TNFRSF14 aberrations in follicular lymphoma increase clinically significant allogeneic T-cell responses.
Donor T-cell immune responses can eradicate lymphomas after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), but can also damage healthy tissues resulting in harmful graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Next-generation sequencing has recently identified many new genetic lesions in follicular lymphoma (FL). One such gene, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 14 (TNFRSF14), abnormal in 40% of FL patients, encodes the herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) which limits T-cell activation via ligation of the B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator. As lymphoma B cells can act as antigen-presenting cells, we hypothesized that TNFRSF14 aberrations that reduce HVEM expression could alter the capacity of FL B cells to stimulate allogeneic T-cell responses and impact the outcome of AHSCT. In an in vitro model of alloreactivity, human lymphoma B cells with TNFRSF14 aberrations had reduced HVEM expression and greater alloantigen-presenting capacity than wild-type lymphoma B cells. The increased immune-stimulatory capacity of lymphoma B cells with TNFRSF14 aberrations had clinical relevance, associating with higher incidence of acute GVHD in patients undergoing AHSCT. FL patients with TNFRSF14 aberrations may benefit from more aggressive immunosuppression to reduce harmful GVHD after transplantation. Importantly, this study is the first to demonstrate the impact of an acquired genetic lesion on the capacity of tumor cells to stimulate allogeneic T-cell immune responses which may have wider consequences for adoptive immunotherapy strategies.
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Eleni
E
Kotsiou
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Jessica
J
Okosun
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Caroline
C
Besley
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Sameena
S
Iqbal
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Janet
J
Matthews
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Jude
J
Fitzgibbon
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
John G
JG
Gribben
Centre for Haemato-oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom.
Jeffrey K
JK
Davies
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14; C506028:TNFRSF14 protein, human