T cells stimulated by CD40L positive leukemic blasts-pulsed dendritic cells meet optimal functional requirements for adoptive T-cell therapy

Leukemia. 2006 Nov;20(11):2015-24. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404390. Epub 2006 Sep 21.

Abstract

Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy may provide complementary therapy for childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). In this study, we have analyzed the functional characteristics of anti-BCP-ALL effector T cells generated by co-culturing T lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DC) from allogeneic human stem cell transplantation (HSCT) donors. After 21-day co-culture with DC pulsed with CD40L+ apoptotic BCP-ALL blasts, T cells presented with both effector and central memory phenotype, and showed high and specific cytotoxic activity against leukemic cells (average lysis = 77%), mostly mediated by CD8+ T cells. Noticeably, growth of CD4 T cells was maintained (45% of total cells), which actively produced Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2), but not IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. Anti-BCP-ALL T cells expressed CD49d and CXCR4 (implicated in the recruitment to bone marrow), and CD62L and CCR7 (involved in the migration to lymphoid organs). In accordance with this profile, T cells significantly migrated in response to the chemokines CXCL12 and CCL19. In conclusion, stimulation of T cells with CD40L+BCP-ALL cells-loaded DC not only elicited the generation of potent and specific anti-leukemic cytotoxic effectors, but also the differentiation of specific and functional Th-1 CD4 lymphocytes. These effectors are fully equipped to reach leukemia-infiltrated tissues and have characteristics to support and orchestrate the anti-tumor immune-response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer / methods*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / cytology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • CD40 Ligand / metabolism*
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Child
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • CD40 Ligand