T cells targeted to TdT kill leukemic lymphoblasts while sparing normal lymphocytes

Journal article

AbstractUnlike chimeric antigen receptors, T-cell receptors (TCRs) can recognize intracellular targets presented on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. Here we demonstrate that T cells expressing TCRs specific for peptides from the intracellular lymphoid-specific enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), presented in the context of HLA-A*02:01, specifically eliminate primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells of T- and B-cell origin in vitro and in three mouse models of disseminated B-ALL. By contrast, the treatment spares normal peripheral T- and B-cell repertoires and normal myeloid cells in vitro, and in vivo in humanized mice. TdT is an attractive cancer target as it is highly and homogeneously expressed in 80–94% of B- and T-ALLs, but only transiently expressed during normal lymphoid differentiation, limiting on-target toxicity of TdT-specific T cells. TCR-modified T cells targeting TdT may be a promising immunotherapy for B-ALL and T-ALL that preserves normal lymphocytes.

Authors: Ali, M; Giannakopoulou, E; Li, Y; Lehander, M; Virding Culleton, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Biotechnology
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 488-498
• Publication date: 2021-12-06
• DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01089-x
• EISSN: 1546-1696
• ISSN: 1087-0156
• Language: English
• Keywords: Lymphoblast; Cancer research; Antigen; T-cell receptor; Cell biology; Leukemia; Immunology; Immune system; Streptamer; T cell; Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; Biology; Molecular biology; Cell culture