Allogeneic T Cell Silencing for Cancer Immunotherapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adoptive cell therapy using tumor-specific allogeneic cells faces challenges such as host vs. graft rejection and graft vs. host disease, limiting their application due to immune system compatibility issues and the need for bone marrow transplantation, which is toxic and logistically complex.

Innovation Solution

The use of 'stealthing' allogeneic cells by silencing MHC molecules and expressing inhibitory ligands, combined with lymphodepletion and the administration of FTY720 to delay donor cell egression from lymph nodes, creates a therapeutic time window for allogeneic cells to target tumors before being rejected, thereby reducing GvHD and enhancing antitumor response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If allogeneic cells are administered to patients, then standardized therapy is achieved, but host vs. graft rejection occurs rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandardized therapyVSAvoidcell persistence
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by silencing MHC class I and II molecules on allogeneic T cells before administration. This pre-modification prevents host immune recognition and rejection, allowing the cells to persist and function therapeutically. The MHC silencing is achieved through retroviral delivery of dominant-negative MHC class I and class II molecules, which block antigen presentation and prevent both direct and indirect allorecognition pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses MHC class I and class II molecules as intermediaries that are deliberately silenced to prevent immune rejection. By blocking these intermediary molecules, the allogeneic T cells avoid detection by host T cells and NK cells, thereby achieving persistence without requiring bone marrow transplantation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If allogeneic cells are administered to patients, then standardized therapy is achieved, but graft vs. host disease occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandardized therapyVSAvoidgraft vs. host disease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by silencing MHC class II molecules on allogeneic T cells before administration. This pre-modification prevents the T cells from presenting alloantigens to host T cells, thereby blocking the initiation of graft vs. host disease. The MHC class II silencing is achieved through retroviral delivery of dominant-negative molecules that interfere with antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful alloreactive function by selectively silencing MHC class II molecules while preserving tumor-targeting capabilities. This extraction removes the ability to cause GvHD while maintaining the therapeutic antitumor activity, achieving a separation of harmful and beneficial functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If MHC molecules are silenced on allogeneic cells, then host vs. graft rejection is reduced, but NK cell recognition may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell persistenceVSAvoidNK cell-mediated killing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses HLA-G molecules as protective intermediaries that are expressed on the surface of allogeneic T cells. HLA-G engages with inhibitory receptors on NK cells (such as KIR and NKG2A), providing a protective signal that prevents NK cell-mediated killing. This intermediary mechanism allows the cells to persist despite MHC silencing by actively suppressing NK cell activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If lymphodepletion is performed, then allogeneic cell persistence is improved, but therapeutic time window is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell persistenceVSAvoidtherapeutic time window
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-silencing MHC molecules on allogeneic T cells before administration, which extends their persistence in the host without requiring intensive lymphodepletion. This pre-modification creates a longer therapeutic time window by preventing immune rejection from the outset, reducing the need for aggressive host immune suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the immunological parameters of allogeneic T cells by silencing MHC class I and II molecules and expressing HLA-G. This parameter modification alters the cells' interaction with the host immune system, enabling them to persist longer without requiring extreme lymphodepletion regimens, thereby extending the therapeutic time window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2566954B2Immunotherapy using redirected allogeneic cells
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 YEDA RES & DEV CO LTD
  • EP2566954B2 patent drawingFigure 1A~3B
  • EP2566954B2 patent drawingFigure 4A~5A
  • EP2566954B2 patent drawingFigure 5B~5C

AI summary

A method of treating a disease, such as cancer, by administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of allogeneic T cells with a MHC unrestricted chimeric receptor short time after partial lymphodepletion. The method also comprises administering one or more agents that delay egression of the allogeneic T cells from lymph nodes of said subject during adoptive transfer of said allogeneic T cells to the subject by trapping the T cells in the lymph nodes.