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A platform for parallel TCR cloning and testing enables anti-neoantigen tumor immunotherapy
Alexander M. Rowe, Smriti Chaurasia, Wenzhong Wei, Laura García-Diéguez, Katherine Tempro, Johnathon G. Schiebel, Christy Smolak, Alexander Muralles, Daniel Wikenheiser, Kevin Quann, Collin Pirner, Kentin Codispot, Mark J. Shlomchik, Warren D. Shlomchik
Alexander M. Rowe, Smriti Chaurasia, Wenzhong Wei, Laura García-Diéguez, Katherine Tempro, Johnathon G. Schiebel, Christy Smolak, Alexander Muralles, Daniel Wikenheiser, Kevin Quann, Collin Pirner, Kentin Codispot, Mark J. Shlomchik, Warren D. Shlomchik
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Research Article Immunology Oncology

A platform for parallel TCR cloning and testing enables anti-neoantigen tumor immunotherapy

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Abstract

Tumor-infiltrating CD8 cells recognize neoantigens created by tumor-specific mutations. Nonetheless, even after checkpoint inhibitor therapy, most patients’ tumors progress. A deeper understanding of antitumor responses could facilitate development of better therapies. To enable such studies, we applied TCXpress, a high throughput platform that clones fully expressible TCRs from single cells into retroviral or lentiviral vectors without sequencing or gene synthesis, to study TCRs from CD8 cells infiltrating mouse MC38 tumors. We expressed cloned TCRs in reporter cells and interrogated TCR specificity by coculturing them with B6WT3 cells transduced with tandem minigenes encoding predicted neoantigens. We isolated TCRs reactive against epitopes from mutant Rpl18, Adpgk, Psmd2, and Zc3h7b along with self-reactive TCRs that recognized normal B6 and MC38 cells. Importantly, we successfully treated MC38-bearing mice with T cells transduced with anti-Rpl18 TCRs. These results establish a system that could be used to study many types of T cell responses and validate a therapeutic approach that could be tested in the clinic.

Authors

Alexander M. Rowe, Smriti Chaurasia, Wenzhong Wei, Laura García-Diéguez, Katherine Tempro, Johnathon G. Schiebel, Christy Smolak, Alexander Muralles, Daniel Wikenheiser, Kevin Quann, Collin Pirner, Kentin Codispot, Mark J. Shlomchik, Warren D. Shlomchik

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Figure 5

Characterization of anti-neoantigen TCRs.

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Characterization of anti-neoantigen TCRs.
(A–D) mCherry-expressing retro...
(A–D) mCherry-expressing retrovirus encoding the anti-Rpl18mut TCRs A09, I20, and I02 were used to infect 4G4R cells over a range of MOIs, and TCRβ expression Rpl18mut -dextramer binding were quantitated. (A) Representative flow. (B) Plot of percentage of mCherry+ versus TCRβ MFI of mCherry+ cells; each transduction was done in triplicate. (C and D) At a matched transduction (see red box in B), dexRpl18 binding over a range of concentrations was determined. (E) To test functionality, Jurkat reporter cells were transduced with TCRs A09, I20, C05, B22, H03, F05, H17, and J12 and puromycin-selected. (F and G) These lines were cultured with different concentrations of Rpl18mut peptide-pulsed B6WT3 cells (in triplicate) and the percentages that were CD69+ were determined. (F) Representative flow for TCRs A09, I20 and I02. (G) Peptide concentration/response plots for all TCRs. (H and I) Retrovirus encoding anti-ADPGK TCRs A10 and TCR30 and control anti-Rpl18 TCR A09 were used in dilution to infect 4G4R cells (in triplicate). Shown are TCRβ expression of mCherry+ cells (H) and dexADPGK staining of mCherry+ cells at about a 10% transduction (red box in H and I). (J) TCR A10-expressing Jurkat cells were cocultured with mutant or WT ADPGK peptide-pulsed B6WT3 cells (in triplicate) and the percentages of CD69+ cells were determined. (K) 4G4R cells were retrovirally transduced with anti-Zc3H7b TCRs over a range of MOIs in triplicate, and TCRβ MFIs were determined (of TCRβ+ cells). (L) Jurkat cells transduced with anti-Zc3H7b TCRs were reacted with B6WT3 cells pulsed with different concentrations of Zc3H7b-mutant peptide, and the percentages of CD69+ cells were determined. (M) Anti-PSMD2mut G13 TCR-transduced Jurkat cells were cocultured with B6WT3 cells transduced with PSMD2mut-encoding TMG 3.9 and 3.23 or versions reverted (REV) to express the WT PSMD2-derived peptide (PSMD2WT). (N) Anti-PSMD2mut G13 and A09 anti-Rpl18mut TCR-expressing Jurkat cells were reacted against MC38-Leiden cells and MC38-Kerafast cells, which lack the targeted Rpl18 and PSMD2 mutant peptides.

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