Interference with PD-L1/PD-1 co-stimulation during antigen presentation enhances the multifunctionality of antigen-specific T cells

Karine Breckpot, Joeri Pen, Brenda De Keersmaecker, Carlo Heirman, Jurgen Corthals, T. Liechtenstein, D. Escors, Kris Thielemans

Research output: Contribution to journalConference paper

Abstract

The release of cytokines by T cells strongly defines their functional activity in vivo. The ability to produce multiple cytokines has been associated with beneficial immune responses in cancer and infectious diseases, while their progressive loss is associated to T cell exhaustion, senescence and anergy. Consequently, strategies that enhance the multifunctional status of T cells are key for immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that regulate T cell functions by providing positive and negative co-stimulatory signals. A key negative regulator of T cell activity is provided by binding of programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on activated T cells, to its ligand PD-L1, expressed on DCs. We investigated the impact of interfering with PD-L1/PD-1 co-stimulation on the multifunctionality of T cells, by expression of the soluble extracellular part of PD-1 (sPD-1) or PD-L1 (sPD-L1) in human monocyte-derived DCs during antigen presentation. Expression, secretion and binding of these soluble molecules after mRNA electroporation were demonstrated. Modification of DCs with sPD-1 or sPD-L1 mRNA resulted in increased levels of the co-stimulatory molecule CD80 and a distinct cytokine profile, characterized by the secretion of IL-10 and TNF-a, respectively. Co-expression in DCs of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 with influenza virus nuclear protein 1 (Flu NP1) stimulated Flu NP1 memory T cells, with a significantly higher number of multifunctional T cells and increased cytokine secretion, while it did not induce regulatory T cells. These data provide a rationale for the inclusion of interfering sPD-1 or sPD-L1 in DC-based immunotherapeutic strategies
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-167
JournalHuman Gene Therapy
Volume24
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2013
EventThe European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy and the Spanish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Collaborative Congress 2013 - Madrid, Spain
Duration: 25 Oct 201328 Oct 2013

Keywords

  • PD-L1/PD-1
  • antigen
  • dendritic cell

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