Objective: To construct chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD52 (CD52 CAR-T) and validate the effect of CD52 CAR-T cells on CD52-positive leukemia. Methods: A second-generation CD52-targeting CAR bearing 4-1BB costimulatory domain was ligated into a lentiviral vector through molecular cloning. Lentivirus was prepared and packaged by 293 T cells with a four-plasmid system. Fluorescein was used to label cell surface antigens to evaluate the phenotype of CD52 CAR-T cells after infection. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to evaluate the specific cytotoxicity of CD52 CAR-T cells to CD52-positive cell lines in vitro. Results: ①A pCDH-CD52scFv-CD8α-4-1BB-CD3ζ-GFP expressing plasmid was successfully constructed and used to transduce T cells expressing a novel CD52-targeting CAR. ②On day 6, CD52-positive T cells were almost killed by CD52-targeted CAR-T post lentivirus transduction [CD52 CAR-T (4.48 ± 4.99) %, vs Vector-T (56.58±19.8) %, P=0.011]. ③T cells transduced with the CAR targeting CD52 showed low levels of apoptosis and could be expanded long-term ex vivo. ④The CD52 CAR could promote T cell differentiation into central and effector memory T cells, whereas the proportion of T cells with a CD45RA(+) effector memory phenotype were reduced. ⑤CD52 CAR-T cells could specifically kill CD52-positive HuT78-19t cells but had no killing effect on CD52-negative MOLT4-19t cells. For CD52 CAR-T cells, the percentage of residual of HuT78-19t cells was (2.66±1.60) % at an the E:T ratio of 1∶1 for 24 h, while (56.66±5.74) % of MOLT4-19t cells survived (P<0.001) . ⑥The results of a degranulation experiment confirmed that HuT78-19t cells significantly activated CD52 CAR-T cells but not MOLT4-19t cells[ (57.34±11.25) % vs (13.06± 4.23) %, P<0.001]. ⑦CD52 CAR-T cells released more cytokines when co-cultured with HuT78-19t cells than that of vector-T cells [IFN-γ: (3706±226) pg/ml, P<0.001; TNF-α: (1732±560) pg/ml, P<0.01]. Conclusions: We successfully prepared CD52 CAR-T cells with anti-leukemia effects, which might provide the foundation for further immunotherapy.
CD52 Antigen ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods* ; Lentivirus/genetics* ; Leukemia ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes in the gene expression profile of T cells in CML patients after TCRζ up-regulation expression, and to explore the molecular mechanism of T cell reactivation after transgenic up-regulation of TCRζ. METHODS: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from 3 newly untreated chronic-stage CML patients were collected, and the CD3 RESULTS: A total of 2248 differentially-expressed genes were obtained, including 553 up-regulated genes and 1695 down-regulated genes in experimental group as compared with those in control group (P<0.05) . The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes involved in the biological processes related to T cell immune function, such as TCR signaling pathway, T cell proliferation and activation. Some of core genes involved in promoting the TCR signaling pathway, T cell proliferation, activation and apoptosis pathways were significantly up-regulated, while some core genes involved in inhibiting T cell activation were significantly down-regulated. CONCLUSION The molecular mechanism of the significantly improved T cell activation and proliferation ability in CML patients after TCRζ up-regulation may be related to the differential transcripts mediated signaling pathways of T cell activation, proliferation and apoptosis.
Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Up-Regulation

Objective: The docking and superantigen activity sites of staphylococcal enterotoxin-like W (SElW) and T cell receptor (TCR) were predicted, and its SElW was cloned, expressed and purified. Methods: AlphaFold was used to predict the 3D structure of SElW protein monomers, and the protein models were evaluated with the help of the SAVES online server from ERRAT, Ramachandran plot, and Verify_3D. The ZDOCK server simulates the docking conformation of SElW and TCR, and the amino acid sequences of SElW and other serotype enterotoxins were aligned. The primers were designed to amplify selw, and the fragment was recombined into the pMD18-T vector and sequenced. Then recombinant plasmid pMD18-T was digested with BamHⅠand Hind Ⅲ. The target fragment was recombined into the expression plasmid pET-28a(+). After identification of the recombinant plasmid, the protein expression was induced by isopropyl-beta-D- thiogalactopyranoside. The SElW expressed in the supernatant was purified by affinity chromatography and quantified by the BCA method. Results: The predicted three-dimensional structure showed that the SElW protein was composed of two domains, the amino-terminal and the carboxy-terminal. The amino-terminal domain was composed of 3 α-helices and 6 β-sheets, and the carboxy-terminal domain included 2 α-helices and 7 antiparallel β-sheets composition. The overall quality factor score of the SElW protein model was 98.08, with 93.24% of the amino acids having a Verify_3D score ≥0.2 and no amino acids located in disallowed regions. The docking conformation with the highest score (1 521.328) was selected as the analysis object, and the 19 hydrogen bonds between the corresponding amino acid residues of SElW and TCR were analyzed by PyMOL. Combined with sequence alignment and the published data, this study predicted and found five important superantigen active sites, namely Y18, N19, W55, C88, and C98. The highly purified soluble recombinant protein SElW was obtained with cloning, expression, and protein purification. Conclusions: The study found five superantigen active sites in SElW protein that need special attention and successfully constructed and expressed the SElW protein, which laid the foundation for further exploration of the immune recognition mechanism of SElW.
Humans ; Enterotoxins/genetics* ; Superantigens/genetics* ; Catalytic Domain ; Selenoprotein W/metabolism* ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell

In order to analyze the distribution and clonal expansion of TCR Vbeta subfamily T cells in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in vivo and in vitro after T cell culture, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 3 APL patients were expanded by rhIL-2 and anti-CD3 antibody using liquid T lymphocytes culture technique. The complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of TCR beta with variable region genes was amplified in T cells from 3 APL cases before and after T cell culture by using RT-PCR. The positive products were further analyzed to identify the clonality of T cells by genescan. The results showed that only a part of 24 Vbeta subfamilies was detected in T cells from the patients, and some Vbeta subfamily T cells could be identified after T cells culture. The clonal expansion T cells in some TCR Vbeta subfamilies could be found in all patients. The similar oligoclonal expansion of Vbeta1, Vbeta3, Vbeta7, Vbeta16 and Vbeta20 T cells was detected in two cases at different time points after T cell culture. It is concluded that the restricted expression of TCR Vbeta subfamily in T cells from patients might be the common feature in leukemia. Some Vbeta subfamily T cells could be induced after T cells culture in vitro. The continual clonal expansion of TCR Vbeta subfamily T cells at different time points after T cells culture could be a specific immune response of patients T cells related to the specific APL cell associated antigen.
Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

The rearrangement segments of TCR Valpha40 gene with Jdelta1, Ddelta3 or psi Jalpha were amplified in genomic DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 normal subjects, sorted CD3(+) cells from peripheral blood of 4 cases and thymocytes from 7 cases, by using nested PCR. Different amounts of DNA from all samples were amplified to estimate the frequency of Valpha40 gene rearrangements. The results indicated that the rearrangements of TCR Valpha40 gene with Jdelta1, Ddelta3 or psi Jalpha could be found respectively in the most samples of peripheral blood T cells or thymocytes. The frequencies of Valpha40 rearrangements were different in peripheral blood T cells and thymocytes by analysis of PCR with different amounts DNA. It is concluded that the TCR V alpha40-psi Jalpha was the most frequent rearrangement in mature and immature T cells, whereas TCR Valpha40-Ddelta3 was more frequently rearranged in immature T cells
Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Subunits ; genetics ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology

Objective: To observe the changes of PD-1 expression, mRNA level and cytotoxic activity of CD19 CAR-T cells during the culture process of CAR-T cells. Methods: The peripheral blood T cells of 6 lymphoma patients with high expression of PD-1 and 6 healthy volunteers were the source of CAR-T cells. The expression of PD-1 was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA level of PD-1 was analyzed by PCR. The cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. The cytotoxicity was analyzed by LDH assay. Results: ①The transfection efficiency of high PD-1 expression T cells and healthy volunteer T cells were as the same (P>0.05) . ②The cell proliferation capacity of CD19 CAR-T cells from high PD-1 expression T cells or healthy volunteer T cells, with or without PD-1 inhibitor were as the same (P>0.05) . ③The cytotoxicity to lymphoma cells of high PD-1 expression T cells and CAR-T cells were lower than that of these two T cells combined with PD-1 inhibitor and the CAR-T cells from healthy volunteer T cells (P<0.001) . There was no difference of the cytotoxicity between the CAR-T cells from high PD-1 expression T cells combined with PD-1 inhibitor and the CAR-T cells from healthy volunteer (P>0.05) . ④There was no difference of the expression of PD-1 in all CAR-T cell groups during the culture process (P>0.05) . There was no difference of mRNA level of PD-1 in all groups during the culture process (P>0.05) . ⑤The PD-1 expression of CAR-T cells increased by the time of culture after contacting with lymphoma cells (P<0.001) . The PD-1 inhibitors could antagonize this effect. There was no difference of mRNA level of PD-1 in all groups after contacting with lymphoma cells (P>0.05) . Conclusion: The PD-1 expression of CAR-T cells from high PD-1 expression T cells increased by the time of culture after contacting with lymphoma cells. However, the mRNA level of PD-1 of all groups did not change, even if PD-1 inhibitor was applied.
Antigens, CD19 ; Humans ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes

Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta ; metabolism ; Splenic Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution and clonality of T cell receptor (TCR) Vγ and Vδ subfamily in peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis before and after 1 year treatment with immunotherapy.

METHODSThe specific IgE and the complementary determinant region 3 (CDR3) of TCR V γ (I-III) and Vδ(1-8) subfamily genes in mononuclear cells were amplified from 10 effective cases of allergic rhinitis before and after 1 year treatment with immunotherapy, to observe the distribution and utilization of TCR Vγ and Vδ repertoire. The positive PCR products were further labeled with RT-PCR and analyzed by gene scan technique to determine the CDR3 size and evaluate the clonality of the detectable TCR Vγ and Vδ T cells. Peripheral blood of 10 healthy adults served as controls.

RESULTSAll symptoms were significantly improved after 1 year specific immunotherapy, but no changes were seen in specific IgE [(22.89 ± 9.60) kU/L before treatment, (19.62 ± 7.63) kU/L after treatment, Z = 1.051, P > 0.05]. No statistically significant differences of expression levels of the TCR Vγ I-III subfamily genes were found between patients with allergic rhinitis normal control group (t value were -0.679, -0.516, -0.808, all P > 0.05), but significantly decreased after 1 year treatment. There were statistically significant differences of expression levels of the TCR VγI-II subfamily genes before and after treatment (t value were -2.904, -2.217, all P < 0.05). 5.30 ± 0.82, 4.90 ± 0.57 and 5.20 ± 1.40 out of TCR Vδ (1-8) subfamilies were selectively expressed in T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis before and after 1 year treatment and normal control group, predominantly for TCR Vδ 1, 2, 3 and 6. The TCR Vδ 6 subfamily was found to have statistically significant differences in these groups (Fisher's Exact Test, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and the allergic rhinitis group before treatment, a significant higher frequency of Vδ 6 oligoclonal was identified in T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis after 1 year treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThere was difference in the expression levels of the TCR Vγ I-III subfamily genes and distribution and clonality of TCR Vγ and Vδ subfamily T cells in peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis before and after 1 year treatment. Specific immunotherapy can be effective in alleviation of the symptom in patients with allergic rhinitis during the early stage, possibly by inducing TCR γδ T cells, especially the TCR Vδ6 subfamily, and possibly no significant relativity between symptom and specific IgE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta ; genetics ; immunology ; Rhinitis ; genetics ; immunology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Nowadays, the 5-year survival rate of childhood cancer patients can be more than 80%, but some patients with relapse and refractory cancers have shown no good response to traditional strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapy is promising for these patients. CAR-T cells recognize the tumor-associated antigens in a non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted manner, so their anti-tumor ability is enhanced. There are four generations of CAR-T cells now. The complete remission rate of pediatric patients with relapse and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia can be as high as 90% when treated with CD19-targeting CAR-T cells. Furthermore, CAR-T cell therapy can also be used to bridge to transplantation and donor CAR-T cell infusion can be a strategy to prevent relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. As to solid tumors, only patients with neuroblastoma present good response to the GD2-targeting CAR-T cell therapy. The toxic or side effects of CAR-T cell therapy include cytokine release syndrome, off-tumor effect, tumor lysis syndrome, and insertion mutation. Although the CD19-targeting CAR-T cell therapy for childhood cancer can result in a high remission rate, the relapse rate is high, including CD19and CD19relapse. The mechanisms for relapse merit further investigatio.
Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Child ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; adverse effects ; methods ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes ; transplantation

T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells are a novel option for adoptive cell therapy used for the treatment of several advanced forms of cancer. Work using TCR-engineered T cells began more than two decades ago, with numerous preclinical studies showing that such cells could mediate tumor lysis and eradication. The success of these trials provided the foundation for clinical trials, including recent clinical successes using TCR-engineered T cells to target New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NY-ESO-1). These successes demonstrate the potential of this approach to treat cancer. In this review, we provide a perspective on the current and future applications of TCR-engineered T cells for the treatment of cancer. Our summary focuses on TCR activation and both pre-clinical and clinical applications of TCR-engineered T cells. We also discuss how to enhance the function of TCR-engineered T cells and prolong their longevity in the tumor microenvironment.
Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism