ABSTRACT
Clinical trials that tested the antitumor activity of γδ T cells have been mostly unsuccessful. To address this, we expanded human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in TGFß1, a cytokine which enhances their viability, trafficking properties, and intrinsic antitumor activity. This protocol summarizes the production and in vitro functional characterization of TGFß1 educated human Vγ9Vδ2 cells and highlights their compatibility with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering. We also describe in vivo testing of the antitumor activity of these CAR T cells in mice. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Beatson et al. (2021).
Subject(s)
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Transforming Growth Factor beta , Animals , Cytokines , Humans , Mice , T-LymphocytesABSTRACT
Despite its role in cancer surveillance, adoptive immunotherapy using γδ T cells has achieved limited efficacy. To enhance trafficking to bone marrow, circulating Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are expanded in serum-free medium containing TGF-ß1 and IL-2 (γδ[T2] cells) or medium containing IL-2 alone (γδ[2] cells, as the control). Unexpectedly, the yield and viability of γδ[T2] cells are also increased by TGF-ß1, when compared to γδ[2] controls. γδ[T2] cells are less differentiated and yet display increased cytolytic activity, cytokine release, and antitumor activity in several leukemic and solid tumor models. Efficacy is further enhanced by cancer cell sensitization using aminobisphosphonates or Ara-C. A number of contributory effects of TGF-ß are described, including prostaglandin E2 receptor downmodulation, TGF-ß insensitivity, and upregulated integrin activity. Biological relevance is supported by the identification of a favorable γδ[T2] signature in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Given their enhanced therapeutic activity and compatibility with allogeneic use, γδ[T2] cells warrant evaluation in cancer immunotherapy.
Subject(s)
Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism , Animals , Bone Marrow Cells/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Culture Media, Serum-Free/pharmacology , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Lymphocyte Activation , Mice, SCID , PrognosisABSTRACT
The overexpression and aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 is associated with a wide variety of cancers, making it an ideal target for immunotherapeutic strategies. This review highlights the main avenues of research in this field, focusing on adenocarcinomas, from the preclinical to clinical; the problems and possible solutions associated with each approach; and speculates on the direction of MUC1 immunotherapeutic research over the next 5-10 years.
