title: The effect of dexamethasone on polyclonal T cell activation and redirected target cell lysis as induced by a CD19/CD3-bispecific single-chain antibody construct.
abstract: BiTE molecules comprise a new class of bispecific single-chain antibodies redirecting previously unstimulated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells for the elimination of target cells. One example is MT103 (MEDI-538; bscCD19xCD3), a CD19-specific BiTE that can induce lysis of normal and malignant B cells at low picomolar concentrations, which is accompanied by T cell activation. Here, we explored in cell culture the impact of the glucocorticoid derivative dexamethasone on various activation parameters of human T cells in response to MT103. In case cytokine-related side effects should occur with BiTE molecules and other T cell-based approaches during cancer therapy it is important to understand whether glucocorticoids do interfere with the cytotoxic potential of T cells. We found that MT103 induced in the presence of target cells secretion by peripheral T cells of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-6, IL-10 and IL-4 into the cell culture medium. Production of all studied cytokines was effectively reduced by dexamethasone at a concentration between 1 and 3x10(-7) M. In contrast, upregulation of activation markers CD69, CD25, CD2 and LFA-1 on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and T cell proliferation were barely affected by the steroid hormone analogue. Most importantly, dexamethasone did not detectably inhibit the cytotoxic activity of MT103-activated T cells against a human B lymphoma line as investigated with lymphocytes from 12 human donors. Glucocorticoids thus qualify as a potential co-medication for therapeutic BiTE molecules and other cytotoxic T cell therapies for treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Micromet AG, Staffelseestr. 2, 814777, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandl
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: d'Argouges
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kufer
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brischwein
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prang
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bargou
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzich
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baeuerle
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmeister
mesh_terms: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; C510808:blinatumomab; D003907:Dexamethasone