Hypoxia-inducible factors enhance the effector responses of CD8 + T cells to persistent antigen
TL;DR: It is found that HIFs and oxygen influenced the expression of pivotal transcription, effector and costimulatory-inhibitory molecules of CTLs, which was relevant to strategies that promote the clearance of viruses and tumors.
Abstract: Cytolytic activity by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is a powerful strategy for the elimination of intracellular pathogens and tumor cells. The destructive capacity of CTLs is progressively dampened during chronic infection, yet the environmental cues and molecular pathways that influence immunological 'exhaustion' remain unclear. Here we found that CTL immunity was regulated by the central transcriptional response to hypoxia, which is controlled in part by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor VHL. Loss of VHL, the main negative regulator of HIFs, led to lethal CTL-mediated immunopathology during chronic infection, and VHL-deficient CTLs displayed enhanced control of persistent viral infection and neoplastic growth. We found that HIFs and oxygen influenced the expression of pivotal transcription, effector and costimulatory-inhibitory molecules of CTLs, which was relevant to strategies that promote the clearance of viruses and tumors.
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TL;DR: Recent advances that provide a clearer molecular understanding of T cell exhaustion are reviewed and reveal new therapeutic targets for persisting infections and cancer.
Abstract: In chronic infections and cancer, T cells are exposed to persistent antigen and/or inflammatory signals. This scenario is often associated with the deterioration of T cell function: a state called 'exhaustion'. Exhausted T cells lose robust effector functions, express multiple inhibitory receptors and are defined by an altered transcriptional programme. T cell exhaustion is often associated with inefficient control of persisting infections and tumours, but revitalization of exhausted T cells can reinvigorate immunity. Here, we review recent advances that provide a clearer molecular understanding of T cell exhaustion and reveal new therapeutic targets for persisting infections and cancer.
2,825 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that tonic CAR CD3-ζ phosphorylation, triggered by antigen-independent clustering of CAR single-chain variable fragments, can induce early exhaustion of CAR T cells that limits antitumor efficacy, and that CD28 costimulation augments, whereas 4-1BB costimulations reduces, exhaustion induced by persistent CAR signaling.
Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19 have mediated dramatic antitumor responses in hematologic malignancies, but tumor regression has rarely occurred using CARs targeting other antigens. It remains unknown whether the impressive effects of CD19 CARs relate to greater susceptibility of hematologic malignancies to CAR therapies, or superior functionality of the CD19 CAR itself. We show that tonic CAR CD3-ζ phosphorylation, triggered by antigen-independent clustering of CAR single-chain variable fragments, can induce early exhaustion of CAR T cells that limits antitumor efficacy. Such activation is present to varying degrees in all CARs studied, except the highly effective CD19 CAR. We further determine that CD28 costimulation augments, whereas 4-1BB costimulation reduces, exhaustion induced by persistent CAR signaling. Our results provide biological explanations for the antitumor effects of CD19 CARs and for the observations that CD19 CAR T cells incorporating the 4-1BB costimulatory domain are more persistent than those incorporating CD28 in clinical trials.
1,199 citations
TL;DR: New metabolic checkpoints for T cell activity are uncovered and it is demonstrated that metabolic reprogramming of tumor-reactive T cells can enhance anti-tumor T cell responses, illuminating new forms of immunotherapy.
980 citations
Cites background from "Hypoxia-inducible factors enhance t..."
...Additionally, rewiring the metabolic activity of TILs, as demonstrated herein and elsewhere (Doedens et al., 2013), could pose a new strategy for enhancing the potency and durability of ACT....
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...…CD8 T cells with increased PD-1 expression fail to fully activatemTORor aerobic glycolysis following TCR stimulation and conversely, those with hyper-HIF1a activity and aerobic glycolysis are refractory to functional exhaustion (Doedens et al., 2013; Parry et al., 2005; Staron et al., 2014)....
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TL;DR: The role of lymphocyte metabolism on immune cell development and function and the importance of “goodtenance” in immune cell function is discussed.
Abstract: Lymphocytes must adapt to a wide array of environmental stressors as part of their normal development, during which they undergo a dramatic metabolic remodeling process. Research in this area has yielded surprising findings on the roles of diverse metabolic pathways and metabolites, which have been found to regulate lymphocyte signaling and influence differentiation, function and fate. In this review, we integrate the latest findings in the field to provide an up-to-date resource on lymphocyte metabolism.
847 citations
Cites background from "Hypoxia-inducible factors enhance t..."
...Deletion of its negative regulator, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), enhances HIF-1–mediated CD8 T cell glycolysis and effector responses to persistent viral infection (Doedens et al., 2013)....
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...The up-regulation of transcription factors c-Myc, estrogenrelated receptor (ERR), and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) coordinately drives the expression of genes involved in intermediary metabolism that fuel the rapid proliferation of effector T cells during clonal expansion (Michalek et al., 2011b; Wang et al., 2011; Doedens et al., 2013)....
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...Deletion of its negative regulator, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), enhances HIF-1–mediated CD8 T cell glycolysis and effector responses to persistent viral infection (Doedens et al., 2013)....
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...…estrogenrelated receptor (ERR), and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) coordinately drives the expression of genes involved in intermediary metabolism that fuel the rapid proliferation of effector T cells during clonal expansion (Michalek et al., 2011b; Wang et al., 2011; Doedens et al., 2013)....
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TL;DR: How oxygen sensing in the immune microenvironment shapes immunological response is discussed and how HIF and the hypoxia pathway control innate and adaptive immunity is examined.
822 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed genes expressed in functionally impaired virus-specific CD8 T cells present in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and compared these with the gene profile of functional memory CD8T cells.
Abstract: Functional impairment of antigen-specific T cells is a defining characteristic of many chronic infections, but the underlying mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction are not well understood. To address this question, we analysed genes expressed in functionally impaired virus-specific CD8 T cells present in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and compared these with the gene profile of functional memory CD8 T cells. Here we report that PD-1 (programmed death 1; also known as Pdcd1) was selectively upregulated by the exhausted T cells, and that in vivo administration of antibodies that blocked the interaction of this inhibitory receptor with its ligand, PD-L1 (also known as B7-H1), enhanced T-cell responses. Notably, we found that even in persistently infected mice that were lacking CD4 T-cell help, blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway had a beneficial effect on the 'helpless' CD8 T cells, restoring their ability to undergo proliferation, secrete cytokines, kill infected cells and decrease viral load. Blockade of the CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) inhibitory pathway had no effect on either T-cell function or viral control. These studies identify a specific mechanism of T-cell exhaustion and define a potentially effective immunological strategy for the treatment of chronic viral infections.
3,567 citations
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TL;DR: Advances in the molecular delineation of T cell exhaustion are clarifying the underlying causes of this state of differentiation and also suggest promising therapeutic opportunities.
Abstract: T cell exhaustion is a state of T cell dysfunction that arises during many chronic infections and cancer. It is defined by poor effector function, sustained expression of inhibitory receptors and a transcriptional state distinct from that of functional effector or memory T cells. Exhaustion prevents optimal control of infection and tumors. Recently, a clearer picture of the functional and phenotypic profile of exhausted T cells has emerged and T cell exhaustion has been defined in many experimental and clinical settings. Although the pathways involved remain to be fully defined, advances in the molecular delineation of T cell exhaustion are clarifying the underlying causes of this state of differentiation and also suggest promising therapeutic opportunities.
3,096 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is found that even in persistently infected mice that were lacking CD4 T-cell help, blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway had a beneficial effect on the ‘helpless’ CD8 T cells, restoring their ability to undergo proliferation, secrete cytokines, kill infected cells and decrease viral load.
Abstract: Functional impairment of antigen-specific T cells is a defining characteristic of many chronic infections, but the underlying mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction are not well understood. To address this question, we analyzed genes expressed in functionally impaired virus-specific CD8 T cells present in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and compared these with the gene profile of functional memory CD8 T cells. Here we report that PD-1 (programmed death 1; also known as Pdcd1) was selectively upregulated by the exhausted T cells, and that in vivo administration of antibodies that blocked the interaction of this inhibitory receptor with its ligand, PD-L1 (also known as B7-H1), enhanced T-cell responses. Notably, we found that even in persistently infected mice that were lacking CD4 T-cell help, blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway had a beneficial effect on the 9helpless9 CD8 T cells, restoring their ability to undergo proliferation, secrete cytokines, kill infected cells and decrease viral load. Blockade of the CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) inhibitory pathway had no effect on either T-cell function or viral control. These studies identify a specific mechanism of T-cell exhaustion and define a potentially effective immunological strategy for the treatment of chronic viral infections. This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity, a Cancer Research Institute journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research.
2,983 citations
TL;DR: A gene discovered by positional cloning has been identified as the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease tumor suppressor gene, and a restriction fragment encompassing the gene showed rearrangements in 28 of 221 VHL kindreds.
Abstract: A gene discovered by positional cloning has been identified as the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease tumor suppressor gene. A restriction fragment encompassing the gene showed rearrangements in 28 of 221 VHL kindreds. Eighteen of these rearrangements were due to deletions in the candidate gene, including three large nonoverlapping deletions. Intragenic mutations were detected in cell lines derived from VHL patients and from sporadic renal cell carcinomas. The VHL gene is evolutionarily conserved and encodes two widely expressed transcripts of approximately 6 and 6.5 kilobases. The partial sequence of the inferred gene product shows no homology to other proteins, except for an acidic repeat domain found in the procyclic surface membrane glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei.
2,714 citations
TL;DR: Increased expression of the interleukin 7 receptor α-chain (IL-7Rα) identifies the effector CD8 T cells that will differentiate into memory cells, and this marker may be useful in predicting the number of memory T cells generated after infection or immunization.
Abstract: A major unanswered question is what distinguishes the majority of activated CD8 T cells that die after an acute viral infection from the small fraction (5-10%) that survive to become long-lived memory cells. In this study we show that increased expression of the interleukin 7 receptor alpha-chain (IL-7Ralpha) identifies the effector CD8 T cells that will differentiate into memory cells. IL-7R(hi) effector cells contained increased amounts of antiapoptotic molecules, and adoptive transfer of IL-7R(hi) and IL-7R(lo) effector cells showed that IL-7R(hi) cells preferentially gave rise to memory cells that could persist and confer protective immunity. Thus, selective expression of IL-7R identifies memory cell precursors, and this marker may be useful in predicting the number of memory T cells generated after infection or immunization.
1,801 citations