Adoptive T Cell Therapy with IL-12-Preconditioned Low-Avidity T Cells Prevents Exhaustion and Results in Enhanced T Cell Activation, Enhanced Tumor Clearance, and Decreased Risk for Autoimmunity

Christopher G Tucker, Jason S Mitchell, Tijana Martinov, Brandon J. Burbach, Lalit K Beura, Joseph C. Wilson, Alexander J. Dwyer, Lovejot M. Singh, Matthew F Mescher, Brian T. Fife

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Optimal ex vivo expansion protocols of tumor-specific T cells followed by adoptive cell therapy must yield T cells able to home to tumors and effectively kill them. Our previous study demonstrated ex vivo activation in the presence of IL-12-induced optimal CD8+ T cell expansion and melanoma regression; however, adverse side effects, including autoimmunity, can occur. This may be due to transfer of high-avidity self-specific T cells. In this study, we compared mouse low- A nd high-avidity T cells targeting the tumor Ag tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2). Not surprisingly, high-avidity T cells provide superior tumor control, yet low-avidity T cells can promote tumor regression. The addition of IL-12 during in vitro expansion boosts low-avidity T cell responsiveness, tumor regression, and prevents T cell exhaustion. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-12-primed T cells are resistant to PD-1/PD-L1-mediated suppression and retain effector function. Importantly, IL-12 preconditioning prevented exhaustion as LAG-3, PD-1, and TOX were decreased while simultaneously increasing KLRG1. Using intravital imaging, we also determined that high-avidity T cells have sustained contacts with intratumoral dendritic cells and tumor targets compared with low-avidity T cells. However, with Ag overexpression, this defect is overcome, and low-avidity T cells control tumor growth. Taken together, these data illustrate that lowavidity T cells can be therapeutically beneficial if cocultured with IL-12 cytokine during in vitro expansion and highly effective in vivo if Ag is not limiting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1449-1460
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume205
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health R01 AI106791 (to B.T.F.), P01 AI35296 (to B.T.F. and M.F.M.), and T32 AI007313 (to C.G.T.) and Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics MNP18.01 (to B.T.F.).

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

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