Engineering of α-PD-1 antibody-expressing long-lived plasma cells by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted gene integration

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Nov 12;11(11):973. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03187-1.

Abstract

Long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) are robust specialized antibody-secreting cells that mainly stay in the bone marrow and can persist a lifetime. As they can be generated by inducing the differentiation of B-lymphocytes, we investigated the possibility that human LLPCs might be engineered to express α-PD-1 monoclonal antibody to substitute recombinant α-PD-1 antitumor immunotherapy. To this end, we inserted an α-PD-1 cassette into the GAPDH locus through Cas9/sgRNA-guided specific integration in B-lymphocytes, which was mediated by an integrase-defective lentiviral vector. The edited B cells were capable of differentiating into LLPCs both in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptional profiling analysis confirmed that these cells were typical LLPCs. Importantly, these cells secreted de novo antibodies persistently, which were able to inhibit human melanoma growth via an antibody-mediated checkpoint blockade in xenograft-tumor mice. Our work suggests that the engineered LLPCs may be utilized as a vehicle to constantly produce special antibodies for long-term cellular immunotherapy to eradicate tumors and cellular reservoirs for various pathogens including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Mice
  • Plasma Cells / cytology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / genetics*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor