title: An NCR1-based chimeric receptor endows T-cells with multiple anti-tumor specificities.
abstract: The Ral (Ras-like) GTP-binding proteins (RalA and RalB), as effectors of the proto-oncogene Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the anti-tumor response. Tumor recognition by NK cells was found to be partly triggered by molecules termed natural cytotoxic receptors (NCRs). Adoptive transfer of genetically-engineered tumor-reactive T-lymphocytes can mediate remarkable tumor regressions mostly in melanoma and leukemia patients. Yet, the application of such treatments to other cancers is needed and dependent on the isolation of receptors that could facilitate efficient recognition of these malignancies. Herein, we aimed at combining NK tumor recognition capability with the genetic modification of T-cells to provide the latter with a means to recognize several tumors in a non-MHC restricted way. Consequently, we generated and evaluated several chimeric receptors based on the extracellular domain of NCR1 (NKp46) fused to multiple signaling moieties and assess their antitumor activity when retrovirally expressed in T-cells. Following co-culture with different tumors, primary human T-lymphocytes expressing a chimeric NCR1 molecule recognized target cells derived from lung, cervical carcinoma, leukemia and pancreatic cancer. In addition, this receptor mediated an upregulation of surface activation markers and significant antitumor cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. These results have meaningful implications for the immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer using gene-modified T-cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900 Israel.
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaakobi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Miryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horovitz-Fried
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Einav
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Safyon
authors.affiliation: The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Benyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosental
authors.affiliation: The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porgador
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Cyrille J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor