportion of antigen-responding CAR-expressing cells displayed an exhaustion signature, with both known markers and genes not previously associated with T-cell exhaustion. Comprehensive single cell transcriptomic analysis thus represents a powerful way to guide the assessment and optimization of clinical-grade CAR-T-cells, and inform future research into the underlying molecular processes.
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell expansion and persistence represent key factors to achieve complete responses and prevent relapses. These features are typical of early memory T cells, which can be highly enriched through optimized manufacturing protocols. Here, we investigated the efficacy and safety profiles of CAR T-cell products generated from pre-selected naive/stem memory T cells (TN/SCM), as compared to unselected T cells (TBULK). Notwithstanding their reduced effector signature in vitro, limiting CAR TN/SCM doses showed superior antitumor activity and the unique ability to counteract leukemia re-challenge in hematopoietic stem/precursor cell-humanized mice, featuring increased expansion rates and persistence, together with an ameliorated exhaustion and memory phenotype. Most relevantly, CAR TN/SCM proved to be intrinsically less prone to induce severe cytokine release syndrome, independently of the costimulatory endodomain employed. This safer profile was associated with milder T-cell activation, which translated in reduced monocyte activation and cytokine release. These data suggest that CAR TN/SCM are endowed with a wider therapeutic index compared to CAR TBULK.
Project description:We report that antibody-mediated CD22 blockage leads to an altered transcriptomic signature profile which, by further evaluating the affected genes, resembles a homeostatic phenotype.