Nonviral RNA transfection to transiently modify T cells with chimeric antigen receptors for adoptive therapy

Methods Mol Biol. 2013:969:187-201. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-260-5_12.

Abstract

Redirecting T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) of predefined specificity showed remarkable efficacy in the adoptive therapy trials of malignant diseases. The CAR consists of a single chain fragment of variable region (scFv) antibody targeting domain covalently linked to the CD3ζ signalling domain of the T cell receptor complex to mediate T cell activation upon antigen engagement. By using an antibody-derived targeting domain a CAR can potentially redirect T cells towards any target expressed on the cell surface as long as a binding domain is available. Antibody-mediated targeting moreover circumvents MHC restriction of the targeted antigen, thereby broadening the potential of applicability of adoptive T cell therapy. While T cells were so far genetically modified by viral transduction, transient modification with a CAR by RNA transfection gained increasing interest during the last years. This chapter focuses on methods to modify human T cells from peripheral blood with a CAR by electroporation of in vitro transcribed RNA and to test modified T cells for function for use in adoptive immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • CD3 Complex / biosynthesis
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Cell Engineering / methods*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen* / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Antigen* / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen* / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins* / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins* / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • CD3 antigen, zeta chain
  • Receptors, Antigen
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins