Alpha beta T cell receptor transfer to gamma delta T cells generates functional effector cells without mixed TCR dimers in vivo

J Immunol. 2009 Jan 1;182(1):164-70. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.182.1.164.

Abstract

The successful application of T cell-based immunotherapeutic applications depends on the availability of large numbers of T cells with the desired Ag specificity and phenotypic characteristics. Engineering of TCR-transferred T lymphocytes is an attractive strategy to obtain sufficient T cells with an Ag specificity of choice. However, the introduction of additional TCR chains into T cells leads to the generation of T cells with unknown specificity, due to the formation of mixed dimers between the endogenous and introduced TCR chains. The formation of such potentially autoaggressive T cells may be prevented by using gammadelta T cells as recipient cells, but the in vivo activity of such TCR-engineered gammadelta T cells has not been established. In the present study, we have investigated the in vivo functionality of TCR-transduced gammadelta T cells, in particular their Ag specific proliferative capacity, Ag specific reactivity, in vivo persistence, and their capacity to mount recall responses. The results demonstrate that alphabeta TCR engineering of gammadelta T cells forms a feasible strategy to generate Ag-specific effector T cells that do not express mixed TCR dimers. In view of increasing concerns on the potential autoimmune consequences of mixed TCR dimer formation, the testing of alphabeta TCR engineered gammadelta T cells in clinical trials seems warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / genetics
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Transduction, Genetic* / methods

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta