Therapeutic targeting of naturally presented myeloperoxidase-derived HLA peptide ligands on myeloid leukemia cells by TCR-transgenic T cells

Leukemia. 2014 Dec;28(12):2355-66. doi: 10.1038/leu.2014.131. Epub 2014 Apr 16.

Abstract

T cells have been proven to be therapeutically effective in patients with relapsed leukemias, although target antigens on leukemic cells as well as T-cell receptors (TCRs), potentially recognizing those antigens, are mostly unknown. We have applied an immunopeptidomic approach and isolated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands from primary leukemia cells. We identified a number of ligands derived from different genes that are restrictedly expressed in the hematopoietic system. We exemplarily selected myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a potential target and isolated a high-avidity TCR with specificity for a HLA-B*07:02-(HLA-B7)-restricted epitope of MPO in the single HLA-mismatched setting. T cells transgenic for this TCR demonstrated high peptide and antigen specificity as well as leukemia reactivity in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, no significant on- and off-target toxicity could be observed. In conclusion, we here demonstrate, exemplarily for MPO, that leukemia-derived HLA ligands can be selected for specific effector tool development to redirect T cells to be used for graft manipulation or adoptive T-cell therapies in diverse transplant settings. This approach can be extended to other HLA ligands and HLA molecules in order to provide better treatment options for this life-threatening disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-B7 Antigen / immunology
  • HLA-B7 Antigen / metabolism
  • Heterografts
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / mortality
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peroxidase / chemistry
  • Peroxidase / genetics
  • Peroxidase / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-B*07 antigen
  • HLA-B7 Antigen
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Ligands
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Peroxidase