Generic design principles for antibody-based tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) agonists with FcγR-independent agonism.

Background: Selective TNFR2 activation can be used to treat immune pathologies by activating and expanding regulatory T-cells (Tregs) but may also restore anti-tumour immunity by co-stimulating CD8+ T-cells. Oligomerized TNFR2-specific TNF mutants or anti-TNFR2 antibodies can activate TNFR2 but suffer either from poor production and pharmacokinetics or in the case of anti-TNFR2 antibodies typically from the need of FcγR binding to elicit maximal agonistic activity. Methods: To identify the major factor(s) determining FcγR-independent agonism of anti-TNFR2 antibodies, we systematically investigated a comprehensive panel of anti-TNFR2 antibodies and antibody-based constructs differing in the characteristics of their TNFR2 binding domains but also in the number and positioning of the latter. Results: We identified the domain architecture of the constructs as the pivotal factor enabling FcγR-independent, thus intrinsic TNFR2-agonism. Anti-TNFR2 antibody formats with either TNFR2 binding sites on opposing sites of the antibody scaffold or six or more TNFR2 binding sites in similar orientation regularly showed strong FcγR-independent agonism. The affinity of the TNFR2 binding domain and the epitope recognized in TNFR2, however, were found to be of only secondary importance for agonistic activity. Conclusion: Generic design principles enable the generation of highly active bona fide TNFR2 agonists from nearly any TNFR2-specific antibody.

Genetically engineered IgG1 and nanobody oligomers acquire strong intrinsic CD40 agonism.

Most anti-CD40 antibodies show robust agonism only upon binding to FcγR+ cells, such as B cells, macrophages, or DCs, but a few anti-CD40 antibodies display also strong intrinsic agonism dependent on the recognized epitope and/or isotype. It is worth mentioning, however, that also the anti-CD40 antibodies with intrinsic agonism can show a further increase in agonistic activity when bound by FcγR-expressing cells. Thus, conventional antibodies appear not to be sufficient to trigger the maximum possible CD40 activation independent from FcγR-binding. We proved here the hypothesis that oligomeric and oligovalent anti-CD40 antibody variants generated by genetic engineering display high intrinsic, thus FcγR-independent, agonistic activity. We generated tetra-, hexa- and dodecavalent variants of six anti-CD40 antibodies and a CD40-specific nanobody. All these oligovalent variants, even when derived of bivalent antagonistic anti-CD40 antibodies, showed strongly enhanced CD40 agonism compared to their conventional counterparts. In most cases, the CD40 agonism reached the maximum response induced by FcγR-bound anti-CD40 antibodies or membrane CD40L, the natural engager of CD40. In sum, our data show that increasing the valency of anti-CD40 antibody constructs by genetic engineering regularly results in molecules with high intrinsic agonism and level out the specific limitations of the parental antibodies.

Fn14 and TNFR2 as regulators of cytotoxic TNFR1 signaling.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2 and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) belong to the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF). From a structural point of view, TNFR1 is a prototypic death domain (DD)-containing receptor. In contrast to other prominent death receptors, such as CD95/Fas and the two TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5, however, liganded TNFR1 does not instruct the formation of a plasma membrane-associated death inducing signaling complex converting procaspase-8 into highly active mature heterotetrameric caspase-8 molecules. Instead, liganded TNFR1 recruits the DD-containing cytoplasmic signaling proteins TRADD and RIPK1 and empowers these proteins to trigger cell death signaling by cytosolic complexes after their release from the TNFR1 signaling complex. The activity and quality (apoptosis versus necroptosis) of TNF-induced cell death signaling is controlled by caspase-8, the caspase-8 regulatory FLIP proteins, TRAF2, RIPK1 and the RIPK1-ubiquitinating E3 ligases cIAP1 and cIAP2. TNFR2 and Fn14 efficiently recruit TRAF2 along with the TRAF2 binding partners cIAP1 and cIAP2 and can thereby limit the availability of these molecules for other TRAF2/cIAP1/2-utilizing proteins including TNFR1. Accordingly, at the cellular level engagement of TNFR2 or Fn14 inhibits TNFR1-induced RIPK1-mediated effects reaching from activation of the classical NFκB pathway to induction of apoptosis and necroptosis. In this review, we summarize the effects of TNFR2- and Fn14-mediated depletion of TRAF2 and the cIAP1/2 on TNFR1 signaling at the molecular level and discuss the consequences this has in vivo.

Systemic treatment with a selective TNFR2 agonist alters the central and peripheral immune responses and transiently improves functional outcome after experimental ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke often leaves survivors with permanent disabilities and therapies aimed at limiting detrimental inflammation and improving functional outcome are still needed. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels increase rapidly after ischemic stroke, and while signaling through TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) is primarily detrimental, TNFR2 signaling mainly has protective functions. We therefore investigated how systemic stimulation of TNFR2 with the TNFR2 agonist NewSTAR2 affects ischemic stroke in mice. We found that NewSTAR2 treatment induced changes in peripheral immune cell numbers and transiently affected microglial numbers and neuroinflammation. However, this was not sufficient to improve long-term functional outcome after stroke in mice.

Antibody-based soluble and membrane-bound TWEAK mimicking agonists with FcγR-independent activity.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-inducible 14 (Fn14) activates the classical and alternative NFκB (nuclear factor 'kappa-light-chain-enhancer' of activated B-cells) signaling pathway but also enhances tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cell death. Fn14 expression is upregulated in non-hematopoietic cells during tissue injury and is also often highly expressed in solid cancers. In view of the latter, there were and are considerable preclinical efforts to target Fn14 for tumor therapy, either by exploiting Fn14 as a target for antibodies with cytotoxic activity (e.g. antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-inducing IgG variants, antibody drug conjugates) or by blocking antibodies with the aim to interfere with protumoral Fn14 activities. Noteworthy, there are yet no attempts to target Fn14 with agonistic Fc effector function silenced antibodies to unleash the proinflammatory and cell death-enhancing activities of this receptor for tumor therapy. This is certainly not at least due to the fact that anti-Fn14 antibodies only act as effective agonists when they are presented bound to Fcγ receptors (FcγR). Thus, there are so far no antibodies that robustly and selectively engage Fn14 signaling without triggering unwanted FcγR-mediated activities. In this study, we investigated a panel of variants of the anti-Fn14 antibody 18D1 of different valencies and domain architectures with respect to their inherent FcγR-independent ability to trigger Fn14-associated signaling pathways. In contrast to conventional 18D1, the majority of 18D1 antibody variants with four or more Fn14 binding sites displayed a strong ability to trigger the alternative NFκB pathway and to enhance TNF-induced cell death and therefore resemble in their activity soluble (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), one form of the natural occurring ligand of Fn14. Noteworthy, activation of the classical NFκB pathway, which naturally is predominately triggered by membrane-bound TWEAK but not soluble TWEAK, was preferentially observed with a subset of constructs containing Fn14 binding sites at opposing sites of the IgG scaffold, e.g. IgG1-scFv fusion proteins. A superior ability of IgG1-scFv fusion proteins to trigger classical NFκB signaling was also observed with the anti-Fn14 antibody PDL192 suggesting that we identified generic structures for Fn14 antibody variants mimicking soluble and membrane-bound TWEAK.

TNF and TNF receptors as therapeutic targets for rheumatic diseases and beyond.

