Interaction kinetics with transcriptomic and secretory responses of CD19-CAR natural killer-cell therapy in CD20 resistant non-hodgkin lymphoma

Leukemia. 2020 May;34(5):1291-1304. doi: 10.1038/s41375-019-0663-x. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Abstract

We investigated the cytolytic and mechanistic activity of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CD19.CAR.NK92) therapy in lymphoma cell lines (diffuse large B-cell, follicular, and Burkitt lymphoma), including rituximab- and obinutuzumab-resistant cells, patient-derived cells, and a human xenograft model. CD19.CAR.NK92 therapy significantly increased cytolytic activity at E:T ratios (1:1-10:1) via LDH release and prominent induction of apoptosis in all cell lines, including in anti-CD20 resistant lymphoma cells. The kinetics of CD19.CAR.NK92 cell death measured via droplet-based single cell microfluidics analysis showed that most lymphoma cells were killed by single contact, with anti-CD20 resistant cell lines requiring significantly longer contact duration with NK cells. In addition, systems biology transcriptomic analyses of flow-sorted lymphoma cells co-cultured with CD19.CAR.NK92 revealed conserved activation of IFNγ signaling, execution of apoptosis, ligand binding, and immunoregulatory and chemokine signaling pathways. Furthermore, a 92-plex cytokine panel analysis showed increased secretion of granzymes, increased secretion of FASL, CCL3, and IL10 in anti-CD20 resistant SUDHL4 cells with induction of genes relevant to mTOR and G2/M checkpoint activation, which were noted in all anti-CD20 resistant cells co-cultured with CD19.CAR.NK92 cells. Collectively, CD19.CAR.NK92 was associated with potent anti-lymphoma activity across a host of sensitive and resistant lymphoma cells that involved distinct immuno-biologic mechanisms of cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD19 / immunology*
  • Antigens, CD20 / immunology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Kinetics
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / immunology*
  • Transcriptome*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Antigens, CD20
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen