Efficient tumor killing and minimal cytokine release with novel T-cell agonist bispecific antibodies

T-cell-recruiting bispecific antibodies (T-BsAbs) have shown potent tumor killing activity in humans, but cytokine release-related toxicities have affected their clinical utility. The use of novel anti-CD3 binding domains with more favorable properties could aid in the creation of T-BsAbs with improved therapeutic windows. Using a sequence-based discovery platform, we identified new anti-CD3 antibodies from humanized rats that bind to multiple epitopes and elicit varying levels of T-cell activation. In T-BsAb format, 12 different anti-CD3 arms induce equivalent levels of tumor cell lysis by primary T-cells, but potency varies by a thousand-fold. Our lead CD3-targeting arm stimulates very low levels of cytokine release, but drives robust tumor antigen-specific killing in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model. This new CD3-targeting antibody underpins a next-generation T-BsAb platform in which potent cytotoxicity is uncoupled from high levels of cytokine release, which may lead to a wider therapeutic window in the clinic.     

Characterization of a Novel Single-Chain Bispecific Antibody for Retargeting of T Cells to Tumor Cells via the TCR Co-Receptor CD8

There is currently growing interest in retargeting of effector T cells to tumor cells via bispecific antibodies (bsAbs). Usually, bsAbs are directed on the one hand to the CD3 complex of T cells and on the other hand to a molecule expressed on the surface of the target cell. A bsAb-mediated cross-linkage via CD3 leads to an activation of CD8+ T cells and consequently to killing of the target cells. In parallel, CD4+ T cells including TH₁, TH₂, TH₁₇ cells and even regulatory T cells (Tregs) will be activated as well. Cytokines produced by CD4+ T cells can contribute to severe side effects e. g. life-threatening cytokine storms and, thinking of the immunosupressive function of Tregs, can even be counterproductive. Therefore, we asked whether or not it is feasible to limit retargeting to CD8+ T cells e. g. via targeting of the co-receptor CD8 instead of CD3. In order to test for proof of concept, a novel bsAb with specificity for CD8 and a tumor-associated surface antigen was constructed. Interestingly, we found that pre-activated (but not freshly isolated) CD8+ T cells can be retargeted via CD8-engaging bsAbs leading to an efficient lysis of target cells.     

Characterization of the CD4+ and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes propagated with bispecific monoclonal antibodies

To study the CD4+ and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the antitumor response, we propagated these subsets directly from tumor tissues with anti-CD3:anti-CD8 (CD3,8) and anti-CD3:anti-CD4 (CD3,4) bispecific mAb (BSMAB). CD3,8 BSMAB cause selective cytolysis of CD8+ lymphocytes by bridging the CD8 molecules of target lymphocytes to the CD3 molecular complex of cytolytic T lymphocytes with concurrent activation and proliferation of residual CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes. Similarly, CD3,4 BSMAB cause selective lysis of CD4+ lymphocytes whereas concurrently activating the residual CD3+CD8+ T cells. Small tumor fragments from four malignant melanoma and three renal cell carcinoma patients were cultured in medium containing CD3,8 + IL-2, CD3,4 + IL-2, or IL-2 alone. CD3,8 led to selective propagation of the CD4+ TIL whereas CD3,4 led to selective propagation of the CD8+ TIL from each of the tumors. The phenotypes of the TIL subset cultures were generally stable when assayed over a 1 to 3 months period and after further expansion with anti-CD3 mAb or lectins. Specific 51Cr release of labeled target cells that were bridged to the CD3 molecular complexes of TIL suggested that both CD4+ and CD8+ TIL cultures have the capacity of mediating cytolysis via their Ti/CD3 TCR complexes. In addition, both CD4+ and CD8+ TIL cultures from most patients caused substantial (greater than 20%) lysis of the NK-sensitive K562 cell line. The majority of CD4+ but not CD8+ TIL cultures also produced substantial lysis of the NK-resistant Daudi cell line. Lysis of the autologous tumor by the TIL subsets was assessed in two patients with malignant melanoma. The CD8+ TIL from one tumor demonstrated cytotoxic activity against the autologous tumor but negligible lysis of allogeneic melanoma targets. In conclusion, immunocompetent CD4+ and CD8+ TIL subsets can be isolated and expanded directly from small tumor fragments of malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma using BSMAB. The resultant TIL subsets can be further expanded for detailed studies or for adoptive immunotherapy.     

Retargeting of human regulatory T cells by single-chain bispecific antibodies

Bispecific Abs hold great potential for immunotherapy of malignant diseases. Because the first components of this new drug class are now entering clinical trials, all aspects of their mode of action should be well understood. Several studies proved that CD8(+) and CD4(+) effector T cells can be successfully redirected and activated against tumor cells by bispecific Abs both in vitro and in vivo. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that bispecific Abs can also redirect and activate regulatory T cells against a surface Ag, independently of their TCR specificity. After cross-linking, via a bispecific Ab, redirected regulatory T cells upregulate the activation markers CD69 and CD25, as well as regulatory T cell-associated markers, like CTLA-4 and FOXP3. The activated regulatory T cells secrete the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, but, in contrast to CD8(+) and CD4(+) effector T cells, almost no inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the redirected regulatory T cells are able to suppress effector functions of activated autologous CD4(+) T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the potential risk for activation of regulatory T cells should be taken into consideration when bispecific Abs are applied for the treatment of malignant diseases. In contrast, an Ag/tissue-specific redirection of regulatory T cells with bispecific Abs holds great potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and graft rejection.     

Generation of single-chain bispecific green fluorescent protein fusion antibodies for imaging of antibody-induced T cell synapses

There is growing interest in the development of novel single-chain bispecific antibodies for retargeting of immune effector T cells to tumor cells. Until today, functional fusion constructs consisting of a single-chain bispecific antibody and a fluorescent protein were not reported. Such molecules could be useful for an in vivo visualization of this retargeting process. Recently, we established two novel single-chain bispecific antibodies. One is capable of retargeting T cells to CD33, and the other is capable of retargeting T cells to the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA). CD33 is an attractive immunotarget on the surface of tumor cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The PSCA is a potential target on prostate cancer cells. Flanking the reading frame encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) with a recently described novel helical linker element allowed us to establish novel single-chain bispecific fusion antibodies. These fluorescent fusion antibodies were useful to efficiently retarget T cells to the respective tumor cells and visualize the formation of immune synapses between effector and target cells.     

Treatment of human B cell lymphoma xenografts with a CD3 x CD19 diabody and T cells

The use of anti-CD3 x antitumor bispecific Abs is an attractive and highly specific approach in cancer therapy. Recombinant Ab technology now provides powerful tools to enhance the potency of such immunotherapeutic constructs. We designed a heterodimeric diabody specific for human CD19 on B cells and CD3epsilon chain of the TCR complex. After production in Escherichia coli and purification, we analyzed its affinity, stability, and pharmacokinetics, and tested its capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation and mediate in vitro lysis of CD19+ tumor cells. The effect of the diabody on tumor growth was investigated in an in vivo model using immunodeficient mice bearing a human B cell lymphoma. The CD3 x CD19 diabody specifically interacted with both CD3- and CD19-positive cells, was able to stimulate T cell proliferation in the presence of tumor cells, and induced the lysis of CD19+ cells in the presence of activated human PBL. The lytic potential of the diabody was enhanced in the presence of an anti-CD28 mAb. In vivo experiments indicated a higher stability and longer blood retention of diabodies compared with single chain Fv fragments. Treatment of immunodeficient mice bearing B lymphoma xenografts with the diabody and preactivated human PBL efficiently inhibited tumor growth. The survival time was further prolonged by including the anti-CD28 mAb. The CD3 x CD19 diabody is a powerful tool that should facilitate the immunotherapy of minimal residual disease in patients with B cell leukemias and malignant lymphomas.     

Tumor therapy with bispecific antibody: the targeting and triggering steps can be separated employing a CD2-based strategy.

For tumor therapy with unprimed effector cells, we developed a novel combination of a CD2 x tumor Ag bispecific targeting Ab and an anti-CD2 triggering Ab. These Ab constructs were derived from two novel CD2 mAbs, termed M1 and M2 that, together, but not individually activate T cells. Unlike many other CD2 Abs, M1 and M2 do not interfere with TCR/CD3 triggering nor do they inhibit binding of CD2 to its ligand CD58, thus preserving the physiological functions of these important effector cell molecules. M2 was chemically conjugated with an Ab recognizing the epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R). Incubation of unprimed peripheral blood mononuclear cells with the bispecific F(ab')2 construct (M2xEGF-R) in the presence of trigger Ab M1 led to efficient selective lysis of EGF-R-positive targets by CTL and NK cells. Importantly, the need for trigger Ab M1 for effector cell stimulation allowed to separate targeting from triggering steps in vitro and should thus enable to focus immune responses to sites of target Ag expression in vivo.     

The role of B cell-mediated T cell costimulation in the efficacy of the T cell retargeting bispecific antibody BIS20x3

In this study, we investigated the role of the naturally occurring B cell-mediated T cell costimulation in the antitumor efficacy of the bispecific Ab BIS20x3. BIS20x3 has a dual specificity for both CD20 and CD3 and has previously been shown to effectively direct the lytic potential of cytolytic T cells toward malignant, CD20(+) B cells. BIS20x3 instigated T cell-B cell interaction caused a dose-dependent activation of T cells that was 30 times stronger when compared with T cell activation induced by monovalent anti-CD3 Abs. The activation of T cells by BIS20x3 and B cells appeared functional and resulted in the rapid induction of high lytic potential in freshly isolated peripheral T cells. BIS20x3-mediated T cell-B cell interaction resulted in a significant up-regulation of ICAM-1 on B cells and the activation of T cells was found to be dependent on the interaction of ICAM-1 with LFA-1 and trans-activation by the NF-kappaB pathway. Also, the lytic potential of freshly isolated T cells activated via BIS20x3 appeared to be dependent on NF-kappaB signaling in the target B cells. Interestingly, the costimulatory signaling effects described in this study appeared specifically related to the targeting against CD20 because targeting against CD19, by a CD3xCD19-directed bispecific Ab, was significantly less effective in inducing T cell activation and T cell-mediated B cell lysis. Together these results demonstrate that the malignant B cells actively contribute to their own demise upon CD20-directed bispecific Ab-mediated T cell targeting.     

CD28, TNF receptor,and IL-12 are critical for CD4-independent cross-priming of therapeutic antitumor CD8+ T cells

Previously, we have shown that priming of therapeutic CD8(+) T cells in tumor vaccine-draining lymph nodes of mice vaccinated with GM-CSF secreting B16BL6 melanoma cells occurs independent of CD4 T cell help. In this study, we examined the contribution of the major costimulatory molecules, CD40 ligand (CD40L), CD80, and CD86, in the priming of CD8(+) T cells. Priming of therapeutic CD8(+) T cells by a GM-CSF-transduced tumor vaccine did not require CD40 and CD40L interactions, as therapeutic T cells could be generated from mice injected with anti-CD40L Ab and from CD40L knockout mice. However, costimulation via either CD80 or CD86 was required, as therapeutic T cells could be generated from mice injected with either anti-CD80 or anti-CD86 Ab alone, but administration of both Abs completely inhibited the priming of therapeutic T cells. Blocking experiments also identified that priming of therapeutic T cells in MHC class II-deficient mice required TNFR and IL-12 signaling, but signaling through CD40, lymphotoxin-betaR, or receptor activator of NF-kappaB was not essential. Thus, cross-priming of therapeutic CD8(+) T cells by a tumor vaccine transduced with GM-CSF requires TNFR, IL-12, and CD28 signaling.     

A tetravalent bispecific TandAb (CD19/CD3), AFM11, efficiently recruits T cells for the potent lysis of CD19+ tumor cells

To harness the potent tumor-killing capacity of T cells for the treatment of CD19⁺ malignancies, we constructed AFM11, a humanized tetravalent bispecific CD19/CD3 tandem diabody (TandAb) consisting solely of Fv domains. The molecule exhibits good manufacturability and stability properties. AFM11 has 2 binding sites for CD3 and 2 for CD19, an antigen that is expressed from early B cell development through differentiation into plasma cells, and is an attractive alternative to CD20 as a target for the development of therapeutic antibodies to treat B cell malignancies. Comparison of the binding and cytotoxicity of AFM11 with those of a tandem scFv bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) molecule targeting the same antigens revealed that AFM11 elicited more potent in vitro B cell lysis. Though possessing high affinity to CD3, the TandAb mediates serial-killing of CD19⁺ cells with little dependence of potency or efficacy upon effector:target ratio, unlike the BiTE. The advantage of the TandAb over the BiTE was most pronounced at lower effector:target ratios. AFM11 mediated strictly target-dependent T cell activation evidenced by CD25 and CD69 induction, proliferation, and cytokine release, notwithstanding bivalent CD3 engagement. In a NOD/scid xenograft model, AFM11 induced dose-dependent growth inhibition of Raji tumors in vivo, and radiolabeled TandAb exhibited excellent localization to tumor but not to normal tissue. After intravenous administration in mice, half-life ranged from 18.4 to 22.9 h. In a human ex vivo B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia study, AFM11 exhibited substantial cytotoxic activity in an autologous setting. Thus, AFM11 may represent a promising therapeutic for treatment of CD19⁺ malignancies with an advantageous safety risk profile and anticipated dosing regimen.     

Synergistic antitumor effect of bispecific CD19 x CD3 and CD19 x CD16 diabodies in a preclinical model of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

To target NK cells against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we constructed a bispecific diabody (BsDb) with reactivity against both human CD19 and FcgammaRIII (CD16). Bacterially produced CD19 x CD16 BsDb specifically interacted with both CD19(+) and CD16(+) cells and exhibited significantly higher apparent affinity and slower dissociation from the tumor cells than from effector cells. It was able to induce specific lysis of tumor cells in the presence of isolated human NK cells or nonfractionated PBLs. The combination of the CD19 x CD16 BsDb with a previously described CD19 x CD3 BsDb and CD28 costimulation significantly increased the lytic potential of human PBLs. Treatment of SCID mice bearing an established Burkitt's lymphoma (5 mm in diameter) with human PBLs, CD19 x CD16 BsDb, CD19 x CD3 BsDb, and anti-CD28 mAb resulted in the complete elimination of tumors in 80% of animals. In contrast, mice receiving human PBLs in combination with either diabody alone showed only partial tumor regression. These data clearly demonstrate the synergistic effect of small recombinant bispecific molecules recruiting different populations of human effector cells to the same tumor target.     

A tetravalent bispecific TandAb (CD19/CD3), AFM11, efficiently recruits T cells for the potent lysis of CD19+ tumor cells

To harness the potent tumor-killing capacity of T cells for the treatment of CD19⁺ malignancies, we constructed AFM11, a humanized tetravalent bispecific CD19/CD3 tandem diabody (TandAb) consisting solely of Fv domains. The molecule exhibits good manufacturability and stability properties. AFM11 has 2 binding sites for CD3 and 2 for CD19, an antigen that is expressed from early B cell development through differentiation into plasma cells, and is an attractive alternative to CD20 as a target for the development of therapeutic antibodies to treat B cell malignancies. Comparison of the binding and cytotoxicity of AFM11 with those of a tandem scFv bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) molecule targeting the same antigens revealed that AFM11 elicited more potent in vitro B cell lysis. Though possessing high affinity to CD3, the TandAb mediates serial-killing of CD19⁺ cells with little dependence of potency or efficacy upon effector:target ratio, unlike the BiTE. The advantage of the TandAb over the BiTE was most pronounced at lower effector:target ratios. AFM11 mediated strictly target-dependent T cell activation evidenced by CD25 and CD69 induction, proliferation, and cytokine release, notwithstanding bivalent CD3 engagement. In a NOD/scid xenograft model, AFM11 induced dose-dependent growth inhibition of Raji tumors in vivo, and radiolabeled TandAb exhibited excellent localization to tumor but not to normal tissue. After intravenous administration in mice, half-life ranged from 18.4 to 22.9 h. In a human ex vivo B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia study, AFM11 exhibited substantial cytotoxic activity in an autologous setting. Thus, AFM11 may represent a promising therapeutic for treatment of CD19⁺ malignancies with an advantageous safety risk profile and anticipated dosing regimen.     

Extracellular adenine nucleotides inhibit the activation of human CD4+ T lymphocytes

ATP has been reported to inhibit or stimulate lymphoid cell proliferation, depending on the origin of the cells. Agents that increase cAMP, such as PGE(2), inhibit human CD4(+) T cell activation. We demonstrate that several ATP derivatives increase cAMP in both freshly purified and activated human peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells. The rank order of potency of the various nucleotides was: adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS) approximately 2'- and 3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl) ATP (BzATP) > ATP > 2-methylthio-ATP > dATP, 2-propylthio-beta,gamma-dichloromethylene-D-ATP, UDP, UTP. This effect did not involve the activation of A(2)Rs by adenosine or the synthesis of prostaglandins. ATPgammaS had no effect on cytosolic calcium, whereas BzATP induced an influx of extracellular calcium. ATPgammaS and BzATP inhibited secretion of IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, and IFN-gamma; expression of CD25; and proliferation after activation of CD4(+) T cells by immobilized anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 Abs, without increasing cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that extracellular adenine nucleotides inhibit CD4(+) T cell activation via an increase in cAMP mediated by an unidentified P2YR, which might thus constitute a new therapeutic target in immunosuppressive treatments.     

Distinct mechanisms of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation and bystander apoptosis induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virions

Apoptosis of uninfected bystander T cells contributes to T-cell depletion during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. HIV-1 envelope/receptor interactions and immune activation have been implicated as contributors to bystander apoptosis. To better understand the relationship between T-cell activation and bystander apoptosis during HIV-1 pathogenesis, we investigated the effects of the highly cytopathic CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 variant ELI6 on primary CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Infection of primary T-cell cultures with ELI6 induced CD4(+) T-cell depletion by direct cell lysis and bystander apoptosis. Exposure of primary CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells to nonreplicating ELI6 virions induced bystander apoptosis through a Fas-independent mechanism. Bystander apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells required direct contact with virions and Env/CXCR4 binding. In contrast, the apoptosis of CD8(+) T cells was triggered by a soluble factor(s) secreted by CD4(+) T cells. HIV-1 virions activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells to express CD25 and HLA-DR and preferentially induced apoptosis in CD25(+)HLA-DR(+) T cells in a CXCR4-dependent manner. Maximal levels of binding, activation, and apoptosis were induced by virions that incorporated MHC class II and B7-2 into the viral membrane. These results suggest that nonreplicating HIV-1 virions contribute to chronic immune activation and T-cell depletion during HIV-1 pathogenesis by activating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, which then proceed to die via apoptosis. This mechanism may represent a viral immune evasion strategy to increase viral replication by activating target cells while killing immune effector cells that are not productively infected.     

Selection of an antibody library identifies a pathway to induce immunity by targeting CD36 on steady-state CD8 alpha+ dendritic cells

Improvement of the strategy to target tumor Ags to dendritic cells (DCs) for immunotherapy requires the identification of the most appropriate ligand/receptor pairing. We screened a library of Ab fragments on mouse DCs to isolate new potential Abs capable of inducing protective immune responses. The screening identified a high-affinity Ab against CD36, a multi-ligand scavenger receptor primarily expressed by the CD8alpha+ subset of conventional DCs. The Ab variable regions were genetically linked to the model Ag OVA and tested in Ag presentation assays in vitro and in vivo. Anti-CD36-OVA was capable of delivering exogenous Ags to the MHC class I and MHC class II processing pathways. In vivo, immunization with anti-CD36-OVA induced robust activation of naive CD4+ and CD8+ Ag-specific T lymphocytes and the differentiation of primed CD8+ T cells into long-term effector CTLs. Vaccination with anti-CD36-OVA elicited humoral and cell-mediated protection from the growth of an Ag-specific tumor. Notably, the relative efficacy of targeting CD11c/CD8alpha+ via CD36 or DEC205 was qualitatively different. Anti-DEC205-OVA was more efficient than anti-CD36-OVA in inducing early events of naive CD8+ T cell activation. In contrast, long-term persistence of effector CTLs was stronger following immunization with anti-CD36-OVA and did not require the addition of exogenous maturation stimuli. The results identify CD36 as a novel potential target for immunotherapy and indicate that the outcome of the immune responses vary by targeting different receptors on CD8alpha+ DCs.     

Trispecific F(ab')3 derivatives that use cooperative signaling via the TCR/CD3 complex and CD2 to activate and redirect resting cytotoxic T cells.

To investigate whether the retargeting of resting CTL can benefit from cooperative signaling between the TCR/CD3 complex and various accessory molecules, such as CD2, CD4, CD5, and CD8, we have constructed a series of trispecific F(ab')3 derivatives. Each derivative was designed to engage effector T lymphocytes with two Fab' arms, and tumor cells with a single Fab' arm. They were constructed by selective coupling of three mAb Fab' fragments, primarily via their hinge-region sulfhydryl groups, using the cross-linker o-phenylenedimaleimide. En route to the production of trispecific F(ab')3 antibodies a range of bispecific F(ab')2 derivatives was first prepared which could bind simultaneously to two different receptor molecules on T cells. Bispecific derivatives containing specificities for (CD2 (T11(1)) x CD3), (CD3 x CD4), (CD3 x CD8) or two epitopes on CD2, ((T11(1) x (T11(3)), all yielded two to three times the uptake of [3H]thymidine with fresh PBMC to that seen with intact IgG from anti-CD3 (OKT3). The exception to these findings was a bispecific F(ab')2 derivative with specificities for (CD3 x CD5) which caused slightly less proliferation than the control reagent, OKT3 IgG. When these bispecific antibodies were converted into trispecific antibodies (TsAb) by the addition of a Fab' from anti-CD37 they were then all able to retarget resting, unprimed, T cells from fresh PBMC for lysis of CD37+ tumor cells. However, the cytotoxic activity of these reagents fell into two distinct groups: group one, containing (anti-CD3 x anti-CD4 x anti-CD37), (anti-CD3 x anti-CD5 x anti-CD37), and (anti-CD3 x anti-CD8 x anti-CD37), gave minimal lysis and behaved in a similar way to the BsAb, (anti-CD3 x anti-CD37), i.e., no evidence of cooperative signaling for lysis; and group two, containing (anti-T11(1) x anti-CD3 x anti-CD37) and (anti-T11(1) x anti-T11(3) x anti-CD37), which were highly cytotoxic and gave up to 80% specific 51Cr-release. The failure of group one TsAb, in particular (anti-CD3 x anti-CD8 x anti-CD37) which should recruit CD8+ CTL, to give efficient lysis despite having anti-T cell arms that were mitogenic as a bispecific antibody, indicates that the cooperative signaling for proliferation is probably distinct from the signal(s) provided by group two TsAb that activate for both proliferation and lysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Anti-CD8 antibodies can trigger CD8+ T cell effector function in the absence of TCR engagement and improve peptide-MHCI tetramer staining

CD8(+) T cells recognize immunogenic peptides presented at the cell surface bound to MHCI molecules. Ag recognition involves the binding of both TCR and CD8 coreceptor to the same peptide-MHCI (pMHCI) ligand. Specificity is determined by the TCR, whereas CD8 mediates effects on Ag sensitivity. Anti-CD8 Abs have been used extensively to examine the role of CD8 in CD8(+) T cell activation. However, as previous studies have yielded conflicting results, it is unclear from the literature whether anti-CD8 Abs per se are capable of inducing effector function. In this article, we report on the ability of seven monoclonal anti-human CD8 Abs to activate six human CD8(+) T cell clones with a total of five different specificities. Six of seven anti-human CD8 Abs tested did not activate CD8(+) T cells. In contrast, one anti-human CD8 Ab, OKT8, induced effector function in all CD8(+) T cells examined. Moreover, OKT8 was found to enhance TCR/pMHCI on-rates and, as a consequence, could be used to improve pMHCI tetramer staining and the visualization of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells. The anti-mouse CD8 Abs, CT-CD8a and CT-CD8b, also activated CD8(+) T cells despite opposing effects on pMHCI tetramer staining. The observed heterogeneity in the ability of anti-CD8 Abs to trigger T cell effector function provides an explanation for the apparent incongruity observed in previous studies and should be taken into consideration when interpreting results generated with these reagents. Furthermore, the ability of Ab-mediated CD8 engagement to deliver an activation signal underscores the importance of CD8 in CD8(+) T cell signaling.     

Treatment of murine B cell lymphoma with bispecific monoclonal antibodies (anti-idiotype x anti-CD3).

It has previously been reported that T lymphocytes can be targeted by using bispecific antibodies consisting of anti-target antibody and anti-CD3. In the present study, a bispecific mAb was developed by somatic hybridization of mouse hybridomas, one producing a mAb against the Id determinant of the mouse B cell lymphoma 38C13 and the other a mAb against a polymorphic determinant on murine CD3. The bispecific antibody, anti-38C13 x anti-CD3, is bi-isotypic (IgG1 x IgG2a) and was purified by ion exchange and affinity chromatography. The dual specificity of the hybrid hybridoma-produced mAb could be demonstrated by flow cytometry, the induction of T cell proliferation, the induction of IL-2 secretion by polyclonal T cells, and redirected lysis of the relevant target cells. The hybrid (bi-isotypic) Fc part of the bispecific antibodies was nonfunctional in FcR-dependent redirected lysis. In vivo studies demonstrate that this bispecific mAb could efficiently target T cells towards the tumor cells, resulting in long term survival and cure of the lymphoma.     

CD4+ T cells in the absence of the CD8+ cytotoxic T cells are critical and sufficient for NKT cell-dependent tumor rejection

NKT cells perform crucial roles in tumor surveillance, functioning as regulators of early host response. In this study, we have assessed the effects of NKT activation at the time of tumor Ag immunization, and have evaluated the contributions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumor rejection during adaptive immune response against live tumor cells. Our data indicate that CD4+ T cells play critical roles, not only in assisting CTL, but also in the orchestration of host response against the tumor. The CD4+ T cells were found to reject the transplanted tumor cells very efficiently under conditions in which the CTLs were removed either genetically, or via the action of anti-CD8 Ab in mice that had been immunized with tumor extracts and alpha-galactosylceramide. Immunization resulted in an NKT cell-dependent antitumor adaptive immune response, which was associated with both CD4+ T cells and cytokine IFN-gamma.     

CD8+CD45RA+CCR7+FOXP3+ T Cells with Immunosuppressive Properties: A Novel Subset of Inducible Human Regulatory T Cells

CD8 T cells stimulated with a suboptimal dose of anti-CD3 Abs (100 pg/ml) in the presence of IL-15 retain a naive phenotype with expression of CD45RA, CD28, CD27, and CCR7 but acquire new functions and differentiate into immunosuppressive T cells. CD8(+)CCR7(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) express FOXP3 and prevent CD4 T cells from responding to TCR stimulation and entering the cell cycle. Naive CD4 T cells are more susceptible to inhibition than memory cells. The suppressive activity of CD8(+)CCR7(+) Tregs is not mediated by IL-10, TGF-β, CTLA-4, CCL4, or adenosine and relies on interference with very early steps of the TCR signaling cascade. Specifically, CD8(+)CCR7(+) Tregs prevent TCR-induced phosphorylation of ZAP70 and dampen the rise of intracellular calcium in CD4 T cells. The inducibility of CD8(+)CCR7(+) Tregs is correlated with the age of the individual with PBLs of donors older than 60 y yielding low numbers of FOXP3(low) CD8 Tregs. Loss of CD8(+)CCR7(+) Tregs in the elderly host may be of relevance in the aging immune system as immunosenescence is associated with a state of chronic smoldering inflammation.