Targeting stromal cell sialylation reverses T cell-mediated immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs) reduce the effectiveness of immune responses in cancer. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), precursors to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), promote tumor progression by enhancing immune cell suppression in colorectal cancer (CRC). Hyper-sialylation of glycans promotes immune evasion in cancer through binding of sialic acids to their receptors, Siglecs, expressed on immune cells, which results in inhibition of effector functions. The role of sialylation in shaping MSC/CAF immunosuppression in the TME is not well characterized. In this study, we show that tumor-conditioned stromal cells have increased sialyltransferase expression, α2,3/6-linked sialic acid, and Siglec ligands. Tumor-conditioned stromal cells and CAFs induce exhausted immunomodulatory CD8+ PD1+ and CD8+ Siglec-7+/Siglec-9+ T cell phenotypes. In vivo, targeting stromal cell sialylation reverses stromal cell-mediated immunosuppression, as shown by infiltration of CD25 and granzyme B-expressing CD8+ T cells in the tumor and draining lymph node. Targeting stromal cell sialylation may overcome immunosuppression in the CRC TME.

Targeting the IL1ß Pathway for Cancer Immunotherapy Remodels the Tumor Microenvironment and Enhances Antitumor Immune Responses.

High levels of IL1ß can result in chronic inflammation, which in turn can promote tumor growth and metastasis. Inhibition of IL1ß could therefore be a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of cancer. Here, the effects of IL1ß blockade induced by the mAbs canakinumab and gevokizumab were evaluated alone or in combination with docetaxel, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1), anti-VEGFα, and anti-TGFß treatment in syngeneic and humanized mouse models of cancers of different origin. Canakinumab and gevokizumab did not show notable efficacy as single-agent therapies; however, IL1ß blockade enhanced the effectiveness of docetaxel and anti-PD-1. Accompanying these effects, blockade of IL1ß alone or in combination induced significant remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME), with decreased numbers of immune suppressive cells and increased tumor infiltration by dendritic cells (DC) and effector T cells. Further investigation revealed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) were the cell type most affected by treatment with canakinumab or gevokizumab in terms of change in gene expression. IL1ß inhibition drove phenotypic changes in CAF populations, particularly those with the ability to influence immune cell recruitment. These results suggest that the observed remodeling of the TME following IL1ß blockade may stem from changes in CAF populations. Overall, the results presented here support the potential use of IL1ß inhibition in cancer treatment. Further exploration in ongoing clinical studies will help identify the best combination partners for different cancer types, cancer stages, and lines of treatment.

Characterization of sabatolimab, a novel immunotherapy with immuno-myeloid activity directed against TIM-3 receptor.

Objectives: Sabatolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (hIgG4, S228P) directed against human T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3). Herein, we describe the development and characterization of sabatolimab. Methods: Sabatolimab was tested for binding to its target TIM-3 and blocking properties. The functional effects of sabatolimab were tested in T-cell killing and myeloid cell cytokine assays. Antibody-mediated cell phagocytosis (ADCP) by sabatolimab was also assessed. Results: Sabatolimab was shown to (i) enhance T-cell killing and inflammatory cytokine production by dendritic cells (DCs); (ii) facilitate the phagocytic uptake of TIM-3-expressing target cells; and (iii) block the interaction between TIM-3 and its ligands PtdSer/galectin-9. Conclusion: Taken together, our results support both direct anti-leukemic effects and immune-mediated modulation by sabatolimab, reinforcing the notion that sabatolimab represents a novel immunotherapy with immuno-myeloid activity, holding promise for the treatment of myeloid cell neoplasms.

SHP2 blockade enhances anti-tumor immunity via tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms.

SHP2 is a ubiquitous tyrosine phosphatase involved in regulating both tumor and immune cell signaling. In this study, we discovered a novel immune modulatory function of SHP2. Targeting this protein with allosteric SHP2 inhibitors promoted anti-tumor immunity, including enhancing T cell cytotoxic function and immune-mediated tumor regression. Knockout of SHP2 using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing showed that targeting SHP2 in cancer cells contributes to this immune response. Inhibition of SHP2 activity augmented tumor intrinsic IFNγ signaling resulting in enhanced chemoattractant cytokine release and cytotoxic T cell recruitment, as well as increased expression of MHC Class I and PD-L1 on the cancer cell surface. Furthermore, SHP2 inhibition diminished the differentiation and inhibitory function of immune suppressive myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment. SHP2 inhibition enhanced responses to anti-PD-1 blockade in syngeneic mouse models. Overall, our study reveals novel functions of SHP2 in tumor immunity and proposes that targeting SHP2 is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

TGFß-blockade uncovers stromal plasticity in tumors by revealing the existence of a subset of interferon-licensed fibroblasts.

Despite the increasing interest in targeting stromal elements of the tumor microenvironment, we still face tremendous challenges in developing adequate therapeutics to modify the tumor stromal landscape. A major obstacle to this is our poor understanding of the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of stromal cells in tumors. Herein, we perform an unbiased interrogation of tumor mesenchymal cells, delineating the co-existence of distinct subsets of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the microenvironment of murine carcinomas, each endowed with unique phenotypic features and functions. Furthermore, our study shows that neutralization of TGFß in vivo leads to remodeling of CAF dynamics, greatly reducing the frequency and activity of the myofibroblast subset, while promoting the formation of a fibroblast population characterized by strong response to interferon and heightened immunomodulatory properties. These changes correlate with the development of productive anti-tumor immunity and greater efficacy of PD1 immunotherapy. Along with providing the scientific rationale for the evaluation of TGFß and PD1 co-blockade in the clinical setting, this study also supports the concept of plasticity of the stromal cell landscape in tumors, laying the foundation for future investigations aimed at defining pathways and molecules to program CAF composition for cancer therapy.

IL-21 signaling is essential for optimal host resistance against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

IL-21 is produced predominantly by activated CD4+ T cells and has pleiotropic effects on immunity via the IL-21 receptor (IL-21R), a member of the common gamma chain (γc) cytokine receptor family. We show that IL-21 signaling plays a crucial role in T cell responses during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by augmenting CD8+ T cell priming, promoting T cell accumulation in the lungs, and enhancing T cell cytokine production. In the absence of IL-21 signaling, more CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in chronically infected mice express the T cell inhibitory molecules PD-1 and TIM-3. We correlate these immune alterations with increased susceptibility of IL-21R-/- mice, which have increased lung bacterial burden and earlier mortality compared to WT mice. Finally, to causally link the immune defects with host susceptibility, we use an adoptive transfer model to show that IL-21R-/- T cells transfer less protection than WT T cells. These results prove that IL-21 signaling has an intrinsic role in promoting the protective capacity of T cells. Thus, the net effect of IL-21 signaling is to enhance host resistance to M. tuberculosis. These data position IL-21 as a candidate biomarker of resistance to tuberculosis.

TIM3 Mediates T Cell Exhaustion during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.

While T cell immunity initially limits Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, why T cell immunity fails to sterilize the infection and allows recrudescence is not clear. One hypothesis is that T cell exhaustion impairs immunity and is detrimental to the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection. Here we provide functional evidence for the development T cell exhaustion during chronic TB. Second, we evaluate the role of the inhibitory receptor T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing-3 (TIM3) during chronic M. tuberculosis infection. We find that TIM3 expressing T cells accumulate during chronic infection, co-express other inhibitory receptors including PD1, produce less IL-2 and TNF but more IL-10, and are functionally exhausted. Finally, we show that TIM3 blockade restores T cell function and improves bacterial control, particularly in chronically infected susceptible mice. These data show that T cell immunity is suboptimal during chronic M. tuberculosis infection due to T cell exhaustion. Moreover, in chronically infected mice, treatment with anti-TIM3 mAb is an effective therapeutic strategy against tuberculosis.

Multiple Inflammatory Cytokines Converge To Regulate CD8+ T Cell Expansion and Function during Tuberculosis.

The differentiation of effector CD8(+) T cells is a dynamically regulated process that varies during different infections and is influenced by the inflammatory milieu of the host. In this study, we define three signals regulating CD8(+) T cell responses during tuberculosis by focusing on cytokines known to affect disease outcome: IL-12, type I IFN, and IL-27. Using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we compared wild-type and cytokine receptor knockout CD8(+) T cells within the same mouse following aerosol infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Four weeks postinfection, IL-12, type 1 IFN, and IL-27 were all required for efficient CD8(+) T cell expansion in the lungs. We next determined if these cytokines directly promote CD8(+) T cell priming or are required only for expansion in the lungs. Using retrogenic CD8(+) T cells specific for the M. tuberculosis Ag TB10.4 (EsxH), we observed that IL-12 is the dominant cytokine driving both CD8(+) T cell priming in the lymph node and expansion in the lungs; however, type I IFN and IL-27 have nonredundant roles supporting pulmonary CD8(+) T cell expansion. Thus, IL-12 is a major signal promoting priming in the lymph node, but a multitude of inflammatory signals converge in the lung to promote continued expansion. Furthermore, these cytokines regulate the differentiation and function of CD8(+) T cells during tuberculosis. These data demonstrate distinct and overlapping roles for each of the cytokines examined and underscore the complexity of CD8(+) T cell regulation during tuberculosis.

Orchestration of pulmonary T cell immunity during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: immunity interruptus.

Despite the introduction almost a century ago of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG), an attenuated form of M. bovis that is used as a vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculosis remains a global health threat and kills more than 1.5 million people each year. This is mostly because BCG fails to prevent pulmonary disease--the contagious form of tuberculosis. Although there have been significant advances in understanding how the immune system responds to infection, the qualities that define protective immunity against M. tuberculosis remain poorly characterized. The ability to predict who will maintain control over the infection and who will succumb to clinical disease would revolutionize our approach to surveillance, control, and treatment. Here we review the current understanding of pulmonary T cell responses following M. tuberculosis infection. While infection elicits a strong immune response that contains infection, M. tuberculosis evades eradication. Traditionally, its intracellular lifestyle and alteration of macrophage function are viewed as the dominant mechanisms of evasion. Now we appreciate that chronic inflammation leads to T cell dysfunction. While this may arise as the host balances the goals of bacterial sterilization and avoidance of tissue damage, it is becoming clear that T cell dysfunction impairs host resistance. Defining the mechanisms that lead to T cell dysfunction is crucial as memory T cell responses are likely to be subject to the same subject to the same pressures. Thus, success of T cell based vaccines is predicated on memory T cells avoiding exhaustion while at the same time not promoting overt tissue damage.

In search of a new paradigm for protective immunity to TB.

Clinical trials of vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis are well under way and results are starting to come in. Some of these results are not so encouraging, as exemplified by the latest Aeras-422 and MVA85A trials. Other than empirically determining whether a vaccine reduces the number of cases of active tuberculosis, which is a daunting prospect given the chronic nature of the disease, we have no way of assessing vaccine efficacy. Therefore, investigators seek to identify biomarkers that predict vaccine efficacy. Historically, focus has been on the production of interferon-γ by CD4(+) T cells, but this has not been a useful correlate of vaccine-induced protection. In this Opinion article, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the immune control of M. tuberculosis and how this knowledge could be used for vaccine design and evaluation.

iNKT cell production of GM-CSF controls Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are activated during infection, but how they limit microbial growth is unknown in most cases. We investigated how iNKT cells suppress intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) replication. When co-cultured with infected macrophages, iNKT cell activation, as measured by CD25 upregulation and IFNγ production, was primarily driven by IL-12 and IL-18. In contrast, iNKT cell control of Mtb growth was CD1d-dependent, and did not require IL-12, IL-18, or IFNγ. This demonstrated that conventional activation markers did not correlate with iNKT cell effector function during Mtb infection. iNKT cell control of Mtb replication was also independent of TNF and cell-mediated cytotoxicity. By dissociating cytokine-driven activation and CD1d-restricted effector function, we uncovered a novel mediator of iNKT cell antimicrobial activity: GM-CSF. iNKT cells produced GM-CSF in vitro and in vivo in a CD1d-dependent manner during Mtb infection, and GM-CSF was both necessary and sufficient to control Mtb growth. Here, we have identified GM-CSF production as a novel iNKT cell antimicrobial effector function and uncovered a potential role for GM-CSF in T cell immunity against Mtb.

IL-1ß promotes antimicrobial immunity in macrophages by regulating TNFR signaling and caspase-3 activation.

In vivo control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis reflects the balance between host immunity and bacterial evasion strategies. Effector Th1 cells that mediate protective immunity by depriving the bacterium of its intracellular niche are regulated to prevent overexuberant inflammation. One key immunoregulatory molecule is Tim3. Although Tim3 is generally recognized to downregulate Th1 responses, we recently described that its interaction with Galectin-9 expressed by M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages stimulates IL-1ß secretion, which is essential for survival in the mouse model. Why IL-1ß is required for host resistance to M. tuberculosis infection is unknown. In this article, we show that IL-1ß directly kills M. tuberculosis in murine and human macrophages and does so through the recruitment of other antimicrobial effector molecules. IL-1ß directly augments TNF signaling in macrophages through the upregulation of TNF secretion and TNFR1 cell surface expression, and results in activation of caspase-3. Thus, IL-1ß and downstream TNF production lead to caspase-dependent restriction of intracellular M. tuberculosis growth.

The Tim3-galectin 9 pathway induces antibacterial activity in human macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

T cell Ig and mucin domain 3 (Tim3) is an inhibitory molecule involved in immune tolerance, autoimmune responses, and antiviral immune evasion. However, we recently demonstrated that Tim3 and Galectin-9 (Gal9) interaction induces a program of macrophage activation that results in killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the mouse model of infection. In this study, we sought to determine whether the Tim3-Gal9 pathway plays a similar role in human pulmonary TB. We identified that pulmonary TB patients have reduced expression of Tim3 on CD14(+) monocytes in vivo. By blocking Tim3 and Gal9 interaction in vitro, we show that these molecules contribute to the control of intracellular bacterial replication in human macrophages. The antimicrobial effect was partially dependent on the production of IL-1ß. Our results establish that Tim3-Gal9 interaction activates human M. tuberculosis -infected macrophages and leads to the control of bacterial growth through the production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß. Data presented in this study suggest that one of the potential pathways activated by Tim3/Gal9 is the secretion of IL-1ß, which plays a crucial role in antimicrobial immunity by modulating innate inflammatory networks.

Emerging Tim-3 functions in antimicrobial and tumor immunity.

T cell immunoglobulin-3 (Tim-3) has been identified as a marker of differentiated interferon-γ-producing CD4(+) T helper type 1 and CD8(+) T cytotoxic type 1 cells. The interaction of Tim-3 with its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9), induces cell death, and in vivo blockade of this interaction results in exacerbated autoimmunity and abrogation of tolerance in experimental models, establishing Tim-3 as a negative regulatory molecule. Recent studies have uncovered additional mechanisms by which Tim-3 negatively regulates T cell responses, such as promoting the development of CD8(+) T cell exhaustion and inducing expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In contrast to this inhibitory effect on T cells, Tim-3-Gal-9 interaction promotes macrophage clearance of intracellular pathogens. Here, we focus on the emerging role for Tim-3 in tumor and antimicrobial immunity.

Critical role for invariant chain in CD1d-mediated selection and maturation of Vα14-invariant NKT cells.

The development and maturation of Vα14 invariant (i)NKT cells in mice requires CD1d-mediated lipid antigen presentation in the thymus and the periphery. Cortical thymocytes mediate positive selection, while professional APCs are involved in thymic negative selection and in terminal maturation of iNKT cells in the periphery. CD1d requires entry in the endosomal pathway to allow antigen acquisition for assembly as lipid/CD1d complexes for display to iNKT cells. This process involves tyrosine-based sorting motifs in the CD1d cytoplasmic tail and invariant chain (Ii) that CD1d associates with in the endoplasmic reticulum. The function of Ii in iNKT cell thymic development and peripheral maturation had not been fully understood. Using mice deficient in Ii and the Ii-processing enzyme cathepsin S (catS), we addressed this question. Ii(-/-) mice but not catS(-/-) mice developed significantly fewer iNKT cells in thymus, that were less mature as measured by CD44 and NK1.1 expression. Ii(-/-) mice but not catS(-/-) mice developed fewer Vß7(+) cells in their iNKT TCR repertoire than WT counterparts, indicative of a change in endogenous glycolipid antigen/CD1d-mediated iNKT cell selection. Finally, using a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection model in macrophages, we show that iNKT developed in Ii(-/-) but not catS(-/-) mice have defective effector function. Our data support a role for professional APCs expressing Ii, but no role for catS in the thymic development and peripheral terminal maturation of iNKT cells.

Requirement for invariant chain in macrophages for Mycobacterium tuberculosis replication and CD1d antigen presentation.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an intracellular bacterium that persists in phagosomes of myeloid cells. M. tuberculosis-encoded factors support pathogen survival and reduce fusion of phagosomes with bactericidal lysosomal compartments. It is, however, not entirely understood if host factors that mediate endosomal fusion affect M. tuberculosis intracellular localization and survival. Neither is it known if endosomal fusion influences induction of host immune reactivity by M. tuberculosis-infected cells. Lysosomal degradation of M. tuberculosis appears to be pivotal for making available lipid substrates for assembly into lipid-CD1d complexes to allow activation of CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. To clarify the role for endosomal fusion in M. tuberculosis survival and induction of host CD1d-mediated immune defense, we focused our studies on the invariant chain (Ii). Ii regulates endosome docking and fusion and thereby controls endosomal transport. Through direct binding, Ii also directs intracellular transport of the class II major histocompatibility complex and CD1d. Our findings demonstrate that upon infection of Ii-knockout (Ii(-/-)) macrophages, M. tuberculosis is initially retained in early endosomal antigen 1-positive lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1-negative phagosomes, which results in slightly impaired pathogen replication. The absence of Ii did not affect the ability of uninfected and infected macrophages to produce nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor alpha, or interleukin-12. However, induction of cell surface CD1d was impaired in infected Ii(-/-) macrophages, and CD1d-restricted iNKT cells were unable to suppress bacterial replication when they were cocultured with M. tuberculosis-infected Ii(-/-) macrophages. Thus, while the host factor Ii is not essential for the formation of the M. tuberculosis-containing vacuole, its presence is crucial for iNKT cell recognition of infected macrophages.

Tim3 binding to galectin-9 stimulates antimicrobial immunity.

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim3) is a negative regulatory molecule that inhibits effector T(H)1-type responses. Such inhibitory signals prevent unintended tissue inflammation, but can be detrimental if they lead to premature T cell exhaustion. Although the role of Tim3 in autoimmunity has been extensively studied, whether Tim3 regulates antimicrobial immunity has not been explored. Here, we show that Tim3 expressed on T(H)1 cells interacts with its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal9), which is expressed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages to restrict intracellular bacterial growth. Tim3-Gal9 interaction leads to macrophage activation and stimulates bactericidal activity by inducing caspase-1-dependent IL-1ß secretion. We propose that the T(H)1 cell surface molecule Tim3 has evolved to inhibit growth of intracellular pathogens via its ligand Gal9, which in turn inhibits expansion of effector T(H)1 cells to prevent further tissue inflammation.

Passive neutralizing antibody controls SHIV viremia and enhances B cell responses in infant macaques.

Maternal HIV-1-specific antibodies are efficiently transferred to newborns, but their role in disease control is unknown. We administered neutralizing IgG, including the human neutralizing monoclonal IgG1b12, at levels insufficient to block infection, to six newborn macaques before oral challenge with simian-HIV strain SF162P3 (SHIV(SF162P3)). All of the macaques rapidly developed neutralizing antibodies and had significantly reduced plasma viremia for six months. These studies support the use of neutralizing antibodies in enhancing B cell responses and viral control in perinatal settings.

Continuous viral escape and selection by autologous neutralizing antibodies in drug-naive human immunodeficiency virus controllers.

We assessed differences in the character and specificity of autologous neutralizing antibodies (ANAbs) against individual viral variants of the quasispecies in a cohort of drug-naïve subjects with long-term controlled human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and moderate levels of broad heterologous neutralizing antibodies (HNAb). Functional plasma virus showed continuous env evolution despite a short time frame and low levels of viral replication. Neutralization-sensitive variants dominated in subjects with intermittent viral blips, while neutralization-resistant variants predominated in elite controllers. By sequence analysis of this panel of autologous variants with various sensitivities to neutralization, we identified more than 30 residues in envelope proteins (Env) associated with resistance or sensitivity to ANAbs. The appearance of new sensitive variants is consistent with a model of continuous selection and turnover. Strong ANAb responses directed against autologous Env variants are present in long-term chronically infected individuals, suggesting a role for these responses in contributing to the durable control of HIV replication.

Evidence for persistent, occult infection in neonatal macaques following perinatal transmission of simian-human immunodeficiency virus SF162P3.

To model human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) perinatal transmission, we studied infection of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) SF162P3 in 10 pregnant Macaca nemestrina females and their offspring. Four of nine infants born to and suckled by these dams had evidence of infection, a transmission rate of 44.4% (95% confidence interval, 13.7% to 78.8%). We quantified transplacentally acquired and de novo Env-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and neutralizing antibodies in newborns. Transmission of escape variants was confirmed. In utero infection (n = 1) resulted in high viremia, depletion of peripheral CD4+ T cells, and rapid evolution of env in blood and tissues. Peripartum or postpartum SHIV infection (n = 3) resulted in postacute viral control that was undetectable by very sensitive multiplex PCR, despite increasing antibodies. Seropositive infants with highly controlled viremia had homogeneous peripheral blood env sequences, and their tissues had <3 copies per million cells. A high incidence of seropositive virus-low or -negative SHIV infection in infant macaques has implications for HIV type 1 perinatal transmission and detection.