Redirecting human CD4+ T lymphocytes to the MHC class I-restricted melanoma antigen MAGE-A1 by TCR alphabeta gene transfer requires CD8alpha.
Adoptive immunotherapy involving the transfer of autologous tumor or virus-reactive T lymphocytes has demonstrated its effectiveness in the eradication of cancer and virally infected cells. Clinical trails and in vitro studies have focused on CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta lymphocytes since these cells directly kill virally infected- and tumor cells after antigen-specific recognition via their TCR alphabeta. However, increasing evidence suggests that induction of sustained immunity against cancer and viral infections depends on the presence of tumor- or virus-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes, which are restricted by MHC class II. Here, we show that these MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T lymphocytes can efficiently be redirected to MHC class I-restricted tumor cells by retroviral introduction of an HLA-A1/MAGE-A1-specific chimeric two-chain TCR ValphaCalphazeta/VbetaCbetazeta (tcTCR/zeta). However, TCR-transduced CD4+ T lymphocytes were only able to specifically bind to HLA-A1/MAGE-A1 complexes and respond to HLA-A1+/MAGE-A1+ melanoma cells when the CD8alpha gene was cointroduced. These CD4+/CD8alpha+/TCR(POS) T lymphocytes produce IFN-gamma, TNFalpha and IL-2 when specifically stimulated via the introduced TCR with immobilized HLA-A1/MAGE-A1 complexes or HLA-A1+/MAGE-A1+ melanoma cells. Furthermore, introduction of the CD8alpha gene into TCR(POS) T lymphocytes rendered these T lymphocytes cytotoxic for HLA-A1+/MAGE-A1+ melanoma cells. These results demonstrate that human CD4+ T lymphocytes when genetically grafted with an HLA-A1/MAGE-A1-specific TCR and CD8alpha are induced to kill and produce cytokines upon specific interaction with the relevant melanoma cells. Hence, CD4+ T lymphocytes, in addition to CD8+ T lymphocytes, may be critical effector cells for adoptive immuno-gene therapy to generate a sustained tumor-specific immune response in cancer patients.
Willemsen
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R
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Department of Medical Oncology, ErasmusMC-Daniel den Hoed, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Ronteltap
C
C
Heuveling
M
M
Debets
R
R
Bolhuis
R
R
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C409469:CD8 antigen, alpha chain; D007376:Interleukin-2; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma