Patent Application
20220008464
The present invention relates to the field of gene editing and tumor immunotherapy. In particular, the invention relates to methods for preparing modified T cells, such as CAR-T cells, by gene editing, and modified T cells prepared by the methods and uses thereof.
T cells play an important role in anti-tumor immunity. However, in patients with tumor, local specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) content is very low. It is difficult to obtain and expand CTL in vitro, and the low affinity of CTL limits its application in the clinical treatment of tumors.
Adoptive transfer of T cells is a specific, low-toxicity anti-tumor method that has received high attention in recent years. For example, genetic modification of T cells with T cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is the most commonly-used method to generate tumor-specific T cells.
The TCR gene transfer technology is to clone TCR alpha and beta chains from tumor-reactive T cells, with retrovirus or lentivirus as the carrier using genetic engineering techniques to modify the initial T cells with antigen-specific TCR, thereby enabling T cells to specifically identify and kill tumor cells and increase the affinity of T cells to tumors. TCR gene transfer technologies are used to modify autologous T cells from a patient. After expansion in vitro, a large number of T cells with specific and efficient recognition ability were obtained and adoptive infused back to the patient to exert anti-tumor effect in vivo.
CAR consists of an extracellular domain, a hinge, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain, wherein the extracellular domain is typically derived from a single-chain variable fragment (scFv), and the intracellular domain has one or more costimulatory or signaling domains (Kakarla and Gottschalk, 2014). Although CAR-T cell therapy has been successful in early clinical studies in the treatment of CD19-positive malignant hematologic tumors (Daviala et al, 2014; Lee et al, 2015; Maude et al, 2014), the clinical response to targeting solid tumor antigens with CAR-T cells is limited due to the large heterogeneity of solid tumors, complicated tumor microenvironment, and difficulty for infiltration of CAR-T cells.
Therefore, there is still a need to obtain T cells that are effective in inhibiting or killing tumors, especially solid tumors.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing a modified T cell, comprising a step of reducing or eliminating the expression of at least one inhibitory protein in the T cell, wherein the inhibitory protein is a T cell surface inhibitory receptor and/or a T cell exhaustion-related protein, for example, the inhibitory protein is selected from a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, FasL, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, said T cell is a T cell comprising an exogenous T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
In some embodiments, said reduction or elimination is achieved by antisense RNA, antagomir, siRNA, shRNA, meganuclease, zinc finger nuclease, transcription activator-like effector nuclease, or CRISPR system.
In some embodiments, said CRISPR system is a CRISPR/Cas9 system.
In some embodiments, said CRISPR/Cas9 system targets one or more of the nucleotide sequences in the cells selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-21 and 28-31
In some embodiments, the TCR or CAR comprises an antigen binding domain against a tumor associated antigen.
In some embodiments, the tumor associated antigen is selected from the group consisting of CD16, CD64, CD78, CD96, CLL1, CD116, CD117, CD71, CD45, CD71, CD123, CD138, ErbB2 (HER2/neu), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII), CD19, CD20, CD30, CD40, disialylganglioside GD2, ductal epithelial mucin, gp36, TAG-72, glycosphingolipid, glioma-related antigens, β-human chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoglobulin (AFP), lectin-responsive AFP, thyroglobulin, RAGE-1, MN-CA IX, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, RU1, RU2 (AS), intestinal carboxyl esterase, mut hsp70-2, M-CSF, prostase, prostatase specific antigen (PSA), PAP, NY-ESO-1, LAGA-1a, p53, Prostein, PSMA, survival and telomerase, prostate cancer tumor antigen-1 (PCTA-1), MAGE, ELF2M, neutrophil elastase, ephrin B2, CD22, insulin growth factor (IGF1)-I, IGF-II, IGFI receptor, mesothelin, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present tumor-specific peptide epitopes, 5T4, ROR1, Nkp30, NKG2D, tumor stromal antigen, fibronectin extra domain A (EDA) and extra domain B (EDB), tenascin-C A1 domain (TnC A1), fibroblast-associated protein (fap), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD24, CD25, CD33, CD34, CD133, CD138, Foxp3, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), GM-CSF, cytokine receptor, endothelial factor, BCMA (CD269, TNFRSF17), TNFRSF17 (UNIPROT Q02223), SLAMF7 (UNIPROT Q9NQ25), GPRC5D (UNIPROT Q9NZD1), FKBP11 (UNIPROT Q9NYL4), KAMP3, ITGA8 (UNIPROT P53708) and FCRL5 (UNIPROT Q68SN8).
In some embodiments, the antigen-binding domain is selected from a monoclonal antibody, a synthetic antibody, a human antibody, a humanized antibody, a single domain antibody, an antibody single-chain variable region, and an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a scFv against mesothelin, a CD8 hinge region, a CD28 transmembrane domain, a CD28 costimulatory domain, and a CD3ζ signal transduction domain.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:27.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a modified T cell, which is prepared by the method of the invention.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a modified T cell, wherein the expression of at least one inhibitory protein in the T cell is reduced or eliminated as compared with an unmodified T cell, wherein the inhibitory protein is a T cell surface inhibitory receptor and/or a T cell exhaustion-related protein, for example, the inhibitory protein is selected from a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, FasL, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, said T cell is a T cell comprising an exogenous T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
In some embodiments, the TCR or CAR comprises an antigen binding domain against a tumor associated antigen.
In some embodiments, the tumor associated antigen is selected from the group consisting of CD16, CD64, CD78, CD96, CLL1, CD116, CD117, CD71, CD45, CD71, CD123, CD138, ErbB2 (HER2/neu), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII), CD19, CD20, CD30, CD40, disialylganglioside GD2, ductal epithelial mucin, gp36, TAG-72, glycosphingolipid, glioma-related antigens, β-human chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoglobulin (AFP), lectin-responsive AFP, thyroglobulin, RAGE-1, MN-CA IX, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, RU1, RU2 (AS), intestinal carboxyl esterase, mut hsp70-2, M-CSF, prostase, prostatase specific antigen (PSA), PAP, NY-ESO-1, LAGA-1a, p53, Prostein, PSMA, survival and telomerase, prostate cancer tumor antigen-1 (PCTA-1), MAGE, ELF2M, neutrophil elastase, ephrin B2, CD22, insulin growth factor (IGF1)-I, IGF-II, IGFI receptor, mesothelin, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present tumor-specific peptide epitopes, 5T4, ROR1, Nkp30, NKG2D, tumor stromal antigen, fibronectin extra domain A (EDA) and extra domain B (EDB), tenascin-C A1 domain (TnC A1), fibroblast-associated protein (fap), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD24, CD25, CD33, CD34, CD133, CD138, Foxp3, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), GM-CSF, cytokine receptor, endothelial factor, BCMA (CD269, TNFRSF17), TNFRSF17 (UNIPROT Q02223), SLAMF7 (UNIPROT Q9NQ25), GPRC5D (UNIPROT Q9NZD1), FKBP11 (UNIPROT Q9NYL4), KAMP3, ITGA8 (UNIPROT P53708) and FCRL5 (UNIPROT Q68SN8).
In some embodiments, wherein the antigen-binding domain is selected from a monoclonal antibody, a synthetic antibody, a human antibody, a humanized antibody, a single domain antibody, an antibody single-chain variable region, and an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
In some embodiments, wherein the CAR comprises a scFv against mesothelin, a CD8 hinge region, a CD28 transmembrane domain, a CD28 costimulatory domain, and a CD3ζ signal transduction domain.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:27.
In another aspect, the present invention provides use of the modified T cell of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of cancer.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising the modified T cell of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
In embodiments of various aspects of the invention, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma, hematological malignancies, head and neck cancers, glial tumor, stomach cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, throat cancer, cervical cancer, uterine body tumor and osteosarcoma. Examples of other cancers that can be treated with the method or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention include: bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, skin or intraocular malignant melanoma, uterine cancer, anal cancer, testicular cancer, fallopian tube cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, vaginal cancer, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, esophageal cancer, small intestine cancer, endocrine system cancer, thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer, adrenal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, urethral cancer, penile cancer, chronic or acute leukemia (including acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia), childhood solid tumors, lymphocytic lymphoma, bladder cancer, kidney or ureteral cancer, renal pelvis cancer, central nervous system (CNS) tumor, primary CNS lymphoma, tumor angiogenesis, spinal tumor, brainstem glioma, pituitary adenoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, epidermal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, T cell lymphoma, and environmentally induced cancers, including asbestos-induced cancers, and combinations of the cancers. Preferably, the cancer is a solid tumor cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer is lung cancer such as lung squamous cell carcinoma. In some specific embodiments, the cancer is ovarian cancer. In some specific embodiments, the cancer is colon cancer.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a kit for use in the method of the invention for preparing a modified T cell.
In the present invention, the scientific and technical terms used herein have the meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art unless otherwise specified. Also, the protein and nucleic acid chemistry, molecular biology, cell and tissue culture, microbiology, immunology related terms, and laboratory procedures used herein are terms and routine steps that are widely used in the corresponding field. For example, standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used in the present invention are well known to those skilled in the art and are more fully described in the following document: Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as “Sambrook”). In the meantime, in order to better understand the present invention, definitions and explanations of related terms are provided below.
“Genome” as used herein encompasses not only chromosomal DNA present in the nucleus, but also organellar DNA present in the subcellular components (eg, mitochondria, plastids) of the cell.
“Exogenous” in reference to a sequence means a sequence from a foreign species, or refers to a sequence in which significant changes in composition and/or locus occur from its native form through deliberate human intervention if from the same species.
“Polynucleotide”, “nucleic acid sequence”, “nucleotide sequence” or “nucleic acid fragment” are used interchangeably and are single-stranded or double-stranded RNA or DNA polymers, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. Nucleotides are referred to by their single letter names as follows: “A” is adenosine or deoxyadenosine (corresponding to RNA or DNA, respectively), “C” means cytidine or deoxycytidine, “G” means guanosine or deoxyguanosine, “U” represents uridine, “T” means deoxythymidine, “R” means purine (A or G), “Y” means pyrimidine (C or T), “K” means G or T, “H” means A or C or T, “I” means inosine, and “N” means any nucleotide.
“Polypeptide,” “peptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably in the present invention to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to an amino acid polymer in which one or more amino acid residues is artificial chemical analogue of corresponding naturally occurring amino acid(s), as well as to a naturally occurring amino acid polymer. The terms “polypeptide,” “peptide,” “amino acid sequence,” and “protein” may also include modified forms including, but not limited to, glycosylation, lipid ligation, sulfation, γ carboxylation of glutamic acid residues, and ADP-ribosylation.
As used in the present invention, “expression construct” refers to a vector such as a recombinant vector that is suitable for expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in an organism. “Expression” refers to the production of a functional product. For example, expression of a nucleotide sequence may refer to the transcription of a nucleotide sequence (eg, transcription to produce a mRNA or a functional RNA) and/or the translation of an RNA into a precursor or mature protein.
The “expression construct” of the present invention may be a linear nucleic acid fragment, a circular plasmid, a viral vector or, in some embodiments, an RNA that is capable of translation (such as a mRNA).
The “expression construct” of the present invention may comprise regulatory sequences and nucleotide sequences of interest from different origins, or regulatory sequences and nucleotide sequences of interest from the same source but arranged in a manner different from that normally occurring in nature.
“Regulatory sequence” and “regulatory element” are used interchangeably to refer to a nucleotide sequence that is located upstream (5 ‘non-coding sequence), middle or downstream (3’ non-coding sequence) of a coding sequence and affects the transcription, RNA processing or stability or translation of the relevant coding sequence.
Regulatory sequences may include, but are not limited to, promoters, translation leaders, introns and polyadenylation recognition sequences.
“Promoter” refers to a nucleic acid fragment capable of controlling the transcription of another nucleic acid fragment. In some embodiments of the present invention, the promoter is a promoter capable of controlling the transcription of a gene in a cell, whether or not it is derived from the cell.
As used herein, the term “operably linked” refers to the linkage of a regulatory element (eg, but not limited to, a promoter sequence, a transcription termination sequence, etc.) to a nucleic acid sequence (eg, a coding sequence or an open reading frame) such that transcription of the nucleotide sequence is controlled and regulated by the transcriptional regulatory element. Techniques for operably linking regulatory element regions to nucleic acid molecules are known in the art.
“Gene editing” which is also known as genome editing uses engineered nuclease or “molecular scissors” to insert, delete or replace DNA in an organism's genome. Gene editing results in site-specific double-strand breaks (DSBs) at desired positions in genome, and then introduces desired DNA insertions, deletions or substitutions in the process of repairing DSBs. Meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR systems are typically used for gene editing.
“Meganucleases” are a class of deoxyribonuclease enzymes that have a large recognition site (12-40 bp double-stranded DNA sequences), which usually occurs only once in any given genome. For example, the 18 bp sequence identified by meganuclease I-SceI occurs occasionally once on average in a genome 20 times larger than the human genome.
“Zinc finger nucleases” are artificial restriction enzymes prepared by fusing a zinc finger DNA binding domain to a DNA cleavage domain. The zinc finger DNA binding domain of a single ZFN typically contains 3-6 individual zinc finger repeats, each of which can identify a sequence of, for example, 3 bp.
“Transcription activator-like effector nucleases” are restriction enzymes that can be engineered to cleave specific DNA sequences, and that are typically prepared by fusing the DNA-binding domain of a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) to a DNA cleavage domain. TALE can be engineered to bind almost any desired DNA sequence.
“Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)” are prokaryotic DNA segments containing short repeats. The CRISPR system is a prokaryotic immune system that confers resistance to foreign genetic elements such as those present in plasmids and phages, and the resistance provides acquired immunity. In this system, Cas proteins or similar proteins cleave foreign nucleic acids under the guidance of RNA.
As used herein, the term “CRISPR nucleases” generally refer to nucleases present in naturally occurring CRISPR systems, as well as their modified forms, variants (including nickase mutants), or catalytically active fragments. CRISPR nucleases can identify and/or cleave target nucleic acids by interacting with a guide RNA such as a crRNA and optionally a tracrRNA or an artificial gRNA such as a sgRNA. The term encompasses any nuclease based on the CRISPR system that enables gene editing in cells.
“Cas9 Nuclease” and “Cas9” are used interchangeably herein and refer to an RNA-directed nuclease comprising a Cas9 protein or a fragment thereof (e.g., a protein comprising an active DNA cleavage domain of Cas9 and/or a gRNA binding domain of Cas9). Cas9 is a component of the CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and their associated systems) genome editing system that targets and cleaves DNA target sequences under the guidance of a guide RNA to form DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs).
“Guide RNA” and “gRNA” are used interchangeably herein and generally consist of a crRNA and tracrRNA molecule that partially complements to form a complex, wherein the crRNA comprises a sequence that is sufficiently complementary to a target sequence to hybridize to the target sequence and directs the CRISPR complex (Cas9+crRNA+tracrRNA) to specifically bind to the target sequence. However, it is known in the art to design a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) that simultaneously contains features of crRNA and tracrRNA.
“T cell receptors (TCRs)”, which are also known as T cell antigen receptors, refer to molecular structures used by T cells to specifically identify and bind to antigen peptide-MHC molecules, and are usually present on the surface of T cells in a complex form with CD3 molecules. The TCRs of most T cells consist of an alpha chain and a beta peptide chain, and the TCRs of a minority of T cells consist of a gamma chain and a delta peptide chain.
“Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)”, which are also known as artificial T cell receptors, chimeric T cell receptors, or chimeric immune receptors, are artificially designed receptors that can confer immune effector cells a certain specificity. In general, this technique is used to confer T cells the ability to specifically recognize tumor surface antigens. In this way, a large number of cells targeting tumors can be produced.
As used herein, “subject” refers to an organism having or susceptible to a disease (e.g., cancer) that can be treated by the methods, or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Non-limiting examples include humans, cows, rats, mice, dogs, monkeys, goats, sheep, cows, deer, and other non-mammals. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is human.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing a modified T cell, comprising a step of reducing (knock down) or eliminating (knock out) the expression of at least one inhibitory protein in the T cell.
As used herein, an “inhibitory protein” of a T cell refers to a protein related to inhibition of T cell activity. In some embodiments, the inhibitory protein is selected from a T cell surface inhibitory receptor or a T cell exhaustion-related protein.
In some embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor may be a T cell surface receptor that recognizes a ligand expressed on the surface of tumor cells or surrounding stromal cells. Examples of such receptors include, but are not limited to, TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, RARA, or combinations thereof.
In some other embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor may be a receptor that recognizes secretions such as adenosine, epinephrine, etc., or cytokines such as IL-10, TGFβ, etc., present in the tumor microenvironment. Such secretions or cytokines may affect the tumor-killing effects of T cells. Examples of such receptors include, but are not limited to, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, TGFBRII, or combinations thereof.
The inventors surprisingly found that the tumor-killing ability of therapeutic T cells such as CAR-T cells can be enhanced by inhibiting the TGFβ signaling pathway. Therefore, in some preferred embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor is a TGFβ receptor. In some preferred embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor is a T cell receptor that recognizes the inhibitory cytokine TGFβ1, such as TGFBRII. In addition, the present invention also covers the reduction (knockdown) or elimination (knockout) of the expression of TGFβ signaling pathway related proteins such as FOXP3 in T cells. In some embodiments of the present invention, the expression of TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII) and/or FOXP3 in T cells is reduced (knocked down) or eliminated (knocked out).
In some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is a T cell exhaustion-related transcription factor, for example, a transcription factor whose expression is significantly up-regulated in exhausted T cells. Examples of such transcription factors include, but are not limited to, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, or combinations thereof.
It was reported that the epigenetics of exhausted T cells are significantly different from those of non-exhausted T cells. Therefore, in some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-associated protein is an epigenetic-associated protein, such as a methyltransferase. In some embodiments, the methyltransferase is DNMT3A.
The single-cell sequencing technology emerged in recent years has obtained a new class of proteins that are highly expressed in exhausted T cells, but how they affect T cell function is still unclear. Such proteins that are highly expressed in exhausted T cells are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is selected from LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is a protein related to the endogenous mechanism of T cell exhaustion, such as a T cell apoptosis-related protein. Examples of such proteins related to the endogenous mechanism of T cell exhaustion include, but are not limited to, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, FasL, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the method of the present invention includes reducing or eliminating the expression of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, or more of the above-mentioned inhibitory proteins in T cells, the inhibitory protein is for example selected from a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, and FasL.
In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention further include reducing or eliminating PD1 expression in the T cells. In some embodiments, the methods of the invention include reducing or eliminating the expression of TGFβ receptors (such as TGFBRII) and PD1 in the T cells.
The T cells of the present invention may be T cells for adoptive immunotherapy produced by expanding antigen-specific T cells or by redirection of T cells through genetic engineering. The T cells can also be primary T cells isolated from a subject. In some embodiments, the T cells are T cells comprising exogenous T cell receptors (TCRs). In some other embodiments, the T cells are T cells comprising chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). In some embodiments, the T cells are CD4+ T cells. In some embodiments, the T cells are CD8+ T cells.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of providing unmodified T cells isolated from the subject, and a step of introducing a TCR or CAR into the unmodified T cells. In some embodiments, the step of introducing a TCR or CAR into the unmodified T cells is performed before or after or simultaneously with the step of reducing or eliminating expression of the inhibitory protein in the T cells.
In some embodiments, the TCR or CAR comprises an antigen binding domain against a tumor associated antigen, such as an extracellular antigen binding domain.
