TY - JOUR
T1 - Gamma-Delta CAR-T Cells Show CAR-Directed and Independent Activity Against Leukemia
AU - Rozenbaum, Meir
AU - Meir, Amilia
AU - Aharony, Yarden
AU - Itzhaki, Orit
AU - Schachter, Jacob
AU - Bank, Ilan
AU - Jacoby, Elad
AU - Besser, Michal J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Rozenbaum, Meir, Aharony, Itzhaki, Schachter, Bank, Jacoby and Besser.
PY - 2020/7/2
Y1 - 2020/7/2
N2 - Autologous T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against the CD19 antigen are in the frontline of contemporary hemato-oncology therapies, leading to high remission rates in B-cell malignancies. Although effective, major obstacles involve the complex and costly individualized manufacturing process, and CD19 target antigen loss or modulation leading to resistant and relapse following CAR therapy. A potential solution for these limitations is the use of donor-derived γδT cells as a CAR backbone. γδT cells lack allogenecity and are safely used in haploidentical transplants. Moreover, γδT cells are known to mediate natural anti-tumor responses. Here, we describe a 14-day production process initiated from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells, leading to a median 185-fold expansion of γδ T cells with high purity (>98% CD3+ and >99% γδTCR+). CAR transduction efficacy of γδ T cells was equally high when compared to standard CAR-T cells (60.5 ± 13.2 and 65.3 ± 18.3%, respectively). CD19-directed γδCAR-T cells were effective against CD19+ cell lines in vitro and in vivo, showing cytokine production, direct target killing, and clearance of bone marrow leukemic cells in an NSG model. Multiple injections of γδCAR-T cells and priming of mice with zoledronate lead to enhanced tumor reduction in vivo. Unlike standard CD19 CAR-T cells, γδCAR-T cells were able to target CD19 antigen negative leukemia cells, an effect that was enhanced after priming the cells with zoledronate. In conclusion, γδCAR-T cell production is feasible and leads to highly pure and efficient effector cells. γδCAR-T cell may provide a promising platform in the allogeneic setting, and may target leukemic cells also after antigen loss.
AB - Autologous T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against the CD19 antigen are in the frontline of contemporary hemato-oncology therapies, leading to high remission rates in B-cell malignancies. Although effective, major obstacles involve the complex and costly individualized manufacturing process, and CD19 target antigen loss or modulation leading to resistant and relapse following CAR therapy. A potential solution for these limitations is the use of donor-derived γδT cells as a CAR backbone. γδT cells lack allogenecity and are safely used in haploidentical transplants. Moreover, γδT cells are known to mediate natural anti-tumor responses. Here, we describe a 14-day production process initiated from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells, leading to a median 185-fold expansion of γδ T cells with high purity (>98% CD3+ and >99% γδTCR+). CAR transduction efficacy of γδ T cells was equally high when compared to standard CAR-T cells (60.5 ± 13.2 and 65.3 ± 18.3%, respectively). CD19-directed γδCAR-T cells were effective against CD19+ cell lines in vitro and in vivo, showing cytokine production, direct target killing, and clearance of bone marrow leukemic cells in an NSG model. Multiple injections of γδCAR-T cells and priming of mice with zoledronate lead to enhanced tumor reduction in vivo. Unlike standard CD19 CAR-T cells, γδCAR-T cells were able to target CD19 antigen negative leukemia cells, an effect that was enhanced after priming the cells with zoledronate. In conclusion, γδCAR-T cell production is feasible and leads to highly pure and efficient effector cells. γδCAR-T cell may provide a promising platform in the allogeneic setting, and may target leukemic cells also after antigen loss.
KW - B cell malignancies
KW - chimeric antigen receptor
KW - gamma-delta T cells
KW - immuno oncology
KW - leukemia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088434083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01347
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01347
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C2 - 32714329
AN - SCOPUS:85088434083
SN - 1664-3224
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
JF - Frontiers in Immunology
M1 - 1347
ER -