Novel adoptive T-cell immunotherapy using a WT1-specific TCR vector encoding silencers for endogenous TCRs shows marked antileukemia reactivity and safety

Blood. 2011 Aug 11;118(6):1495-503. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-02-337089. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Abstract

Adoptive T-cell therapy for malignancies using redirected T cells genetically engineered by tumor antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer is associated with mispairing between introduced and endogenous TCR chains with unknown specificity. Therefore, deterioration of antitumor reactivity and serious autoimmune reactivity are major concerns. To address this problem, we have recently established a novel retroviral vector system encoding siRNAs for endogenous TCR genes (siTCR vector). In this study, to test the clinical application of siTCR gene therapy for human leukemia, we examined in detail the efficacy and safety of WT1-siTCR-transduced T cells. Compared with conventional WT1-TCR (WT1-coTCR) gene-transduced T cells, these cells showed significant enhancement of antileukemia reactivity resulting from stronger expression of the introduced WT1-specific TCR with inhibition of endogenous TCRs. Notably, WT1-siTCR gene-transduced T cells were remarkably expandable after repetitive stimulation with WT1 peptide in vitro, without any deterioration of antigen specificity. WT1-siTCR gene-transduced T cells from leukemia patients successfully lysed autologous leukemia cells, but not normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. In a mouse xenograft model, adoptively transferred WT1-siTCR gene-transduced T cells exerted distinct antileukemia efficacy but did not inhibit human hematopoiesis. Our results suggest that gene-immunotherapy for leukemia using this WT1-siTCR system holds considerable promise.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / deficiency
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / genetics
  • Jurkat Cells
  • K562 Cells
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Leukemia / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, SCID
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • WT1 Proteins / chemistry
  • WT1 Proteins / genetics*
  • WT1 Proteins / immunology
  • WT1 Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • WT1 Proteins