T-cell Receptor Complex Research Articles

Neuron-Specific Gene Family Member 1 is a Potential New Therapeutic Target Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration forBreast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and is highly morphologically and molecularly heterogeneous. Neuron-specific gene family member 1 (NSG1) is a small single-channel transmembrane protein that consists of 185 amino acids and has been reported in a variety of tumours in recent years. However, the role of NSG1 in BC is unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of NSG1 in the pathogenesis and development of BC and its potential as a prognostic marker for BC. This study analysed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the Gene Expression Omnibus database to determine the expression level and prognostic value of NSG1 messenger ribonucleic acid in BC. Using this data, we constructed a clinical risk model. Immunohistochemistry was performed in combination with a clinical cohort of 192 patients with BC to explore the NSG1 protein expression in BC. Enrichment analysis was used to predict the biological function of NSG1 in BC. To analyse the correlation between NSG1 and the BC immune microenvironment, a single-cell analysis of NSG1 expression and cells in BC was performed. Kaplan‒Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were utilised to identify the relationship between the expression of NSG1 protein and clinicopathological features and prognosis. Neuron-specific gene family member 1 is highly expressed in patients with early BC, and its expression suggests a good prognosis for patients with BC. Neuron-specific gene family member 1 is involved in the T-cell receptor complex in BC and is associated with CD8 T cells in the BC immune microenvironment and may induce M1 polarisation of macrophages. Neuron-specific gene family member 1 is a biomarker of good prognosis in BC. It is associated with the immune microenvironment of BC and may be a potential therapeutic target.

Senescence-Associated T cells in Immunosenescence and Diseases.

Age-related changes in the immune system, referred to as immunosenescence, appear to evolve with rather paradoxical manifestations, a diminished adaptive immune capacity, and an increased propensity for chronic inflammation often with autoimmunity, which may underlie the development of diverse disorders with age. Immunosenescent phenotypes are associated with the emergence of unique lymphocyte subpopulations of both T and B lineages. We report that a CD153+ PD-1+ CD4+ T-cell subpopulation with severely attenuated T-cell receptor (TCR)-responsiveness, termed senescence-associated T (SAT) cells, co-evolve with potentially autoreactive CD30+ B cells, such as spontaneous germinal center B cells and age-associated B cells, in aging mice. SAT cells and CD30+ B cells are reciprocally activated with the aid of the interaction of CD153 with CD30 in trans and with the TCR complex in cis, resulting in the restoration of TCR-mediated proliferation and secretion of abundant proinflammatory cytokines in SAT cells and the activation and production of autoantibodies by CD30+ B cells. Besides normal aging, the development of SAT cells coupled with counterpart B cells may be robustly accelerated and accumulated in the relevant tissues of lymphoid or extra-lymphoid organs under chronic inflammatory conditions including autoimmunity and may contribute to the pathogenesis and aggravation of the disorders. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in the understanding of SAT cells in the contexts of immunosenescent phenotypes, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases and provides a novel therapeutic clue.

TMX1, a disulfide oxidoreductase, is necessary for T cell function through regulation of CD3ζ.

T cell-targeted therapies are commonly used to manage T cell hyperactivity in autoimmune disorders, graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD), and transplant rejections. However, many patients experience significant side effects or inadequate responses to current treatments, highlighting the urgent need for alternative strategies. In this study, we searched for regulators of T cells through proximity labeling with APEX2 to detect proteins interacting with CD8α, a coreceptor of the T-cell receptor (TCR). This screen revealed TMX1, an ER resident transmembrane disulfide oxidoreductase, is essential for T cell cytotoxicity and NFAT, NFκB, and AP1 signaling but not cell proliferation. TMX1 deletion decreases surface TCR expression and destabilizes CD3ζ, a subunit of TCR complex; however, overexpression of CD3ζ rescues the phenotype, suggesting that TMX1 is not required for CD3ζ function. Mechanistically, TMX1 was found to directly engage the CxxC motif of CD3δ, which has been reported to be essential for proper TCR assembly and function. We hypothesize that the loss of TMX1 interaction with CD3δ leads to impaired TCR assembly and subsequent CD3ζ destabilization. These findings identify TMX1 as a novel regulator of T-cell receptor assembly and a potential target for immunosuppressive therapy.

N-Glycan Branching Regulates BTLA Opposite to PD-1 to Limit T Cell Hyperactivity Induced by Branching Deficiency.

N-glycan branching is a potent and multifaceted negative regulator of proinflammatory T cell and B cell function. By promoting multivalent galectin-glycoprotein lattice formation at the cell surface, branching regulates clustering and/or endocytosis of the TCR complex (TCR+CD4/CD8), CD45, CD25, BCR, TLR2 and TLR4 to inhibit T cell and B cell activation/proliferation and proinflammatory TH1 and TH17 over TH2 and induced T regulatory cell responses. In addition, branching promotes cell surface retention of the growth inhibitory receptor CTLA-4. However, the role of N-glycan branching in regulating cell surface levels of other checkpoint receptors such as BTLA (B and T lymphocyte attenuator) and PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) is unknown. In this study, we report that whereas branching significantly enhances PD-1 cell surface expression by reducing loss from endocytosis, the opposite occurs with BTLA in both T cells and B cells. T cell hyperactivity induced by branching deficiency was opposed by BTLA ligation proportional to increased BTLA expression. Other members of the BTLA/HVEM (herpesvirus entry mediator) signaling axis in T cells, including HVEM, LIGHT, and CD160, are largely unaltered by branching. Thus, branching-mediated endocytosis of BTLA is opposite of branching-induced inhibition of PD-1 endocytosis. In this manner, branching deficiency-induced upregulation of BTLA appears to serve as a checkpoint to limit extreme T cell hyperactivity and proinflammatory outcomes in T cells with low branching.

Deubiquitinase BAP1 is crucial for surface expression of T cell receptor (TCR) complex, T cell-B cell conjugate formation, and T cell activation.

The adaptive immune response critically hinges on the functionality of T cell receptors (TCRs), governed by complex molecular mechanisms, including ubiquitination. In this study, we delved into the role of deubiquitinases (DUBs) in T cell immunity, focusing on T cell-B cell conjugate formation and T cell activation. Using a CRISPR-Cas9 screening approach targeting DUB genes in Jurkat T cells, we identified BAP1 as a key positive regulator of T cell-B cell conjugate formation. Subsequent investigations into BAP1 knockout cells revealed impaired T cell activation, evidenced by decreased MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways and reduced CD69 expression upon TCR stimulation. Flow cytometry and qPCR analyses demonstrated that BAP1 deficiency leads to decreased surface expression of TCR complex components and reduced mRNA levels of the co-stimulatory molecule CD28. Notably, the observed phenotypes associated with BAP1 knockout are specific to T cells and fully dependent on BAP1 catalytic activity. In-depth RNA-seq and mass spectrometry analyses further revealed that BAP1 deficiency induces broad mRNA and protein expression changes. Overall, our findings elucidate the vital role of BAP1 in T cell biology, especially in T cell-B cell conjugate formation and T cell activation, offering new insights and directions for future research in immune regulation.

A synthetic cytotoxic T cell platform for rapidly prototyping TCR function

Current tools for functionally profiling T cell receptors with respect to cytotoxic potency and cross-reactivity are hampered by difficulties in establishing model systems to test these proteins in the contexts of different HLA alleles and against broad arrays of potential antigens. We have implemented a granzyme-activatable sensor of T cell cytotoxicity in a universal prototyping platform which enables facile recombinant expression of any combination of TCR-, peptide-, and class I MHC-coding sequences and direct assessment of resultant responses. This system consists of an engineered cell platform based on the immortalized natural killer cell line, YT-Indy, and the MHC-null antigen-presenting cell line, K562. These cells were engineered to furnish the YT-Indy/K562 pair with appropriate protein domains required for recombinant TCR expression and function in a non-T cell chassis, integrate a fluorescence-based target-centric early detection reporter of cytotoxic function, and deploy a set of protective genetic interventions designed to preserve antigen-presenting cells for subsequent capture and downstream characterization. Our data show successful reconstitution of the surface TCR complex in the YT-Indy cell line at biologically relevant levels. We also demonstrate successful induction and highly sensitive detection of antigen-specific response in multiple distinct model TCRs. Additionally, we monitored destruction of targets in co-culture and found that our survival-optimized system allowed for complete preservation after 24 h exposure to cytotoxic effectors. With this bioplatform, we anticipate investigators will be empowered to rapidly express and characterize T cell receptor responses, generate knowledge regarding the patterns of T cell receptor recognition, and optimize therapeutic T cell receptors.

Bispecific Antibodies for the Management of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are artificially engineered antibodies that can bind simultaneously to the CD3 subunit within the T-cell receptor complex and an antigen on tumor cells, leading to T-cell activation and tumor cell killing. BsAbs against BCMA or GPRC5D have shown impressive clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), with some agents having already received regulatory approval after the third (by the European Medicines Agency, EMA) or fourth (by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA) line of therapy; the results of early-phase clinical trials targeting FcRH5 are also promising. Overall, BsAbs as monotherapy correlated with an ORR that exceeded 60%, with a high CR rate ranging between 25% and 50% and a median PFS of around 1 year among patients with a median of 4-6 prior lines of therapy. The main toxicities include cytokine release syndrome, cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, and infections; on-target off-tumor adverse events involving the skin, mucosa, hair, and nails may also occur with anti-GPRC5D BsAbs. Active research to increase their efficacy and improve their tolerance is still in progress, including combination therapies and application in earlier treatment lines and the development of novel agents. A better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance is a challenge and could lead to more personalized approaches.

Development of a major histocompatibility complex class II conditional knockout mouse to study cell-specific and time-dependent adaptive immune responses in peripheral nerves.

The precise relationship between molecular mimicry and tissue-specific autoimmunity is unknown. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen presenting cell-CD4+ T-cell receptor complex interactions are necessary for adaptive immunity. This study aimed to determine the role of endoneurial endothelial cell MHC class II in autoimmune polyneuropathy. Cryopreserved Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patient sural nerve biopsies and sciatic nerves from the severe murine experimental autoimmune neuritis (sm-EAN) GBS model were studied. Cultured conditional ready MHC Class II antigen A-alpha chain (H2-Aa) embryonic stem cells were used to generate H2-Aaflox/+ C57BL/6 mice. Mice were backcrossed and intercrossed to the SJL background to generate H2-Aaflox/flox SJL mice, bred with hemizygous Tamoxifen-inducible von Willebrand factor Cre recombinase (vWF-iCre/+) SJL mice to generate H2-Aaflox/flox; vWF-iCre/+ mice to study microvascular endothelial cell adaptive immune responses. Sm-EAN was induced in Tamoxifen-treated H2-Aaflox/flox; vWF-iCre/+, H2-Aaflox/flox; +/+, H2-Aa+/+; vWF-iCre/+ and untreated H2-Aaflox/flox; vWF-iCre/+ adult female SJL mice. Neurobehavioral, electrophysiological and histopathological assessments were performed at predefined time points. Endoneurial endothelial cell MHC class II expression was observed in normal and inflamed human and mouse peripheral nerves. Tamoxifen-treated H2-Aaflox/flox; vWF-iCre/+ mice were resistant to sm-EAN despite extensive MHC class II expression in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. A conditional MHC class II knockout mouse to study cell- and time-dependent adaptive immune responses in vivo was developed. Initial studies show microvascular endothelial cell MHC class II expression is necessary for peripheral nerve specific autoimmunity, as advocated by human in vitro adaptive immunity and ex vivo transplant rejection studies.

E proteins control the development of NKγδT cells through their invariant T cell receptor

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling regulates important developmental transitions, partly through induction of the E protein antagonist, Id3. Although normal γδ T cell development depends on Id3, Id3 deficiency produces different phenotypes in distinct γδ T cell subsets. Here, we show that Id3 deficiency impairs development of the Vγ3+ subset, while markedly enhancing development of NKγδT cells expressing the invariant Vγ1Vδ6.3 TCR. These effects result from Id3 regulating both the generation of the Vγ1Vδ6.3 TCR and its capacity to support development. Indeed, the Trav15 segment, which encodes the Vδ6.3 TCR subunit, is directly bound by E proteins that control its expression. Once expressed, the Vγ1Vδ6.3 TCR specifies the innate-like NKγδT cell fate, even in progenitors beyond the normally permissive perinatal window, and this is enhanced by Id3-deficiency. These data indicate that the paradoxical behavior of NKγδT cells in Id3-deficient mice is determined by its stereotypic Vγ1Vδ6.3 TCR complex.

Safety and preliminary efficacy results of IBI389, an anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody, in patients with solid tumors and gastric or gastro-esophageal tumors: A phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study.