The cytokine TNF signals via two distinct receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR2, and is a central mediator of various immune-mediated diseases. Indeed, TNF-neutralizing biologic drugs have been in clinical use for the treatment of many inflammatory pathological conditions, including various rheumatic diseases, for decades. TNF has pleiotropic effects and can both promote and inhibit pro-inflammatory processes. The integrated net effect of TNF in vivo is a result of cytotoxic TNFR1 signalling and the stimulation of pro-inflammatory processes mediated by TNFR1 and TNFR2 and also TNFR2-mediated anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective activities. Inhibition of the beneficial activities of TNFR2 might explain why TNF-neutralizing drugs, although highly effective in some diseases, have limited benefit in the treatment of other TNF-associated pathological conditions (such as graft-versus-host disease) or even worsen the pathological condition (such as multiple sclerosis). Receptor-specific biologic drugs have the potential to tip the balance from TNFR1-mediated activities to TNFR2-mediated activities and enable the treatment of diseases that do not respond to current TNF inhibitors. Accordingly, a variety of reagents have been developed that either selectively inhibit TNFR1 or selectively activate TNFR2. Several of these reagents have shown promise in preclinical studies and are now in, or approaching, clinical trials.

Neutrophil-intrinsic TNF receptor signaling orchestrates host defense against Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections and is a major health burden due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. To address the unmet need of alternative treatments to antibiotics, a better understanding of the protective immune mechanisms against S. aureus skin infection is warranted. Here, we report that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) promoted protection against S. aureus in the skin, which was mediated by bone marrow-derived immune cells. Furthermore, neutrophil-intrinsic TNF receptor (TNFR) signaling directed immunity against S. aureus skin infections. Mechanistically, TNFR1 promoted neutrophil recruitment to the skin, whereas TNFR2 prevented systemic bacterial dissemination and directed neutrophil antimicrobial functions. Treatment with a TNFR2 agonist showed therapeutic efficacy against S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa skin infections, which involved increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Our findings revealed nonredundant roles for TNFR1 and TNFR2 in neutrophils for immunity against S. aureus and can be therapeutically targeted for protection against bacterial skin infections.

Activation of TNF Receptor 2 Improves Synaptic Plasticity and Enhances Amyloid-ß Clearance in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model with Humanized TNF Receptor 2.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a master cytokine involved in a variety of inflammatory and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therapies that block TNF-α proved ineffective as therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases, which might be explained by the opposing functions of the two receptors of TNF (TNFRs): while TNFR1 stimulation mediates inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, activation of TNFR2 is related to neuroprotection. Despite the success of targeting TNFR2 in a transgenic AD mouse model, research that better mimics the human context is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether stimulation of TNFR2 with a TNFR2 agonist is effective in activating human TNFR2 and attenuating AD neuropathology in the J20xhuTNFR2-k/i mouse model. METHODS: Transgenic amyloid-ß (Aß)-overexpressing mice containing a human extracellular TNFR2 domain (J20xhuTNFR2-k/i) were treated with a TNFR2 agonist (NewStar2). After treatment, different behavioral tests and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to assess different parameters, such as cognitive functions, plaque deposition, synaptic plasticity, or microglial phagocytosis. RESULTS: Treatment with NewStar2 in J20xhuTNFR2-k/i mice resulted in a drastic decrease in plaque load and beta-secretase 1 (BACE-1) compared to controls. Moreover, TNFR2 stimulation increased microglial phagocytic activity, leading to enhanced Aß clearance. Finally, activation of TNFR2 rescued cognitive impairments and improved synaptic plasticity. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that activation of human TNFR2 ameliorates neuropathology and improves cognitive functions in an AD mouse model. Moreover, our study confirms that the J20xhuTNFR2-k/i mouse model is suitable for testing human TNFR2-specific compounds.

Basic characterization of antibodies targeting receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily.

Many new immunotherapeutic approaches aim on the stimulatory targeting of receptors of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) using antibodies with intrinsic or conditional agonism. There is an initial need to characterize corresponding TNFRSF receptor (TNFR)-targeting antibodies with respect to affinity, ligand binding, receptor activation and the epitope recognized. Here, we report a collection of simple and matched protocols enabling the detailed investigation of these aspects by help of Gaussia princeps luciferase (GpL) fusion proteins and analysis of interleukin-8 (IL8) production as an easily measurable readout of TNFR activation. In a first step, the antibodies and antibody variants of interest are transiently expressed in human embryonal kidney 293 cells, either in non-modified form or as fusion proteins with GpL as a reporter domain. The supernatants containing the antibody-GpL fusion proteins can then be used without further purification in cell-free and/or cellular binding studies to determine affinity. Similarly, binding studies with mutated TNFR variants enable the characterization of the antibody binding site within the TNFR ectodomain. Furthermore, in cellular binding studies with GpL fusion proteins of soluble TNFL molecules, the ability of the non-modified antibody variants to interfere with TNFL-TNFR interaction can be analyzed. Last but not least, we describe a protocol to determine the intrinsic and the Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-dependent agonism of anti-TNFR antibodies which exploits i) the capability of TNFRs to trigger IL8 production in tumor cell lines lacking expression of FcγRs and ii) vector- and FcγR-transfected cells, which produce no or only very low amounts of human IL8. The presented protocols only require standard molecular biological equipment, eukaryotic cell culture and plate readers for the quantification of luminescent and colorimetric signals.

Complement 1q/Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Proteins (CTRPs): Structure, Receptors and Signaling.

Adiponectin and the other 15 members of the complement 1q (C1q)/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein (CTRP) family are secreted proteins composed of an N-terminal variable domain followed by a stalk region and a characteristic C-terminal trimerizing globular C1q (gC1q) domain originally identified in the subunits of the complement protein C1q. We performed a basic PubMed literature search for articles mentioning the various CTRPs or their receptors in the abstract or title. In this narrative review, we briefly summarize the biology of CTRPs and focus then on the structure, receptors and major signaling pathways of CTRPs. Analyses of CTRP knockout mice and CTRP transgenic mice gave overwhelming evidence for the relevance of the anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects of CTRPs in autoimmune diseases, obesity, atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction. CTRPs form homo- and heterotypic trimers and oligomers which can have different activities. The receptors of some CTRPs are unknown and some receptors are redundantly targeted by several CTRPs. The way in which CTRPs activate their receptors to trigger downstream signaling pathways is largely unknown. CTRPs and their receptors are considered as promising therapeutic targets but their translational usage is still hampered by the limited knowledge of CTRP redundancy and CTRP signal transduction.

Corrigendum: A TNFR2-specific TNF fusion protein with improved in vivo activity.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.888274.].

Targeting fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-inducible 14 (Fn14) for tumor therapy.

Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) and is activated by its ligand TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). The latter occurs as a homotrimeric molecule in a soluble and a membrane-bound form. Soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) activates the weakly inflammatory alternative NF-κB pathway and sensitizes for TNF-induced cell death while membrane TWEAK (memTWEAK) triggers additionally robust activation of the classical NF-κB pathway and various MAP kinase cascades. Fn14 expression is limited in adult organisms but becomes strongly induced in non-hematopoietic cells by a variety of growth factors, cytokines and physical stressors (e.g., hypoxia, irradiation). Since all these Fn14-inducing factors are frequently also present in the tumor microenvironment, Fn14 is regularly found to be expressed by non-hematopoietic cells of the tumor microenvironment and most solid tumor cells. In general, there are three possibilities how the tumor-Fn14 linkage could be taken into consideration for tumor therapy. First, by exploitation of the cancer associated expression of Fn14 to direct cytotoxic activities (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytotoxic payloads, CAR T-cells) to the tumor, second by blockade of potential protumoral activities of the TWEAK/Fn14 system, and third, by stimulation of Fn14 which not only triggers proinflammtory activities but also sensitizes cells for apoptotic and necroptotic cell death. Based on a brief description of the biology of the TWEAK/Fn14 system and Fn14 signaling, we discuss the features of the most relevant Fn14-targeting biologicals and review the preclinical data obtained with these reagents. In particular, we address problems and limitations which became evident in the preclinical studies with Fn14-targeting biologicals and debate possibilities how they could be overcome.

FcγRs and Their Relevance for the Activity of Anti-CD40 Antibodies.

Inhibitory targeting of the CD40L-CD40 system is a promising therapeutic option in the field of organ transplantation and is also attractive in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. After early complex results with neutralizing CD40L antibodies, it turned out that lack of Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-binding is the crucial factor for the development of safe inhibitory antibodies targeting CD40L or CD40. Indeed, in recent years, blocking CD40 antibodies not interacting with FcγRs, has proven to be well tolerated in clinical studies and has shown initial clinical efficacy. Stimulation of CD40 is also of considerable therapeutic interest, especially in cancer immunotherapy. CD40 can be robustly activated by genetically engineered variants of soluble CD40L but also by anti-CD40 antibodies. However, the development of CD40L-based agonists is biotechnologically and pharmacokinetically challenging, and anti-CD40 antibodies typically display only strong agonism in complex with FcγRs or upon secondary crosslinking. The latter, however, typically results in poorly developable mixtures of molecule species of varying stoichiometry and FcγR-binding by anti-CD40 antibodies can elicit unwanted side effects such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) of CD40 expressing immune cells. Here, we summarize and compare strategies to overcome the unwanted target cell-destroying activity of anti-CD40-FcγR complexes, especially the use of FcγR type-specific mutants and the FcγR-independent cell surface anchoring of bispecific anti-CD40 fusion proteins. Especially, we discuss the therapeutic potential of these strategies in view of the emerging evidence for the dose-limiting activities of systemic CD40 engagement.

Recombinant Spider Silk Bioinks for Continuous Protein Release by Encapsulated Producer Cells.

Targeted therapies using biopharmaceuticals are of growing clinical importance in disease treatment. Currently, there are several limitations of protein-based therapeutics (biologicals), including suboptimal biodistribution, lack of stability, and systemic side effects. A promising approach to overcoming these limitations could be a therapeutic cell-loaded 3D construct consisting of a suitable matrix component that harbors producer cells continuously secreting the biological of interest. Here, the recombinant spider silk proteins eADF4(C16), eADF4(C16)-RGD, and eADF4(C16)-RGE have been processed together with HEK293 producer cells stably secreting the highly traceable reporter biological TNFR2-Fc-GpL, a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of TNFR2, the Fc domain of human IgG1, and the luciferase of Gaussia princeps as a reporter domain. eADF4(C16) and eADF4(C16)-RGD hydrogels provide structural and mechanical support, promote HEK293 cell growth, and allow fusion protein production by the latter. Bioink-captured HEK293 producer cells continuously release functional TNFR2-Fc-GpL over 14 days. Thus, the combination of biocompatible, printable spider silk bioinks with drug-producing cells is promising for generating implantable 3D constructs for continuous targeted therapy.

TNF Receptor Associated Factor 2 (TRAF2) Signaling in Cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF2) has been originally identified as a protein interacting with TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) but also binds to several other receptors of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF). TRAF2, often in concert with other members of the TRAF protein family, is involved in the activation of the classical NFκB pathway and the stimulation of various mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades by TNFRSF receptors (TNFRs), but is also required to inhibit the alternative NFκB pathway. TRAF2 has also been implicated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling, the regulation of autophagy, and the control of cell death programs. TRAF2 fulfills its functions by acting as a scaffold, bringing together the E3 ligase cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 (cIAP1) and cIAP2 with their substrates and various regulatory proteins, e.g., deubiquitinases. Furthermore, TRAF2 can act as an E3 ligase by help of its N-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) domain. The finding that TRAF2 (but also several other members of the TRAF family) interacts with the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) oncogene of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) indicated early on that TRAF2 could play a role in the oncogenesis of B-cell malignancies and EBV-associated non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). TRAF2 can also act as an oncogene in solid tumors, e.g., in colon cancer by promoting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Moreover, tumor cell-expressed TRAF2 has been identified as a major factor-limiting cancer cell killing by cytotoxic T-cells after immune checkpoint blockade. However, TRAF2 can also be context-dependent as a tumor suppressor, presumably by virtue of its inhibitory effect on the alternative NFκB pathway. For example, inactivating mutations of TRAF2 have been associated with tumor development, e.g., in multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. In this review, we summarize the various TRAF2-related signaling pathways and their relevance for the oncogenic and tumor suppressive activities of TRAF2. Particularly, we discuss currently emerging concepts to target TRAF2 for therapeutic purposes.

A TNF receptor 2 agonist ameliorates neuropathology and improves cognition in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic, proinflammatory cytokine related to different neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the linkage between increased TNF-α levels and AD is widely recognized, TNF-α-neutralizing therapies have failed to treat AD. Previous research has associated this with the antithetic functions of the two TNF receptors, TNF receptor 1, associated with inflammation and apoptosis, and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), associated with neuroprotection. In our study, we investigated the effects of specifically stimulating TNFR2 with a TNFR2 agonist (NewStar2) in a transgenic Aß-overexpressing mouse model of AD by administering NewStar2 in two different ways: centrally, via implantation of osmotic pumps, or systemically by intraperitoneal injections. We found that both centrally and systemically administered NewStar2 resulted in a drastic reduction in amyloid ß deposition and ß-secretase 1 expression levels. Moreover, activation of TNFR2 increased microglial and astrocytic activation and promoted the uptake and degradation of Aß. Finally, cognitive functions were also improved after NewStar2 treatment. Our results demonstrate that activation of TNFR2 mitigates Aß-induced cognitive deficits and neuropathology in an AD mouse model and indicates that TNFR2 stimulation might be a potential treatment for AD.

A TNFR2-Specific TNF Fusion Protein With Improved In Vivo Activity.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-2 (TNFR2) has attracted considerable interest as a target for immunotherapy. Indeed, using oligomeric fusion proteins of single chain-encoded TNFR2-specific TNF mutants (scTNF80), expansion of regulatory T cells and therapeutic activity could be demonstrated in various autoinflammatory diseases, including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). With the aim to improve the in vivo availability of TNFR2-specific TNF fusion proteins, we used here the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-interacting IgG1 molecule as an oligomerizing building block and generated a new TNFR2 agonist with improved serum retention and superior in vivo activity. Methods: Single-chain encoded murine TNF80 trimers (sc(mu)TNF80) were fused to the C-terminus of an in mice irrelevant IgG1 molecule carrying the N297A mutation which avoids/minimizes interaction with Fcγ-receptors (FcγRs). The fusion protein obtained (irrIgG1(N297A)-sc(mu)TNF80), termed NewSTAR2 (New selective TNF-based agonist of TNF receptor 2), was analyzed with respect to activity, productivity, serum retention and in vitro and in vivo activity. STAR2 (TNC-sc(mu)TNF80 or selective TNF-based agonist of TNF receptor 2), a well-established highly active nonameric TNFR2-specific variant, served as benchmark. NewSTAR2 was assessed in various in vitro and in vivo systems. Results: STAR2 (TNC-sc(mu)TNF80) and NewSTAR2 (irrIgG1(N297A)-sc(mu)TNF80) revealed comparable in vitro activity. The novel domain architecture of NewSTAR2 significantly improved serum retention compared to STAR2, which correlated with efficient binding to FcRn. A single injection of NewSTAR2 enhanced regulatory T cell (Treg) suppressive activity and increased Treg numbers by > 300% in vivo 5 days after treatment. Treg numbers remained as high as 200% for about 10 days. Furthermore, a single in vivo treatment with NewSTAR2 upregulated the adenosine-regulating ectoenzyme CD39 and other activation markers on Tregs. TNFR2-stimulated Tregs proved to be more suppressive than unstimulated Tregs, reducing conventional T cell (Tcon) proliferation and expression of activation markers in vitro. Finally, singular preemptive NewSTAR2 administration five days before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) protected mice from acute GvHD. Conclusions: NewSTAR2 represents a next generation ligand-based TNFR2 agonist, which is efficiently produced, exhibits improved pharmacokinetic properties and high serum retention with superior in vivo activity exerting powerful protective effects against acute GvHD.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 (TNFR2): An Emerging Target in Cancer Therapy.

Despite the great success of TNF blockers in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the identification of TNF as a factor that influences the development of tumors in many ways, the role of TNFR2 in tumor biology and its potential suitability as a therapeutic target in cancer therapy have long been underestimated. This has been fundamentally changed with the identification of TNFR2 as a regulatory T-cell (Treg)-stimulating factor and the general clinical breakthrough of immunotherapeutic approaches. However, considering TNFR2 as a sole immunosuppressive factor in the tumor microenvironment does not go far enough. TNFR2 can also co-stimulate CD8+ T-cells, sensitize some immune and tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of TNFR1 and/or acts as an oncogene. In view of the wide range of cancer-associated TNFR2 activities, it is not surprising that both antagonists and agonists of TNFR2 are considered for tumor therapy and have indeed shown overwhelming anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. Based on a brief summary of TNFR2 signaling and the immunoregulatory functions of TNFR2, we discuss here the main preclinical findings and insights gained with TNFR2 agonists and antagonists. In particular, we address the question of which TNFR2-associated molecular and cellular mechanisms underlie the observed anti-tumoral activities of TNFR2 agonists and antagonists.

CD40- and 41BB-specific antibody fusion proteins with PDL1 blockade-restricted agonism.

Background: A strategy to broaden the applicability of checkpoint inhibitors is the combined use with antibodies targeting the immune stimulatory receptors CD40 and 41BB. However, the use of anti-CD40 and anti-41BB antibodies as agonists is problematic in two ways. First, anti-CD40 and anti-41BB antibodies need plasma membrane-associated presentation by FcγR binding to exert robust agonism but this obviously limits their immune stimulatory efficacy by triggering ADCC, CDC or anti-inflammatory FcγRIIb activities. Second, off tumor activation of CD40 and 41BB may cause dose limiting systemic inflammation. Methods: To overcome the FcγR-dependency of anti-41BB and anti-CD40 antibodies, we genetically fused such antibodies with a PDL1-specific blocking scFv as anchoring domain to enable FcγR-independent plasma membrane-associated presentation of anti-CD40- and anti-41BB antibodies. By help of GpL-tagged variants of the resulting bispecific antibodies, binding to their molecular targets was evaluated by help of cellular binding studies. Membrane PDL1-restricted engagement of CD40 and 41BB but also inhibition of PDL1-induced PD1 activation were evaluated in coculture assays with PDL1-expressing tumor cell lines and 41BB, CD40 and PD1 responsible cell lines or T-cells. Results: The binding properties of the bispecific antibody fusion proteins remained largely unchanged compared to their parental molecules. Upon anchoring to membrane PDL1, the bispecific antibody fusion proteins activated CD40/41BB signaling as efficient as the parental anti-CD40/anti-41BB antibodies when bound to FcγRs or cells expressing membrane-bound CD40L/41BBL. PD1 inhibition remained intact and the anti-41BB fusion protein thus showed PDL1-restricted costimulation of T-cells activated in vitro with anti-CD3 or a BiTe. Conclusions: Targeting of anti-CD40 and anti-41BB fusion proteins to membrane PDL1 with a blocking PDL1 scFv links PD1-PDL1 checkpoint blockade intrinsically with engagement of CD40 or 41BB.