T cell receptor-targeted immunotherapeutics drive selective in vivo HIV- and CMV-specific T cell expansion in humanized mice

To delineate the in vivo role of different costimulatory signals in activating and expanding highly functional virus-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, we designed synTacs, infusible biologics that recapitulate antigen-specific T cell activation signals delivered by antigen-presenting cells. We constructed synTacs consisting of dimeric Fc-domain scaffolds linking CD28- or 4-1BB-specific ligands to HLA-A2 MHC molecules covalently tethered to HIV- or CMV-derived peptides. Treatment of HIV-infected donor PBMCs with synTacs bearing HIV- or CMV-derived peptides induced vigorous and selective ex vivo expansion of highly functional HIV- and/or CMV-specific CD8+ T cells, respectively, with potent antiviral activities. Intravenous injection of HIV- or CMV-specific synTacs into immunodeficient mice intrasplenically engrafted with donor PBMCs markedly and selectively expanded HIV-specific (32-fold) or CMV-specific (46-fold) human CD8+ T cells populating their spleens. Notably, these expanded HIV- or CMV-specific CD8+ T cells directed potent in vivo suppression of HIV or CMV infections in the humanized mice, providing strong rationale for consideration of synTac-based approaches as a therapeutic strategy to cure HIV and treat CMV and other viral infections. The synTac platform flexibility supports facile delineation of in vivo effects of different costimulatory signals on patient-derived virus-specific CD8+ T cells, enabling optimization of individualized therapies, including HIV cure strategies.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:131

Enthalten in:

The Journal of clinical investigation - 131(2021), 23 vom: 01. Dez.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Li, Mengyan [VerfasserIn]
Garforth, Scott J [VerfasserIn]
O'Connor, Kaitlyn E [VerfasserIn]
Su, Hang [VerfasserIn]
Lee, Danica M [VerfasserIn]
Celikgil, Alev [VerfasserIn]
Chaparro, Rodolfo J [VerfasserIn]
Seidel, Ronald D [VerfasserIn]
Jones, R Brad [VerfasserIn]
Arav-Boger, Ravit [VerfasserIn]
Almo, Steven C [VerfasserIn]
Goldstein, Harris [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

AIDS/HIV
Biological Products
Costimulation
HLA-A2 Antigen
Immunology
Journal Article
Ligands
Peptides
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
T cells

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 10.01.2022

Date Revised 02.03.2022

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1172/JCI141051

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM332137511