Genetic engineering cellular vesicles expressing CD64 as checkpoint antibody carrier for cancer immunotherapy

Theranostics. 2021 Apr 7;11(12):6033-6043. doi: 10.7150/thno.48868. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint blockade therapies, especially those targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have achieved impressive clinical responses in multiple types of cancers. To optimize the therapeutic effect of the checkpoint antibodies, many strategies including targeting delivery, controlled release, and cellular synthesis have been developed. However, within these strategies, antibodies were attached to drug carriers by chemical bonding, which may affect the steric configuration and function of the antibodies. Herein, we prepared cluster of differentiation 64 (CD64), a natural catcher of the fragment crystalline (Fc) of monomeric immunoglobulin G (IgG), and over-expressed it on the cell membrane nanovesicles (NVs) as PD-L1 antibody delivery vehicle (CD64-NVs-aPD-L1), which was employed to disrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppressive signal axis for boosting T cell dependent tumor elimination. Meanwhile, chemical immunomodulatory drug cyclophosphamide (CP) was also encapsulated in the vesicle (CD64-NVs-aPD-L1-CP), to simultaneously restrain the regulatory T cells (Tregs) and invigorate Ki67+CD8+ T cells, then further enhance their anti-tumor ability. Methods: The cell membrane NVs overexpressing CD64 were incubated with PD-L1 antibody and chemotherapeutic agent CP to prepare CD64-NVs-aPD-L1-CP. Results: The CD64-NVs-aPD-L1-CP could simultaneously interrupt the immunosuppressive effect of PD-L1 and decrease the inhibition of Tregs, leading to tumor growth suppression and survival time extension. Conclusion: CD64-NVs are charismatic carriers to achieve both checkpoint blockade and immunomodulatory drugs for combined cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: CD64; Cancer immunotherapy; Nanovesicle.; Regulatory T cells; checkpoint antibody.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, IgG / immunology*
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Drug Carriers
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Cyclophosphamide