title: Redirecting effector T cells through their IL-2 receptors.
abstract: Fusion proteins constructed of a tumor-specific Ab joined to IL-2 (Ab-IL-2) have been used in the past to deliver cytokine directly to the site of tumor cells in vivo. These molecules mimic the activity of IL-2 and assist in activating and expanding antitumor effector cells. To enhance the cytolytic activity of CTL specific for peptide epitopes of the Her-2/neu tumor Ag presented by HLA-A*0201 molecules, a fusion protein was constructed consisting of a single chain Ab specific for Her-2/neu, linked to IL-2 (neu-Ab-IL-2). When added to a mixture of tumor cells and Her-2/neu-specific CTL, the protein was found to augment lysis of tumor cells. In addition, the hybrid molecule also promoted lysis of Her-2/neu expressing tumors by non-tumor-specific cloned T cell lines, including Th1 CD4 cells. Analysis of the mechanism of cytotoxicity revealed that the fusion protein mediates the formation of stable conjugates between T cells expressing IL-2R and tumor cells expressing Her-2/neu, resulting in lysis through the Fas-Fas ligand pathway. Lysis induction was independent of specific engagement by the TCR. When tested for its ability to enhance tumor cell eradication by Her-2/neu-specific CD8+ T cells in an adoptive transfer model in SCID mice, neu-Ab-IL-2 facilitated the elimination of tumor cells in vivo. Surprisingly, the combination of non-tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and fusion protein also induced a significant delay of tumor growth. This represents a novel approach for redirecting non-tumor-specific T cells to eliminate tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lustgarten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C055966:immunoglobulin Fv