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Adoptively transferred CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have led to impressive clinical outcomes in B cell malignancies. Beyond induction of remission, the persistence of CAR-T cells is required to prevent relapse and provide long-term disease control. To improve CAR-T cell function and persistence, we developed a composite co-stimulatory domain of a B cell signaling moiety, CD79A/CD40, to induce a nuclear translocating signal, NF-κB, to synergize with other T cell signals and improve CAR-T cell function. CD79A/CD40 incorporating CD19CAR-T cells (CD19.79a.40z) exhibited higher NF-κB and p38 activity upon CD19 antigen exposure compared with the CD28 or 4-1BB incorporating CD19CAR-T cells (CD19.28z and CD19.BBz). Notably, we found that CD19.79a.40z CAR-T cells continued to suppress CD19(+) target cells throughout the co-culture assay, whereas a tendency for tumor growth was observed with CD19.28z CAR-T cells. Moreover, CD19.79a.40z CAR-T cells exhibited robust T cell proliferation after culturing with CD19(+) target cells, regardless of exogenous interleukin-2. In terms of in vivo efficiency, CD19.79a.40z demonstrated superior anti-tumor activity and in vivo CAR-T cell proliferation compared with CD19.28z and CD19.BBz CD19CAR-T cells in Raji-inoculated mice. Our data demonstrate that the CD79A/CD40 co-stimulatory domain endows CAR-T cells with enhanced proliferative capacity and improved anti-tumor efficacy in a murine model.

Upon generation of monoclonal antibodies to the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 (TCR/CD3) complex, we isolated mAb MT3, whose reactivity correlates inversely with the production of IFN‐γ by human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Using eukaryotic expression cloning, we identified the MT3 antigen as myelin‐and‐lymphocyte (MAL) protein. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrates high surface expression of MAL on all naïve CD4+ T cells whereas MAL expression is diminished on central memory‐ and almost lost on effector memory T cells. MAL– T cells proliferate strongly in response to stimulation with CD3/CD28 antibodies, corroborating that MAL+ T cells are naïve and MAL– T cells memory subtypes. Further, resting MAL– T cells harbor a larger pool of Ser59‐ and Tyr394‐ double phosphorylated lymphocyte‐specific kinase (Lck), which is rapidly increased upon in vitro restimulation. Previously, lack of MAL was reported to prevent transport of Lck, the key protein tyrosine kinase of TCR/CD3 signaling to the cell membrane, and to result in strongly impaired human T cell activation. Here, we show that knocking out MAL did not significantly affect Lck membrane localization and immune synapse recruitment, or transcriptional T cell activation. Collectively, our results indicate that loss of MAL is associated with activation‐induced differentiation of human T cells but not with impaired membrane localization of Lck or TCR signaling capacity., Myelin‐and‐lymphocyte protein isoform‐A (MAL‐A) is highly expressed on human naive CD4+ T cells. Activation‐induced proliferation and differentiation is associated with a gradual loss of MAL expression, resulting in highly signalling‐competent effector‐memory cells with enhanced IFN‐γ‐secretion. Knockout of MAL does not affect recruitment of lymphocyte‐specific kinase Lck and TCR downstream signalling.

An artificial T cell adaptor molecule (ATAM) was generated to improve persistence of T cell receptor (TCR) gene-transduced T (TCR-T) cells compared to such persistence in a preceding study. ATAMs are gene-modified CD3ζ with the intracellular domain of 4-1BB inserted in the middle of CD3ζ. NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells transduced with an ATAM with two separated virus vectors demonstrated superior proliferation upon antigen stimulation. To further develop clinically applicable ATAM-transduced TCR-T cells, we attempted to make a single virus vector to transduce the TCR and ATAM simultaneously. Because we failed to observe improved proliferation capacity upon stimulation after one virus vector (1vv) transduction, we compared TCR-T cells transduced with 1vv and two virus vector (2vv) methods to elucidate the reason. In Jurkat reporter cells, an ATAM transduced by the 2vv method demonstrated a higher intensity than by the 1vv method, and the ATAM intensity was associated with increased nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signals upon stimulation. In ATAM-transduced primary T cells, a transduced ATAM by the 2vv method showed higher intensity and better proliferation. ATAM-transduced TCR-T cells demonstrated improved proliferation only when the ATAM was transduced at a higher intensity. To create a simpler transduction method, we need to develop a strategy to make a higher ATAM expression to prove the efficacy of ATAM transduction in TCR-T therapy., Graphical Abstract, An artificial T cell adaptor molecule (ATAM) with a 4-1BB intracellular domain in the middle of CD3ζ was developed and transduced into T cells simultaneously with the NY-ESO-1 TCR gene. We demonstrated that gene transfer of an ATAM above a certain threshold would be necessary to boost cell proliferation after stimulation.

TIM‐3 has been considered as a target in cancer immunotherapy. In T cells, inhibitory as well as activating functions have been ascribed to this molecule. Its role may therefore depend on the state of T cells and on the presence of interaction partners capable to perform functional pairing. Carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM1) has been proposed to bind TIM‐3 and to regulate its function. Using a T cell reporter platform we confirmed CEACAM1‐mediated inhibition, but CEACAM1 did not functionally engage TIM‐3. TIM‐3 and CEACAM1 coexpression was limited to a small subset of activated T cells. Moreover, results obtained in extensive binding studies were not in support of an interaction between TIM‐3 and CEACAM1. Cytoplasmic sequences derived from TIM‐3 induced inhibitory signaling in our human T cell reporter system. Our results indicate that TIM‐3 functions are independent of CEACAM1 and that this receptor has the capability to promote inhibitory signaling pathways in human T cells., The role of TIM‐3 and CEACAM1 was studied in a T cell reporter system. CEACAM1–CEACAM1 interaction coinhibited T cell activation, whereas CEACAM1 did not functionally engage TIM‐3 in cis and in trans. A chimeric receptor system revealed inhibitory signaling via the cytoplasmic tail of TIM‐3 .

Funding Information: The authors thank Laura Turunen, Jani Saarela, Katja Suomi, and Maria Nurmi of the High-Throughput Biomedicine Unit and the personnel of the Sequencing Laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Medicine Finland. The authors also thank Caroline Heckman, Sirpa Lepp?, and Olli Lohi for collaboration by providing the cell lines used in the study. The Biomedicum Helsinki Flow Cytometry Core Unit and the Biomedicum Virus Core are acknowledged for their services. The primary B-ALL samples were provided by the Finnish Hematology Registry and Clinical Biobank (FHRB). We thank all the patients for their generous participation. The FHRB biobank is supported by the Finnish Association of Hematology, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, and participating hospitals in Finland. This study was supported by the Cancer Foundation Finland, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Relander Foundation, state funding for university-level health research in Finland, and HiLife fellow funds from the University of Helsinki. O.D. was supported by grants from the Biomedicum Helsinki Foundation and the Finnish Medical Society. J. Koski was supported by grants from the Finnish Pediatric Cancer Foundation, the V?re Pediatric Research Foundation, the Cancer Foundation Finland, the Orion Research Foundation, and state funding for university-level health research in Finland. Funding Information: This study was supported by the Cancer Foundation Finland, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Relander Foundation, state funding for university-level health research in Finland, and HiLife fellow funds from the University of Helsinki. O.D. was supported by grants from the Biomedicum Helsinki Foundation and the Finnish Medical Society. J. Koski was supported by grants from the Finnish Pediatric Cancer Foundation, the Väre Pediatric Research Foundation, the Cancer Foundation Finland, the Orion Research Foundation, and state funding for university-level health research in Finland. Funding Information: The authors thank Laura Turunen, Jani Saarela, Katja Suomi, and Maria Nurmi of the High-Throughput Biomedicine Unit and the personnel of the Sequencing Laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Medicine Finland. The authors also thank Caroline Heckman, Sirpa Leppä, and Olli Lohi for collaboration by providing the cell lines used in the study. The Biomedicum Helsinki Flow Cytometry Core Unit and the Biomedicum Virus Core are acknowledged for their services. The primary B-ALL samples were provided by the Finnish Hematology Registry and Clinical Biobank (FHRB). We thank all the patients for their generous participation. The FHRB biobank is supported by the Finnish Association of Hematology, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, and participating hospitals in Finland. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 American Society of Hematology Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has proven effective in relapsed and refractory B-cell malignancies, but resistance and relapses still occur. Better understanding of mechanisms influencing CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and the potential for modulation using small-molecule drugs could improve current immunotherapies. Here, we systematically investigated druggable mechanisms of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity using >500 small-molecule drugs and genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screens. We identified several tyrosine kinase inhibitors that inhibit CAR T-cell cytotoxicity by impairing T-cell signaling transcriptional activity. In contrast, the apoptotic modulator drugs SMAC mimetics sensitized B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells to anti-CD19 CAR T cells. CRISPR screens identified death receptor signaling through FADD and TNFRSF10B (TRAIL-R2) as a key mediator of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and elucidated the RIPK1-dependent mechanism of sensitization by SMAC mimetics.Death receptor expression varied across genetic subtypes of B-cell malignancies, suggesting a link between mechanisms of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and cancer genetics. These results implicate death receptor signaling as an important mediator of cancer cell sensitivity to CAR T-cell cytotoxicity, with potential for pharmacological targeting to enhance cancer immunotherapy. The screening data provide a resource of immunomodulatory properties of cancer drugs and genetic mechanisms influencing CAR T-cell cytotoxicity. Key Points: • Survey of immunomodulatory effects of >500 drugs identifies SMAC mimetics as sensitizers to CAR T-cell cytotoxicity. • Genome-scale CRISPR screen reveals essentiality of death receptor signaling for CAR T-cell cytotoxicity.

In this work, we report on two novel monoclonal antibodies, specific for porcine CD9. CD9 is a tetraspanin that is expressed on a wide variety of cells. We phenotyped porcine immune cell subsets and found that CD9 was expressed on all monocytes as well as a subset of B cells. CD9 was variably expressed on T cells, with CD4 T cells containing the highest frequency of CD9+ cells. CD9 expression positively correlated with the frequency of central memory CD4 T cells in ex vivo PBMC. Therefore, we proceeded to explore CD9 as a marker of T cell function. Here we observed that CD9 was expressed on the vast majority of long-lived influenza A virus-specific effector cells that retained the capacity for cytokine production in response to in vitro recall antigen. Therefore, the new antibodies enable the detection of a cell surface molecule with functional relevance to T cells. Considering the importance of CD9 in membrane remodelling across many cell types, they will also benefit the wider field of swine biomedical research.

Background Adoptive transfer of T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is a novel treatment option for patients with B-cell lineage derived cancers. Other cancer entities are less successfully targeted due to the lack of antigens that are expressed on cancer cells but not healthy tissue cells. One way to address this issue is the concept of inhibitory chimeric antigen receptors (iCARs) that deliver an inhibitory signal upon antigen encounter on off-target cells. The activating effect of CARs depends on a multitude of factors including expression levels, affinity, different signaling domains and steric effects. It has to be expected that co-expression of an iCAR would result in even more complexity. Consequently, there is a demand for a robust high-throughput cellular system to evaluate iCAR-formats. Materials and Methods Our approach is based on a previously published Jurkat based triple parameter reporter cell (TPR) system. This setup allows for molecular monitoring of the T cell activation state by measuring fluorescent reporter gene expression via flow cytometry. Inhibitory effects of receptors are determined as the ratio of cellular geometric mean fluorescent intensity (gMFI) in the presence of the inhibitory ligand versus without inhibitory ligand. Results To test if inhibitory receptors would measurably reduce reporter activation, PD-1 as a well-characterized inhibitory receptor was expressed on Jurkat TPRs. When PD-L1 was present during stimulation reporter activation was reduced by 26–34% proving feasibility of our approach. Intracellular domains of other inhibitory receptors including BTLA, ILT-2 and KIR2DL1 were evaluated. All three domains outperformed PD-1 in a series of experiments with a mean reduction of gMFI by 48–57%, 50–53% and 38–41% respectively. To assess if the reporter platform could be used to study downstream signaling pathways of inhibitory constructs we created a SHP-2 knock-out reporter cell line using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique. To simulate different degrees of activating signal strength, peptide-MHC complex recognizing activating receptors were created. The reporter activation correlated with the concentrations of peptide in the stimulation cultures. Co-expression of iCAR and CAR could be achieved using selection for two separate antibiotic resistance genes introduced into the respective vector. Preliminary experiments showed greatly reduced inhibitory efficacy of iCAR molecules due to an adhesion effect resulting from the high affinity extracellular domain of the iCARs that lead to tighter cell-cell contact and stronger stimulation through the CAR. Conclusions We present a highly flexible and controllable Jurkat-based reporter cell platform for the thorough study of inhibitory signaling mechanisms. This project was supported by the Austrian Science Fund, FWF; Project P32411 Disclosure Information M.A. Funk: None. A. De Sousa Linhares: None. C. Battin: None. K. Radakovics: None. J. Leitner: None. P. Steinberger: None.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020, [Background]: The inhibitory functions triggered by the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor following binding to its ligand (PD-L1) protect healthy organs from cytotoxic T cells, and neutralize antitumor T cell attack. Antibody-based therapies to block PD-1/PD-L1 interaction have yielded notable results, but most patients eventually develop resistance. This failure is attributed to CD8+ T cells achieving hyporesponsive states from which recovery is hardly feasible. Dysfunctional T cell phenotypes are favored by a sustained imbalance in the diacylglycerol (DAG)- and Ca2+-regulated transcriptional programs. In mice, DAG kinase ζ (DGKζ) facilitates DAG consumption, limiting T cell activation and cytotoxic T cell responses. DGKζ deficiency facilitates tumor rejection in mice without apparent adverse autoimmune effects. Despite its therapeutic potential, little is known about DGKζ function in human T cells, and no known inhibitors target this isoform., [Methods]: We used a human triple parameter reporter cell line to examine the consequences of DGKζ depletion on the transcriptional restriction imposed by PD-1 ligation. We studied the effect of DGKζ deficiency on PD-1 expression dynamics, as well as the impact of DGKζ absence on the in vivo growth of MC38 adenocarcinoma cells., [Results]: We demonstrate that DGKζ depletion enhances DAG-regulated transcriptional programs, promoting interleukin-2 production and partially counteracting PD-1 inhibitory functions. DGKζ loss results in limited PD-1 expression and enhanced expansion of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell populations. This is observed even in immunosuppressive milieus, and correlates with the reduced ability of MC38 adenocarcinoma cells to form tumors in DGKζ-deficient mice., [Conclusions]: Our results, which define a role for DGKζ in the control of PD-1 expression, confirm DGKζ potential as a therapeutic target as well as a biomarker of CD8+ T cell dysfunctional states., This work was supported in part by grants from the MINECO (PID2019- 108357RB-I00) to AA-F and IM and MINECO (BFU2016-77207-R), the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC-1518), the Madrid regional government (IMMUNOTHERCAM Consortium B2017/BMD-3733) and the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF OPE01644), to IM. CR-R is a predoctoral fellow of the Álvaro Entrecanales and Jerome Lejeune Foundations.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy is under intense preclinical and clinical investigation, and it involves a rapidly increasing portfolio of novel target antigens and CAR designs. We established a platform that enables rapid and high-throughput CAR-screening campaigns with reporter cells derived from the T cell lymphoma line Jurkat. Reporter cells were equipped with nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) reporter genes that generate a duplex output of enhanced CFP (ECFP) and EGFP, respectively. As a proof of concept, we modified reporter cells with CD19-specific and ROR1-specific CARs, and we detected high-level reporter signals that allowed distinguishing functional from non-functional CAR constructs. The reporter data were highly reproducible, and the time required for completing each testing campaign was substantially shorter with reporter cells (6 days) compared to primary CAR-T cells (21 days). We challenged the reporter platform to a large-scale screening campaign on a ROR1-CAR library, and we showed that reporter cells retrieved a functional CAR variant that was present with a frequency of only 6 in 1.05 x 10(6). The data illustrate the potential to implement this reporter platform into the preclinical development path of novel CAR-T cell products and to inform and accelerate the selection of lead CAR candidates for clinical translation.

The B7-like protein family members play critical immunomodulatory roles and constitute attractive targets for the development of novel therapies for human diseases. We identified Ig-like domain–containing receptor (ILDR)2 as a novel B7-like protein with robust T cell inhibitory activity, expressed in immune cells and in immune-privileged and inflamed tissues. A fusion protein, consisting of ILDR2 extracellular domain with an Fc fragment, that binds to a putative counterpart on activated T cells showed a beneficial effect in the collagen-induced arthritis model and abrogated the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in autologous synovial-like cocultures of macrophages and cytokine-stimulated T cells. Collectively, these findings point to ILDR2 as a novel negative regulator for T cells, with potential roles in the development of immune-related diseases, including autoimmunity and cancer.