The tumor associated antigens include but are not limited to CD16, CD64, CD78, CD96, CLL1, CD116, CD117, CD71, CD45, CD71, CD123, CD138, ErbB2 (HER2/neu), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII), CD19, CD20, CD30, CD40, disialylganglioside GD2, ductal epithelial mucin, gp36, TAG-72, glycosphingolipid, glioma-related antigens, β-human chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoglobulin (AFP), lectin-responsive AFP, thyroglobulin, RAGE-1, MN-CA IX, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, RU1, RU2 (AS), intestinal carboxyl esterase, mut hsp70-2, M-CSF, prostase, prostatase specific antigen (PSA), PAP, NY-ESO-1, LAGA-1a, p53, Prostein, PSMA, survival and telomerase, prostate cancer tumor antigen-1 (PCTA-1), MAGE, ELF2M, neutrophil elastase, ephrin B2, CD22, insulin growth factor (IGF1)-I, IGF-II, IGFI receptor, mesothelin, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present tumor-specific peptide epitopes, 5T4, ROR1, Nkp30, NKG2D, tumor stromal antigen, fibronectin extra domain A (EDA) and extra domain B (EDB), tenascin-C A1 domain (TnC A1), fibroblast-associated protein (fap), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD24, CD25, CD33, CD34, CD133, CD138, Foxp3, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), GM-CSF, cytokine receptor, endothelial factor, BCMA (CD269, TNFRSF17), TNFRSF17 (UNIPROT Q02223), SLAMF7 (UNIPROT Q9NQ25), GPRC5D (UNIPROT Q9NZD1), FKBP11 (UNIPROT Q9NYL4), KAMP3, ITGA8 (UNIPROT P53708) and FCRL5 (UNIPROT Q68SN8). In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is mesothelin.
According to the present invention, the antigen-binding domain may be, for example, a monoclonal antibody, a synthetic antibody, a human antibody, a humanized antibody, a single domain antibody, an antibody single-chain variable region, and an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is a monoclonal antibody against mesothelin. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is a scFv against mesothelin. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is the scFv P4 against mesothelin, for example, a scFv having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:22.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a transmembrane domain, such as a CD8 transmembrane domain or a CD28 transmembrane domain, preferably a CD28 transmembrane domain, e.g., a CD28 transmembrane structure having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:23.
In some embodiments, the CAR further comprises a hinge region between the extracellular antigen binding domain and the transmembrane domain, e.g., the hinge region is a CD8 hinge region, such as a CD8 hinge region having amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a signal transduction domain that can be used for T cell activation, e.g., a signal transduction domain selected from the group consisting of TCRζ, FcRγ, FcRβ, FcRε, CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε, CD3ζ, CD5, CD22, CD79a, CD79b, and CD66d. In some preferred embodiments, the CAR comprises a CD3ζ signal transduction domain, such as a CD3ζ signal transduction domain having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:25.
In some embodiments, the CAR further comprises one or more costimulatory domains selected from the group consisting of CD3, CD27, CD28, CD83, CD86, CD127, 4-1BB, and 4-1BBL. In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a CD28 costimulatory domain, e.g., a CD28 costimulatory domain having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:26.
In some embodiments, the CAR may further comprise a reporter molecule, such as a GFP protein, for displaying or tracking CAR expression.
In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the CAR comprises a scFv P4 against mesothelin, a CD8 hinge region, a CD28 transmembrane domain, a CD28 costimulatory domain, a CD3ζ signal transduction domain, and optionally a GFP protein. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the CAR comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:27.
Several methods are known in the art to reduce or eliminate protein expression in cells. In some embodiments, the expression of an inhibitory protein in T cells is reduced or eliminated by antisense RNA, antagomir, siRNA, shRNA. In other embodiments, the expression of inhibitory proteins in T cells is reduced or eliminated by methods of gene editing, such as by meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, or CRISPR systems. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the CRISPR system is used to reduce or eliminate the expression of inhibitory proteins in T cells.
In some embodiments, the nuclease used in the CRISPR system (CRISPR nuclease) can be selected, for example, from a group consisting of Cas3, Cas8a, Cas5, Cas8b, Cas8c, Cas10d, Cse1, Cse2, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, GSU0054, Cas10, Csm2, Cmr5, Cas10, Csx11, Csx10, Csf1, Cas9, Csn2, Cas4, Cpf1, C2c1, C2c3 or C2c2 proteins, or functional variants of these nucleases.
In some embodiments, the CRISPR system is a CRISPR/Cas9 system. In some embodiments, the CRISPR system, e.g., a CRISPR/Cas9 system, targets one or more of the nucleotide sequences in the cells selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-21 and 28-31.
In some embodiments, the CRISPR system is assembled in vitro and transferred to T cells. In some embodiments, an expression construct encoding all of the elements of the CRIPSR system is transformed into T cells. In some embodiments, an expression construct encoding part of the elements of the CRIPSR system, as well as other transcribed or translated elements are transferred into T cells.
The present invention also provides a CRISPR gene editing system for preparing a modified T cell, comprising at least one of the following i) to v):
i) a CRISPR nuclease, and at least one guide RNA;
ii) an expression construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a CRISPR nuclease, and at least one guide RNA;
iii) a CRISPR nuclease, and an expression construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one guide RNA;
iv) an expression construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a CRISPR nuclease, and an expression construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one guide RNA;
v) an expression construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a CRISPR nuclease and a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one guide RNA;
wherein the at least one guide RNA targets an inhibitory protein encoding gene in the T cell, said inhibitory protein is selected from a T cell surface inhibitory receptor or a T cell exhaustion-related protein, such as a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, FasL, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the at least one guide RNA further includes a guide RNA that targets a gene encoding PD1 in the T cell. In some embodiments, the at least one guide RNA includes a guide RNA that targets the gene encoding a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII) and the gene encoding PD1 in the T cell.
In some specific embodiments, the at least one guide RNA targets one or more nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-21 and 28-31 in the T cell.
In some embodiments, the CRISPR nuclease can be, for example, selected from the group consisting of Cas3, Cas8a, Cas5, Cas8b, Cas8c, Cas10d, Cse1, Cse2, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, GSU0054, Cas10, Csm2, Cmr5, Cas10, Csx11, Csx10, Csf1, Cas9, Csn2, Cas4, Cpf1, C2c1, C2c3 or C2c2 proteins, or functional variants of these nucleases. In some embodiments, the CRISPR nuclease is a Cas9 nuclease or a functional variant thereof.
In some embodiments of the methods of the invention, the introduction of the CRISPR gene editing system of the invention into T cells is included. In some embodiments, the CRISPR gene editing system of the invention results in a reduction or elimination of expression (knockdown or knockout) of the targeted protein after introduction into T cells.
The CRISPR system of the invention can be transformed into T cells by methods known in the art, such as: calcium phosphate transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation, lipofection, microinjection, viral infection (e.g. baculovirus, vaccinia virus, adenoviruses and other viruses).
The modified T cells of the invention may be activated and proliferated before or after genetic modification. T cells may be proliferated in vitro or in vivo. Generally, the T cells of the present invention may be proliferated, for example, by contacting an agent that stimulates the CD3 TCR complex and costimulatory molecules on the surface of the T cell to generate a T cell activation signal. For example, chemicals such as a calcium ionophore A23187, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or mitotic lectins such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA) can be used to generate T cell activation signals. In some embodiments, the T cell population may be activated by contacting in vitro, for example, an anti-CD3 antibody or a antigen-binding fragment thereof, or an anti-CD2 antibody immobilized on a surface, or by contacting a protein kinase C activator (for example, a moss inhibitor) together with the calcium ionophore carrier. For example, under conditions suitable for stimulating T cell proliferation, the T cell population may be in contact with anti-CD3 antibodies and anti-CD28 antibodies. Conditions suitable for T cell culture include suitable culture media that may contain factors necessary for proliferation and viability (such as Minimal Essential Media or RPMI Media 1640, or X-vivo 5, (Lonza)), where the necessary factors include serum (such as fetal bovine or human serum), interleukin-2 (IL-2), insulin, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-7, GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-2, IL-15, TGFβ and TNF, or additives for cell growth known to those skilled in the art. Other additives for cell growth include but are not limited to surfactants, human plasma protein powder, and reducing agents such as N-acetyl-cysteine and 2-mercaptoacetic acid. The culture media may include RPMI 1640, A1M-V, DMEM, MEM, a-MEM, F-12, X-Vivo 1 and X-Vivo 20, Optimizer, amino acids, sodium pyruvate and vitamins, serum-free or supplemented with appropriate amount of serum (or plasma) or a specific set of hormones, and/or a certain quantity of cytokines sufficient for the growth and proliferation of T cells. The target cells can be maintained under conditions necessary to support growth, such as an appropriate temperature (e.g., 37° C.) and environment (e.g., air plus 5% CO2).
In another aspect, the invention provides a modified T cell, wherein the expression of an inhibitory protein in the modified T cell is reduced or eliminated as compared with an unmodified T cell. In some embodiments, the modified T cell is prepared by the methods of the invention.
In some embodiments, the inhibitory protein is selected from a T cell surface inhibitory receptor or a T cell exhaustion-related protein.
In some embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor may be a T cell surface receptor that recognizes a ligand expressed on the surface of tumor cells or surrounding stromal cells. Examples of such receptors include, but are not limited to, TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, RARA, or combinations thereof.
In some other embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor may be a receptor that recognizes secretions such as adenosine, epinephrine, etc., or cytokines such as IL-10, TGFβ, etc., present in the tumor microenvironment. Such secretions or cytokines may affect the tumor-killing effects of T cells. Examples of such receptors include, but are not limited to, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, TGFBRII, or combinations thereof.
The inventors surprisingly found that the tumor-killing ability of therapeutic T cells such as CAR-T cells can be enhanced by inhibiting the TGFβ signaling pathway. Therefore, in some preferred embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor is a TGFβ receptor. In some preferred embodiments, the T cell surface inhibitory receptor is a T cell receptor that recognizes the inhibitory cytokine TGFβ1, such as TGFBRII. In addition, the present invention also covers the reduction (knockdown) or elimination (knockout) of the expression of TGFβ signaling pathway related proteins such as FOXP3 in T cells. In some embodiments of the present invention, the expression of TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII) and/or FOXP3 in T cells is reduced (knocked down) or eliminated (knocked out).
In some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is a T cell exhaustion-related transcription factor, for example, a transcription factor whose expression is significantly up-regulated in exhausted T cells. Examples of such transcription factors include, but are not limited to, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, or combinations thereof.
It was reported that the epigenetics of exhausted T cells are significantly different from those of non-exhausted T cells. Therefore, in some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-associated protein is an epigenetic-associated protein, such as a methyltransferase. In some embodiments, the methyltransferase is DNMT3A.
The single-cell sequencing technology emerged in recent years has obtained a new class of proteins that are highly expressed in exhausted T cells, but how they affect T cell function is still unclear. Such proteins that are highly expressed in exhausted T cells are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is selected from LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the T cell exhaustion-related protein is a protein related to the endogenous mechanism of T cell exhaustion, such as a T cell apoptosis-related protein. Examples of such proteins related to the endogenous mechanism of T cell exhaustion include, but are not limited to, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, FasL, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, as compared with an unmodified T cell, the expression of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, or more of the above-mentioned inhibitory proteins in the modified T cell of the invention is reduced or eliminated, the inhibitory protein is for example selected from a TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, DGKa, Fas, and FasL. In some further embodiments, as compared with an unmodified T cell, the expression of PD1 in the modified T cell of the invention is reduced or eliminated. In some further embodiments, as compared with an unmodified T cell, the expression of the TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII) in the modified T cell of the invention is reduced or eliminated.
In some embodiments, the gene encoding the inhibitory protein in the T cell is knocked out, for example, by introducing the gene editing system of the invention.
According to the present invention, the modified T cells have comparable expansion ability and similar immunological properties to the unmodified T cells, and have enhanced biological activity since immunosuppression is relieved, such as antitumor activity, especially activity of inhibiting or killing solid tumor cells.
In some embodiments, the T cells are T cells comprising exogenous T cell receptors (TCRs). In some other embodiments, the T cells are T cells comprising chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). In some preferred embodiments, the T cells are CAR-T cells.
In some embodiments, the TCR or CAR comprises an antigen binding domain against a tumor associated antigen, such as an extracellular antigen binding domain.
The tumor associated antigens include but are not limited to CD16, CD64, CD78, CD96, CLL1, CD116, CD117, CD71, CD45, CD71, CD123, CD138, ErbB2 (HER2/neu), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII), CD19, CD20, CD30, CD40, di sialylganglioside GD2, ductal epithelial mucin, gp36, TAG-72, glycosphingolipid, glioma-related antigens, β-human chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoglobulin (AFP), lectin-responsive AFP, thyroglobulin, RAGE-1, MN-CA IX, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, RU1, RU2 (AS), intestinal carboxyl esterase, mut hsp70-2, M-CSF, prostase, prostatase specific antigen (PSA), PAP, NY-ESO-1, LAGA-1a, p53, Prostein, PSMA, survival and telomerase, prostate cancer tumor antigen-1 (PCTA-1), MAGE, ELF2M, neutrophil elastase, ephrin B2, CD22, insulin growth factor (IGF1)-I, IGF-II, IGFI receptor, mesothelin, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present tumor-specific peptide epitopes, 5T4, ROR1, Nkp30, NKG2D, tumor stromal antigen, fibronectin extra domain A (EDA) and extra domain B (EDB), tenascin-C A1 domain (TnC A1), fibroblast-associated protein (fap), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD24, CD25, CD33, CD34, CD133, CD138, Foxp3, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), GM-CSF, cytokine receptor, endothelial factor, BCMA (CD269, TNFRSF17), TNFRSF17 (UNIPROT Q02223), SLAMF7 (UNIPROT Q9NQ25), GPRC5D (UNIPROT Q9NZD1), FKBP11 (UNIPROT Q9NYL4), KAMP3, ITGA8 (UNIPROT P53708) and FCRL5 (UNIPROT Q68SN8). In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is mesothelin.
According to the present invention, the antigen-binding domain may be, for example, a monoclonal antibody, a synthetic antibody, a human antibody, a humanized antibody, a single domain antibody, an antibody single-chain variable region, and an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is a monoclonal antibody against mesothelin. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is a scFv against mesothelin. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen binding domain is the scFv P4 against mesothelin, for example, a scFv having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:22.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a transmembrane domain, such as a CD8 transmembrane domain or a CD28 transmembrane domain, preferably a CD28 transmembrane domain, e.g., a CD28 transmembrane structure having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:23.
In some embodiments, the CAR further comprises a hinge region between the extracellular antigen binding domain and the transmembrane domain, e.g., the hinge region is a CD8 hinge region, such as a CD8 hinge region having amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24.
In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a signal transduction domain that can be used for T cell activation, e.g., a signal transduction domain selected from the group consisting of TCRζ, FcRγ, FcRβ, FcRε, CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε, CD3ζ, CD5, CD22, CD79a, CD79b, and CD66d. In some preferred embodiments, the CAR comprises a CD3ζ signal transduction domain, such as a CD3ζ signal transduction domain having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:25.
In some embodiments, the CAR further comprises one or more costimulatory domains selected from the group consisting of CD3, CD27, CD28, CD83, CD86, CD127, 4-1BB, and 4-1BBL. In some embodiments, the CAR comprises a CD28 costimulatory domain, e.g., a CD28 costimulatory domain having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:26.
In some embodiments, the CAR may further comprise a reporter molecule, such as a GFP protein, for displaying or tracking CAR expression.
In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the CAR comprises a scFv P4 against mesothelin, a CD8 hinge region, a CD28 transmembrane domain, a CD28 costimulatory domain, a CD3ζ signal transduction domain, and optionally a GFP protein. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the CAR comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:27.
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the modified T cell is a CAR-T cell comprising the CAR of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 27, wherein the expression of at least one inhibitory protein or a combination of inhibitory proteins selected from TGFβ receptor (such as TGFBRII), TIGIT, BTLA, 2B4, CD160, CD200R, A2aR, IL10RA, ADRB2, BATF, GATA3, IRF4, RARA, LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2, SHP1, is reduced or eliminated. DGKa, Fas, FasL or any combination thereof is reduced or eliminated.
The cells of the present invention can be obtained from many non-limiting sources by various non-limiting methods, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells, bone marrow, lymph node tissues, umbilical cord blood, thymus tissues, ascites, pleural effusions, spleen tissues and tumors. In some embodiments, the cells may be derived from a healthy donor or from a patient diagnosed with cancer. In some embodiments, the cells may be part of a mixed population of cells exhibiting different phenotypic characteristics. In some embodiments, the T cell is a CD4+ T cell. In some embodiments, the T cell is a CD8+ T cell.
In some embodiments of various aspects of the present invention, the T cells are derived from autologous cells of the subject. As used herein, “autologous” refers to that cells, cell lines, or cell populations used to treat the subject are derived from the subject per se. In some embodiments, the T cells are derived from allogeneic cells, such as from a donor compatible with the subject's human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Standard schemes can be used to convert cells from a donor into non-alloreactive cells and to replicate the cells as required, generating cells that can be administered to one or more patients.
The CAR T cells or TCR T cells of the invention can be prepared by a variety of means known in the art. For example, the CAR-T cells or TCR-T cells can be obtained by transducing T cells with an expression construct comprising a CAR or TCR coding sequence. Those skilled in the art will be able to readily construct expression constructs suitable for protein expression, such as viral vectors.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising the modified T cell of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Furthermore, the invention also provides the use of the modified T cell of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of cancer.
As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible. Preferably, the carriers are suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, parenteral, spinal or epidermal administration (e.g., by injection or infusion).
In another aspect, the invention also provides a method for treating cancer, comprising administering to a subject in need a therapeutically effective amount of the modified T cell of the invention or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering to the subject a radiation therapy and/or a chemotherapy and/or additional tumor targeting drugs (e.g., monoclonal antibodies or small molecule compounds that target other antigens).
As used herein, “therapeutically effective amount” or “therapeutically effective dose” or “effective amount” refers to an amount of a substance, compound, material or cell that is at least sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect after administration to a subject. Thus, it is an amount necessary to prevent, cure, ameliorate, arrest or partially arrest the symptoms of a disease or condition.
For example, an “effective amount” of cells or pharmaceutical composition of the invention preferably results in a decrease in the severity of the symptoms of the disease, an increase in the frequency and duration of the asymptomatic phase of the disease, or prevention of damage or disability caused by the disease. For example, for the treatment of a tumor, an “effective amount” of cells or pharmaceutical composition of the invention preferably inhibits tumor cell growth or tumor growth relative to a subject not receiving the treatment by at least about 10%, preferably at least about 20%, preferably at least about 30%, more preferably at least about 40%, more preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, more preferably at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 80%. The ability to inhibit tumor growth can be evaluated in animal model systems which can be used to predict the therapeutic effect on human tumors. Alternatively, it can also be evaluated by examining the ability to inhibit tumor cell growth, which can be determined in vitro by assays well known to those skilled in the art.
Actual dosage levels of of the cells in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the cells which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of pharmacokinetic factors including the activity of the particular compositions of the present invention employed, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compositions employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.
Surprisingly, the modified T cells of the present invention can achieve superior therapeutic effects at lower doses relative to control T cells (in which the expression of the inhibitory protein is not reduced or eliminated). This is particularly advantageous in reducing the time and cost of preparation while reducing the side effects associated with high dose administration.
For example, the modified T cells of the present invention are administered at a dose that is about 2 times lower, about 3 times lower, about 4 times lower, about 5 times lower, about 6 times lower, about 7 times lower, about 8 times lower, about 9 times lower, about 10 times lower, about 15 times lower, about 20 times lower, about 30 times lower, about 40 times lower, about 50 lower, about 100 times lower, about 150 times lower, and about 200 or more times lower than control T cells in which expression of the inhibitory protein is not reduced or eliminated.
Non-limiting examples of cancers that can be treated by the cell or pharmaceutical composition of the invention include lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma, hematological malignancies, head and neck cancers, glial tumor, stomach cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, throat cancer, cervical cancer, uterine body tumor and osteosarcoma. Examples of other cancers that can be treated with the method or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention include: bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, skin or intraocular malignant melanoma, uterine cancer, anal cancer, testicular cancer, fallopian tube cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, vaginal cancer, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, esophageal cancer, small intestine cancer, endocrine system cancer, thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer, adrenal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, urethral cancer, penile cancer, chronic or acute leukemia (including acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia), childhood solid tumors, lymphocytic lymphoma, bladder cancer, kidney or ureteral cancer, renal pelvis cancer, central nervous system (CNS) tumor, primary CNS lymphoma, tumor angiogenesis, spinal tumor, brainstem glioma, pituitary adenoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, epidermal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, T cell lymphoma, and environmentally induced cancers, including asbestos-induced cancers, and combinations of the cancers. Preferably, the cancer is a solid tumor cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer is lung cancer such as lung squamous cell carcinoma. In some specific embodiments, the cancer is ovarian cancer. In some specific embodiments, the cancer is colon cancer.
The invention also provides a kit for use in the method of preparing the modified T cell of the invention, which comprises a CRISPR gene editing system for preparing the modified T cell as described herein, and suitable reagents for introducing the gene editing system into cells.
In some embodiments, the kit includes a CRISPR nuclease such as Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, the kit includes one or more sgRNAs, for example, the sgRNA targets any one or more target sequences in SEQ ID NOs: 1-21 and 28-31. In some other embodiments, the kit contains reagents for in vitro transcription of sgRNA.
The kit may further comprise reagents for detecting T cells, isolating T cells, activating T cells, and/or expanding T cells. The kit may further comprise reagents for introducing a CAR or TCR into T cells, reagents for detecting and/or isolating cells expressing the CAR or TCR. The kit may also contain instructions for carrying out the methods of the invention.
A further understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the examples set forth herein, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is apparent that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such modifications and variations are also within the scope of the present invention.
1. In Vitro Transcription of sgRNA
First, a forward primer containing a T7 promoter and a 20 bp target sequence (sgRNA) was synthesized by a biotechnology company, and then the T7-sgRNA PCR product was amplified in vitro using the pX330 plasmid (Addgene plasmid #4223) as a PCR template and the PCR product was purified using a PCR purification kit. The purified T7-sgRNA PCR product was then used as a template, the sgRNA was in vitro transcribed using MEGAshortscript T7 kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the sgRNA was recovered by MEGAclear columns (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the sgRNA was dissolved in RNase-free deionized water, frozen separately or reserved for subsequent use.
2. Complex of Cas9 Protein with sgRNA
First, an appropriate amount of the corresponding sgRNA was added to a RNase-free EP tube, then the Cas9 protein was slowly added, gently mixed, and incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes to form RNP for subsequent use.
3. Electroporation Transformation
4. Isolation of CD3+ Cells and Preparation of CAR-T Cells
After the peripheral blood or cord blood was sorted into mononuclear cells (PBMC) with the lymphocyte separator (Histopaque-1077), the PBMCs were then separated from the CD3+ cells using the EasySeq human T cell Enrichment kit. After obtaining CD3+ cells, CAR lentivirus infection was carried out to obtain CAR-T cells.
Subsequently, as described above, each RNP was electroporated into CAR-T cells, the target gene was knocked out, and gene-edited CAR-T cells were obtained.
5. Tumor Cell Lines
The tumor cells CRL5826 (NCI-H226 human lung squamous cell line), OVCAR3 (human ovarian cancer cell) and HCT116 (human colon cancer cell) were purchased from ATCC, all expressing the antigen Mesothelin. The cell line was infected with a virus for expressing luciferase to obtain a cell line stably expressing luciferase (CRL5826-luci, OVCAR3-luci, HCT116-luci). On this basis, the virus expressing PDL1 was transfected to obtain a cell line (CRL5826-PDL1-luci) with high expression of PDL1.
6. In Vitro Killing of CAR-T Cells
The tumor cells were placed in a 96-well micro-assay-plate (greiner bio-one) at a density of 104/100 ul. CAR-T cells were accurately counted, diluted according to different ratios of effector cells: target cells, and 100 ul was added to the corresponding wells. For the control group, 100 ul of culture medium was add. At the specified time points, 10 ul Steady-Glo® Luciferase Assay System=was added to all the wells, 5 minutes later, read on the microplate reader. After getting the reading, the percentage of killing was calculated: killing (%)=100−(reading of the experimental group/reading of the control group)*100.
Four types of CAR (P4-z, P4-BBz, P4-28z, and P4-28BBz) were designed, the structures of which were shown in
At a ratio of 1:1 effector cells: target cells, the obtained CAR-T cells and H226 cells were co-cultured for 20 hours, and the release of IFN-γ and IL-2 was measured.
At a 2:1 ratio of effector cells to target cells, the obtained CAR-T cells were co-cultured with luciferase-expressing H226 cells (H226-luci) for 3 days, and the target cell lysis percentage was calculated by measuring the luciferase activity of the remaining tumor cells.
As shown in
CAR-T cells containing P4-28z, referred to as P4-CAR-T cells, were used in all the following experiments.
In this example, the inhibitory receptors TIGIT, BTLA, CD160, 2B4 and CD200R in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied.
At a high-effictor:target ratio (1:1) and in a short term (24 h, 48 h), the TIGIT knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the TIGIT knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the BTLA knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the BTLA knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the CD160 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the CD160 knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the 2B4 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the 2B4 knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the CD200R knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the CD200R knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
In this example, the T cell exhaustion-related transcription factors BATF, GATA3, IRF4, and RARA in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied.
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the BATF knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a significantly stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the BATF knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a significantly stronger killing than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the GATA3 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the GATA3 knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the RARA knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the RARA knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the IRF4 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was stronger than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the IRF4 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
In this example, the tumor microenvironment-related receptors A2aR, IL10RA, and ADRB2 in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied.
