Therapeutic gene editing of T cells to correct CTLA-4 insufficiency

Sci Transl Med. 2022 Oct 26;14(668):eabn5811. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn5811. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Abstract

Heterozygous mutations in CTLA-4 result in an inborn error of immunity with an autoimmune and frequently severe clinical phenotype. Autologous T cell gene therapy may offer a cure without the immunological complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here, we designed a homology-directed repair (HDR) gene editing strategy that inserts the CTLA-4 cDNA into the first intron of the CTLA-4 genomic locus in primary human T cells. This resulted in regulated expression of CTLA-4 in CD4+ T cells, and functional studies demonstrated CD80 and CD86 transendocytosis. Gene editing of T cells isolated from three patients with CTLA-4 insufficiency also restored CTLA-4 protein expression and rescued transendocytosis of CD80 and CD86 in vitro. Last, gene-corrected T cells from CTLA-4-/- mice engrafted and prevented lymphoproliferation in an in vivo murine model of CTLA-4 insufficiency. These results demonstrate the feasibility of a therapeutic approach using T cell gene therapy for CTLA-4 insufficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • B7-1 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • B7-2 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-2 Antigen / metabolism
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes*

Substances

  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Antigens, CD
  • B7-1 Antigen