Human CLEC9A antibodies deliver Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) antigen to CD141+ dendritic cells to activate naïve and memory WT1-specific CD8+ T cells

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Frances E. Pearson - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Kirsteen M. Tullett - , Monash University (Author)
  • Ingrid M. Leal-Rojas - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Oscar L. Haigh - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Kelly Anne Masterman - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Carina Walpole - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • John S. Bridgeman - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • James E. McLaren - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • Kristin Ladell - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • Kelly Miners - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • Sian Llewellyn-Lacey - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • David A. Price - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • Antje Tunger - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Marc Schmitz - , University Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital), National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, German Cancer Consortium (Partner: DKTK, DKFZ), Institute for Immunology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • John J. Miles - , James Cook University Queensland (Author)
  • Mireille H. Lahoud - , Monash University (Author)
  • Kristen J. Radford - , University of Queensland (Author)

Abstract

Objectives: Vaccines that prime Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1)-specific CD8+ T cells are attractive cancer immunotherapies. However, immunogenicity and clinical response rates may be enhanced by delivering WT1 to CD141+ dendritic cells (DCs). The C-type lectin-like receptor CLEC9A is expressed exclusively by CD141+ DCs and regulates CD8+ T-cell responses. We developed a new vaccine comprising a human anti-CLEC9A antibody fused to WT1 and investigated its capacity to target human CD141+ DCs and activate naïve and memory WT1-specific CD8+ T cells. Methods: WT1 was genetically fused to antibodies specific for human CLEC9A, DEC-205 or β-galactosidase (untargeted control). Activation of WT1-specific CD8+ T-cell lines following cross-presentation by CD141+ DCs was quantified by IFNγ ELISPOT. Humanised mice reconstituted with human immune cell subsets, including a repertoire of naïve WT1-specific CD8+ T cells, were used to investigate naïve WT1-specific CD8+ T-cell priming. Results: The CLEC9A-WT1 vaccine promoted cross-presentation of WT1 epitopes to CD8+ T cells and mediated priming of naïve CD8+ T cells more effectively than the DEC-205-WT1 and untargeted control-WT1 vaccines. Conclusions: Delivery of WT1 to CD141+ DCs via CLEC9A stimulates CD8+ T cells more potently than either untargeted delivery or widespread delivery to all Ag-presenting cells via DEC-205, suggesting that cross-presentation by CD141+ DCs is sufficient for effective CD8+ T-cell priming in humans. The CLEC9A-WT1 vaccine is a promising candidate immunotherapy for malignancies that express WT1.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1141
JournalClinical and Translational Immunology
Volume9
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • cancer immunotherapy, CD141, CLEC9A, dendritic cells, vaccines, Wilms' tumor 1