Nanobody-based CAR T cells targeting intracellular tumor antigens

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy has become one of the research hotspots in the treatment of malignant tumors nowadays. However, the available tumor surface antigens are limited in number. Most tumor-associated antigens are intracellular molecules that can’t be targeted by conventional CAR T cells. As the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/peptide complex is a presentation form of intracellular proteins on the surface of tumor cells, here, we chose the Glypican-3 (GPC3) oncoprotein and Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) oncoprotein as examples to explore whether nanobody (Nb)-based T cell receptor (TCR)-like CAR T cells could kill tumor cells by targeting the MHC/peptide complexes. Using the immune nanobody phage display library, we developed human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2/GPC3- and HLA-A2/WT1-specific nanobodies for the first time and then incorporated these nanobodies in two TCR-like CARs, targeting HLA-A2/GPC3 and HLA-A2/WT1 respectively. These TCR-like Nb CAR-redirected T cells could selectively recognize and lyse MHC/peptide complex-expressing tumor cells in vitro assays and subcutaneous mouse tumor models. This study offers a possible strategy for targeting intracellular antigens and widening the application of CAR T-cell therapy.