Deletion of the inhibitory co-receptor CTLA-4 enhances and invigorates chimeric antigen receptor T cells
- PMID: 37776850
- PMCID: PMC10591801
- DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.001
Deletion of the inhibitory co-receptor CTLA-4 enhances and invigorates chimeric antigen receptor T cells
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting CD19 has achieved tremendous success treating B cell malignancies; however, some patients fail to respond due to poor autologous T cell fitness. To improve response rates, we investigated whether disruption of the co-inhibitory receptors CTLA4 or PD-1 could restore CART function. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of CTLA4 in preclinical models of leukemia and myeloma improved CAR T cell proliferation and anti-tumor efficacy. Importantly, this effect was specific to CTLA4 and not seen upon deletion of CTLA4 and/or PDCD1 in CAR T cells. Mechanistically, CTLA4 deficiency permitted unopposed CD28 signaling and maintenance of CAR expression on the T cell surface under conditions of high antigen load. In clinical studies, deletion of CTLA4 rescued the function of T cells from patients with leukemia that previously failed CAR T cell treatment. Thus, selective deletion of CTLA4 reinvigorates dysfunctional chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patient T cells, providing a strategy for increasing patient responses to CAR T cell therapy.
Keywords: CAR T cells; CRISPR-Cas9; CTLA4; PD-1; T cell exhaustion; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; cancer immunotherapy; checkpoint blockade; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; resistance.
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of interests A.J.R. is a consultant for Affini-T Therapeutics. M.R. is the scientific founder of viTToria bio and is an inventor of intellectual property (IP) managed by Penn and licensed to Novartis, Tmunity, and viTToria. M.R. is part of the SAB of ABClon, viTToria bio, and Scailyte and has served as a consultant for GLG, BMS, GSK, nanoString, Sana, Bayer. M.M.D. is a consultant and has received research funding from Tmunity Therapeutics and is a consultant and member of the scientific advisory board for Cellares Corporation. J.A.F. is a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of Cartography Bio. and Shennon Biotechnologies Inc. and has patents, royalties, and other intellectual property. D.L.P. has a consulting or advisory role at Novartis, Kite/Gilead, Incyte, Gerson Lehrman Group, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), BMS, Bluebird Bio, Angiocrine, Mirror Biologics, Capstan Therapeutics, Instill Bio, Sana Biotherapeutics, and Verismo Therapeutics and research support from Novartis. D.L.P. is a patent inventor for use of CAR T cells in CD19+ malignancies. D.L.P. served as Chair of Board of Directors for National Marrow Donor Program from October 2018 to October 2020. D.L.P. is Associate Editor for Am J Hematology, Wiley and Deputy editor for Transplant and Cell Therapy (ASTCT Journal), Elsevier. D.L.P. spouse has stock and other ownership interests with Genentech and Roche from former employment. C.H.J. is an inventor of patents related to the CAR therapy product, which is the subject of this paper, as well as other CAR therapy products, and may be eligible to receive a select portion of royalties paid from Kite to the University of Pennsylvania. C.H.J. is a scientific co-founder and holds equity in Capstan Therapeutics, Dispatch Biotherapeutics, and Bluewhale Bio. C.H.J. serves on the board of AC Immune and is a scientific advisor to BluesphereBio, Cabaletta, Carisma, Cartography, Cellares, Cellcarta, Celldex, Danaher, Decheng, ImmuneSensor, Kite, Poseida, Verismo, Viracta, and WIRB-Copernicus group. C.H.J., R.M.Y., M.M.D., M.R., and D.L.P. are inventors on patents and/or patent applications licensed to Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research and Kite and may receive license revenue from such licenses.
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Comment in
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Releasing the brake: CTLA-4 loss turbocharges CAR T cells.Immunity. 2023 Oct 10;56(10):2180-2182. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.006. Immunity. 2023. PMID: 37820579
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