Verena Pfirrmann1, Sarah Oelsner2, Eva Rettinger3, Sabine Huenecke3, Halvard Bonig4, Michael Merker3, Winfried S Wels5, Jindrich Cinatl6, Ralf Schubert7, Thomas Klingebiel3, Peter Bader8. 1. Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Electronic address: verena.pfirrmann@kgu.de. 2. Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 3. Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 4. Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology and German Red Cross Blood Donor Service, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Baden-Wuerttemberg-Hessen, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 5. Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 6. Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 7. Division of Allergology, Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Department of Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. 8. Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Electronic address: peter.bader@kgu.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and reactivation is a leading complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition to drug treatment, the adoptive transfer of virus-specific T cells to restore cellular immunity has become a standard therapy after allogeneic HSCT. We recently demonstrated potent anti-leukemic activity of interleukin (IL)-15-activated cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. With the use of the same expansion protocol, we asked whether concurrent CMV antigen-pulsing might generate CIK cells with anti-leukemic and anti-CMV activity. METHODS: CIK cells expanded in the presence of interferon-γ, IL-2, IL-15 and anti-CD3 antibody were pulsed once with CMV(pp65) peptide pool. CMV-specific CIK (CIK(pp65)) and conventional CIK cells were phenotypically and functionally characterized according to their cytokine secretion pattern, degranulation capacity and T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated and NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity. RESULTS: We demonstrated that among CIK cells generated from CMV-seropositive donors, a single stimulation with CMV(pp65) protein co-expanded cytotoxic CMV-specific cells without sacrificing anti-tumor reactivity. Cells generated in this fashion lysed CMV(pp65)-loaded target cells and CMV-infected fibroblasts but also leukemic cells. Meanwhile, the alloreactive potential of CIK(pp65) cells remained low. Interestingly, CMV reactivity was TCR-mediated and CMV-specific cells could be found in CD3(+)CD8(+)CD56(+/-) cytotoxic T-cell subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: We provide an efficient method to generate CIK(pp65) cells that may represent a useful cell therapy approach for preemptive immunotherapy in patients who have both an apparent risk of CMV and impending leukemic relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
BACKGROUND AIMS: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and reactivation is a leading complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition to drug treatment, the adoptive transfer of virus-specific T cells to restore cellular immunity has become a standard therapy after allogeneic HSCT. We recently demonstrated potent anti-leukemic activity of interleukin (IL)-15-activated cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. With the use of the same expansion protocol, we asked whether concurrent CMV antigen-pulsing might generate CIK cells with anti-leukemic and anti-CMV activity. METHODS: CIK cells expanded in the presence of interferon-γ, IL-2, IL-15 and anti-CD3 antibody were pulsed once with CMV(pp65) peptide pool. CMV-specific CIK (CIK(pp65)) and conventional CIK cells were phenotypically and functionally characterized according to their cytokine secretion pattern, degranulation capacity and T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated and NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity. RESULTS: We demonstrated that among CIK cells generated from CMV-seropositive donors, a single stimulation with CMV(pp65) protein co-expanded cytotoxic CMV-specific cells without sacrificing anti-tumor reactivity. Cells generated in this fashion lysed CMV(pp65)-loaded target cells and CMV-infected fibroblasts but also leukemic cells. Meanwhile, the alloreactive potential of CIK(pp65) cells remained low. Interestingly, CMV reactivity was TCR-mediated and CMV-specific cells could be found in CD3(+)CD8(+)CD56(+/-) cytotoxic T-cell subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: We provide an efficient method to generate CIK(pp65) cells that may represent a useful cell therapy approach for preemptive immunotherapy in patients who have both an apparent risk of CMV and impending leukemic relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Authors: Zhenjiang Liu; Thomas Poiret; Qingda Meng; Martin Rao; Anna von Landenberg; Esther Schoutrop; Davide Valentini; Ernest Dodoo; Inti Peredo-Harvey; Markus Maeurer Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2018-07-03 Impact factor: 5.531