T cells expressing a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) are infused as investigational treatment of B-cell malignancies in our first-in-human gene therapy trials. We describe genetic modification of T cells using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) system to introduce CD19-specific CAR and selective propagation on designer CD19+ artificial antigen presenting cells.
The potency of clinical-grade T cells can be improved by combining gene therapy with immunotherapy to engineer a biologic product with the potential for superior (i) recognition of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), (ii) persistence after infusion, (iii) potential for migration to tumor sites, and (iv) ability to recycle effector functions within the tumor microenvironment. Most approaches to genetic manipulation of T cells engineered for human application have used retrovirus and lentivirus for the stable expression of CAR1-3. This approach, although compliant with current good manufacturing practice (GMP), can be expensive as it relies on the manufacture and release of clinical-grade recombinant virus from a limited number of production facilities. The electro-transfer of nonviral plasmids is an appealing alternative to transduction since DNA species can be produced to clinical grade at approximately 1/10th the cost of recombinant GMP-grade virus. To improve the efficiency of integration we adapted Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon and transposase for human application4-8. Our SB system uses two DNA plasmids that consist of a transposon coding for a gene of interest (e.g. 2nd generation CD19-specific CAR transgene, designated CD19RCD28) and a transposase (e.g. SB11) which inserts the transgene into TA dinucleotide repeats9-11. To generate clinically-sufficient numbers of genetically modified T cells we use K562-derived artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC) (clone #4) modified to express a TAA (e.g. CD19) as well as the T cell costimulatory molecules CD86, CD137L, a membrane-bound version of interleukin (IL)-15 (peptide fused to modified IgG4 Fc region) and CD64 (Fc-γ receptor 1) for the loading of monoclonal antibodies (mAb)12. In this report, we demonstrate the procedures that can be undertaken in compliance with cGMP to generate CD19-specific CAR+ T cells suitable for human application. This was achieved by the synchronous electro-transfer of two DNA plasmids, a SB transposon (CD19RCD28) and a SB transposase (SB11) followed by retrieval of stable integrants by the every-7-day additions (stimulation cycle) of γ-irradiated aAPC (clone #4) in the presence of soluble recombinant human IL-2 and IL-2113. Typically 4 cycles (28 days of continuous culture) are undertaken to generate clinically-appealing numbers of T cells that stably express the CAR. This methodology to manufacturing clinical-grade CD19-specific T cells can be applied to T cells derived from peripheral blood (PB) or umbilical cord blood (UCB). Furthermore, this approach can be harnessed to generate T cells to diverse tumor types by pairing the specificity of the introduced CAR with expression of the TAA, recognized by the CAR, on the aAPC.
Day 0 or Before
1. Isolation of Mononuclear Cells (MNC) from PB and UCB
2. Preparation of T Cells for Electroporation on Day 0
3. Electroporation (Nucleofection) of MNC (Full Scale Process Using 10 Cuvettes) on Day 0
Day 1 of 1st and Subsequent Stimulation Cycles
4. Analysis of CAR Expression by Flow Cytometry on Day 1
5. Preparation of aAPC (clone #4) on Day 1. aAPC (clone #4) were Derived from K562 Cells (Parental Line Obtained from American Type Culture Collection) to Co-express Desired T Cell Co-stimulatory Molecule
6. aAPC-mediated Stimulation of CAR+ T Cells on Day 1 Beginning of 1st and Subsequent Stimulation Cycles
Days 3, 5
7. Continued Culture of CAR+ T Cells
Day 7
8. End of First aAPC-mediated Stimulation Cycle
9. Depletion of CD56+ Cells (Usually between 7 and 14 days after electroporation)
Stimulation Cycles #2, #3, & #4 Corresponding to Days 8 → 14, Days 15 → 21, & Days 22 → 28
10. Recursive Addition of aAPC to Propagate T Cells to Clinically-sufficient Numbers
Day 28
11. End of Last aAPC-mediated Stimulation Cycle: Harvest T Cells
We report that electro-transfer of DNA plasmids and propagation of T cells on γ-irradiated aAPC can be used to generate clinically-appealing numbers of T cells derived from PB and UCB for human applications. These genetically modified T cells express an introduced CAR that recognizes the TAA CD19, independent of major histocompatibility complex. The SB-derived DNA plasmids to express the (i) transposon, a 2nd generation CAR (CD19RCD28) that signals through CD28 and CD3-ε14, and (ii) transposase, SB1115, have been previously described13,16,17. The plasmids used in the current study were produced commercially by Waisman Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility (Madison, WI). The aAPC (clone #4), derived from K562 cells (parental line obtained from American Type Culture Collection), co-express desired T cell co-stimulatory molecules (each introduced molecule at 390% on cell surface of aAPC), as previously described12. Here we show that CD19-specific T cells could be generated from mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from PB or UCB using SB transposition to introduce the CAR followed by addition of aAPC to numerically expand the T cells in a CAR-dependent manner (Figures 1, 4)13,18. Ten cuvettes (2×107 MNC/cuvette) are electroporated for each recipient using 15 μg of DNA plasmid (CD19RCD28/pSBSO) coding for transposon (CAR) and 5 μg of DNA plasmid (pCMV-SB11) coding for transposase (SB11). The number of cuvettes can be reduced if MNC are limiting or scaled back for laboratory work. The day of electroporation is defined as “Day 0” of Stimulation cycle #1. As controls for flow cytometry and culture conditions, autologous T cells are mock electroporated (without DNA plasmid) and numerically expanded on γ-irradiated aAPC (clone #4) that had been pre-loaded with OKT3 to cross-link CD3 to sustain T cell proliferation. We routinely assess the efficiency of electrotransfer and viability of the T cells the day after electroporation (Figure 2B). The expression of EGFP from control DNA plasmid (designated pmaxGFP) and CAR at this initial time point reflects protein expression from the integrated and episomal plasmid. Typically, the day after electroporation we measure EGFP expression at ~60% and CAR expression at ~40% (Figure 2A) with T cell viability between 40-50%. Recursive additions of γ-irradiated aAPC in the presence of soluble recombinant human IL-2 and IL-21 retrieve T cells stably expressing CAR (CD19RCD28). CD3negCD56+ NK cells are depleted from the culture using CD56-specific paramagnetic beads if the percentage of these NK cells is ≥10% and especially if the percentage of CAR expressed on the T cells is low. This depletion prevents the rapid overgrowth of NK cells which interferes with the ability of aAPC to sustain the proliferation of CAR+ T cells. On occasion, depletion of NK cells from CAR+ T cells is undertaken during the last two stimulation cycles, but this introduces a loss of desired cells due to co-expression of CD56 on some CAR+ T cells. The T cells were grown in a functionally closed system using Vue Life culture bags past Day 14. A subset of the genetically modified and propagated T cells are typically cryopreserved at Day 14 or Day 21 (end of Stimulation cycles #2 or #3) of co-culture on aAPC to serve as a source of archived material for future analyses and to be thawed if unanticipated problems subsequently occur during the manufacturing process. T cells are typically harvested on or about Day 28 of culture (Figure 3) that routinely express >90% CAR and are >80% viable (Figure 2C, D). We have previously shown that, after four weeks of co-culture on aAPC the average fold-expansion of CD3+ T cells is 19,800±11,313 with CAR+ expression being 90%±7.5 13. These T cells are cryopreserved and undergo in-process and release testing that informs on the safety and therapeutic potential of the manufactured product. Release testing is undertaken in compliance with clinical laboratory improvement amendments (CLIA) to generate a certificate of analysis prior to infusion into recipients on clinical trials.
Figure 1. Steps outlining the process to electroporate and propagate CAR+ T cells from PB and UCB. Click here to view larger figure.
Figure 2. Characterization of genetically modified T cells from PB. (A) Expression of EGFP at Day 0 of first stimulation cycle to assess the efficiency of gene transfer. Expression of CD19-specific CAR (CD19RCD28) as assessed by flow cytometry on CD3+, CD8+ and CD4+ T cells at (B) approximately 24 hr after electroporation and (C) 28 days after co-culture on aAPC. Similar expression of CAR was observed with UCB-derived T cells. (D) Kinetics of CAR expression. Click here to view larger figure.
Figure 3. Propagation of PB-derived CAR+ T cells. Rate of numeric expansion of CD3+ and CAR+ T cells derived from PB by repeated co-culture on γ-irradiated aAPC in presence of recombinant human soluble IL-2 and IL-21. Upward arrows indicate the additions of γ-irradiated aAPC that mark the beginning of each Stimulation cycle. UCB-derived CAR+ T cells exhibit similar rates of numeric expansion.
Figure 4. Schematic of the manufacturing process using SB and aAPC systems to genetically modify and propagate CAR+ T cells derived from PB and UCB. CD19-specific CAR+ T cells were generated by electro-transfer of SB-derived supercoiled DNA plasmids and subsequent co-culture on K562-derived aAPC (clone #4) in the presence of recombinant human soluble IL-2 and IL-21. Click here to view larger figure.
T-cell source | Transposon* | Transposase | T-cell infusion | IRB # | NIH-OBA # | IND # |
Autologous (patient-derived)** | CD19RCD28 | SB11 | After autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation | 2007-0635 | 0804-922 | 14193 |
Allogeneic (donor-derived) | CD19RCD28 | SB11 | After allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation | 2009-0525 | 0910-1003 | 14577 |
Allogeneic (donor-derived) | CD19RCD28 | SB11 | After allogeneic umbilical cord blood transplantation | 2010-0835 | 1001-1022 | 14739 |
Table 1. Clinical trials under the auspices of the FDA at MDACC to infuse CD19-specific CAR+ T-cells propagated on aAPC. *T-cells are rendered specific for CD19 through enforced expression of SB transposon coding for a 2nd generation CAR, designated CD19RCD28, that signals through CD28 and CD3-z. **Trial described in reference # 7
Transposon and transposase systems, such as from piggyBac12,19 and SB18,20-22, are non-viral approaches to gene therapy that are an alternative to viral-mediated transduction of clinical grade CAR+ T cells. The SB was chosen as the gene transfer system based on its potential for human gene therapy1,6,23. We developed the dual technologies of SB transposition (to introduce a CAR) and recursive addition of γ-irradiated aAPC (to retrieve genetically modified T cells stably expressing a CAR) to serve as platform technologies in the manufacture of TAA-specific T cells in compliance with cGMP for Phase I/II trials (Figure 4). After 28 days (four 7-day stimulation cycles) of co-culture on γ-irradiated aAPC, we are typically able to generate at least ~1010 genetically modified T cells suitable for human applications. As needed, additional stimulation cycles can be undertaken to generate larger numbers of genetically modified T cells. Furthermore, if less CAR+ T cells are needed, the approach to electroporation and propagation can be scaled back employing fewer cuvettes and carrying forward just a sub-set of the numerically expanded T cells for subsequent rounds of proliferation on aAPC at the beginning of each Stimulation cycle. The majority of the electroporated and propagated T cells harvested for infusion stably express the CAR. The outgrowth of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing our 2nd generation CAR include cells with a memory/naive phenotype and exhibit three hallmarks of re-directed specificity. Firstly, the genetically modified T cells specifically lyse CD19+ targets, secondly, produce IFN-γ in response to CD19+ stimulator cells and thirdly, proliferate in response to CD19+ feeder cells, all in a CAR-dependent manner13,18. Our approach to integrate a CAR transgene by electro-transfer of non-viral DNA plasmids from the SB system can be undertaken in quiescent primary T cells derived from PB and UCB. We and others have genetically modified K562 cells to serve as aAPC to efficiently propagate clinically-sufficient numbers of T cells for infusion24,25. The aAPC and tissue culture environment (e.g. the addition of IL-21) have been have been modified to generate patient- and donor-derived CD19-specific T cells for infusion after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (Table 1)13,18. We can produce CAR+ T cells from PB simply obtained by venipuncture which avoids the cost, discomfort, and inconvenience of obtaining MNC from PB by apheresis. The ability to derive large numbers of CAR+ T cells from small numbers of MNC is particularly appealing for infusing T cells after allogeneic UCB transplantation. The small size and anonymity of the neonatal donor precludes re-accessing this individual at a later time point and only limited numbers of harvested MNC are available as starting material for T cell manufacture to avoid interfering with hematopoiesis. Further advances to the manufacturing process are currently underway to include a high throughput electroporation device coupled with a fully closed WAVE bioreactor to minimize handling. In aggregate, the SB and aAPC are appealing platforms to generate CD19-specific CAR+ T cells that can be adapted to generate large numbers of genetically modified T cells that can recognize alternative cell-surface TAAs in compliance with cGMP.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
The authors would like to thank Dr. Carl June (University of Pennsylvania) for help generating and providing aAPC clone #4 and Dr. Perry Hackett (University of Minnesota) for help with the SB system.
Grant support: Cancer Center Core Grant (CA16672); RO1 (CA124782, CA120956, CA141303); R33 (CA116127); P01 (CA148600); SPORE (CA136411); Albert J Ward Foundation; Burroughs Wellcome Fund; Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation; Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; CLL Global Research Foundation; Department of Defense; Estate of Noelan L. Bibler; Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., Fund for Leukemia Immunotherapy; Institute of Personalized Cancer Therapy; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Lymphoma Research Foundation; MDACC’s Sister Institution Network Fund; Miller Foundation; Mr. Herb Simons; Mr. and Mrs. Joe H. Scales; Mr. Thomas Scott; National Foundation for Cancer Research; Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation; Production Assistance for Cellular Therapies (PACT); William Lawrence and Blanche Hughes Children’s Foundation.
Reagents | Vendor | Catalogue number | |||||||||||||
Reagents | |||||||||||||||
DNA plasmid expressing GFP (pmaxGFP) | Lonza | VPA-1002 (kit) | |||||||||||||
PBS | Sigma | D8537 | |||||||||||||
CliniMACS PBS-EDTA | Miltenyi Biotec | 70026 | |||||||||||||
HyQ RPMI-1640 | Thermo Scientific | SH30096.01 | |||||||||||||
Phenol Free RPMI-1640 | Thermo Scientific | SH30605.01 | |||||||||||||
Hyclone Fetal Bovine Serum | Thermo Scientific | SH3007003HI | |||||||||||||
GlutaMAX (100x) | Gibco | 3505-061 | |||||||||||||
Ficoll-Paque | GE Healthcare Biosciences | 17-1440-02 | |||||||||||||
Recombinant human IL-21 | PeproTech | AF-200-21 | |||||||||||||
Recombinant human IL-2 (Proleukin) | Novartis | NDC 65483-116-07 | |||||||||||||
Human T cell Kit (Nucleofector Solution) | Lonza | VPA-1002 | |||||||||||||
CliniMACS CD56 Reagent | Miltenyi | 70206 | |||||||||||||
FITC-conjugated to mouse mAb specific for human CD3 | BD Biosciences | 349201 | |||||||||||||
APC-conjugated to mouse mAb specific for human CD4 | BD Biosciences | 340443 | |||||||||||||
PerCPCy5.5-conjugated to mouse mAb specific for human CD8 | BD Biosciences | 341051 | |||||||||||||
PE-conjugated to F(ab’)2 fragment of goat antibody specific for human Fcγ | Invitrogen | H10104 | |||||||||||||
Sodium Azide | Sigma | S2002 | |||||||||||||
Disposables | |||||||||||||||
12-well plate | Corning | 3513 | |||||||||||||
T-75 cm2 flask | Corning | 430641 | |||||||||||||
Culture bags | Vue Life | 290C; 750C | |||||||||||||
50 ml centrifuge tube | BD Biosciences | 352098 | |||||||||||||
Equipment | |||||||||||||||
Amaxa Nuceleofector II | Lonza | AAB-1001 | |||||||||||||
Cellometer | Nexcelom Bioscience | Cellometer Vision | |||||||||||||
Sorvall Legend RT Centrifuge | Sorvall | 75004377 | |||||||||||||
BD FACS Calibur | BD Biosciences | 342975 | |||||||||||||
Controlled rate freezer | Planer | Kryo 750 | |||||||||||||
Irradiator | CIS bio International | IBL-437 C#09433 | |||||||||||||
Complete Culture Media (CCM) (stored at 4 °C for up to 30 days) Flow Cytometry Buffer (stored at 4 °C for up to 30 days) |