Modeling the CD8+ T Effector to Memory Transition in Adoptive T-Cell Antitumor Immunotherapy (original) (raw)

Therapeutic limitations in tumor-specific CD8+ memory T cell engraftment

BMC cancer, 2003

Adoptive immunotherapy with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) represents an alternative approach to treating solid tumors. Ideally, this would confer long-term protection against tumor. We previously demonstrated that in vitro-generated tumor-specific CTL from the ovalbumin (OVA)-specific OT-I T cell receptor transgenic mouse persisted long after adoptive transfer as memory T cells. When recipient mice were challenged with the OVA-expressing E.G7 thymoma, tumor growth was delayed and sometimes prevented. The reasons for therapeutic failures were not clear. OT-I CTL were adoptively transferred to C57BL/6 mice 21-28 days prior to tumor challenge. At this time, the donor cells had the phenotypical and functional characteristics of memory CD8+ T cells. Recipients which developed tumor despite adoptive immunotherapy were analyzed to evaluate the reason(s) for therapeutic failure. Dose-response studies demonstrated that the degree of tumor protection was directly proportional to the number of...

Antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell help is required to activate a memory CD8+ T cell to a fully functional tumor killer cell

Cancer research, 2002

Although the importance of CD4+ T-cell help for generation of an effective CD8+ effector cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response is well established, the role of T-cell help in the activation of memory T cells to become fully functional tumor killer cells is undefined. Using synthetic peptide immunizations corresponding to the major CTLs and T-helper epitopes of ovalbumin, adoptive transfers of ovalbumin-specific memory CTLs (mCTLs), and ovalbumin as the tumor-specific antigen in a mouse tumor model, we have determined that T help is essential for the activation of mCTLs to kill tumors. Our data show that T-helper cells specific for the tumor-associated antigen are required for the reactivation of mCTLs by antigen presented indirectly from tumor. In contrast, effector CTLs do not need T help to kill tumors. These results have implications for induction of tumor immunotherapy by immunization.

The Tumoricidal Activity of Memory CD8+ T Cells Is Hampered by Persistent Systemic Antigen, but Full Functional Capacity Is Regained in an Antigen-Free Environment

The Journal of Immunology, 2004

Naive T cells can be tolerized in the periphery by diverse mechanisms. However, the extent to which memory T cells are susceptible to tolerance induction is less well defined. Vaccination of mice with a minimal CTL epitope derived from human adenovirus type 5 E1A in IFA s.c. readily tolerizes naive as well as recently activated CD8 ؉ T cells due to the overwhelming systemic and persistent presence of the peptide. We have now studied the effect of this peptide on established memory cells, which were induced at least 50 days before by virus vaccination. Memory cells did not undergo peripheral deletion and kept their ability to produce IFN-␥ as well as their cytolytic activity in response to Ag directly ex vivo. However, memory CTL responses in virus vaccinated mice injected with peptide ceased to control tumor outgrowth. Interestingly, functional capacities were regained when T cells were transferred to an Ag-free environment in vivo as determined by their ability to reject an otherwise lethal tumor challenge. Together, these findings indicate that memory CTL responses can be functionally incapacitated, but are not, in contrast to naive or recently activated T cells, irreversibly tolerized by persistent systemic Ag, as memory T cells quickly regain effector function upon disappearance of the Ag.

Adoptively transferred effector cells derived from naive rather than central memory CD8+ T cells mediate superior antitumor immunity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009

Effector cells derived from central memory CD8 ؉ T cells were reported to engraft and survive better than those derived from effector memory populations, suggesting that they are superior for use in adoptive immunotherapy studies. However, previous studies did not evaluate the relative efficacy of effector cells derived from naïve T cells. We sought to investigate the efficacy of tumor-specific effector cells derived from naïve or central memory T-cell subsets using transgenic or retrovirally transduced T cells engineered to express a tumor-specific T-cell receptor. We found that naïve, rather than central memory T cells, gave rise to an effector population that mediated superior antitumor immunity upon adoptive transfer. Effector cells developed from naïve T cells lost the expression of CD62L more rapidly than those derived from central memory T cells, but did not acquire the expression of KLRG-1, a marker for terminal differentiation and replicative senescence. Consistent with this KLRG-1 ؊ phenotype, naïve-derived cells were capable of a greater proliferative burst and had enhanced cytokine production after adoptive transfer. These results indicate that insertion of genes that confer antitumor specificity into naïve rather than central memory CD8 ؉ T cells may allow superior efficacy upon adoptive transfer.

Central memory self/tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells confer superior antitumor immunity compared with effector memory T cells

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2005

Central memory CD8 ؉ T cells (TCM) and effector memory CD8 ؉ T cells (TEM) are found in humans and mice; however, their relative contributions to host immunity have only recently been examined in vivo. Further, the ability of TCM to treat an established tumor or infection has yet to be evaluated. To address the therapeutic potential of different tumor-reactive CD8 ؉ T cell memory subsets, we used an established model for the in vitro generation of TCM and TEM by using IL-15 and IL-2, respectively. Adoptively transferred TCM exhibited a potent in vivo recall response when combined with tumor-antigen vaccination and exogenous IL-2, leading to the eradication of large established tumors. By contrast, TEM were far less effective on a per-cell basis. Microarray analysis revealed that the signature of highly in vivo effective antitumor T cells included the overexpression of genes responsible for trafficking to secondary lymphoid tissues. This gene expression profile correctly predicted the in vitro and in vivo lymphoid-homing attributes of tumor-reactive T cells. Furthermore, we found that homing to secondary lymphoid tissue is required for optimal tumor treatment. Our findings indicated that highly in vivo effective antitumor T cells were those that initially targeted secondary lymphoid tissue, rather than tumor sites, as had previously been postulated. Thus, tumor-reactive CD8 ؉ T cell populations with the phenotypic and functional attributes of TCM may be superior to

Synergy of brief activation of CD8 T-cells in the presence of IL-12 and adoptive transfer into lymphopenic hosts promotes tumor clearance and anti-tumor memory

Adoptive T-cell therapy holds great promise for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. However, prohibitive costs associated with current technology required for culture and expansion of tumorreactive T-cells, the need for intense preconditioning regimens to induce lymphopenia, and the unpredictable anti-tumor effect of adoptively transferred T-cells remain significant impediments for its clinical implementation. Here we report a simplified combinatorial approach that involves short activation of CD8 + T cells in the presence of IL-12 followed by adoptive transfer into tumor bearing animals after a single injection of cyclophosphamide. This approach resulted in complete eradication of B16 melanoma, and the establishment of long term immunological memory capable of fully protecting mice after a second B16 melanoma challenge. The activated donor cells were unique because they simultaneously exhibited traits for cytotoxic effector function, central memory-like, homing, and senescence. After tumor eradication and within three months after transfer, CD8+ cells exhibited a conventional memory CTL phenotype. Moreover, these memory CTLs acquired functional attributes characteristic of memory stem cells, including the ability to resist chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Our results suggest that short-term T-cell receptor signaling in the presence of IL-12 promotes promiscuous qualities in naïve CTL which -upon transfer into lymphopenic hosts-are sufficient to eradicate tumors and generate life-long tumor-specific memory.

Enhanced anti-tumour immunity requires the interplay between resident and circulating memory CD8(+) T cells

Nature communications, 2017

The goal of successful anti-tumoural immunity is the development of long-term protective immunity to prevent relapse. Infiltration of tumours with CD8(+) T cells with a resident memory (Trm) phenotype correlates with improved survival. However, the interplay of circulating CD8(+) T cells and Trm cells remains poorly explored in tumour immunity. Using different vaccination strategies that fine-tune the generation of Trm cells or circulating memory T cells, here we show that, while both subsets are sufficient for anti-tumour immunity, the presence of Trm cells improves anti-tumour efficacy. Transferred central memory T cells (Tcm) generate Trm cells following viral infection or tumour challenge. Anti-PD-1 treatment promotes infiltration of transferred Tcm cells within tumours, improving anti-tumour immunity. Moreover, Batf3-dependent dendritic cells are essential for reactivation of circulating memory anti-tumour response. Our findings show the plasticity, collaboration and requiremen...