CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TGFβRII disruption enhances anti-tumor efficacy of human chimeric antigen receptor T cells in vitro

J Transl Med. 2021 Nov 27;19(1):482. doi: 10.1186/s12967-021-03146-0.

Abstract

Background: CAR T-cell therapy has been recently unveiled as one of the most promising cancer therapies in hematological malignancies. However, solid tumors mount a profound line of defense to escape immunosurveillance by CAR T-cells. Among them, cytokines with an inhibitory impact on the immune system such as IL-10 and TGFβ are of great importance: TGFβ is a pleiotropic cytokine, which potently suppresses the immune system and is secreted by a couple of TME resident and tumor cells.

Methods: In this study, we hypothesized that knocking out the TGFβ receptor II gene, could improve CAR T-cell functions in vitro and in vivo. Hereby, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system, to knockout the TGFβRII gene in T-cells and could monitor the efficient gene knock out by genome analysis techniques. Next, Mesothelin or Claudin 6 specific CAR constructs were overexpressed via IVT-RNA electroporation or retroviral transduction and the poly-functionality of these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells in terms of proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity were assessed and compared with parental CAR T-cells.

Results: Our experiments demonstrated that TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells fully retained their capabilities in killing tumor antigen positive target cells and more intriguingly, could resist the anti-proliferative effect of exogenous TGFβ in vitro outperforming wild type CAR T-cells. Noteworthy, no antigen or growth factor-independent proliferation of these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells has been recorded. TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells also resisted the suppressive effect of induced regulatory T-cells in vitro to a larger extent. Repetitive antigen stimulation demonstrated that these TGFβRII KO CAR T-cells will experience less activation induced exhaustion in comparison to the WT counterpart.

Conclusion: The TGFβRII KO approach may become an indispensable tool in immunotherapy of solid tumors, as it may surmount one of the key negative regulatory signaling pathways in T-cells.

Keywords: CAR T-cell therapy; CRISPR/Cas9 knockout; Coinhibitory T-cell signaling; Genome editing; IVT-RNA; TGFβ receptor II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Mesothelin
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / genetics
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • Mesothelin