靶向CD99的CAR-T细胞扩增优化研究

Optimization study of CAR-T cell expansion targeting CD99

背景与目的:嵌合抗原受体T(chimeric antigen receptor T,CAR-T)细胞疗法对血液和淋巴系统肿瘤的治疗效果显著,但对实体瘤效果较差,这与靶点选择的因素有关。针对尤因肉瘤(Ewing sarcoma,ES),CD99可作为CAR-T细胞潜在的靶点。由于T细胞自身表达CD99蛋白,靶向CD99的CAR-T细胞存在体外扩增能力有限的问题。本研究旨在通过增加CD99敲低的短发夹RNA(short hairpin RNA,shRNA)、优化慢病毒转导的感染复数(multiplicity of infection,MOI)、筛选培养CAR-T细胞的培养基及培养容器,以获得CD99 CAR-T细胞制备的最优条件。方法:筛选shRNA序列,提高CD99 CAR-T细胞的扩增能力。采用不同的MOI、培养基和培养容器,分别检测在不同条件下CAR-T细胞的转导效率、细胞存活率、增殖能力、特异性杀伤能力及干扰素-γ(interferon-γ,IFN-γ)释放水平等,筛选出最优的细胞制备条件。结果:通过shRNA敲低得到的KO-CD99 CAR-T细胞扩增水平显著高于CD99 CAR-T细胞[(16.40±0.40)vs(6.33±1.53),P<0.01]。转导MOI为0.25~1.0、培养基为OptiVitro时细胞的扩增效果最优。在透气瓶中培养的CAR-T细胞扩增倍数显著高于在培养袋中培养的细胞[MOI=0.25:(50.23±3.32)vs(13.02±4.82);MOI=0.50:(49.96±0.83)vs(18.25±2.88);MOI=1.00:(48.27±5.08)vs(13.16±6.26);P<0.01],且细胞分型更优、特异性杀伤更高。结论:通过shRNA技术得到的KO-CD99 CAR-T细胞可实现稳定扩增。从扩增条件优化结果看,MOI为0.25~1.00,培养基为OptiVitro,培养容器为透气瓶的条件下,KO-CD99 CAR-T细胞可获得更优的扩增能力、更多比例的记忆T细胞,为后续开展CD99 CAR-T细胞治疗ES的临床试验奠定了坚实基础。

Background and purpose:Chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in treating hematological and lymphatic system tumors,but its effectiveness in solid tumors is relatively poor,which is partly attributed to target selection.For Ewing sarcoma(ES),CD99 can be a potential target for CAR-T cells.However,due to T cells’endogenous expression of CD99 protein,CAR-T cells targeting CD99 face limitations in their expansion capacity in vitro.This study aimed to identify the optimal conditions for preparing CD99 CAR-T cells by incorporating CD99 knockdown short hairpin RNA(shRNA),optimizing the multiplicity of infection(MOI)for lentiviral transduction,and screening for the best culture medium and container for CAR-T cell expansion.Methods:shRNA sequences were screened to enhance the expansion capacity of CD99 CAR-T cells.Different MOI,culture media,and containers were used to assess CAR-T cell transduction efficiency,cell viability,proliferation capacity,specific killing ability,and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)release levels under various conditions,in order to identify the optimal cell preparation conditions.Results:The expansion level of KO-CD99 CAR-T cells obtained through shRNA knockdown was significantly higher than that of CD99 CAR-T cells[(16.40±0.40)vs(6.33±1.53),P<0.01].The optimal expansion effect was observed when the transduction MOI was between 0.25 and 1.0,and OptiVitro was used as the culture medium.CAR-T cells cultured in ventilated flasks exhibited significantly higher expansion rates compared to cells cultured in bags[MOI=0.25:(50.23±3.32)vs(13.02±4.82);MOI=0.50:(49.96±0.83)vs(18.25±2.88);MOI=1.00:(48.27±5.08)vs(13.16±6.26);P<0.01],with better cell phenotype and higher specific killing ability.Conclusion:KO-CD99 CAR-T cells obtained through shRNA technology can achieve stable expansion.Based on the optimization of expansion conditions,KO-CD99 CAR-T cells exhibit superior expansion capacity and a higher proportion of memory T cells when the MOI is between 0.25 and 1.00,OptiVitro is used as the culture medium,and ventilated flasks are used as the culture container.These findings lay a solid foundation for further clinical trials of CD99 CAR-T cell therapy for ES.