Modulation of immune checkpoints and graft-versus-leukemia in allogeneic transplants by antagonizing vasoactive intestinal peptide signaling

Jian Ming Li, Christopher T. Petersen, Jing Xia Li, Reema Panjwani, Daniel J. Chandra, Cynthia R. Giver, Bruce R. Blazar, Edmund K. Waller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The goal of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) is elimination of leukemia cells through the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) activity of donor cells, while limiting graft-versushost disease (GvHD). Immune checkpoint pathways regulate GvL and GvHD activities, but blocking antibodies or genetic inactivation of these pathways can cause lethal GVHD. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is an immunosuppressive neuropeptide that regulates coinhibitory pathways; its role in allo-BMT has not been studied. We found VIP transiently expressed in donor NK, NK-T, dendritic cells, and T cells after allo transplant, as well as host leukocytes. A peptide antagonist of VIP signaling (VIPhyb) increased T-cell proliferation in vitro and reduced IL10 expression in donor T cells. Treatment of allo-BMT recipients with VIPhyb, or transplanting donor grafts lacking VIP (VIP-KO), activated donor T-cells in lymphoid organs, reduced T-cell homing to GvHD target organs, and enhanced GvL without increasing GvHD in multiple allo-BMT models. Genetic or ex vivo depletion of donor NK cells or CD8+ T cells from allografts abrogated the VIPhyb-enhanced GvL activity. VIPhyb treatment led to downregulation of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on donor immune cells, increased effector molecule expression, and expanded oligoclonal CD8+ T cells that protected secondary allo transplant recipients from leukemia. Blocking VIP signaling thus represents a novel pharmacologic approach to separate GvL from GvHD and enhance adaptive T-cell responses to leukemia-associated antigens in allo-BMT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6802-6815
Number of pages14
JournalCancer Research
Volume76
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

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©2016 AACR.

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