Project description:Next Generation Sequencing of Immunized Mouse Splenocytes to Develop an anti-TIM3 Chimeric Antigen Receptor for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Project description:One major challenge in the development of successful chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been that most well-studied AML-associated antigens are also expressed on vital normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or mature myeloid cells. This challenge in optimal antigen selection leads to deleterious on-target toxicity, particularly in the context of CAR T cell persistence. CAR T cells targeting CD371, a type II transmembrane glycoprotein, have shown potent anti-leukemic activity in phase I trials to date; however, CD371 is wildly expressed throughout the normal myeloid compartment. Here we identify that CD371 is dispensable for normal human HSC and myeloid cell function, map the epitope of a CD371 CAR T cell currently in phase I trials, develop a base-editing strategy to shield normal hematopoiesis from CD371-directed immunotherapy, and describe an off-the-shelf approach to target AML while sparing normal hematopoiesis through the use of CD371 CAR T cells.
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains challenging, primarily due to the lack of specific cell surface antigens that are highly expressed on leukemic blasts but largely absent on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and healthy tissues. TCR-like CAR-T therapy targeting intracellular antigens provides a novel strategy for the treatment of AML. In this study, we aimed to develop nanobodies targeting the intracellular antigen PRAME and to establish a novel nanobody-based TCR-like CAR-T cell therapy directed against the peptide-MHC complex PRAME425-433/HLA-A2.
Project description:Spike-specific T and B cells from splenocytes of immunized mice were profiled with 10x sequencing for gene expression (Chromium Next Automated GEM 5’ v2 kit), cell surface marker (Chromium Automated 5’ Feature Barcode kit) and immune receptor (Chromium Automated Mouse BCR/TCR Amplification and Library Construction kit)
Project description:To explore TNF-related genes in GPI-induced arthritis, we performed GeneChip analysis using arthritic splenocytes and control-immunized splenocytes. Among the arrayed TNFalpha-related genes, TIARP mRNA was highly expressed in arthritic splenocytes, with levels exceeding more than 20-times the control splenocytes
Project description:mouse 4T1 breast cancer stem cell spheres were co-culutred with in vivo tumor antigen primed splenocytes, with in vivo tumor antigen primed splenocytes plus ex vivo reinforced activation via anti-CD3/CD28 beads or without co-culturing with splenocytes. Stem cell spheres were then collected and sunjected for gene expression analyses using RNA sequencing.
Project description:The aim of the study was to compare and contrast cytokine production by CD4+ chimeric antigen receptor + T-cells and putative myeloid derived suppressor cell populations (CD11b+Gr-1 hi and lo) in the spleens of Balb/c mice which had received a transfer of CD19 specific second-generation CAR T-cells 56 days previously following cyclophosphamide pre-conditioning. Splenocytes from four individual mice were pooled, incubated with antibodies to CD4, CD34 (CAR), CD11b, Gr-1 and sorted using flow cytometric cell sorting for CD4+CD34+, Gr-1 and the negative cell fraction. Total RNA was isolated and samples loaded in duplicate in the array. Data was normalized to global expression levels.
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy targeting CD19 yielded remarkable outcomes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To identify potential CAR targets in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we probed the AML surfaceome for over-expressed molecules with potentially tolerable systemic expression. We integrated large transcriptomics and proteomics data sets from malignant and normal tissues, and developed an algorithm to identify potential targets expressed in leukemia stem cells, but not in normal CD34+CD38– hematopoietic cells, T cells or vital tissues. As these investigations did not uncover candidate targets with a profile as favorable as CD19, we developed a generalizable combinatorial targeting strategy fulfilling stringent efficacy and safety criteria. Our findings indicate that several target pairings hold great promise for CAR therapy of AML.
Project description:The major goal of this experiment was to identify the overall changes in gene expression of human CD4+CD28 null T-cells that develop after repetitive [xeno] antigen stimulation, in comparison to normal CD4+CD28+ T-cells. These cells were derived by adoptive transfer of human CD4 T-cells from a normal donor (all CD28+) into immunodeficient mice. Chimeric human CD4+CD28+ were isolated from 4 mice, and chimeric human CD4+CD28 null cells from two of these animals after expansion and T-cell differentiation in vivo. Animals were euthanized, and single cell suspensions of splenocytes derived. CD4 T-cell subpopulations were isolated by fluoresence activated cell sorting, RNA was extrated, labeled and hybridized to whole human gene expression arrays. Overall changes in the gene expression were identified using GEDI (gene expression dynamic inspector). 603 genes were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05) between the CD4+CD28+ and CD4+CD28null cells. Candidate genes were validated using qRT-PCR
Project description:Developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been challenging due to a lack of known AML-associated antigens which spare normal hematopoietic precursor cells. Here we reasoned that donor auto-antibodies from AML recipients cured following allogeneic transplant and responsible for graft-versus-leukemia effect could be engineered to create effective CAR-T cells. We generated CAR-T cells against one such antigen - U5 snRNP200, an RNA helicase localized to the surface of AML cells and absent from normal hematopoietic precursors. Anti-U5 snRNP200 CAR T cells were effective in human and syngeneic models of AML as well as B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a setting where surface U5 snRNP200 was also present. IL-18 armoring augmented target antigen expression due to cell surface trafficking of U5 snRNP200 with CD32A. These data thereby identify a CAR-T cell platform which addresses prior limitations in tumor-selectivity and safety for patients with acute leukemias.