2519 Background: CLDN18.2 expression has been observed in various solid tumors especially in gastric cancer, indicating its potential as a novel target for anti-tumor therapy. IBI389 is an anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody that induces immune synapse formations by linking CD3 molecules in T-cell receptor complexes and CLDN18.2 antigens on the membrane of tumor cells. Herein, we report preliminary results from a phase I study to evaluate safety and efficacy of IBI389 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors. Methods: Eligible pts with advanced solid tumors who failed or were intolerant to standard treatments were enrolled. The dose escalation of IBI389 monotherapy used intra-patient dose escalation with accelerated titration and the classic 3+3 design (0.003 µg/kg to 600 µg/kg). Selected dose levels were expanded in pts with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (G/GEJ C) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The primary objective was safety. Secondary objective was efficacy assessed by investigator per RECIST v1.1 including objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results: As of January 9, 2024, a total of 114 pts were enrolled (males: 67.5%, median age: 60.0 years, G/GEJ C: 32.5%, PDAC: 57.9%, stage IV: 81.6%). No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed during dose escalation. The MTD was not reached. In all pts, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 112 (98.2%) pts including 76 (66.7%) pts with grade ≥3 TEAEs. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 111 (97.4%) pts including 63 (55.3%) pts with grade ≥3 TRAEs. The most common grade ≥3 TRAEs (≥ 4%) were gamma-glutamyl transferase increased (21.9%), lymphocyte count decreased (13.2%) and nausea (4.4%). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) related adverse events occurred in 65 (57.0%) pts including 1 (0.9%) pts with grade 3 CRS and no grade 4 or 5 CRS. TEAEs leading to dose interruption and treatment discontinuation occurred in 44 (38.6%) and 8 (7.0%) pts. Preliminary efficacy of IBI389 was observed in pts with CLDN18.2 expression ≥10% (immunohistochemistry 2+/3+). In G/GEJ C pts with previous treatments ≥2 lines receiving IBI389 at various dose levels ranging from 10µg/kg to 600 µg/kg (n=26), 8 pts had partial response (PR) and 11 pts had stable disease (SD). The ORR was 30.8% (95%CI: 14.3-51.8) and DCR was 73.1% (95%CI: 52.2-88.4). Conclusions: IBI389 showed manageable safety profiles in pts with advanced solid tumors and preliminary efficacy in CLDN18.2-positive pts with G/GEJ C. Clinical trial information: NCT05164458 .

Safety and efficacy of IBI389, an anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Preliminary results from a phase 1 study.

4011 Background: CLDN18.2 expression has been observed in various solid tumors. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), positive CLDN18.2 expression was reported in nearly 60% patients (pts), indicating its potential as a novel target for anti-tumor therapy. IBI389 is an anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody that induces immune synapse formations by linking CD3 molecules in T-cell receptor complexes and CLDN18.2 antigens on the membrane of tumor cells. Herein, we report preliminary result from a phase I study to evaluate safety and efficacy of IBI389 in pts with PDAC. Methods: EligibleCLDN18.2-positivepts with locally advanced, refractory or metastaticPDAC who failed or were intolerant to standard treatments were enrolled. IBI389 monotherapy was intravenously administered at 6 dose levels (5-600 µg/kg, Q3W or Q2W) during the 2-stage dose escalation and the dose expansion. In dose levels ≥ 30 µg/kg, the step-up dosing strategy with priming dose of 3 to 10 µg/kg was applied. The primary objective was safety. Secondary objective was efficacy assessed by investigator per RECIST v1.1 including objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results: As of January 9, 2024, a total of 64 CLDN18.2-positive PDAC pts were enrolled (males: 64.1%, females:35.9%, median age: 60.0 years, stage IV: 84.4%). All patients received prior therapy with a median of 2 lines (range: 1 to 5). Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 62 (96.9%) pts including 35 (54.7%) pts had grade ≥3 TRAEs. The most common grade ≥3 TRAEs (≥5%) were gamma-glutamyl transferase increased (20.3%), lymphocyte count decreased (9.4%) and nausea (7.8%). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) related adverse events occurred in 33 (51.6%) pts with no grade ≥3 CRS occurred. TEAEs leading to dose interruption and treatment discontinuation occurred in 24 (37.5%) and 3 (4.7%) pts. Preliminary efficacy of IBI389 was observed in pts with CLDN18.2 expression ≥10% (immunohistochemistry 2+/3+) at 600 µg/kg. As of January 31, 2024, there were 23 evaluable pts including 7 pts with PR and 9 pts with SD. The ORR was 30.4% (95%CI: 13.2-52.9) and DCR was 69.6% (95%CI: 47.1-86.8). The median duration of response (DoR) and progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached. More updated data on safety and efficacy will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: IBI389 showed manageable safety profiles in pts with advanced PDAC. Preliminary efficacy was observed, including in pts with relatively low expression of CLDN18.2. Clinical trial information: NCT05164458 .

Copy number variation and elevated genetic diversity at immune trait loci in Atlantic and Pacific herring

BackgroundGenome-wide comparisons of populations are widely used to explore the patterns of nucleotide diversity and sequence divergence to provide knowledge on how natural selection and genetic drift affect the genome. In this study we have compared whole-genome sequencing data from Atlantic and Pacific herring, two sister species that diverged about 2 million years ago, to explore the pattern of genetic differentiation between the two species.ResultsThe genome comparison of the two species revealed high genome-wide differentiation but with islands of remarkably low genetic differentiation, as measured by an FST analysis. However, the low FST observed in these islands is not caused by low interspecies sequence divergence (dxy) but rather by exceptionally high estimated intraspecies nucleotide diversity (π). These regions of low differentiation and elevated nucleotide diversity, termed high-diversity regions in this study, are not enriched for repeats but are highly enriched for immune-related genes. This enrichment includes genes from both the adaptive immune system, such as immunoglobulin, T-cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex genes, as well as a substantial number of genes with a role in the innate immune system, e.g. novel immune-type receptor, tripartite motif and tumor necrosis factor receptor genes. Analysis of long-read based assemblies from two Atlantic herring individuals revealed extensive copy number variation in these genomic regions, indicating that the elevated intraspecies nucleotide diversities were partially due to the cross-mapping of short reads.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that copy number variation is a characteristic feature of immune trait loci in herring. Another important implication is that these loci are blind spots in classical genome-wide screens for genetic differentiation using short-read data, not only in herring, likely also in other species harboring qualitatively similar variation at immune trait loci. These loci stood out in this study because of the relatively high genome-wide baseline for FST values between Atlantic and Pacific herring.

Selective small-molecule PKC-theta inhibitors effectively block TCR-mediated activation of naïve peripheral blood and tissue resident memory T cells

Abstract Immune mediated inflammatory diseases constitute a diverse set of illnesses in which an aberrant immune response damages self-tissue. While progress has been made in treating these conditions, there continues to be room for improvement. Patients diagnosed with T cell mediated disorders (TMDs) such as atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease often respond well to broadly-acting immunosuppressive drugs, most of which come with significant side-effects, further highlighting the need for more targeted approaches. Compared to other family members, the protein kinase c - theta isoform (PKCt) expression is highly restricted to T cells, is critical to downstream signaling of the TCR complex, and represents an attractive therapeutic target for TMDs. Here, we report results from novel small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) which are highly specific for PKCt. In an in-vitro model of TCR-mediated activation of human PBMCs, our SMIs potently prevented activation of both CD4 and CD8 T cells without affecting cellular viability. Similarly, in in-vitro models of whole primary human skin biopsies under Th1, Th2, and Th17 inducing conditions, tissue resident memory T cells failed to activate and release pro-inflammatory cytokines after PKCt inhibition. Taken together, we have identified multiple novel SMIs of PKCt which are highly potent and highly selective, representing a potential new therapeutic strategy for patients with T-cell mediated inflammatory disease.

Role of co‑inhibitory molecules in the treatment of psoriasis (Review).

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by abnormal activation and infiltration of T-cells and excessive proliferation of keratinocytes (KCs). Its pathogenesis is complex and frequently accompanied by the imbalance of T-cell subpopulations, contributing to its development and further exacerbation. Therefore, the immune system, especially T-cells, is mainly involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. While T-cell activation not only requires the first recognition of T-cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex peptide, co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory pathways are reported to promote or dampen T-cell responses through a variety of mechanisms. In recent years, immuno-related agents have been applied in the treatment of numerous clinical diseases, including psoriasis, and are starting to show promising and potential therapy prospects in autoimmune skin diseases. The present review outlined the role of co-inhibitory molecules in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and their application in the treatment of psoriasis.

Quantitative Ensemble Interpretation of Membrane Paramagnetic Relaxation Enhancement (mPRE) for Studying Membrane-Associated Intrinsically Disordered Proteins.

An understanding of the functional role played by a membrane-associated intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) requires characterization of its heterogeneous conformations as well as its poses relative to the membranes, which is of great interest but technically challenging. Here, we explore the membrane paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (mPRE) for constructing ensembles of IDPs that dynamically associate with membrane mimetics incorporating spin-labeled lipids. To accurately interpret the mPRE Γ2 rates, both the dynamics of IDPs and spin probe molecules are taken into account, with the latter described by a weighted three-dimensional (3D) grid model built based on all-atom simulations. The IDP internal conformations, orientations, and immersion depths in lipid bilayers are comprehensively optimized in the Γ2-based ensemble modeling. Our approach is tested and validated on the example of POPG bicelle-bound disordered cytoplasmic domain of CD3ε (CD3εCD), a component of the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex. The mPRE-derived CD3εCD ensemble provides new insights into the IDP-membrane fuzzy association, in particular for the tyrosine-based signaling motif that plays a critical role in TCR signaling. The comparative analysis of the ensembles for wild-type CD3εCD and mutants that mimic the mono- and dual-phosphorylation effects suggests a delicate membrane regulatory mechanism for activation and inhibition of the TCR activity.

Putative staphylococcal enterotoxin possesses two common structural motifs for MHC-II binding

Staphylococcus aureus has become a significant cause of health risks in humankind. Staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) or enterotoxins are the key virulent factors that can exhibit acute diseases to severe life-threatening conditions. Recent literature reports S. aureus has steadily gained new enterotoxin genes over the past few decades. In spite of current knowledge of the established SAgs, several questions on putative enterotoxins are still remaining unanswered. Keeping that in mind, this study sheds light on a putative enterotoxin SEl26 to characterize its structural and functional properties. In-silico analyses indicate its close relation with the conventional SAgs, especially the zinc-binding SAgs. Additionally, important residues that are vital for the T-cell receptor (TcR) and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) interaction were predicted and compared with established SAgs. Besides, our biochemical analyses exhibited the binding of this putative enterotoxin with MHC-II, followed by regulating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Harnessing CD3 diversity to optimize CAR T cells

Current US Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells harbor the T cell receptor (TCR)-derived ζ chain as an intracellular activation domain in addition to costimulatory domains. The functionality in a CAR format of the other chains of the TCR complex, namely CD3δ, CD3ε and CD3γ, instead of ζ, remains unknown. In the present study, we have systematically engineered new CD3 CARs, each containing only one of the CD3 intracellular domains. We found that CARs containing CD3δ, CD3ε or CD3γ cytoplasmic tails outperformed the conventional ζ CAR T cells in vivo. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed differences in activation potential, metabolism and stimulation-induced T cell dysfunctionality that mechanistically explain the enhanced anti-tumor performance. Furthermore, dimerization of the CARs improved their overall functionality. Using these CARs as minimalistic and synthetic surrogate TCRs, we have identified the phosphatase SHP-1 as a new interaction partner of CD3δ that binds the CD3δ–ITAM on phosphorylation of its C-terminal tyrosine. SHP-1 attenuates and restrains activation signals and might thus prevent exhaustion and dysfunction. These new insights into T cell activation could promote the rational redesign of synthetic antigen receptors to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Optimization of a Universal Allogeneic CAR-T Cells Combining CRISPR and Transposon-Based Technologies for Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Autologous adoptive immunotherapy using T cells engineered with Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR-T cells) targeting CD19 and BCMA have demonstrated impressive results in B-cell malignancies, achieving long-term responses. However, similar results have not been obtained in other hematological diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of our study was to develop an optimized CAR-T product for the treatment of patients with R/R AML, that could address some of the current limitations associated with the lack of fitness of T-cells from patients with AML. Methodology: Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients diagnosed with AML and from young and aged matched healthy donors. Second generation CAR-T developed based on 2 different antibodies and modifications in the co-stimulatory and hinge domains were tested using reporter cell lines. Phenotypic and functional characterization of CAR-T generated from controls and AML T-cells were performed. CRISPR-Cas9 technology and the Sleeping Beauty transposon system were employed to generate CAR-T cells with HLA-I and TCR knockout (HLA-I KO/TCR KO). Results: We initially compared the phenotype of T cells from AML patients and healthy young and elderly controls. This analysis showed that T cells from AML patients displayed a predominantly effector phenotype, with increased expression of activation (CD69 and HLA-DR) and exhaustion markers (PD1 and LAG3), in contrast to the enriched memory phenotype observed in healthy donors. This differentiated and more exhausted phenotype was also observed, and corroborated by transcriptomic analyses, in CAR-T cells from AML patients engineered with an optimized CAR construct targeting CD33, resulting in a decreased in vivo antitumoral efficacy evaluated in xenograft AML models. To overcome some of these limitations we combined CRISPR-based genome editing technologies with virus-free gene-transfer strategies using Sleeping Beauty transposons, to generate CAR-T cells depleted of HLA-I and TCR complexes for allogeneic approaches. Our optimized protocol allows one-step generation of edited CAR-T cells that show a similar phenotypic profile than non-edited CAR-T cells, with equivalent in vitro and in vivo antitumoral efficacy. Moreover, genomic analysis of edited CAR-T cells revealed a safe integration profile of the vector, with no preferences for specific genomic regions, with a highly specific editing of the HLA-I and TCR, without significant off-target sites. Finally, production of edited CAR-T cells at a larger scale allowed the generation and selection of enough HLA-IKO/TCRKO CAR-T cells that would be compatible with clinical applications. Conclusions: In summary, our results demonstrate that CAR-T cells from AML patients, although functional, present phenotypic and functional features that could compromise their antitumoral efficacy, compared to CAR-T cells from healthy donors. The combination of CRISPR technologies with transposon-based delivery strategies allow the generation of HLA-IKO/TCRKO CAR-T cells, compatible with allogeneic approaches, that would represent a promising option for AML treatment.

Macroevolution of avian T cell receptor C segments using genomic data.

All jawed vertebrates have four T cell receptor (TCR) chains expressed by thymus-derived lymphocytes that play a significant role in animal immune defense. However, avian TCR studies have been limited to a few species, although their co-functional major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) have been studied for decades, showing various copy numbers and polymorphisms. Here, using public genome data, we characterized the copy numbers, the phylogenic relationship and selection of T cell receptor complex (TCR-C) segments, and the genomic organization of TCR loci across birds. Various numbers of C segments were found in the TCRα/TCRδ, TCRβ, and TCRγ loci, and phylogenetic analysis reflected both ancient gene duplication events (two Cβ segments and Cδ segments divergent into CδI and CδII) and contemporary evolution (lineage-specific and species-specific characteristics). Most passerines lack CδII segments and a second TRD locus, except Meliphagidae and Maluridae. A relatively stable structure was verified in four TCR loci of birds, except for the arrangement of V segment groups. In this study, we explored the phylogenetic relationships of TCR-C segments across avians for the first time. We inferred gene duplication and loss events during the evolution process. The finding of diverse TCR germline repertoires provides a better understanding of the immune systems of birds.

A Novel Allogeneic Rituximab-Conjugated Gamma Delta T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has been applied in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma; however, CAR-T manufacturing requires virus- or non-virus-based genetic modification, which causes high manufacturing costs and potential safety concerns. Antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) technology, which originated from bio-orthogonal click chemistry, provides an efficient approach for arming immune cells with cancer-targeting antibodies without genetic modification. Here, we applied ACC technology in Vγ9Vδ2 T (γδ2 T) cells to generate a novel off-the-shelf CD20-targeting cell therapy ACE1831 (rituximab-conjugated γδ2 T cells) against relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma. ACE1831 exhibited superior cytotoxicity against B-cell lymphoma cells and rituximab-resistant cells compared to γδ2 T cells without rituximab conjugation. The in vivo xenograft study demonstrated that ACE1831 treatment strongly suppressed the aggressive proliferation of B-cell lymphoma and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice with no observed toxicity. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated that cell activation receptors including the TCR complex, integrins and cytokine receptors were conjugated with rituximab. Intriguingly, the antigen recognition of the ACC-linked antibody/receptor complex stimulated NFAT activation and contributed to ACE1831-mediated cytotoxicity against CD20-expressing cancer cells. This study elucidates the role of the ACC-linked antibody/receptor complex in cytotoxicity and supports the potential of ACE1831 as an off-the-shelf γδ2 cell therapy against relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma.