title: Antigen-armed antibodies targeting B lymphoma cells effectively activate antigen-specific CD4+ T cells.
abstract: The treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas has benefited enormously from the introduction of monoclonal antibody-based therapies. However, the efficacy of these treatments varies with lymphoma subtypes and typically decreases with subsequent relapses. Here, we report on antigen-armed antibodies (AgAbs) as a potential treatment of B-cell lymphoma. AgAbs include antigens from ubiquitous pathogens, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), that persist in their host and elicit strong lifelong T-cell responses. They act as vectors by introducing antigen directly into tumor cells to induce an antigen-specific CD4(+) T-cell response against these cells. We have fused antibodies targeting human B-cell surface receptors (CD19-22) to immunodominant T-cell antigens from EBV proteins, including EBNA1, EBNA3B, and EBNA3C. Exposure of EBV-transformed B cells and of Burkitt lymphoma cells to AgAbs led to antigen presentation, T-cell recognition, and target cell killing. The efficiency of AgAb action paralleled the abundance of the targeted molecules on lymphoma cells as well as their HLA class II expression levels. AgAbs can also induce activation and proliferation of EBV-specific memory CD4(+) T cells ex vivo. These studies show the potential of AgAbs as an effective therapeutic strategy against B-cell lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilecka
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Emmalene J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schneidt
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre Unit F010, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Rauf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Clinical Cooperation Group Pediatric Tumor Immunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum München, München, Germany; Children's Hospital, Technische Universität München, München, Germany; and.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mautner
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feederle
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) Unit F100, Heidelberg, Germany; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit U1074, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Henri-Jacques
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Delecluse
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D011994:Recombinant Proteins