title: Redirecting αβ T cells against cancer cells by transfer of a broadly tumor-reactive γδT-cell receptor.
abstract: Major limitations of currently investigated αβT cells redirected against cancer by transfer of tumor-specific αβTCR arise from their low affinity, MHC restriction, and risk to mediate self-reactivity after pairing with endogenous α or βTCR chains. Therefore, the ability of a defined γ9δ2TCR to redirect αβT cells selectively against tumor cells was tested and its molecular interaction with a variety of targets investigated. Functional analysis revealed that a γ9δ2TCR efficiently reprograms both CD4(+) and CD8(+) αβT cells against a broad panel of cancer cells while ignoring normal cells, and substantially reduces but does not completely abrogate alloreactivity. γ9δ2TCR-transduced αβT cells reduced colony formation of progenitor cells of primary acute myeloid leukemia blasts and inhibited leukemia growth in a humanized mouse model. Thereby, metabolites of a dysregulated mevalonate pathway are targeted and the additional application of widely used biphosphonates is crucial for in vivo efficacy most likely because of its modulating effect on cytokine secretion of γ9δ2TCR-transduced αβT cells. Expression of NKG2D ligands and F1-ATPase contributed to the activity of γ9δ2TCR-transduced αβT cells but were not mandatory. In summary, γ9δ2 TCRs are an attractive alternative to broadly redirect αβT cells against cancer cells with both an improved efficacy and safety profile compared with currently used αβTCRs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marcu-Malina
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heijhuurs
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Buuren
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hartkamp
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sebestyen
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuball
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta