Synthetic promoters to induce immune-effectors into the tumor microenvironment

Commun Biol. 2021 Jan 29;4(1):143. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01664-7.

Abstract

Harnessing the immune-system to eradicate cancer is becoming a reality in recent years. Engineered immune cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, are facing the danger of an overt life-threatening immune response due to the ON-target OFF-tumor cytotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome. We therefore developed synthetic promoters for regulation of gene expression under the control of inflammation and Hypoxia-induced signals that are associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME). We termed this methodology as chimeric-antigen-receptor-tumor-induced-vector (CARTIV). For proof of concept, we studied synthetic promoters based on promoter-responsive elements (PREs) of IFNγ, TNFα and hypoxia; triple PRE-based CARTIV promoter manifested a synergistic activity in cell-lines and potent activation in human primary T-cells. CARTIV platform can improve safety of CAR T-cells or other engineered immune-cells, providing TME-focused activity and opening a therapeutic window for many tumor-associated antigens that are also expressed by non-tumor healthy tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / genetics*
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation*
  • Tumor Hypoxia
  • Tumor Microenvironment*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • IFNG protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • TNF protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma