Enhanced CAR-T activity against established tumors by polarizing human T cells to secrete interleukin-9

Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 19;11(1):5902. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19672-2.

Abstract

CAR-T cell therapy is effective for hematologic malignancies. However, considerable numbers of patients relapse after the treatment, partially due to poor expansion and limited persistence of CAR-T cells in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that human CAR-T cells polarized and expanded under a Th9-culture condition (T9 CAR-T) have an enhanced antitumor activity against established tumors. Compared to IL2-polarized (T1) cells, T9 CAR-T cells secrete IL9 but little IFN-γ, express central memory phenotype and lower levels of exhaustion markers, and display robust proliferative capacity. Consequently, T9 CAR-T cells mediate a greater antitumor activity than T1 CAR-T cells against established hematologic and solid tumors in vivo. After transfer, T9 CAR-T cells migrate effectively to tumors, differentiate to IFN-γ and granzyme-B secreting effector memory T cells but remain as long-lived and hyperproliferative T cells. Our findings are important for the improvement of CAR-T cell-based immunotherapy for human cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-9 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / transplantation
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • IFNG protein, human
  • IL9 protein, human
  • Interleukin-9
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • Interferon-gamma