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Nature Communications Aug 2022Both T cells and B cells have been shown to be generated after infection with SARS-CoV-2 yet protocols or experimental models to study one or the other are less common....
Both T cells and B cells have been shown to be generated after infection with SARS-CoV-2 yet protocols or experimental models to study one or the other are less common. Here, we generate a chimeric protein (SpiN) that comprises the receptor binding domain (RBD) from Spike (S) and the nucleocapsid (N) antigens from SARS-CoV-2. Memory CD4 and CD8 T cells specific for SpiN could be detected in the blood of both individuals vaccinated with Coronavac SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and COVID-19 convalescent donors. In mice, SpiN elicited a strong IFN-γ response by T cells and high levels of antibodies to the inactivated virus, but not detectable neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). Importantly, immunization of Syrian hamsters and the human Angiotensin Convertase Enzyme-2-transgenic (K18-ACE-2) mice with Poly ICLC-adjuvanted SpiN promotes robust resistance to the wild type SARS-CoV-2, as indicated by viral load, lung inflammation, clinical outcome and reduction of lethality. The protection induced by SpiN was ablated by depletion of CD4 and CD8 T cells and not transferred by antibodies from vaccinated mice. Finally, vaccination with SpiN also protects the K18-ACE-2 mice against infection with Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Hence, vaccine formulations that elicit effector T cells specific for the N and RBD proteins may be used to improve COVID-19 vaccines and potentially circumvent the immune escape by variants of concern.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Mice; Nucleocapsid; Nucleocapsid Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
PubMed: 35977933
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32547-y -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition) Jan 2022Stimulation of dendritic cells (DC) is considered critical in cancer immunotherapy. BATF-3-dependent subsets, that express in humans CD141 (BDCA-3), promote CD8 T-cell...
Stimulation of dendritic cells (DC) is considered critical in cancer immunotherapy. BATF-3-dependent subsets, that express in humans CD141 (BDCA-3), promote CD8 T-cell cross-priming against tumor antigens. Here, we evaluate two clinical-grade stimuli for peripheral blood CD141+ myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), a rare DC subset that is currently being explored for use in immunotherapy. In contrast to routine evaluation methods, which focus on predefined maturation markers on the surface or factors released from the activated cells, we applied an unbiased transcriptome-based method using both RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and microarrays. Specifically, we analyzed the mRNA of CD141+ mDCs from five human donors upon activation with two clinical-grade adjuvants, Hiltonol (poly-ICLC, a TLR3 ligand) and protamine RNA (pRNA, a TLR7/8 ligand), and compared these samples to unstimulated counterparts. Both methods, RNA-seq, and microarray showed that Hiltonol and pRNA lead to almost identical changes in the transcriptome of CD141+ mDCs. A gene ontology (GO) term analysis suggested that these changes were mainly related to activation and maturation pathways, including induction of type I IFN and IL-12 transcription, while pathways related to adverse effects or cell damage were not strongly affected. The combination of both reagents in the DC cultures gave a very similar result as compared to either stimulus alone, suggesting no synergistic effect. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrates that microarray and RNA-seq analysis gave similar conclusions about the activation status of these cells. Importantly, microarray analyses instead of the advantages of RNA sequencing may still be suitable for studying the activation of rare cell types that are minimally represented or in very low frequency in the organism. Together, our results indicate that both stimuli are potent clinical grade adjuvants with comparable effects to mature CD141+ mDCs in short-term cultures to be used in immunotherapy.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Dendritic Cells; Humans; Immunotherapy; Ligands; RNA
PubMed: 35320906
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbe1401002 -
Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.) Mar 2022Active surveillance (AS) is the reference standard treatment for the management of low risk prostate cancer (PCa). Accurate assessment of tumor aggressiveness guides...
Unified model involving genomics, magnetic resonance imaging and prostate-specific antigen density outperforms individual co-variables at predicting biopsy upgrading in patients on active surveillance for low risk prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Active surveillance (AS) is the reference standard treatment for the management of low risk prostate cancer (PCa). Accurate assessment of tumor aggressiveness guides recruitment to AS programs to avoid conservative treatment of intermediate and higher risk patients. Nevertheless, underestimating the disease risk may occur in some patients recruited, with biopsy upgrading and the concomitant potential for delayed treatment.
AIM
To evaluate the accuracy of mpMRI and GPS for the prediction of biopsy upgrading during active surveillance (AS) management of prostate cancer (PCa).
METHOD
A retrospective analysis was performed on 144 patients recruited to AS from October 2013 to December 2020. Median follow was 4.8 (IQR 3.6, 6.3) years. Upgrading was defined as upgrading to biopsy grade group ≥2 on follow up biopsies. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to investigate the effect of PSA density (PSAD), baseline Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) v2.1 score and GPS on upgrading. Time-to-event outcome, defined as upgrading, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test.
RESULTS
Overall rate of upgrading was 31.9% (n = 46). PSAD was higher in the patients who were upgraded (0.12 vs. 0.08 ng/ml , p = .005), while no significant difference was present for median GPS in the overall cohort (overall median GPS 21; 22 upgrading vs. 20 no upgrading, p = .2044). On univariable cox proportional hazard regression analysis, the factors associated with increased risk of biopsy upgrading were PSA (HR = 1.30, CI 1.16-1.47, p = <.0001), PSAD (HR = 1.08, CI 1.05-1.12, p = <.0001) and higher PI-RADS score (HR = 3.51, CI 1.56-7.91, p = .0024). On multivariable cox proportional hazard regression analysis, only PSAD (HR = 1.10, CI 1.06-1.14, p = <.001) and high PI-RADS score (HR = 4.11, CI 1.79-9.44, p = .0009) were associated with upgrading. A cox regression model combining these three clinical features (PSAD ≥0.15 ng/ml at baseline, PI-RADS Score and GPS) yielded a concordance index of 0.71 for the prediction of upgrading.
CONCLUSION
In this study PSAD has higher accuracy over baseline PI-RADS score and GPS score for the prediction of PCa upgrading during AS. However, combined use of PSAD, GPS and PI-RADS Score yielded the highest predictive ability with a concordance index of 0.71.
Topics: Genomics; Humans; Image-Guided Biopsy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Watchful Waiting
PubMed: 34931468
DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1492 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Feb 2022BACKGROUNDLong-term prognosis of WHO grade II low-grade gliomas (LGGs) is poor, with a high risk of recurrence and malignant transformation into high-grade gliomas.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUNDLong-term prognosis of WHO grade II low-grade gliomas (LGGs) is poor, with a high risk of recurrence and malignant transformation into high-grade gliomas. Given the relatively intact immune system of patients with LGGs and the slow tumor growth rate, vaccines are an attractive treatment strategy.METHODSWe conducted a pilot study to evaluate the safety and immunological effects of vaccination with GBM6-AD, lysate of an allogeneic glioblastoma stem cell line, with poly-ICLC in patients with LGGs. Patients were randomized to receive the vaccines before surgery (arm 1) or not (arm 2) and all patients received adjuvant vaccines. Coprimary outcomes were to evaluate safety and immune response in the tumor.RESULTSA total of 17 eligible patients were enrolled - 9 in arm 1 and 8 in arm 2. This regimen was well tolerated with no regimen-limiting toxicity. Neoadjuvant vaccination induced upregulation of type-1 cytokines and chemokines and increased activated CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood. Single-cell RNA/T cell receptor sequencing detected CD8+ T cell clones that expanded with effector phenotype and migrated into the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to neoadjuvant vaccination. Mass cytometric analyses detected increased tissue resident-like CD8+ T cells with effector memory phenotype in the TME after the neoadjuvant vaccination.CONCLUSIONThe regimen induced effector CD8+ T cell response in peripheral blood and enabled vaccine-reactive CD8+ T cells to migrate into the TME. Further refinements of the regimen may have to be integrated into future strategies.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT02549833.FUNDINGNIH (1R35NS105068, 1R21CA233856), Dabbiere Foundation, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Daiichi Sankyo Foundation of Life Science.
Topics: Adult; Aged; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cancer Vaccines; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Female; Glioma; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Poly I-C; Polylysine; Tumor Microenvironment; Vaccination
PubMed: 34882581
DOI: 10.1172/JCI151239 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021Understanding the mechanism(s) by which maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation may disrupt neurodevelopment and increase the susceptibility for disorders such...
Understanding the mechanism(s) by which maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation may disrupt neurodevelopment and increase the susceptibility for disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or schizophrenia is a critical step in the development of better treatments and preventive measures. A large body of literature has investigated the pathophysiology of MIA in rodents. However, a translatability gap plagues pre-clinical research of complex behavioral/developmental diseases and those diseases requiring clinical diagnosis, such as ASD. While ideal for their genetic flexibility, vast reagent toolkit, and practicality, rodent models often lack important elements of ethological validity. Hence, our study aimed to develop and characterize the prenatal MIA model in marmosets. Here, we adapted the well-characterized murine maternal immune activation model. Pregnant dams were administered 5 mg/kg poly-L-lysine stabilized polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly ICLC) subcutaneously three times during gestation (gestational day 63, 65, and 67). Dams were allowed to deliver naturally with no further experimental treatments. After parturition, offspring were screened for general health and vigor, and individual assessment of communication development and social behavior was measured during neonatal or adolescent periods. Similar to rodent models, offspring subjected to MIA exhibited a disruption in patterns of communication during early development. Assessment of social behavior in a marmoset-modified 3-chamber test at 3 and 9 months of age revealed alterations in social behavior that, in some instances, was sex-dependent. Together, our data indicate that marmosets are an excellent non-human primate model for investigating the neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences of exposure to prenatal challenges, like MIA. Additional studies are necessary to more completely characterize the effect of prenatal inflammation on marmoset development and explore therapeutic intervention strategies that may be applicable in a clinical setting.
PubMed: 34421684
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705554 -
Annals of Translational Medicine Jun 2021Prognosis of metastatic melanoma has undergone substantial improvement with the discovery of checkpoint inhibitors. Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have improved... (Review)
Review
Prognosis of metastatic melanoma has undergone substantial improvement with the discovery of checkpoint inhibitors. Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have improved the median overall survival (OS) of metastatic melanoma from 6 months to more than 3 years. However, still about half of the patients die due to uncontrolled disease. Therefore, multiple strategies are currently being investigated to improve outcomes. One such strategy is intralesional/intratumoral (IT) therapies which can either directly kill the tumor cells or make the tumor more immunogenic to be recognized by the immune system. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), an oncolytic virus, is the first FDA approved IT therapy. This review focuses on the current status of IT agents currently under clinical trials in melanoma. Reviewed therapies include T-VEC, T-VEC with immune checkpoint inhibitors including ipilimumab and pembrolizumab or other agents, RP1, OrienX010, Canerpaturev (C-REV, HF10), CAVATAK (coxsackievirus A21, CVA21) alone or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic polio/rhinovirus recombinant (PVSRIPO), MAGE-A3-expressing MG1 Maraba virus, VSV-IFNbetaTYRP1, suicide gene therapy, ONCOS-102, OBP-301 (Telomelysin), Stimulation of Interferon Genes Pathway (STING agonists) including DMXAA, MIW815 (ADU-S100) and MK-1454, PV-10, toll-like receptors (TLRs) agonists including TLR-9 agonists (SD-101, CMP-001, IMO-2125 or tilsotolimod, AST-008 or cavrotolimod, MGN1703 or lefitolimod), CV8102, NKTR-262 plus NKTR-214, LHC165, G100, intralesional interleukin-2, Daromun (L19IL2 plus L19TNF), Hiltonol (poly-ICLC), electroporation including calcium electroporation and plasmid interleukin-12 electroporation (pIL-12 EP), IT ipilimumab, INT230-6 (cisplatin and vinblastine with an amphiphilic penetration enhancer), TTI-621 (SIRPαFc), CD-40 agonistic antibodies (ABBV-927 and APX005M), antimicrobial peptide LL37 and other miscellaneous agents.
PubMed: 34277838
DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-491 -
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer Jun 2021While adoptive transfer of T-cells has been a major medical breakthrough for patients with B cell malignancies, the development of safe and effective T-cell-based...
BACKGROUND
While adoptive transfer of T-cells has been a major medical breakthrough for patients with B cell malignancies, the development of safe and effective T-cell-based immunotherapy for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, such as glioblastoma (GBM), still needs to overcome multiple challenges, including effective homing and persistence of T-cells. Based on previous observations that interleukin (IL)-17-producing T-cells can traffic to the CNS in autoimmune conditions, we evaluated CD8 T-cells that produce IL-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (Tc17-1) cells in a preclinical GBM model.
METHODS
We differentiated Pmel-1 CD8 T-cells into Tc17-1 cells and compared their phenotypic and functional characteristics with those of IFN-γ-producing CD8 T (Tc1) and IL-17-producing CD8 T (Tc17) cells. We also evaluated the therapeutic efficacy, persistence, and tumor-homing of Tc17-1 cells in comparison to Tc1 cells using a mouse GL261 glioma model.
RESULTS
In vitro, Tc17-1 cells demonstrated profiles of both Tc1 and Tc17 cells, including production of both IFN-γ and IL-17, although Tc17-1 cells demonstrated lesser degrees of antigen-specific cytotoxic activity compared with Tc1 cells. In mice-bearing intracranial GL261-Quad tumor and treated with temozolomide, Tc1 cells, but not Tc17-1, showed a significant prolongation of survival. However, when the T-cell transfer was combined with poly-ICLC and Pmel-1 peptide vaccine, both Tc1 and Tc17-1 cells exhibited significantly prolonged survival associated with upregulation of very late activation antigen-4 on Tc17-1 cells in vivo. Glioma cells that recurred following the therapy lost the susceptibility to Pmel-1-derived cytotoxic T-cells, indicating that immuno-editing was a mechanism of the acquired resistance.
CONCLUSIONS
Tc17-1 cells were equally effective as Tc1 cells when combined with poly-ICLC and peptide vaccine treatment.
Topics: CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Glioma; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-17; Poly I-C; Polylysine; Vaccines, Subunit
PubMed: 34193567
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002426 -
Journal of Experimental & Clinical... Jun 2021Immunotherapy is currently under intensive investigation as a potential breakthrough treatment option for glioblastoma. Given the anatomical and immunological... (Review)
Review
Immunotherapy is currently under intensive investigation as a potential breakthrough treatment option for glioblastoma. Given the anatomical and immunological complexities surrounding glioblastoma, lymphocytes that infiltrate the brain to develop durable immunity with memory will be key. Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, or poly(I:C), and its derivative poly-ICLC could serve as a priming or boosting therapy to unleash lymphocytes and other factors in the (immuno)therapeutic armory against glioblastoma. Here, we present a systematic review on the effects and efficacy of poly(I:C)/poly-ICLC for glioblastoma treatment, ranging from preclinical work on cellular and murine glioblastoma models to reported and ongoing clinical studies. MEDLINE was searched until 15 May 2021 to identify preclinical (glioblastoma cells, murine models) and clinical studies that investigated poly(I:C) or poly-ICLC in glioblastoma. A systematic review approach was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. ClinicalTrials.gov was queried for ongoing clinical studies. Direct pro-tumorigenic effects of poly(I:C) on glioblastoma cells have not been described. On the contrary, poly(I:C) changes the immunological profile of glioblastoma cells and can also kill them directly. In murine glioblastoma models, poly(I:C) has shown therapeutic relevance as an adjuvant therapy to several treatment modalities, including vaccination and immune checkpoint blockade. Clinically, mostly as an adjuvant to dendritic cell or peptide vaccines, poly-ICLC has been demonstrated to be safe and capable of eliciting immunological activity to boost therapeutic responses. Poly-ICLC could be a valuable tool to enhance immunotherapeutic approaches for glioblastoma. We conclude by proposing several promising combination strategies that might advance glioblastoma immunotherapy and discuss key pre-clinical aspects to improve clinical translation.
Topics: Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cancer Vaccines; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Clinical Trials as Topic; Glioblastoma; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Mice; Poly I-C; Polylysine
PubMed: 34172082
DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02017-2 -
Cancers May 2021Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-poly-l-lysine carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC) is a synthetic double-stranded viral RNA analog widely tested as a component of human...
Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-poly-l-lysine carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC) is a synthetic double-stranded viral RNA analog widely tested as a component of human therapeutic cancer vaccines and as a standalone agent for treating human cancers. However, there are no reports on the use of poly-ICLC for treating canine cancers. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy, quality of life (QL), and adverse events of poly-ICLC treatment in dogs with advanced cancers. The treatment protocol consisted of weekly intratumoral doses of poly-ICLC. The canine patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and imaging tests, and their owners answered weekly QL questionnaires. Fourteen canine patients with different types of spontaneous advanced tumors were enrolled. Most dogs had received prior conventional therapies. Five dogs received at least 12 doses of poly-ICLC: the injected tumor was stable in three dogs, there was a partial response in one, and the injected tumor significantly enlarged in the other. The QL scoring remained stable or increased in most cases. Mild adverse events related to poly-ICLC were observed in 10 of the 14 patients. The data showed that intratumoral poly-ICLC therapy was well tolerated in dogs with advanced cancers, with clinical benefit and improved QL scores observed in some dogs.
PubMed: 34066908
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092237 -
NPJ Vaccines May 2021Natural and vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 immunity in humans has been described but correlates of protection are not yet defined. T cells support the SARS-CoV-2 antibody...
Natural and vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 immunity in humans has been described but correlates of protection are not yet defined. T cells support the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response, clear virus-infected cells, and may be required to block transmission. In this study, we identified peptide epitopes associated with SARS-CoV-2 T-cell immunity. Using immunoinformatic methods, T-cell epitopes from spike, membrane, and envelope were selected for maximal HLA-binding potential, coverage of HLA diversity, coverage of circulating virus, and minimal potential cross-reactivity with self. Direct restimulation of PBMCs collected from SARS-CoV-2 convalescents confirmed 66% of predicted epitopes, whereas only 9% were confirmed in naive individuals. However, following a brief period of epitope-specific T-cell expansion, both cohorts demonstrated robust T-cell responses to 97% of epitopes. HLA-DR3 transgenic mouse immunization with peptides co-formulated with poly-ICLC generated a potent Th1-skewed, epitope-specific memory response, alleviating safety concerns of enhanced respiratory disease associated with Th2 induction. Taken together, these epitopes may be used to improve our understanding of natural and vaccine-induced immunity, and to facilitate the development of T-cell-targeted vaccines that harness pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 immunity.
PubMed: 33986292
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00331-6