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the A2aR knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing significantly stronger than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the A2aR knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing stronger than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the IL10RA knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the IL10RA knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the ADRB2 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the ADRB2 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
In this example, the T cell exhaustion-related epigenetic genes such as methyltransferase DNMT3A in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied.
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the DNMT3A knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the DNMT3A knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days was slightly stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
In this example, some genes with unknown functions that are highly expressed in exhausted T cells in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied. These genes include: LAYN, MYO7A, PHLDA1, RGS1, RGS2.
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the LAYN knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci and CRL5826-PDL1-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the LAYN knock-out group showed a killing effect for OVCAR3-luci and HCT116-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. For long-term and low-effictor:target ratio killing, it showed a killing stronger than that of the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the PHLDA1 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the PHLDA1 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was stronger than the control CAR-T cells, especially on the seventh day. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the RGS1 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the RGS1 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the RGS2 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the RGS2 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was much stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the MYO7A knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the MYO7A knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was slightly stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
In this example, genes related to the endogenous mechanism of T cell exhaustion, such as SHP1, DGKa, Fas, and FasL in CAR-T cells were knocked out through gene editing and their effects on tumor killing were studied.
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the Fas knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the Fas knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the FasL knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the FasL knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the SHP1 knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the SHP1 knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was much stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
At high effector:target ratio (1:1) and in short term (24 h, 48 h), the DGKa knock-out group showed a killing effect for CRL5826-luci not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At lower effector:target ratio of 0.2:1, the killing of the knock-out group on the fourth and seventh days achieved above 70%, not lower than that of the control CAR-T cells. At an effector:target ratio reduced to 0.1:1, the killing of the DGKa knock-out group on the fourth and seventh day was stronger than the control CAR-T cells. (
1. TGFβ1 Negatively Regulates the Effects of P4-CAR-T Cells and can Induce P4-CAR-T Cells to Convert into Functional Regulatory T Cells (Treg).
In order to verify whether TGFβ1 affects the killing effect of CAR-T cells, the inventors incubated P4-CAR-T cells targeting mesothelin with CRL5826 mesothelioma cells at a ratio of 1:1 in the culture system with or without addition of 5 ng/ml TGFβ1. The results showed that after 24 hours of co-incubation, the targeted killing ability of P4-CAR-T cells in the TGFβ1 group was significantly lower than that of the non-addition group (
It was reported that, under the conditions of TCR activation and in the presence of TGFβ1, T cells can be converted into inducible Tregs. The inventors added 5 ng/ml TGFβ1 to the co-incubation system of P4-CAR-T and OVCAR-3 cells with strong mesothelin expression to observe whether it can induce the production of Treg. After a total of 3 days of incubation, P4-CAR-T cells were sorted out, and it was found that the expression level of FOXP3 in P4-CAR-T cells was significantly increased in the TGFβ1 group (
In addition, the effect of TGFβ1 on antigen-induced P4-CAR-T cell proliferation was observed. In the P4-CAR-T cell culture system without IL-2, CRL5826 tumor cells are added every 2 days to induce the proliferation of P4-CAR-T cells, with or without addition of TGFβ1. It can be seen that CRL5826 can induce significant proliferation of P4-CAR-T cells, but in the TGFβ1 group, P4-CAR-T cells basically did not proliferate (
As mentioned above, it has been observed that TGFβ1 can indeed negatively regulate the effects of P4-CAR-T cells. In this experiment, the TGFβ1 binding receptor on P4-CAR-T cells or the important transcription factor FOXP3 produced by Treg was knocked out. The influence on the effects of P4-CAR-T cells in the presence of TGFβ1 was studied. The inventors used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock out TGFBR II or FOXP3 of P4-CAR-T cells.
As shown in
It was found that after knocking out TGFBR II, even if 10 ng/ml TGFβ1 was added, the killing effect of P4-CAR-T cells was not affected in any way, and FOXP3 knockout could also partially improve the killing effect of CAR-T cells (
This experiment investigated the effects of TGFβ1 on the CD4 and CD8 subgroups in P4-CAR-T cells. In the co-incubation system of CD4+ CAR-T cells and CRL5826, different concentrations of TGFβ1 were added. It was found that when 5 or 10 ng/ml TGFβ1 was added, the targeted killing ability of P4-CAR-T cells could be significantly inhibited (
In the co-incubation system of CD8+ CAR-T cells and CRL5826, different concentrations of TGFβ1 were added. It was found that as the added concentration increased, the tumor-killing ability of CD8+ CAR-T cells was inhibited more obviously (
Continuous activation of T cell signaling leads to depletion. Depleted T cells have reduced proliferation capacity and effector function, and have immune checkpoint genes (such as PD1) overexpression. It was observed that the expression of PD1 mRNA in M28z increased significantly after the addition of TGFβ1 (
In order to evaluate how upregulation of PD1 contributes to the inhibition effect of TGFβ, PD1 KO (M28z-PKO) and PD1/TGFBR II double KO (M28z-DKO) CAR-T cells were generated, and PDL1 was also overexpressed to model a more inhibitory effect TME. Compared with the up-regulation of PD1 in M28z induced by TGFβ1, the expression of PD1 in M28z-PKO and -DKO cells decreased to a basal level, indicating that the gene editing is effective. In multiple tumor challenges, knocking out PD1 did improve CAR-T proliferation, but it was still worse than TKO and DKO (
9.2 TGFBR II/PD1 Double-Edited CAR-T Cells have Better Tumor Elimination Effect on the CDX Model with PDL1 Overexpression
After confirming the synergistic effect of TGFBR II and PD1 double KO to CAR-T cells against TGFβ1 and PDL1 double immunosuppression in vitro, the in vivo tumor elimination advantage of M28z-DKO in the CRL5826-PDL1 CDX model was further discussed (
Considering the possibility that the tumor burden is not enough to show the elimination advantage of M28z-DKO, in the M28z-PKO and -DKO groups, the tumor-removed mice were re-inoculated with the same CDX on the contralateral side. Compared with the rapid growth in the control group, tumors were eradicated again 28 days after re-inoculation in the M28z-PKO and -DKO groups (
The experimental results indicate that the CAR-T cells in which one or more inhibitory proteins of the present invention have been knocked out have the comparable effect as non-knocked out CAR-T cells at high-effector:target ratios. Unexpectedly, the knock-out CAR-T cells of the present invention are superior to non-knockout CAR-T cells under low-effector:target ratio and longer term action. This is particularly beneficial for reducing costs, reducing preparation time, and reducing side effects caused by high-dose administration.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201811080440.7 | Sep 2018 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2019/106109 | 9/17/2019 | WO | 00 |
