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CAR T Cell and Other Adoptive Cell Therapy Workflows
5 steps to adoptive T cell therapy
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as an effective approach in immuno-oncology research. In recent years, personalized cancer immunotherapy in the form of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in T cells (CAR T cells) has effectively treated some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers protein and cell analysis tools to support researchers in developing workflows for engineering T cells or other cancer fighting cells such as natural killer (NK) cells with particular antibody-based chimeric antigen receptors.
From isolation and activation to 3D cellular assays
In early clinical studies (1980s), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were isolated from patients, expanded in culture, and re-implanted with the goal to improve the patient’s immune response.[1] This autologous method was shown to be effective at improving tumor regression in patients with metastatic melanoma.[1] Since then, adoptive cell therapy has been combined with genetic engineering to bolster T cell effectiveness and mount a stronger cancer-killing response. The workflow below highlights some of the recommended tools for CAR generation, validating their molecular properties, and assaying their effectiveness in different models.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell workflow
 |  |  |  |  |
Dynabeads magnetic beads to isolate and activate T cells
|
Deliver CAR plasmid with viral vectors or CRISPR/Cas9
|
Co-culture and analyze for cell killing and cytokine secretion
|
Co-culture and analyze for infiltration, cell killing, and cytokine secretion
|
Infuse into model and monitor
|
Recommended tools for CAR cell generation
T cell isolation
The process of CAR cell engineering and therapy starts and ends with the subject. A blood sample is taken is taken from the subject and leukocytes are separated from other non-leukocyte populations, through a process called leukapheresis.[2,3] Mononuclear cells can then be purified using density gradient centrifugation and analyzed for cell viability and expression of immune effector-cell markers prior to activation and expansion for downstream cell engineering. In one study performed by Dr. Charles Prussak, donor-purified lymphocytes were analyzed on the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer to determine the relative CD4 and CD8 T cell populations (Figure 1).
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1. Flow cytometry analysis of purified peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). Isolated PBMCs were analyzed by the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer for viability and CD4 and CD8 T cell populations. In the first plot (upper left), forward and side scatter channels clearly demonstrate a mixture of lymphocytic and non-lymphocyte populations based on size and granularity. Gating was first performed on the lymphocyte-sized population and analyzed for cell death based on the presence of positively stained cells (top right). Further analysis for CD3 (bottom left), CD4, and CD8 expressing cells (bottom right) revealed an expected 2:1 ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells.
Immune cell activation
Immune cells within isolated lymphocyte populations require activation and expansion prior to genetic modifications. For this purpose, it is critical to mimic antigen presentation during immune cell culture. For T cell activation, magnetic beads bound to CD3 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies, combined with activating cytokines, such as IL2, IL7 or IL15, are an effective way to mimic B cell antigen presentation and to achieve activation. This can be performed with Dynabeads CD3/CD28 in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Following incubation, as seen in Figure 2, the population then can be analyzed for proliferation and activation markers such as HLA DR, CD22, or CD69. This is an important step prior to transduction and genetic modification of cells, as over activation can cause activation-induced death. Additional analysis can be performed for cell size, viability, and proliferation, as shown in Figure 3, with flow cytometry or microscopy analysis. Indicators of health and cell function during expansion are important factors to evaluate for many downstream immunological research application areas.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 2. Flow cytometry analysis of activated T cells prior to transduction. Incubation and activation were performed over a 72 hr time course using magnetic CD3/CD28 activation beads. Following activation, analysis was performed on CD4- and CD8-positive T cells using Attune NxT Flow Cytometer. There is increased expression of lymphocyte populations based on activation associated antigen HLA DR compared to the 72 hr population (bottom row) with the initial time point of 0 hours (top row).
Click image to enlarge
Figure 3. Quantification of T cell viability and concentration after activation. Isolated human T cells were activated using Dynabeads CD3/CD28 Untouched Human T Cell Kit in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Cells were stained with Invitrogen Trypan Blue Stain (0.4%) prior to analysis on the Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter. Beads within the sample can be gated out based on size so that only the T cell population is part of the downstream analysis. As expected, activated T cell populations appeared greater in size than non-activated T cells.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| T cell product selection guide | Find culturing and activation products for cell therapy |
| Automated cell counters | For cell counting, viability and size determination |
| T cell expansion in clinical research | Isolate, activate and expand T cells |
Additional resources for T cell isolation and activation
Cancer research webinar
Presented by:
Charles Prussak, Pharm D, PhD, UCSD Moores Cancer Center
Title:
The Complex Pharmacology of T-Cell CARs
Broadcast dates:
Dec 12 & 13, 2017
CAR T cell genetic modification approaches
Classical retroviral or lentiviral transduction is typically used for CAR cell generation,[4,5] although there is an increased interest in pursuing the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing procedures for adoptive cell transfer immunotherapies. New tumor-specific targets of interest identified through biomarker discovery efforts are under investigation by the research and translational community. For instance, Dr. Prussak’s lab is interested in ROR1, a protein normally found in the second trimester of fetal nervous system development is now being identified in some hematological or solid tumor cancers, making it an ideal target for immune therapy. To target this protein, viral particles containing the ROR1 antigen in the context of a CAR construct, were transduced into the activated T cells from Figure 3. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine viral infection efficiency by analyzing CD4- and CD8-positive T cells for ROR1 expression at the cell surface (Figure 4).
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Figure 4. Lentiviral transduction of viral particles carrying ROR1 CAR. Donor PBMCs were isolated and activated prior to transduction. ROR1 CAR–containing viral particles were used to transduce cells at multiplicities of infection (MOI) of 1 and 3. CD4- and CD8-positive cells were labeled with anti-ROR1 antibody recognizing the single chain variable fragment (scFv), and analyzed for positive fluorescence on the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| CRISPR/Cas9 | Gene editing |
| Lentiviral production systems | Cell engineering |
| Cell viability dyes | Cell death assays for flow cytometry |
| CellTrace dyes | Cell proliferation for flow cytometry |
CAR T cell genetic assessment
Process quality control and evaluation during CAR development is necessary in both basic and translational settings to ensure efficacy of the engineered effector cell. Phenotypic assessment using antibody labeling and function-based approaches is needed, but genetic diversity and the clonal distribution of the T cell are variables that can lead to reduced efficacy and must also be evaluated. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis with the Oncomine TCR Beta-LR Assay can be used at all stages of the CAR workflow to assess evenness, a measurement of a population’s T cell receptor (TCR) distribution within the T cell repertoire.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Oncomine TCR Beta-LR Assay | Measure the TCRβ repertoire |
| Ion GeneStudio S5 systems | Next-generation sequencing (NGS) |
Additional resources for CAR T cell genetic engineering
CAR T cell killing assays
Researchers can study CAR T–mediated cell killing in cell co-culturing assays, with both 2D and 3D models. Sourcing the appropriate cells that mimic the disease models of interest can aid in the study of the effectiveness and specificity of a generated CAR model. The ROR1 CAR T cell line from Figure 4 was used in a mixed cell culture to validate its ability to kill a ROR1-positive B cell lymphocyte cell line called Jeko. To do so, ROR1 CAR T cells were incubated with Jeko cells labeled for identification and for tracking proliferation and were analyzed at 1 and 43 hours (Figure 5). At the 43-hour time point, gating on cells positive for CellTrace Yellow dye shows a significant reduction of Jeko cells compared to control (43% to 5.5%), indicating T cell–mediated killing of the Jeko cell line. However, it cannot be determined from this data whether or not the killing was achieved specifically through ROR1 binding to its target.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 5. CAR T cell killing of Jeko cells. Engineered ROR1 CAR T cells were incubated at a 1:1 ratio with Jeko B cell lymphoma cancer cell line. Jeko cells were stained with CellTrace Yellow dye prior to incubation and analyzed for expression at different time points. Analysis at 1 hour post incubation shows 45% of cells detected in the yellow channel on Attune NxT Flow Cytometer. After 43 hours, the analysis was performed again and only 5.5% of cells exhibited yellow fluorescence. Loss of fluorescence here indicates that the ROR1 CAR T cell killed Jeko cells.
Assessing engineered CAR T cell targeting
In a subsequent experiment using a similar co-culturing assay, two separate dyes were used to label Mec 1 cells that were engineered to express ROR1 as well as a population that remained un-altered. ROR1 CAR T cells were co-cultured at a ratio of 3:1:1 with ROR1-positive Mec cells and ROR1-negative Mec1 cells, respectively. As seen by flow cytometry analysis, ROR1 CAR T cells can differentially kill the target-expressing cells (Figure 6). When comparing all co-culturing experiments (Figure 5 and 6) it can be determined that this process is both dose and time dependent (Figure 7). It is important to note that if the ratio of CAR T cell to ROR1-negative Mec cells is increased to 10:1, a large percentage of Mec cells killed as an off-target effect is observed. Conversely with some non-CAR T cells there is also killing of the cells in co-culturing experiments, further demonstrating the subtilties of T cell killing and off-target effects. Off-target killing remains a problem for both autologous and allogeneic, donor-derived, CAR T cells and is a critical hurdle on the path to approval and effective administration of CAR-T cell products.[6] Ultimately, these are valuable assays to demonstrate T cell killing specificity and efficacy prior to moving into more biologically complex models.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Figure 6. Co-culturing of ROR1 CAR T cells with Mec 1 leukemic cell line to show target specificity. ROR1 CAR T cell line were co-cultured at a ratio of 3:1:1 with ROR1 positive Mec1 cells and ROR1 negative Mec1 cells labeled with either Invitrogen CellTrace Red or Invitrogen CellTrace Yellow, respectively. Flow cytometry plots (top row) demonstrate gating to separate out live single cells. Initial gating was performed using forward and side scatter channels to separate background noise from cells. A viability dye was used to separate dead cells from the population, followed by single-cell gating. Finally, red and yellow channels were used to analyze the population for the relative amounts of Mec 1 positive and negative cells (bottom row). Analysis was compared at 1-hour (top group) and 20-hour (bottom group) post incubation on the Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 7. Quantification of co-culturing experiments from Figures 5 and 6. Each co-culturing scenario was quantitated and compared in a dose- and time-dependent manner to determine the effect of ROR1 CAR T cells. When the data is normalized there is an increased reduction of JeKo cells in the presence of ROR1-CAR T cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Similarly, there is large reduction of ROR1-positive Mec1 cells labeled with CellTrace Red, when compared to ROR1 negative Mec1 cells. This indicates ROR1-targeted CAR T cells are able to target and specifically kill ROR1-expressing Mec 1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Cell viability dyes | Cell death assays for flow cytometry |
| CellTrace dyes | Cell proliferation for flow cytometry |
| Antibodies | Primary antibodies recognize specific cellular markers and can serve as useful tools to characterize cell lines. |
Additional resources for functional assays for CAR T cells
Assays for T cell killing using 3D models
3D models in the context of cancer (e.g., tumor spheroids or tumoroids) have demonstrated more biological relevancy than traditional 2D cell cultures, as they provide a context that more closely resembles the tumor microenvironment. 3D tumor models are being used more frequently in combination with adoptive cell therapy approaches. Researchers are better able to understand effector cell attributes like invasion, potency, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the context of 3D tumor models. For instance, Figure 8 represents T cell killing through apoptosis of lung cancer spheroids. In this experiment, T cells are labeled with a far-red–fluorescent cell tracer, and spheroids are labeled with an apoptosis indicator. As the T cell dose increases, an increasing number of A549 cells in a lung cancer spheroid undergo apoptosis, which was quantified using the mean signal intensities of cells within the spheroid.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 8. T cell–dependent killing of lung cancer spheroids. T cells were isolated from human peripheral blood and expanded for 5 days with Gibco Dynabeads Human T-Activator CD3/CD28 in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Cells were analyzed with the Invitrogen Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter to determine cell viability and concentration, and cell concentration was adjusted to 1 x 106 cells/mL in Gibco PBS, pH 7.2. T cells were then labeled with 2 μM Invitrogen CellTracker Deep Red Dye (purple) for 15 min and washed with CTS OpTmizer medium. For spheroid formation, A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial) cells were plated in a Thermo Scientific Nunclon Sphera 96-well microplate at a density of 7,500 cells/well, incubated overnight in a cell culture incubator with 5% CO2 at 37°C, and analyzed on the Invitrogen EVOS XL Core Imaging System to confirm spheroid formation. Invitrogen CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green Detection Reagent (2 μM final concentration) (green) and the indicated number of labeled T cells were added to each well, and the mixture was incubated for 4 hr at 37°C. (A) Two examples of the response of a lung cancer spheroid to 4 different T cell concentrations are shown, each imaged on the Thermo Scientific CellInsight CX7 LZR HCA Platform using confocal mode with 10 μm Z slicing. (B) Apoptosis in A549 spheroids and the T cell dose response were quantified using the CellInsight CX7 LZR platform and Thermo Scientific HCS Studio Cell Analysis Software. The spheroids were segmented as single objects based on the brightfield image using HCS Studio software, and cells were counted within the object. Mean signal intensities of cells within the spheroid were used to quantify immune cell cytotoxicity.
If available, these models can provide a relevant context for subject-specific responses and can contribute to advances in the field of personalized cancer immunotherapy. CAR T cells engineered with a subject-specific tumor antigen receptor molecule and then co-cultured with cancer spheroids can provide a context for assessment of tumor invasion and killing by the T cell. As proof of concept, Figure 9 demonstrates that by increasing the ratio of CAR T cells to tumor spheroids there is a clear destruction and lysing of the cultured spheroid. This experiment combines a broad range of products that enables an elegant demonstration of visualizing cell-to-cell interactions between engineered immune cells and tumor spheroids.
Figure 9. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell invasion into cancer spheroids. HCC827 spheroids were formed using spheroid microplates for 48 hr. Then, 24 hr after the addition of EGFR scFv-CD28-CD3ε CAR T cells (ProMab Biotechnologies), spheroids were immunostained for cytokeratin-7 (green) and CD3ε (red), and counterstained with Hoechst dye (blue). As the effector-to-target ratio is increased from 10:1 (middle panel) to 40:1 (right panel), invasion of the CAR T cells into the HCC827 tumor spheroid and subsequent tumor cell lysis are visible. Images were obtained on the Thermo Scientific CellInsight CX7 High-Content Analysis Platform in confocal mode with a 10x objective, and used with permission from Corning Inc.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Nunclon Sphera 3D culture systems | Spheroid growth plates |
| Cell tracing, tracking, and morphology dyes | T cell labeling for imaging |
| Imaging cell proliferation dyes | Cell proliferation dyes for high content analysis |
| EVOS imaging systems | EVOS imaging systems allow you to image and analyze 3D cell models. |
| High-content screening instruments | Identify the fluorescence properties of single 3D clusters within a culture of clusters in multiwell plate formats. |
Additional resources for 3D cell models
Evaluating model systems for testing the efficacy of adoptive cell therapy approaches
There have been tremendous advances in mouse models and their use in determining efficacy of adoptive cell therapy products.[6–8] A variety of mouse models, including syngeneic, transgenic, xenograft, and humanized are often used to evaluate the effectiveness and potential risk of CARs. The latest humanized mouse models are better at mimicking the response from a human’s immune system.[6–8] Of course this is still not the perfect model for determining the true effectiveness in a downstream clinical setting, but closer, nevertheless. Analysis of soluble protein factors is important for understanding the mechanisms of killing and to monitor the cytokine profile that is present at multiple stages of the workflow, including downstream in vivo scenarios. The onslaught of cytokines released during CAR implantation, known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), is responsible for off-target effects and can lead to organ failures and neurological disorders.[6–8] Therefore during CAR treatment in these models it is necessary to evaluate the presence of other cell types and their exhibited phenotypes, the cytokine profiles produced, tumor size reduction, and survival rates. By combining various approaches for protein detection these assessments can be made in the model of choice.
Learn more about the tumor microenvironment and biomarker discovery process
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Antibodies | Primary antibodies recognize specific cellular markers and can serve as useful tools to characterize cell lines. |
| Immunoassays | From single analyte identification to multiplexed formats Invitrogen immunoassays offers a suite of options for biomarker identification, quantification and analysis. |
| Pro-Detect Rapid Assay Kit | Fast and efficient evaluation of protein expression. |
Additional resources for protein detection assays
T cell isolation
The process of CAR cell engineering and therapy starts and ends with the subject. A blood sample is taken is taken from the subject and leukocytes are separated from other non-leukocyte populations, through a process called leukapheresis.[2,3] Mononuclear cells can then be purified using density gradient centrifugation and analyzed for cell viability and expression of immune effector-cell markers prior to activation and expansion for downstream cell engineering. In one study performed by Dr. Charles Prussak, donor-purified lymphocytes were analyzed on the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer to determine the relative CD4 and CD8 T cell populations (Figure 1).
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1. Flow cytometry analysis of purified peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). Isolated PBMCs were analyzed by the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer for viability and CD4 and CD8 T cell populations. In the first plot (upper left), forward and side scatter channels clearly demonstrate a mixture of lymphocytic and non-lymphocyte populations based on size and granularity. Gating was first performed on the lymphocyte-sized population and analyzed for cell death based on the presence of positively stained cells (top right). Further analysis for CD3 (bottom left), CD4, and CD8 expressing cells (bottom right) revealed an expected 2:1 ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells.
Immune cell activation
Immune cells within isolated lymphocyte populations require activation and expansion prior to genetic modifications. For this purpose, it is critical to mimic antigen presentation during immune cell culture. For T cell activation, magnetic beads bound to CD3 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies, combined with activating cytokines, such as IL2, IL7 or IL15, are an effective way to mimic B cell antigen presentation and to achieve activation. This can be performed with Dynabeads CD3/CD28 in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Following incubation, as seen in Figure 2, the population then can be analyzed for proliferation and activation markers such as HLA DR, CD22, or CD69. This is an important step prior to transduction and genetic modification of cells, as over activation can cause activation-induced death. Additional analysis can be performed for cell size, viability, and proliferation, as shown in Figure 3, with flow cytometry or microscopy analysis. Indicators of health and cell function during expansion are important factors to evaluate for many downstream immunological research application areas.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 2. Flow cytometry analysis of activated T cells prior to transduction. Incubation and activation were performed over a 72 hr time course using magnetic CD3/CD28 activation beads. Following activation, analysis was performed on CD4- and CD8-positive T cells using Attune NxT Flow Cytometer. There is increased expression of lymphocyte populations based on activation associated antigen HLA DR compared to the 72 hr population (bottom row) with the initial time point of 0 hours (top row).
Click image to enlarge
Figure 3. Quantification of T cell viability and concentration after activation. Isolated human T cells were activated using Dynabeads CD3/CD28 Untouched Human T Cell Kit in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Cells were stained with Invitrogen Trypan Blue Stain (0.4%) prior to analysis on the Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter. Beads within the sample can be gated out based on size so that only the T cell population is part of the downstream analysis. As expected, activated T cell populations appeared greater in size than non-activated T cells.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| T cell product selection guide | Find culturing and activation products for cell therapy |
| Automated cell counters | For cell counting, viability and size determination |
| T cell expansion in clinical research | Isolate, activate and expand T cells |
Additional resources for T cell isolation and activation
Cancer research webinar
Presented by:
Charles Prussak, Pharm D, PhD, UCSD Moores Cancer Center
Title:
The Complex Pharmacology of T-Cell CARs
Broadcast dates:
Dec 12 & 13, 2017
CAR T cell genetic modification approaches
Classical retroviral or lentiviral transduction is typically used for CAR cell generation,[4,5] although there is an increased interest in pursuing the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing procedures for adoptive cell transfer immunotherapies. New tumor-specific targets of interest identified through biomarker discovery efforts are under investigation by the research and translational community. For instance, Dr. Prussak’s lab is interested in ROR1, a protein normally found in the second trimester of fetal nervous system development is now being identified in some hematological or solid tumor cancers, making it an ideal target for immune therapy. To target this protein, viral particles containing the ROR1 antigen in the context of a CAR construct, were transduced into the activated T cells from Figure 3. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine viral infection efficiency by analyzing CD4- and CD8-positive T cells for ROR1 expression at the cell surface (Figure 4).
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Figure 4. Lentiviral transduction of viral particles carrying ROR1 CAR. Donor PBMCs were isolated and activated prior to transduction. ROR1 CAR–containing viral particles were used to transduce cells at multiplicities of infection (MOI) of 1 and 3. CD4- and CD8-positive cells were labeled with anti-ROR1 antibody recognizing the single chain variable fragment (scFv), and analyzed for positive fluorescence on the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| CRISPR/Cas9 | Gene editing |
| Lentiviral production systems | Cell engineering |
| Cell viability dyes | Cell death assays for flow cytometry |
| CellTrace dyes | Cell proliferation for flow cytometry |
CAR T cell genetic assessment
Process quality control and evaluation during CAR development is necessary in both basic and translational settings to ensure efficacy of the engineered effector cell. Phenotypic assessment using antibody labeling and function-based approaches is needed, but genetic diversity and the clonal distribution of the T cell are variables that can lead to reduced efficacy and must also be evaluated. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis with the Oncomine TCR Beta-LR Assay can be used at all stages of the CAR workflow to assess evenness, a measurement of a population’s T cell receptor (TCR) distribution within the T cell repertoire.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Oncomine TCR Beta-LR Assay | Measure the TCRβ repertoire |
| Ion GeneStudio S5 systems | Next-generation sequencing (NGS) |
Additional resources for CAR T cell genetic engineering
CAR T cell killing assays
Researchers can study CAR T–mediated cell killing in cell co-culturing assays, with both 2D and 3D models. Sourcing the appropriate cells that mimic the disease models of interest can aid in the study of the effectiveness and specificity of a generated CAR model. The ROR1 CAR T cell line from Figure 4 was used in a mixed cell culture to validate its ability to kill a ROR1-positive B cell lymphocyte cell line called Jeko. To do so, ROR1 CAR T cells were incubated with Jeko cells labeled for identification and for tracking proliferation and were analyzed at 1 and 43 hours (Figure 5). At the 43-hour time point, gating on cells positive for CellTrace Yellow dye shows a significant reduction of Jeko cells compared to control (43% to 5.5%), indicating T cell–mediated killing of the Jeko cell line. However, it cannot be determined from this data whether or not the killing was achieved specifically through ROR1 binding to its target.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 5. CAR T cell killing of Jeko cells. Engineered ROR1 CAR T cells were incubated at a 1:1 ratio with Jeko B cell lymphoma cancer cell line. Jeko cells were stained with CellTrace Yellow dye prior to incubation and analyzed for expression at different time points. Analysis at 1 hour post incubation shows 45% of cells detected in the yellow channel on Attune NxT Flow Cytometer. After 43 hours, the analysis was performed again and only 5.5% of cells exhibited yellow fluorescence. Loss of fluorescence here indicates that the ROR1 CAR T cell killed Jeko cells.
Assessing engineered CAR T cell targeting
In a subsequent experiment using a similar co-culturing assay, two separate dyes were used to label Mec 1 cells that were engineered to express ROR1 as well as a population that remained un-altered. ROR1 CAR T cells were co-cultured at a ratio of 3:1:1 with ROR1-positive Mec cells and ROR1-negative Mec1 cells, respectively. As seen by flow cytometry analysis, ROR1 CAR T cells can differentially kill the target-expressing cells (Figure 6). When comparing all co-culturing experiments (Figure 5 and 6) it can be determined that this process is both dose and time dependent (Figure 7). It is important to note that if the ratio of CAR T cell to ROR1-negative Mec cells is increased to 10:1, a large percentage of Mec cells killed as an off-target effect is observed. Conversely with some non-CAR T cells there is also killing of the cells in co-culturing experiments, further demonstrating the subtilties of T cell killing and off-target effects. Off-target killing remains a problem for both autologous and allogeneic, donor-derived, CAR T cells and is a critical hurdle on the path to approval and effective administration of CAR-T cell products.[6] Ultimately, these are valuable assays to demonstrate T cell killing specificity and efficacy prior to moving into more biologically complex models.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Figure 6. Co-culturing of ROR1 CAR T cells with Mec 1 leukemic cell line to show target specificity. ROR1 CAR T cell line were co-cultured at a ratio of 3:1:1 with ROR1 positive Mec1 cells and ROR1 negative Mec1 cells labeled with either Invitrogen CellTrace Red or Invitrogen CellTrace Yellow, respectively. Flow cytometry plots (top row) demonstrate gating to separate out live single cells. Initial gating was performed using forward and side scatter channels to separate background noise from cells. A viability dye was used to separate dead cells from the population, followed by single-cell gating. Finally, red and yellow channels were used to analyze the population for the relative amounts of Mec 1 positive and negative cells (bottom row). Analysis was compared at 1-hour (top group) and 20-hour (bottom group) post incubation on the Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 7. Quantification of co-culturing experiments from Figures 5 and 6. Each co-culturing scenario was quantitated and compared in a dose- and time-dependent manner to determine the effect of ROR1 CAR T cells. When the data is normalized there is an increased reduction of JeKo cells in the presence of ROR1-CAR T cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Similarly, there is large reduction of ROR1-positive Mec1 cells labeled with CellTrace Red, when compared to ROR1 negative Mec1 cells. This indicates ROR1-targeted CAR T cells are able to target and specifically kill ROR1-expressing Mec 1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Cell viability dyes | Cell death assays for flow cytometry |
| CellTrace dyes | Cell proliferation for flow cytometry |
| Antibodies | Primary antibodies recognize specific cellular markers and can serve as useful tools to characterize cell lines. |
Additional resources for functional assays for CAR T cells
Assays for T cell killing using 3D models
3D models in the context of cancer (e.g., tumor spheroids or tumoroids) have demonstrated more biological relevancy than traditional 2D cell cultures, as they provide a context that more closely resembles the tumor microenvironment. 3D tumor models are being used more frequently in combination with adoptive cell therapy approaches. Researchers are better able to understand effector cell attributes like invasion, potency, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the context of 3D tumor models. For instance, Figure 8 represents T cell killing through apoptosis of lung cancer spheroids. In this experiment, T cells are labeled with a far-red–fluorescent cell tracer, and spheroids are labeled with an apoptosis indicator. As the T cell dose increases, an increasing number of A549 cells in a lung cancer spheroid undergo apoptosis, which was quantified using the mean signal intensities of cells within the spheroid.
Click image to enlarge
Figure 8. T cell–dependent killing of lung cancer spheroids. T cells were isolated from human peripheral blood and expanded for 5 days with Gibco Dynabeads Human T-Activator CD3/CD28 in Gibco CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM. Cells were analyzed with the Invitrogen Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter to determine cell viability and concentration, and cell concentration was adjusted to 1 x 106 cells/mL in Gibco PBS, pH 7.2. T cells were then labeled with 2 μM Invitrogen CellTracker Deep Red Dye (purple) for 15 min and washed with CTS OpTmizer medium. For spheroid formation, A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial) cells were plated in a Thermo Scientific Nunclon Sphera 96-well microplate at a density of 7,500 cells/well, incubated overnight in a cell culture incubator with 5% CO2 at 37°C, and analyzed on the Invitrogen EVOS XL Core Imaging System to confirm spheroid formation. Invitrogen CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green Detection Reagent (2 μM final concentration) (green) and the indicated number of labeled T cells were added to each well, and the mixture was incubated for 4 hr at 37°C. (A) Two examples of the response of a lung cancer spheroid to 4 different T cell concentrations are shown, each imaged on the Thermo Scientific CellInsight CX7 LZR HCA Platform using confocal mode with 10 μm Z slicing. (B) Apoptosis in A549 spheroids and the T cell dose response were quantified using the CellInsight CX7 LZR platform and Thermo Scientific HCS Studio Cell Analysis Software. The spheroids were segmented as single objects based on the brightfield image using HCS Studio software, and cells were counted within the object. Mean signal intensities of cells within the spheroid were used to quantify immune cell cytotoxicity.
If available, these models can provide a relevant context for subject-specific responses and can contribute to advances in the field of personalized cancer immunotherapy. CAR T cells engineered with a subject-specific tumor antigen receptor molecule and then co-cultured with cancer spheroids can provide a context for assessment of tumor invasion and killing by the T cell. As proof of concept, Figure 9 demonstrates that by increasing the ratio of CAR T cells to tumor spheroids there is a clear destruction and lysing of the cultured spheroid. This experiment combines a broad range of products that enables an elegant demonstration of visualizing cell-to-cell interactions between engineered immune cells and tumor spheroids.
Figure 9. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell invasion into cancer spheroids. HCC827 spheroids were formed using spheroid microplates for 48 hr. Then, 24 hr after the addition of EGFR scFv-CD28-CD3ε CAR T cells (ProMab Biotechnologies), spheroids were immunostained for cytokeratin-7 (green) and CD3ε (red), and counterstained with Hoechst dye (blue). As the effector-to-target ratio is increased from 10:1 (middle panel) to 40:1 (right panel), invasion of the CAR T cells into the HCC827 tumor spheroid and subsequent tumor cell lysis are visible. Images were obtained on the Thermo Scientific CellInsight CX7 High-Content Analysis Platform in confocal mode with a 10x objective, and used with permission from Corning Inc.
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Nunclon Sphera 3D culture systems | Spheroid growth plates |
| Cell tracing, tracking, and morphology dyes | T cell labeling for imaging |
| Imaging cell proliferation dyes | Cell proliferation dyes for high content analysis |
| EVOS imaging systems | EVOS imaging systems allow you to image and analyze 3D cell models. |
| High-content screening instruments | Identify the fluorescence properties of single 3D clusters within a culture of clusters in multiwell plate formats. |
Additional resources for 3D cell models
Evaluating model systems for testing the efficacy of adoptive cell therapy approaches
There have been tremendous advances in mouse models and their use in determining efficacy of adoptive cell therapy products.[6–8] A variety of mouse models, including syngeneic, transgenic, xenograft, and humanized are often used to evaluate the effectiveness and potential risk of CARs. The latest humanized mouse models are better at mimicking the response from a human’s immune system.[6–8] Of course this is still not the perfect model for determining the true effectiveness in a downstream clinical setting, but closer, nevertheless. Analysis of soluble protein factors is important for understanding the mechanisms of killing and to monitor the cytokine profile that is present at multiple stages of the workflow, including downstream in vivo scenarios. The onslaught of cytokines released during CAR implantation, known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), is responsible for off-target effects and can lead to organ failures and neurological disorders.[6–8] Therefore during CAR treatment in these models it is necessary to evaluate the presence of other cell types and their exhibited phenotypes, the cytokine profiles produced, tumor size reduction, and survival rates. By combining various approaches for protein detection these assessments can be made in the model of choice.
Learn more about the tumor microenvironment and biomarker discovery process
| Related product areas | Application |
|---|---|
| Antibodies | Primary antibodies recognize specific cellular markers and can serve as useful tools to characterize cell lines. |
| Immunoassays | From single analyte identification to multiplexed formats Invitrogen immunoassays offers a suite of options for biomarker identification, quantification and analysis. |
| Pro-Detect Rapid Assay Kit | Fast and efficient evaluation of protein expression. |
Additional resources for protein detection assays
Citations
- Rosenberg S, et al. (1998) Use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2 in the immunotherapy of patients with metastatic melanoma. Preliminary report, N Engl J Med 319:1676–1680.
- Rosenberg S, et al. (2008) Adoptive cell transfer: a clinical path to effective cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer 8:299–308.
- Zhang C, et al. (2017) Engineering CAR-T cells. Biomark Res 5:22.
- Brocker T, et al. (2000) Chimeric Fv-zeta or Fv-epsilon receptors are not sufficient to induce activation or cytokine production in peripheral T cells. Blood 96:1999–2001.
- Salmikangas P, et al. (2018) Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) for cancer immunotherapy – moving target for industry? Pharm Res 35:152.
- Wang P, et al. (2018) Preclinical models in chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T-cell therapy. Review Article, Human Gene Therapy 29:534–546.
- Yu X, et al. (2018) Modelling CART therapy in humanized mice. Commentary. EBioMedicine 40:25–26.
- Jin C H, et al. (2019) Modeling anti-CD19 T cell therapy in humanized mice with human immunity autologous leukemia. EBioMedicine 39:173–181.
Protein and cell analysis products for immuno-oncology research
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