Journal Article

Transfection of chimeric anti-CD138 gene enhances natural killer cell activation and killing of multiple myeloma cells

Yi, Qing, Zhang, Hui, Zhang, Xueguang, Fu, Weijun, Sun, Wanping, Jiang, Hua, Zeng, Tianmei, Huang, Hejing, Ye, Fei, Man-Yuen Sze, Daniel, Zhang, Wenhao, Hou, Jian, Shang, Peipei

2014

Overview

Reprogramming of NK cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) proved an effective strategy to increase NK cell reactivity and recognition specificity toward tumor cells. To enhance the cytotoxicity of NK cells against CD138-positive multiple myeloma (MM) cells, we generated genetically modified NK-92MI cells carrying a CAR that consists of an anti-CD138 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to the CD3ζ chain as a signaling moiety. The genetic modification through a lentiviral vector did not affect the intrinsic cytolytic activity of NK-92MI toward human erythroleukemic cell line K562 cells or CD138-negative targets. However, these retargeted NK-92MI (NK-92MI-scFv) displayed markedly enhanced cytotoxicity against CD138-positive human MM cell lines (RPMI8226, U266 and NCI-H929) and primary MM cells at various effector-to-target ratios (E:T) as compared to the empty vector-transfected NK-92MI (NK-92MI-mock). In line with the enhanced cytotoxicity of NK-92MI-scFv, significant elevations in the secretion of granzyme B, interferon-γ and proportion of CD107a expression were also found in NK-92MI-scFv in response to CD138-positive targets compared with NK-92MI-mock. Most importantly, the enhancement in the cytotoxicity of NK-92MI-scFv did not attenuate with 10Gy-irradiation that sufficiently blocked cell proliferation. Moreover, the irradiated NK-92MI-scFv exerted definitely intensified anti-tumor activity toward CD138-positive MM cells than NK-92MI-mock in the xenograft NOD-SCID mouse model. This study provides the rationale and feasibility for adoptive immunotherapy with CD138-specific CAR-modified NK cells in CD138-positive plasmacytic malignancies, which potentially further improves remission quality and prolongs the remission duration of patients with MM after upfront chemotherapy. •We generated genetically modified NK cells targeting CD138 positive myeloma cells.•The retargeted NK cells exerted markedly enhanced ex vivo anti-myeloma activities.•The enhancement in cytotoxicity may be due to elevated NK cell degranulation.•Irradiation of retargeted NK cells did not attenuate their cytotoxicity.•The retargeted NK cells after irradiation had potent anti-MM effect in xenografts.

• Publisher: Elsevier B.V,John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: Adoptive immunotherapy / Adult / Animals / Antibodies, Neoplasm - genetics / Antibodies, Neoplasm - immunology / Antigens / Bone marrow / CD138 (syndecan-1) / Cell activation / Cell division / Cell Line, Tumor / Cell proliferation / Chemotherapy / Chimeric antigen receptor / Chimeric antigen receptors / Clinical trials / Cytolytic activity / Cytotoxicity / Effector cells / Female / Females / Granzyme B / Humans / Immunoglobulins / Immunotherapy / Interferon / Killer Cells, Natural - immunology / Killer Cells, Natural - pathology / Leukemia / Lymphocyte Activation - genetics / Lymphocyte Activation - immunology / Male / Mice / Mice, Inbred NOD / Mice, SCID / Middle Aged / Multiple myeloma / Multiple Myeloma - genetics / Multiple Myeloma - immunology / Multiple Myeloma - pathology / Multiple Myeloma - therapy / Natural killer cells / Neoplasm Proteins - genetics / Neoplasm Proteins - immunology / NK cells / Plasma / Radiation / Remission / Single-Chain Antibodies - genetics / Single-Chain Antibodies - immunology / Syndecan-1 - genetics / Syndecan-1 - immunology / Transfection / Tumor cells / Xenografts