Magnetic-activated cell sorting of TCR-engineered T cells, using tCD34 as a gene marker, but not peptide-MHC multimers, results in significant numbers of functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Hum Gene Ther Methods. 2012 Jun;23(3):213-24. doi: 10.1089/hgtb.2012.074.

Abstract

T cell-sorting technologies with peptide-MHC multimers or antibodies against gene markers enable enrichment of antigen-specific T cells and are expected to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of clinical T cell therapy. However, a direct comparison between sorting reagents for their ability to enrich T cells is lacking. Here, we compared the in vitro properties of primary human T cells gene-engineered with gp100(280-288)/HLA-A2-specific T cell receptor-αβ (TCRαβ) on magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) with various peptide-MHC multimers or an antibody against truncated CD34 (tCD34). With respect to peptide-MHC multimers, we observed that Streptamer(®), when compared with pentamers and tetramers, improved T cell yield as well as level and stability of enrichment, of TCR-engineered T cells (>65% of peptide-MHC-binding T cells, stable for at least 6 weeks). In agreement with these findings, Streptamer, the only detachable reagent, revealed significant T cell expansion in the first week after MACS. Sorting TCR and tCD34 gene-engineered T cells with CD34 monoclonal antibody (mAb) resulted in the most significant T cell yield and enrichment of T cells (>95% of tCD34 T cells, stable for at least 6 weeks). Notably, T cells sorted with CD34 mAb, when compared with Streptamer, bound about 2- to 3-fold less peptide-MHC but showed superior antigen-specific upregulated expression of CD107a and production of interferon (IFN)-γ. Multiparametric flow cytometry revealed that CD4(+) T cells, uniquely present in CD34 mAb-sorted T cells, contributed to enhanced IFN-γ production. Taken together, we postulate that CD34 mAb-based sorting of gene-marked T cells has benefits toward applications of T cell therapy, especially those that require CD4(+) T cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD34 / genetics
  • Antigens, CD34 / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / genetics
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Magnetics / methods*
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics*
  • gp100 Melanoma Antigen / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Genetic Markers
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • gp100 Melanoma Antigen
  • gp100(280-288) melanoma antigen peptide
  • Interferon-gamma