[Research Articles] A subset of cytotoxic effector memory T cells enhances CAR T cell efficacy in a model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

In humans, the natural killer (NK) cell marker CD161 identifies several subsets of T cells, including a polyclonal CD8 αβ T cell receptor–expressing subset with characteristic specificity for tissue-localized viruses. This subset also displays enhanced cytotoxic and memory phenotypes. Here, we characterized this unique T cell subset and determined its potential suitability for use in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. In mice, gene expression profiling among the CD161-equivalent CD8+ T cell populations (CD8+NK1.1+) revealed substantial up-regulation of granzymes, perforin, killer lectin-like receptors, and innate signaling molecules in comparison to CD8+NK1.1– T cells. Adoptive transfer of CD8+NK1.1+ cells from previously exposed animals offered substantially enhanced protection and improved survival against melanoma tumors and influenza infection compared to CD8+NK1.1– cells. Freshly isolated human CD8+CD61+ T cells exhibited heightened allogeneic killing activity in comparison to CD8+CD61– T cells or total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To determine whether this subset might improve the antitumor efficacy of CAR T cell therapy against solid tumors, we compared bulk PBMCs, CD8+CD161–, and CD8+CD161+ T cells transduced with a human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)–specific CAR construct. In vitro, CD8+CD161+ CAR-transduced T cells killed HER2+ targets faster and with greater efficiency. Similarl...

Source: Science Translational Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Konduri, V., Joseph, S. K., Byrd, T. T., Nawas, Z., Vazquez-Perez, J., Hofferek, C. J., Halpert, M. M., Liu, D., Liang, Z., Baig, Y., Salsman, V. S., Oyewole-Said, D., Tsimelzon, A., Burns, B. A., Chen, C., Levitt, J. M., Yao, Q., Ahmed, N. M., Hegde, M., Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research