A substantial proportion of CD8+ T cells in adults lack the expression of the CD28 molecule, and the aging of the immune system is associated with a steady expansion of this T cell subset. CD28−CD8+ T cells are characterized by potent effector functions but impaired responses to antigenic challenge. CD28 acts as the primary T cell costimulatory receptor, but there are numerous additional receptors that can costimulate the activation of T cells. In this study, we have examined such alternative costimulatory pathways regarding their functional role in CD28−CD8+ T cells. Our study showed that most costimulatory molecules have a low capacity to activate CD28-deficient T cells, whereas the engagement of the CD2 molecule by its ligand CD58 clearly costimulated proliferation, cytokine production, and effector function in this T cell subset. CD58 is broadly expressed on APCs including dendritic cells. Blocking CD58 mAb greatly reduced the response of human CD28−CD8+ T cells to allogeneic dendritic cells, as well as to viral Ags. Our results clearly identify the CD58/CD2 axis as the primary costimulatory pathway for CD8 T cells that lack CD28. Moreover, we show that engagement of CD2 amplifies TCR signals in CD28−CD8+ T cells, demonstrating that the CD2–CD58 interaction has a genuine costimulatory effect on this T cell subset. CD2 signals might promote the control of viral infection by CD28−CD8+ T cells, but they might also contribute to the continuous expansion of CD28−CD8+ T cells during chronic stimulation by persistent Ag.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an enigmatic disease defined by the accumulation of Langerhans cell-like dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, we demonstrate that LCH cells exhibit a unique transcription profile that separates them not only from plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs, but also from epidermal Langerhans cells, indicating a distinct DC entity. Molecular analysis revealed that isolated and tissue-bound LCH cells selectively express the Notch ligand Jagged 2 (JAG2) and are the only DCs that express both Notch ligand and its receptor. We further show that JAG2 signaling induces key LCH-cell markers in monocyte-derived DCs, suggesting a functional role of Notch signaling in LCH ontogenesis. JAG2 also induced matrix-metalloproteinases 1 and 12, which are highly expressed in LCH and may account for tissue destruction in LCH lesions. This induction was selective for DCs and was not recapitulated in monocytes. The results of the present study suggest that JAG2-mediated Notch activation confers phenotypic and functional aspects of LCH to DCs; therefore, interference with Notch signaling may be an attractive strategy to combat this disease.

In hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, the recognition of polymorphic antigens by the donor-derived immune system is an important mechanism underlying both graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. Here we show that a subset of HSCT recipients (13.9%, n = 108) have antibodies directed to surface molecules of dendritic cells. We have used one such serum in conjunction with retroviral expression cloning to identify the highly polymorphic surface molecule immunoglobulin-like transcript 5 (ILT5) as one of the targets of dendritic cell-reactive antibodies. ILT5 reactive antibodies were found in 5.4% of HSCT patients but not in solid organ transplantation recipients, patients with collagen diseases, multiparous women, or polytransfused or healthy persons. We show that ILT5-specific antibodies can mediate killing of ILT5-bearing cells and furthermore demonstrate ILT5 expression in some leukemic cells, indicating that it might be a target for GVL effects. Thus, our results represent the first description of potent allogeneic antibody responses to a non–major histocompatibility complex cell surface molecule in hematopoietic stem cell transplanted patients and warrant further studies to elucidate the role of antibodies to polymorphic cell surface molecules in GVL and graft-versus-host responses.

B7-H3 belongs to the B7 superfamily, a group of molecules that costimulate or down-modulate T-cell responses. Although it was shown that B7-H3 could inhibit T-cell responses, several studies - most of them performed in murine systems - found B7-H3 to act in a costimulatory manner. In this study, we have specifically addressed a potential functional dualism of human B7-H3 by assessing the effect of this molecule under varying experimental conditions as well as on different T-cell subsets. We show that B7-H3 does not costimulate human T cells. In the presence of strong activating signals, B7-H3 potently and consistently down-modulated human T-cell responses. This inhibitory effect was evident when analysing proliferation and cytokine production and affected naive as well as pre-activated T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that B7-H3-T-cell interaction is characterised by an early suppression of IL-2 and that T-cell inhibition can be reverted by exogenous IL-2. Since the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells like transcript 2 (TREML2/TLT-2) has been recently described as costimulatory receptor of murine B7-H3 we have extensively analysed interaction of human B7-H3 with TREML2/TLT-2. In these experiments we found no evidence for such an interaction. Furthermore, our data do not point to a role for murine TREML2 as a receptor for murine B7-H3.

Activating signals generated by members of the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily upon interaction with their cognate ligands play important roles in T cell responses. Members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family namely 4-1BBL, OX40L, CD70, GITRL, LIGHT and CD30L have been described to function as costimulatory molecules by binding such receptors on T cells. Using our recently described system of T cell stimulator cells we have performed the first study where all these molecules have been assessed and compared regarding their capacity to costimulate proliferation and cytokine production of human T cells. 4-1BBL, which we found to be the most potent molecule in this group was able to mediate sustained activation and proliferation of human T cells. OX40L and CD70 were also strong inducers of T cell proliferation, whereas the costimulatory capacity of human GITRL was significantly lower. Importantly CD30L and LIGHT consistently failed to act costimulatory on human T cells, and we therefore suggest that these molecules might be functionally distinct from the costimulatory members of this family.

Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) is expressed exclusively in the kidney and constitutes the most abundant protein in urine. An important role for THP in antibacterial host defense but also in inflammatory disorders of the urogenital tract has been suggested. In line with this, THP has been shown recently to potently activate macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway. We show here that THP interacts specifically with surface structures on DC and provides evidence that they are distinct from TLR4. Using retroviral expression cloning, we have identified one such receptor as the scavenger receptor (SR) expressed by endothelial cells I (SREC-I). In addition, we found that two other receptors for acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL), namely scavenger receptors AI (SR-AI) and Cla-1 (SR-BI), also serve as receptors for THP. SREC-I/THP interaction is of high affinity (16.8±6.8 nM), whereas Cla-1 and SR-AI have lower affinities for THP (396 nM±114 nM and 802 nM±157 nM, respectively). The interaction of THP with these molecules is fully blocked by AcLDL. However, AcLDL only partially blocks binding of THP to DC, and a series of experiments did not support a role in DC activation for SR interacting with THP and AcLDL. Thus, our data point to the existence of additional receptors for THP, which mediate TLR4-dependent DC activation. Interaction and up-take of THP by SR might play an important role in local host defense and could contribute to inflammatory kidney diseases associated with THP-specific antibody responses.

The B7 family member programmed-death-1-ligand 2 (PD-L2/B7-DC) is a ligand for programmed-death-receptor 1 (PD-1), a receptor involved in negative regulation of T cell activation. Several independent studies have reported that PD-L2, however, can also potently costimulate murine T cells via an additional yet unidentified receptor. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of PD-L2 to the activation of human T cells using a novel system of engineered T cell stimulators that expresses membrane-bound anti-CD3 antibodies. Analyzing early activation markers, cytokine production and proliferation, we found PD-L2 to consistently inhibit T cell activation. PD-L2 inhibition affected CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and was not abrogated by costimulation via CD28. Blocking PD-1 reverted the inhibitory effect of PD-L2, demonstrating involvement of this pathway. In human T cells, we found no evidence for any of the costimulatory effects described for PD-L2 in murine systems. In line with our functional data that do not point to stimulatory PD-L2-ligands, we show that binding of PD-L2-immunoglobulin to activated human T cells is abrogated by PD-1 antibodies. Our results demonstrate that PD-L2 negatively regulates human T cell activation and thus might be a candidate molecule for immunotherapeutic approaches aimed to attenuate pathological immune responses.

It is well established that full activation of T cells requires the interaction of the TCR complex with the peptide–MHC complex (Signal 1) and additional signals (Signal 2). These second signals are generated by the interaction of costimulatory ligands expressed on antigen presenting cells with activating receptors on T cells. In addition, T cell responses are negatively regulated by inhibitory costimulatory pathways. Since professional antigen presenting cells (APC) harbour a plethora of stimulating and inhibitory surface molecules, the contribution of individual costimulatory molecules is difficult to assess on these cells. We have developed a system of stimulator cells that can give signal 1 to human T cells via a membrane bound anti-CD3 antibody fragment. By expressing human costimulatory ligands on these cells, their role in T cell activation processes can readily be analyzed. We demonstrate that T cell stimulator cells are excellent tools to study various aspects of human T cell costimulation, including the effects of immunomodulatory drugs or how costimulatory signals contribute to the in vitro expansion of T cells. T cell stimulator cells are especially suited for the functional evaluation of ligands that are implicated in costimulatory processes. In this study we have evaluated the role of the CD2 family member CD150 (SLAM) and the TNF family member TL1A (TNFSF15) in the activation of human T cells. Whereas our results do not point to a significant role of CD150 in T cell activation we found TL1A to potently costimulate human T cells. Taken together our results demonstrate that T cell stimulator cells are excellent tools to study various aspects of costimulatory processes.

It is well established that full activation of T cells that recognize antigens requires additional signals. These second signals are generated by the interaction of costimulatory ligands expressed on antigen presenting cells with their receptors on T cells. In addition, T cell activation processes are negatively regulated by inhibitory costimulatory pathways. Interaction of members of the B7 and the TNF superfamilies with members of the CD28 and TNF-R-superfamilies plays major roles in costimulatory processes. However, a large number of molecules that do not belong to these families have been reported to be involved in the generation of T cell costimulatory signals. In addition to well-defined costimulatory pathways, where both receptors and ligands are known, there are many T cell surface molecules that have been described to generate a second signal under certain experimental conditions, f.i. when ligated with antibodies. Furthermore there are several ligands that have been shown to positively or negatively modulate T cell activation by interacting with as of yet unknown T cell receptors. Here we give a comprehensive overview of molecules that have been implicated in human T cell activation processes and propose criteria that define genuine T cell costimulatory pathways.

Selectins mediate the adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelial cells and activated platelets. In addition to these cell-to-cell interactions, they influence the fibrin content and size of venous thrombi in different animal models. However, the exact role of selectins in human endotoxemia still remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of selectin inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF)-dependent activation of coagulation in a well-standardized model of human endotoxemia. To explore whether selectin blockade attenuates LPS-induced coagulation in humans, we performed a randomized, double-bind placebo-controlled crossover trial in 16 healthy male volunteers. All subjects received 2 ng/kg of LPS and, 10 min thereafter, a 15-min infusion of either 30 mg/kg of the pan-selectin antagonist bimosiamose or equal volumes of placebo in random order, with a washout period of 6 weeks between both periods. Treatment with bimosiamose had no significant effect on LPS-induced TF expression, as quantified by TF mRNA levels, or on LPS-induced coagulation response, reflected by increases in plasma thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes and prothrombin fragment (F1 + 2) levels. Furthermore, bimosiamose did not affect the LPS-dependent changes in leukocyte subpopulations or the increase in platelet-leukocyte aggregates, as determined in the level of CD41+ monocytes. Finally, neither the LPS-induced release of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6, leukocyte expression of CD11b, nor intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were affected by administration of bimosiamose. The pan-selectin antagonist bimosiamose does not attenuate TF-triggered coagulation or inflammation in human endotoxemia. This indicates a minor influence of this selectin antagonist in this model. In addition, infusion of bimosiamose was safe and well tolerated in human endotoxemia.

CD45 is the prototypic transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), which is expressed on all nucleated hematopoietic cells and plays a central role in the integration of environmental signals into immune cell responses. Here we report an alternative function for the intracellular domain of CD45. We dis-covered that CD45 is sequentially cleaved by serine/metalloproteinases and γ-secretases during activation of human monocytes and granulocytes by fungal stimuli or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate but not by other microbial stimuli. Proteolytic processing of CD45 occurred upon activation of monocytes or granulocytes but not of T cells, B cells, or dendritic cells and resulted in a 95-kDa fragment of the cytoplasmic tail of CD45 (ct-CD45). ct-CD45 was released from monocytes and granulocytes upon activation-induced cell death. Binding studies with ct-CD45 revealed a counter-receptor on preactivated T cells. Moreover, T-cell proliferation induced by dendritic cells or CD3 antibodies was inhibited in the presence of ct-CD45. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate that fragments of the intracellular domain of CD45 from human phagocytes can function as intercellular regulators of T-cell activation.

Abstract 1349 Background: Clinical and translational studies suggest that allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) may induce production of anti-tumor antibodies in the recipient after transplantation. We hypothesized that this phenomenon can serve as a platform for the generation of novel therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). An important step to this goal is the identification of targeted antigens with defined ability to support antibody induced cell death. To address this challenge, we developed a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) membrane protein display system capable of discovering cell surface proteins targeted by serum antibodies and applied this tool to post-alloHCT patient samples. Methods: Total and mRNA was purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six untreated CLL patients and used to generate cDNA. The patient cDNA was pooled, cloned into the retroviral vector pBMN, and expressed in the murine T-cell line Bw 5147 (Bw-CLL-Lib). Enrichment of Bw-CLL-Lib cells displaying membrane proteins of interest was performed via fluorescence activated cell sorting. The unselected Bw-CLL-Lib pool was blocked with recombinant human Fc followed by staining with 1:200 diluted post-alloHCT patient sera and by secondary staining with pooled Alexa Fluor 647 labeled goat-anti-human-lambda and -anti-kappa light chain specific antibodies. Bw-CLL-Lib cells positively binding to serum antibodies were collected and re-grown in culture to 1×106 cells. A second round of enrichment was performed, after which the Bw-CLL-Lib cells were placed in limiting dilution culture. Individual clones were screened for serum reactivity and the retroviral inserts in reactive Bw-CLL-Lib clones were rescued via PCR and sequenced. Proteins of interest were re-expressed in Bw 5147 cells and used to confirm reactivity of the patient serum with specific cell surface proteins. Results: The Bw-CLL-Lib cell pool was screened separately with serum from ten patients with CLL post unrelated donor alloHCT. Serum from three patients enriched positively binding Bw-CLL-Lib clones. Thus far, we have successfully identified serum antibodies to a membrane proximal epitope on a therapeutically relevant CLL cell surface protein. Conclusions: Here we demonstrate a methodology for identifying targets of anti-tumor antibodies in serum from patients after alloHCT. This technique yields a high degree of successful identification of antibody reactivity with cell surface proteins in post alloHCT serum samples. When combined with post-alloHCT antibody Fab phage display (Baskar et al., Blood 114, 4494–4502, 2009) this methodology forms a complete drug and target discovery platform for the generation of tumor specific mAbs derived from alloHCT patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: BIBT 986 is a novel potent anticoagulant that dually inhibits Factors Xa and IIa. We hypothesized that BIBT 986 would dose-dependently decrease endotoxin-induced, tissue factor triggered coagulation activation. Hence it was the aim of the study to compare with placebo the anticoagulant activity of three dosages of BIBT 986 on parameters of coagulation, platelet activation and inflammation and to examine the safety of BIBT 986 in this setting. Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group dose escalation trial in 48 healthy male volunteers. Participants were randomised to receive bolus primed continuous infusions of one of the three doses of BIBT 986 or placebo. All of them received a bolus infusion of 2ng/kg body weight lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: BIBT dose-dependently increased anti-Xa activity, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), ecarin clotting time (ECT), thrombin time (TT) and the international normalisation ratio (INR). Importantly, BIBT 986 dose-dependently blocked the LPS-induced coagulation as assessed by the in vivo markers of thrombin generation and action: BIBT 986 doses that prolonged APTT by 25% were already effective. The BIBT dose that prolonged APTT by 100%, completely suppressed the increase in prothrombin fragment (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimer. BIBT 986 had no influence on activation markers of inflammation, fibrinolysis, endothelial or platelet activation. Conclusion: Infusion of BIBT 986 was safe and well tolerated. BIBT 986 specifically and dose-dependently blocked LPS-induced, tissue factor trigger coagulation. When compared to different anticoagulants tested previously in this standardized model, BIBT 986 was more effective in suppressing thrombin generation (F1+2 levels) than standard doses of danaparoid, dalteparin or lepirudin. BIBT 986 represents the first drug of a new class of dual FXa and FIIa inhibitors, and displays high potency.

Background: Antithrombin (AT) had beneficial effects on mortality of septic patients in an a priori defined subpopulation of the Kypersept trial, which received no concomitant administration of heparin. Objectives: We hypothesized that recombinant human (rh)AT (without concomitant heparin) has anticoagulant properties and may decrease cytokine production in a well standardized model of human endotoxemia. Methods: This study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled in parallel groups in 30 healthy male volunteers. The active treatment groups received bolus primed continuous infusion of rhAT (recombinant human Antithrombin) to increase AT-levels to 200% and 500% iv. before infusion of 2ng/kg endotoxin Results: Infusion of rhAT rapidly decreased neutrophil (p Conclusion: rhAT exhibited intrinsic anticoagulant effects, which are stronger than the minor effects of drotrecogin alfa (rhAPC; Blood2003;102:2093ff) in this model of tissue factor triggered coagulation. Effects of rhAT on leukocytes and inhibition of IL-6 release were not previously observed with various different synthetic or natural anticoagulants in this model and therefore represent specific pharmacodynamic properties of rhAT. The demonstrated anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties of rhAT may have beneficial effects in critically ill patients, and may explain the efficacy of rhAT in septic patients without concomitant heparin administration.