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A key predictor for the success of gene-modified T cell therapies for cancer is the persistence of transferred cells in the patient. The propensity of less differentiated memory T cells to expand and survive efficiently has therefore made them attractive candidates for clinical application. We hypothesized that redirecting T cells to specialized niches in the BM that support memory differentiation would confer increased therapeutic efficacy. We show that overexpression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in CD8+ T cells (TCXCR4) enhanced their migration toward vascular-associated CXCL12+ cells in the BM and increased their local engraftment. Increased access of TCXCR4 to the BM microenvironment induced IL-15-dependent homeostatic expansion and promoted the differentiation of memory precursor-like cells with low expression of programmed death-1, resistance to apoptosis, and a heightened capacity to generate polyfunctional cytokine-producing effector cells. Following transfer to lymphoma-bearing mice, TCXCR4 showed a greater capacity for effector expansion and better tumor protection, the latter being independent of changes in trafficking to the tumor bed or local out-competition of regulatory T cells. Thus, redirected homing of T cells to the BM confers increased memory differentiation and antitumor immunity, suggesting an innovative solution to increase the persistence and functions of therapeutic T cells.

Original publication

DOI

10.1172/JCI97454

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Clin Invest

Publication Date

01/05/2018

Volume

128

Pages

2010 - 2024

Keywords

Cancer immunotherapy, Chemokines, Immunology, T cells, Therapeutics, Animals, Bone Marrow, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Movement, Chemokine CXCL12, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Interleukin-15, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Knockout, Neoplasms, Receptors, CXCR4, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory