Innate-like NKp30+CD8+ T cells armed with TCR/CAR target tumor heterogeneity.

Abstract

Intratumoral heterogeneity is frequently associated with tumor immune escape, with MHC-class I and antigen expression loss rendering tumor cells invisible to T cell killing, representing a major challenge for the design of successful adoptive transfer protocols for cancer immunotherapy. While CD8+ T cell recognition of tumor cells is based on the detection of MHC-peptide complexes via specific T cell receptors (TCRs), Natural Killer (NK) cells detect tumor-associated NK ligands by an array of NK receptors. We have recently identified a population of innate-like CD8+ T cells marked by the expression of NKp30, a potent natural cytotoxicity activating NK receptor, whose tumor ligand, B7H6, is frequently upregulated on several cancer types. Here, we harnessed the dual-recognition potential of NKp30+CD8+ T cells, by arming these cells with TCRs or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (ErbB2, or HER2), a tumor-associated target overexpressed in several malignancies. HER2-specific NKp30+CD8+ T cells killed not only HER2-expressing target cell lines, but also eliminated tumor cells in the absence of MHC-class I or antigen expression, making them especially effective in eliminating heterogeneous tumor cell populations. Our results show that NKp30+CD8+ T cells equipped with a specific TCR or CAR display a dual capacity to recognize and kill target cells, combining the anti-tumor activity of both CD8+ T and NK cells. This dual-recognition capacity allows these effector cells to target tumor heterogeneity, thus improving therapeutic strategies against tumor escape.

• Authors: Margareta P Correia, Ana Stojanovic, Winfried S Wels, Adelheid Cerwenka
• Journal: Oncoimmunology (Oncoimmunology) Vol. 10 Issue 1 Pg. 1973783 ( 2021) ISSN: 2162-402X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35036073 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Chemical References

• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
• Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Topics

• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Killer Cells, Natural
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell (genetics)
• Receptors, Chimeric Antigen