Dataset Information

Rapid production of clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether the frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are sufficiently high in the blood of convalescent donors and whether it is technically feasible to manufacture clinical-grade products overnight for T-cell therapy and assessment of COVID-19 immunity.

Methods

One unit of whole blood or leukapheresis was collected from each donor following standard blood bank practices. The leukocytes were stimulated using overlapping peptides of SARS-CoV-2, covering the immunodominant sequence domains of the S protein and the complete sequence of the N and M proteins. Thereafter, functionally reactive cells were enriched overnight using an automated device capturing IFNγ-secreting cells.

Results

From 1 × 10⁹ leukocytes, a median of 0.98 × 10⁶ (range 0.56-2.95) IFNγ + T cells were produced from each of the six donors, suggesting a high frequency of SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells in their blood, even though only one donor had severe COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation whereas the other five donors had minor symptoms. A median of 57% of the enriched T cells were IFNγ+ (range 20%-74%), with preferential enrichment of CD56+ T cells and effector memory T cells. TCRVβ-spectratyping confirmed distinctively tall oligoclonal peaks in final products. With just six donors, the probability that a recipient would share at least one HLA allele with one of the donors is >88% among Caucasian, >95% among Chinese, >97% among Malay, and >99% among Indian populations.

Conclusions

High frequencies of rapid antigen-reactive T cells were found in convalescent donors, regardless of severity of COVID-19. The feasibility of clinical-grade production of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells overnight for therapeutics and diagnostics is revealed.

SUBMITTER: Leung W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7404427 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Rapid production of clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells.

Leung Wing W Soh Teck Guan TG Linn Yeh Ching YC Low Jenny Guek-Hong JG Loh Jiashen J Chan Marieta M Chng Wee Joo WJ Koh Liang Piu LP Poon Michelle Li-Mei ML Ng King Pan KP Kuick Chik Hong CH Tan Thuan Tong TT Tan Lip Kun LK Seng Michaela Su-Fern MS

Advances in cell and gene therapy 20200731 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine whether the frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are sufficiently high in the blood of convalescent donors and whether it is technically feasible to manufacture clinical-grade products overnight for T-cell therapy and assessment of COVID-19 immunity.<h4>Methods</h4>One unit of whole blood or leukapheresis was collected from each donor following standard blood bank practices. The leukocytes were stimulated using overlapping peptides of SARS-CoV-2, covering th ...[more]

PMID: 32838213

Similar Datasets

Project description:Objectives: Evaluation of the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell manufacturing for adoptive T cell transfer in COVID-19 patients at risk to develop severe disease. Methods: Antiviral SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detected in blood of convalescent COVID-19 patients following stimulation with PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select using Interferon-gamma Enzyme-Linked Immunospot (IFN-γ ELISpot), SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Analysis Kit (Whole Blood) and Cytokine Secretion Assay (CSA) and were characterized with respect to memory phenotype, activation state and cytotoxic potential by multicolor flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR and multiplex analyses. Clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell products were generated by stimulation with MACS GMP PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select using CliniMACS Prodigy and CliniMACS Cytokine Capture System (IFN-gamma) (CCS). Functionality of enriched T cells was investigated in cytotoxicity assays and by multiplex analysis of secreted cytotoxic molecules upon target recognition. Results: Donor screening via IFN-γ ELISpot allows for pre-selection of potential donors for generation of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. Antiviral T cells reactive against PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select could be magnetically enriched from peripheral blood of convalescent COVID-19 patients by small-scale CSA resembling the clinical-grade CCS manufacturing process and showed an activated and cytotoxic T cell phenotype. Four clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell products were successfully generated with sufficient cell numbers and purities comparable to those observed in donor pretesting via CSA. The T cells in the generated products were shown to be capable to replicate, specifically recognize and kill target cells in vitro and secrete cytotoxic molecules upon target recognition. Cell viability, total CD3+ cell number, proliferative capacity and cytotoxic potential remained stable throughout storage of up to 72 h after end of leukapheresis. Conclusion: Clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are functional, have proliferative capacity and target-specific cytotoxic potential. Their function and phenotype remain stable for several days after enrichment. The adoptive transfer of partially matched, viable human SARS-CoV-2-specific T lymphocytes collected from convalescent individuals may provide the opportunity to support the immune system of COVID-19 patients at risk for severe disease.

Dataset Information

Rapid production of clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Rapid production of clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells.

Similar Datasets

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