title: Multiparameter comparative analysis reveals differential impacts of various cytokines on CART cell phenotype and function ex vivo and in vivo.
abstract: Exogenous cytokines are widely applied to enhance the anti-tumor ability of immune cells. However, systematic comparative studies of their effects on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CART) cells are lacking. In this study, CART cells targeting folate receptor-alpha were generated and expanded ex vivo in the presence of different cytokines (IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-21), and their expansion, phenotype and cytotoxic capacity were evaluated, in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the effect of the administration of these cytokines along with CART cells in vivo was also studied. IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 favored the ex vivo expansion of CART cells compared to other cytokines or no cytokine treatment. IL-7 induced the highest proportion of memory stem cell-like CART cells in the final product, and IL-21 supported the expansion of CART cells with a younger phenotype, while IL-2 induced more differentiated CART cells. IL-2 and IL-15-exposed CART cells secreted more proinflammatory cytokines and presented stronger tumor-lysis ability in vitro. However, when tested in vivo, CART cells exposed to IL-2 ex vivo showed the least anti-tumor effect. In contrast, the administration of IL-15 and IL-21 in combination with CART cells in vivo increased their tumor killing capacity. According to our results, IL-7 and IL-15 show promise to promote ex vivo expansion of CART cells, while IL-15 and IL-21 seem better suited for in vivo administration after CART cell infusion. Collectively, these results may have a profound impact on the efficacy of CART cells in both hematologic and solid cancers.
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|Department of Hematology Oncology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: De-Gang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poussin
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Qunrui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Prannda
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology Oncology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
keywords: T cells; adoptive immunotherapy; chimeric antigen receptor; cytokine; ovarian cancer