CD4+ T cells with convergent TCR recombination reprogram stroma and halt tumor progression in adoptive therapy.

Cancers eventually kill hosts even when infiltrated by cancer-specific T cells. We examined whether cancer-specific T cell receptors of CD4+ T cells (CD4TCRs) from tumor-bearing hosts can be exploited for adoptive TCR therapy. We focused on CD4TCRs targeting an autochthonous mutant neoantigen that is only presented by stroma surrounding the MHC class II-negative cancer cells. The 11 most common tetramer-sorted CD4TCRs were tested using TCR-engineered CD4+ T cells. Three TCRs were characterized by convergent recombination for which multiple T cell clonotypes differed in their nucleotide sequences but encoded identical TCR α and ß chains. These preferentially selected TCRs destroyed tumors equally well and halted progression through reprogramming of the tumor stroma. TCRs represented by single T cell clonotypes were similarly effective only if they shared CDR elements with preferentially selected TCRs in both α and ß chains. Selecting candidate TCRs on the basis of these characteristics can help identify TCRs that are potentially therapeutically effective.

One-Step Next-Generation Sequencing of Immunoglobulin and T-Cell Receptor Gene Recombinations for MRD Marker Identification in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Within the EuroClonality-NGS group, immune repertoire analysis for target identification in lymphoid malignancies was initially developed using two-stage amplicon approaches, essentially as a progressive modification of preceding methods developed for Sanger sequencing. This approach has, however, limitations with respect to sample handling, adaptation to automation, and risk of contamination by amplicon products. We therefore developed one-step PCR amplicon methods with individual barcoding for batched analysis for IGH, IGK, TRD, TRG, and TRB rearrangements, followed by Vidjil-based data analysis.

Single-cell atlas of splenocytes reveals a critical role of a novel plasma cell‒specific marker Hspa13 in antibody class-switching recombination and somatic hypermutation.

Our previous study had shown that member 13 (Hspa13) of heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) promotes plasma cell (PC) production and antibody secretion. To further explore Hspa13 expression and function, we combined single-cell RNA-sequencing and antigen receptor lineage (BCR) analysis to characterize sheep red cell‒primed splenocytes. The single-cell transcriptional profiles revealed that Hspa13 is specifically and highly expressed in PCs. These results suggest that Hspa13 is a novel PC-specific marker. In terms of its function, we found that the CD19cre-mediated conditional knock-out (cKO) of Hspa13 reduced the expression of Ebi3 and IL-10 in PCs. Ebi3 and IL-10 are important factors in IL-4‒secreting type 2 helper T cell (Th2) activation and differentiation. As expected, we found that the Hspa13 cKO reduced IL‒4-expressing follicular helper T (Tfh2) cells. Finally, the single-cell antigen receptor analysis demonstrated that the Hspa13 cKO reduced the Aicda-mediated antibody class-switching recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM) in germinal centers (GCs) B cells. Altogether, the single-cell atlas of splenocytes revealed a critical indirect role for the novel PC-specific marker Hspa13 in CSR and SHM in GC B cells by promoting Ebi3 and IL-10 expression in PCs to induce IL-4-expressing Tfh2 cells. Further exploration of Hspa13 expression and function will provide valuable clues for how to use Hspa13 in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

MicroRNA-directed pathway discovery elucidates an miR-221/222-mediated regulatory circuit in class switch recombination.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) regulate cell fate decisions by post-transcriptionally tuning networks of mRNA targets. We used miRNA-directed pathway discovery to reveal a regulatory circuit that influences Ig class switch recombination (CSR). We developed a system to deplete mature, activated B cells of miRNAs, and performed a rescue screen that identified the miR-221/222 family as a positive regulator of CSR. Endogenous miR-221/222 regulated B cell CSR to IgE and IgG1 in vitro, and miR-221/222-deficient mice exhibited defective IgE production in allergic airway challenge and polyclonal B cell activation models in vivo. We combined comparative Ago2-HITS-CLIP and gene expression analyses to identify mRNAs bound and regulated by miR-221/222 in primary B cells. Interrogation of these putative direct targets uncovered functionally relevant downstream genes. Genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of Foxp1 and Arid1a confirmed their roles as key modulators of CSR to IgE and IgG1.

Highly efficient CD4+ T cell targeting and genetic recombination using engineered CD4+ cell-homing mRNA-LNPs.

Nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the basis for the first two EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) COVID-19 vaccines. The use of nucleoside-modified mRNA as a pharmacological agent opens immense opportunities for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic molecular interventions. In particular, mRNA-based drugs may specifically modulate immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, for immunotherapy of oncologic, infectious and other conditions. The key challenge, however, is that T cells are notoriously resistant to transfection by exogenous mRNA. Here, we report that conjugating CD4 antibody to LNPs enables specific targeting and mRNA interventions to CD4+ cells, including T cells. After systemic injection in mice, CD4-targeted radiolabeled mRNA-LNPs accumulated in spleen, providing ∼30-fold higher signal of reporter mRNA in T cells isolated from spleen as compared with non-targeted mRNA-LNPs. Intravenous injection of CD4-targeted LNPs loaded with Cre recombinase-encoding mRNA provided specific dose-dependent loxP-mediated genetic recombination, resulting in reporter gene expression in about 60% and 40% of CD4+ T cells in spleen and lymph nodes, respectively. T cell phenotyping showed uniform transfection of T cell subpopulations, with no variability in uptake of CD4-targeted mRNA-LNPs in naive, central memory, and effector cells. The specific and efficient targeting and transfection of mRNA to T cells established in this study provides a platform technology for immunotherapy of devastating conditions and HIV cure.

T Cells Expressing Receptor Recombination/Revision Machinery Are Detected in the Tumor Microenvironment and Expanded in Genomically Over-unstable Models.

Tumors undergo dynamic immunoediting as part of a process that balances immunologic sensing of emerging neoantigens and evasion from immune responses. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) comprise heterogeneous subsets of peripheral T cells characterized by diverse functional differentiation states and dependence on T-cell receptor (TCR) specificity gained through recombination events during their development. We hypothesized that within the tumor microenvironment (TME), an antigenic milieu and immunologic interface, tumor-infiltrating peripheral T cells could reexpress key elements of the TCR recombination machinery, namely, Rag1 and Rag2 recombinases and Tdt polymerase, as a potential mechanism involved in the revision of TCR specificity. Using two syngeneic invasive breast cancer transplantable models, 4T1 and TS/A, we observed that Rag1, Rag2, and Dntt in situ mRNA expression characterized rare tumor-infiltrating T cells. In situ expression of the transcripts was increased in coisogenic Mlh1-deficient tumors, characterized by genomic overinstability, and was also modulated by PD-1 immune-checkpoint blockade. Through immunolocalization and mRNA hybridization analyses, we detected the presence of rare TDT+RAG1/2+ cells populating primary tumors and draining lymph nodes in human invasive breast cancer. Analysis of harmonized single-cell RNA-sequencing data sets of human cancers identified a very small fraction of tumor-associated T cells, characterized by the expression of recombination/revision machinery transcripts, which on pseudotemporal ordering corresponded to differentiated effector T cells. We offer thought-provoking evidence of a TIL microniche marked by rare transcripts involved in TCR shaping.

Plasmodium vivax Cysteine-Rich Protective Antigen Polymorphism at Exon-1 Shows Recombination and Signatures of Balancing Selection.

Plasmodium vivax Cysteine-Rich Protective Antigen (CyRPA) is a merozoite protein participating in the parasite invasion of human reticulocytes. During natural P. vivax infection, antibody responses against PvCyRPA have been detected. In children, low anti-CyRPA antibody titers correlated with clinical protection, which suggests this protein as a potential vaccine candidate. This work analyzed the genetic and amino acid diversity of pvcyrpa in Mexican and global parasites. Consensus coding sequences of pvcyrpa were obtained from seven isolates. Other sequences were extracted from a repository. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees, genetic diversity parameters, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and neutrality tests were analyzed, and the potential amino acid polymorphism participation in B-cell epitopes was investigated. In 22 sequences from Southern Mexico, two synonymous and 21 nonsynonymous mutations defined nine private haplotypes. These parasites had the highest LD-R2 index and the lowest nucleotide diversity compared to isolates from South America or Asia. The nucleotide diversity and Tajima's D values varied across the coding gene. The exon-1 sequence had greater diversity and Rm values than those of exon-2. Exon-1 had significant positive values for Tajima's D, ß-α values, and for the Z (HA: dN > dS) and MK tests. These patterns were similar for parasites of different origin. The polymorphic amino acid residues at PvCyRPA resembled the conformational B-cell peptides reported in PfCyRPA. Diversity at pvcyrpa exon-1 is caused by mutation and recombination. This seems to be maintained by balancing selection, likely due to selective immune pressure, all of which merit further study.

Curcumin Enhances the Antitumoral Effect Induced by the Recombinant Vaccinia Neu Vaccine (rV-neuT) in Mice with Transplanted Salivary Gland Carcinoma Cells.

The survival rate for head and neck cancer patients has not substantially changed in the last two decades. We previously showed that two rV-neuT intratumoral injections induced an efficient antitumor response and rejection of transplanted Neu (rat ErbB2/neu oncogene-encoded protein)-overexpressing salivary gland tumor cells in BALB-neuT mice (BALB/c mice transgenic for the rat ErbB2/neu oncogene). However, reiterated poxviral vaccinations increase neutralizing antibodies to viral proteins in humans that prevent immune response against the recombinant antigen expressed by the virus. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol with antineoplastic and immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to employ CUR administration to boost the anti-Neu immune response and anticancer activity induced by one rV-neuT intratumoral vaccination in BALB-neuT mice. Here, we demonstrated that the combined rV-neuT+CUR treatment was more effective at reducing tumor growth and increasing mouse survival, anti-Neu humoral response, and IFN-γ/IL-2 T-cell release in vitro than the individual treatment. rV-neuT+CUR-treated mice showed an increased infiltration of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes within the tumor as compared to those that received the individual treatment. Overall, CUR enhanced the antitumoral effect and immune response to Neu induced by the rV-neuT vaccine in mice. Thus, the combined treatment might represent a successful strategy to target ErbB2/Neu-overexpressing tumors.

B-cell Receptor Recombinations in Lung Adenocarcinoma Exome Files Correlate With a Higher Overall Survival Rate.

BACKGROUND/AIM: While there has been a rapid development in genomic data mining approaches for T-cell receptor recombinations (TcR), less emphasis has been placed on B-cell receptor (BcR) recombinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained lung cancer exome files from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and mined the files for TcR and BcR recombination reads. RESULTS: There was a robust detection of BcR light chain recombination reads in lung adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUAD) samples, and there was a correlation between the detection of light chain recombination reads and a more favorable outcome. This result was supported by analyses of the expression of B-cell markers as indicated by LUAD RNASeq files. CONCLUSION: BcR and TcR recombination reads recovered from LUAD WXS files, either alone or in combination with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, are likely to have prognostic value.

Cre-loxP Reporter Mouse Reveals Stochastic Activity of the Foxp3 Promoter.

Mouse models that combine specific loxP-flanked gene sequences with Cre recombinase expressed from cell-regulated promoters have become important tools to investigate gene function. Critically however, expression of Cre recombinase may not always be restricted to the target cell or tissue of interest due to promiscuous activity of the driving promoter. Expression of Cre recombinase and, by extension, excision of the loxP-flanked gene may occur in non-target cells and may not be readily apparent. Here we report on the fidelity of Cre recombinase expressed from the il17a or Foxp3 promoters by combining them with a constitutively expressed floxed-stopped tdTomato reporter gene. Foxp3-driven Cre recombinase in F1 mice induced tdTomato red fluorescent protein in Treg cells but also in a range of other immune cells. Frequency of tdTomato expression was variable but positively correlated (p < 0.0001) amongst lymphoid (B cells and CD8 T cells) and blood-resident myeloid cells (dendritic cells, monocytes, neutrophils) suggesting stochastic activity of the Foxp3 promoter rather than developmental regulation in common ancestral progenitors. Interestingly, frequency of tdTomato+ dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils did not correlate with the tdTomato+ fraction in eosinophils, indicating that activity of the Foxp3 promoter in eosinophils occurred after the split from a common multipotent progenitor. When these F1 mice were crossed to achieve homozygosity of the promoter and reporter gene, a novel visually red phenotype was observed segregating amongst littermates. The red coloration was widespread and prevalent in non-immune tissues. Thymocytes examined from these red mice showed that all four subsets of immature thymocytes (CD4- CD8-) based on differential expression of CD25 and CD44 were expressing tdTomato. Finally, we show evidence of Foxp3 Cre recombinase independent tdTomato expression, suggesting germ line transmission of an activated tdTomato reporter gene. Our data highlights potential issues with conclusions drawn from using specifically the B6.129(Cg)-Foxp3tm4(YFP/Cre)Ayr/J mice.

Mapping the drivers of within-host pathogen evolution using massive data sets.

Differences among hosts, resulting from genetic variation in the immune system or heterogeneity in drug treatment, can impact within-host pathogen evolution. Genetic association studies can potentially identify such interactions. However, extensive and correlated genetic population structure in hosts and pathogens presents a substantial risk of confounding analyses. Moreover, the multiple testing burden of interaction scanning can potentially limit power. We present a Bayesian approach for detecting host influences on pathogen evolution that exploits vast existing data sets of pathogen diversity to improve power and control for stratification. The approach models key processes, including recombination and selection, and identifies regions of the pathogen genome affected by host factors. Our simulations and empirical analysis of drug-induced selection on the HIV-1 genome show that the method recovers known associations and has superior precision-recall characteristics compared to other approaches. We build a high-resolution map of HLA-induced selection in the HIV-1 genome, identifying novel epitope-allele combinations.

The c-Myc/miR17-92/PTEN Axis Tunes PI3K Activity to Control Expression of Recombination Activating Genes in Early B Cell Development.

Appropriate PI3K signals generated by the antigen receptor are essential to promote B cell development. Regulation of recombination activating gene (RAG)-1 and RAG-2 expression is one key process that is mediated by PI3K to ensure developmental progression and selection. When PI3K signals are too high or too low, expression of RAGs does not turn off and B cell development is impaired or blocked. Yet, the mechanism which tunes PI3K activity to control RAG expression during B cell development in the bone marrow is unknown. Recently we showed that a c-Myc/miR17-92/PTEN axis regulates PI3K activity for positive and negative selection of immature B cells. Here, we show that the c-Myc/miR17-92/PTEN axis tunes PI3K activity to control the expression of RAGs in proB cells. Using different genetically engineered mouse models we show that impaired function of the c-Myc/miR17-92/PTEN axis alters the PI3K/Akt/Foxo1 pathway to result in dis-regulated expression of RAG and a block in B cell development. Studies using 38c-13 B lymphoma cells, where RAGs are constitutively expressed, suggest that this regulatory effect is mediated post-translationally through Foxo1.

Relationship between latent and rebound viruses in a clinical trial of anti-HIV-1 antibody 3BNC117.

A clinical trial was performed to evaluate 3BNC117, a potent anti-HIV-1 antibody, in infected individuals during suppressive antiretroviral therapy and subsequent analytical treatment interruption (ATI). The circulating reservoir was evaluated by quantitative and qualitative viral outgrowth assay (Q2VOA) at entry and after 6 mo. There were no significant quantitative changes in the size of the reservoir before ATI, and the composition of circulating reservoir clones varied in a manner that did not correlate with 3BNC117 sensitivity. 3BNC117 binding site amino acid variants found in rebound viruses preexisted in the latent reservoir. However, only 3 of 217 rebound viruses were identical to 868 latent viruses isolated by Q2VOA and near full-length sequencing. Instead, 63% of the rebound viruses appeared to be recombinants, even in individuals with 3BNC117-resistant reservoir viruses. In conclusion, viruses emerging during ATI in individuals treated with 3BNC117 are not the dominant species found in the circulating latent reservoir, but frequently appear to represent recombinants of latent viruses.

TcR-α recombinations in renal cell carcinoma exome files correlate with an intermediate level of T-cell exhaustion biomarkers.

Renal cell carcinoma exome-derived, V(D)J recombination reads had an elevated presence and variability, for both TcR-α and -ß, when compared to marginal tissue, reflecting an opportunity to assess tumor immunogenicity by comparison with marginal tissue T cells. PD-1, PD-L2, CTLA4 and FOXP3, all of which are implicated in the evasion of an anti-tumor immune response, had a significantly higher expression for samples representing co-detection of productive TcR-α and -ß recombination reads. Samples representing tumors with productive TcR-α recombination reads but no detectable, productive TcR-ß recombination reads, reflected a 20% survival advantage, and RNASeq data indicated an intermediate level of immune checkpoint gene expression for those samples. These results raise the question of whether relatively high levels of detection of productive TcR-α recombination reads, in comparison with detection of reads representing the TcR-ß gene, identify a microenvironment that has not yet entered a T-cell exhaustion phase and may thereby represent conditions for immune enhancements that do not require anti-immune checkpoint therapies.

MicroRNA-146a promotes IgE class switch in B cells via upregulating 14-3-3σ expression.

B cells play a critical role in immune responses both in physiological and pathological conditions, and microRNAs have been shown to play important roles in regulating B cell proliferation and function. MiR-146a has been shown to modulate T cell immunity, but its function in regulating B cell response remains partially understood. Our previous studies indicated that germinal center (GC) B cells are significantly expanded in miR-146a-overexpressing (TG) mice. In this study, we further characterized the roles of miR-146a in regulating humoral immune responses to specific antigens. We found that the production of IgE antibody were significantly elevated in TG mice, while the antibody affinity maturation of IgM and IgG were similar between TG mice and the normal controls. We further found higher IgE antibody levels in TG B cell culture supernatant than that in normal controls. A global protein expression comparison of B cells from TG mice and the normal controls through TMT proteomic assay showed that 14-3-3σ, a key factor of immunoglobulin class switch DNA recombination (CSR) in B cells, was highly up-regulated in B cells with overexpression of miR-146a, while Smad4, the target of miR-146a, was decreased. Using an asthma model induced by OVA immunization, we further confirmed the increased level of OVA specific IgE antibodies in TG mice. These results demonstrate that miR-146a enhances class switch and secretion of IgE in B cells by upregulating 14-3-3σ expression, and suggest that miR-146a may be a potential target for asthma therapy.

CD11b regulates antibody class switching via induction of AID.

The integrin CD11b, which is encoded by the integrin subunit alpha M (ITGAM), is primarily expressed on the surface of innate immune cells. Genetic variations in ITGAM are among the strongest risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies. However, the regulatory function of CD11b in the antibody responses remains unclear. Here, we report the induction of CD11b in activated B2 B cells and define its unexpected role in immunoglobulin heavy chain class switch recombination (CSR). LPS-activated B cells lacking CD11b yielded fewer IgG subtypes such as IgG1 and IgG2a in vitro, and immunization-dependent CSR and affinity maturation of antibodies were severely impaired in CD11b-deficient mice. Notably, we observed the reduced expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), an enzyme that initiates CSR and somatic hypermutation, and ectopic expression of AID was sufficient to rescue the defective CSR of CD11b-deficient B cells. LPS-induced phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and IκBα was attenuated in CD11b-deficient B cells, and hyperactivation of IκB kinase 2 restored the defective AID expression and CSR, which implied that CD11b regulates the NF-κB-dependent induction of AID. Overall, our experimental evidence emphasized the function of CD11b in antibody responses and the role of CD11b as a vital regulator of CSR.

Effects of HDACi on Immunological Functions.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are used as therapeutics for several B cell-derived malignancies. Furthermore, they have been shown to modulate the response of the immune system, like the B cell function. HDACi treatment affects differentiation, proliferation, and survival of B cells. Here we describe how to investigate the effects of HDACi treatment on naïve B cells regarding class-switch recombination (CSR) in vitro using flow cytometry.

Causas del fracaso del tratamiento de la hepatitis C en la era de la terapia antiviral directa / Causes of treatment failure for hepatitis C in the era of direct-acting antiviral therapy

El tratamiento de la hepatitis C en la era de los nuevos agentes antivirales de acción directa ha cambiado radicalmente nuestros esquemas de tratamiento, consiguiendo tasas de respuesta virológica sostenida muy elevadas. Sin embargo, en un subgrupo de pacientes el tratamiento con agentes antivirales directos fracasa. Este colectivo de pacientes a los que podemos denominar como difíciles de curar constituyen el motivo de este artículo, que revisa las causas virológicas del fracaso virológico, sus implicaciones clínicas y algunas recomendaciones finales (AU)

Hepatitis C therapy in the era of the newer direct-acting antiviral agents has radically changed our treatment schemes by achieving very high rates of sustained virological response. However, treatment with direct antiviral agents fails in a subgroup of patients. This group of so-called difficult-to-treat individuals is the subject of this paper, which reviews the causes of virological failure, their clinical implications, and some final recommendations (AU)

Influence of recombination on acquisition and reversion of immune escape and compensatory mutations in HIV-1.

Following transmission, HIV-1 adapts in the new host by acquiring mutations that allow it to escape from the host immune response at multiple epitopes. It also reverts mutations associated with epitopes targeted in the transmitting host but not in the new host. Moreover, escape mutations are often associated with additional compensatory mutations that partially recover fitness costs. It is unclear whether recombination expedites this process of multi-locus adaptation. To elucidate the role of recombination, we constructed a detailed population dynamics model that integrates viral dynamics, host immune response at multiple epitopes through cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and viral evolution driven by mutation, recombination, and selection. Using this model, we compute the expected waiting time until the emergence of the strain that has gained escape and compensatory mutations against the new host's immune response, and reverted these mutations at epitopes no longer targeted. We find that depending on the underlying fitness landscape, shaped by both costs and benefits of mutations, adaptation proceeds via distinct dominant pathways with different effects of recombination, in particular distinguishing escape and reversion. When adaptation at a single epitope is involved, recombination can substantially accelerate immune escape but minimally affects reversion. When multiple epitopes are involved, recombination can accelerate or inhibit adaptation depending on the fitness landscape. Specifically, recombination tends to delay adaptation when a purely uphill fitness landscape is accessible at each epitope, and accelerate it when a fitness valley is associated with each epitope. Our study points to the importance of recombination in shaping the adaptation of HIV-1 following its transmission to new hosts, a process central to T cell-based vaccine strategies.