This study was supported by JDRF grants 1-INO-2015-74-S-B, 2-SRA-2016-238-S-B, and SRA-2-S-2018-648-S-B, a Diabetes Education and Action Award, and the Caroline Wiess Law Fund for Research in Molecular Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Cell-sorting was supported by the Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core at Baylor College of Medicine with funding from the NIH (S10RR024574 and P30CA125123). All the peptide-MHC tetramers were obtained from the NIH Tetramer Core Facility.

<ol>
	<li>Atkinson, M. A., Eisenbarth, G. S., Michels, A. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Type+1+Diabetes.">Type 1 Diabetes.</a> Lancet. 383, 69-82 (2014).</li><li>Bankovich, A. J., Girvin, A. T., Moesta, A. K., Garcia, K. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peptide+register+shifting+within+the+MHC+groove:+theory+becomes+reality.">Peptide register shifting within the MHC groove: theory becomes reality.</a> Molecular Immunology. 40 (14-15), 1033-1039 (2004).</li><li>Nakayama, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prime+role+for+an+insulin+epitope+in+the+development+of+type+1+diabetes+in+NOD+mice.">Prime role for an insulin epitope in the development of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.</a> Nature. 435, 220-223 (2005).</li><li>Crawford, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Specificity+and+detection+of+insulin-reactive+CD4++T+cells+in+type+1+diabetes+in+the+nonobese+diabetic+(NOD)+mouse.">Specificity and detection of insulin-reactive CD4+ T cells in type 1 diabetes in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. , 16729-16734 (2011).</li><li>Stadinski, B. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diabetogenic+T+cells+recognize+insulin+bound+to+IAg7+in+an+unexpected,+weak+binding+register.">Diabetogenic T cells recognize insulin bound to IAg7 in an unexpected, weak binding register.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. , 10978-10983 (2010).</li><li>Zhang, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Monoclonal+antibody+blocking+the+recognition+of+an+insulin+peptide-MHC+complex+modulates+type+1+diabetes.">Monoclonal antibody blocking the recognition of an insulin peptide-MHC complex modulates type 1 diabetes.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111, 2656-2661 (2014).</li><li>Zhang, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chimeric+antigen+receptor+(CAR)+T+cells+targeting+a+pathogenic+MHC+class+II:peptide+complex+modulate+the+progression+of+autoimmune+diabetes.">Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting a pathogenic MHC class II:peptide complex modulate the progression of autoimmune diabetes.</a> Journal of Autoimmunity. 96, 50-58 (2019).</li><li>Purbhoo, M. A., Irvine, D. J., Huppa, J. B., Davis, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=T+cell+killing+does+not+require+the+formation+of+a+stable+mature+immunological+synapse.">T cell killing does not require the formation of a stable mature immunological synapse.</a> Nature Immunology. 5, 524-530 (2004).</li><li>Huppa, J. B., Davis, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=T-cell-antigen+recognition+and+the+immunological+synapse.+Nature+Reviews.">T-cell-antigen recognition and the immunological synapse. Nature Reviews.</a> Immunology. 3, 973-983 (2003).</li><li>Irvine, D. J., Purbhoo, M. A., Krogsgaard, M., Davis, M. 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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adoptive+transfer+of+syngeneic+T+cells+transduced+with+a+chimeric+antigen+receptor+that+recognizes+murine+CD19+can+eradicate+lymphoma+and+normal+B+cells.">Adoptive transfer of syngeneic T cells transduced with a chimeric antigen receptor that recognizes murine CD19 can eradicate lymphoma and normal B cells.</a> Blood. 116, 3875-3886 (2010).</li><li>Kochenderfer, J. N., Rosenberg, S. 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L., McMichael, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Lymphocytes: a practical approach. , (2000).</li><li>Pear, W. S., Nolan, G. P., Scott, M. L., Baltimore, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+high-titer+helper-free+retroviruses+by+transient+transfection.">Production of high-titer helper-free retroviruses by transient transfection.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 90 (18), 8392-8396 (1993).</li><li>Sena-Esteves, M., Saeki, Y., Camp, S. M., Chiocca, E. A., Breakefield, X. 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J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=T-cell+activation+by+transitory+neo-antigens+derived+from+distinct+microbial+pathways.">T-cell activation by transitory neo-antigens derived from distinct microbial pathways.</a> Nature. 509 (7500), 361-365 (2014).</li><li>Griffith, I. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+mutation+affecting+intracellular+transport+and+cell+surface+expression+of+murine+class+II+molecules.">Structural mutation affecting intracellular transport and cell surface expression of murine class II molecules.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 167 (2), 541-555 (1988).</li><li>Kozono, H., White, J., Clements, J., Marrack, P., Kappler, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+soluble+MHC+class+II+proteins+with+covalently+bound+single+peptides.">Production of soluble MHC class II proteins with covalently bound single peptides.</a> Nature. 369 (6476), 151-154 (1994).</li><li>Allicotti, G., Borras, E., Pinilla, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+time-resolved+fluorescence+immunoassay+(DELFIA)+increases+the+sensitivity+of+antigen-driven+cytokine+detection.">A time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (DELFIA) increases the sensitivity of antigen-driven cytokine detection.</a> Journal of Immunoassay &amp; Immunochemistry. 24 (4), 345-358 (2003).</li></ol>

MAb287 and its derivatives are protected by a US patent issued in 2014.

This protocol describes an efficient method for producing antigen-specific CD8 CAR-T cells by retroviral transduction. The transduction efficiency of our protocol is typically high, and robust expression of the CAR is generally observed. The expanded CAR T cells retain the essential features of the parent-activated T cells, and antibody specificity, and are suitable for both in vitro and in vivo use. We have applied Ab-CAR CD8 T cells in reprograming Type 1 Diabetes in NOD mice7.
<p class="jov...

Given the likely reduced risk of unwanted off-target effects, antigen-specific immune therapies (ASI) are promising treatments for autoimmune diseases such as T1D. Accumulating evidence suggests that immune responses to (prepro)insulin may be particularly important in T1D1. In the past decade, studies from multiple groups, including our own, strongly suggest that presentation of an epitope containing insulin B chain amino acids 9 to 23 by specific MHC class II molecules (B:9-23/MHCII), plays an important role in the development of T1D in mice and humans2,3,4,5. To selectively target the B:9-23/MHCII complex, we generated a monoclonal antibody, named mAb287, that has no cross reactivity to the hormone insulin or complexes containing other peptides6. MAb287 blocks antigen presentation in vitro, and weekly administration of mAb287 to pre-diabetic NOD mice delayed the development of T1D in 35% of the treated mice6. To block antigen presentation in vivo, frequent injections are typically required in order to maintain a high circulating concentration. We hypothesized that we could overcome this difficulty by taking advantage of the high specificity of Ab287 to reprogram T cells, thereby providing an improved antigen-specific T cell therapy for T1D7.
Cytotoxic T cells are reported to be able to kill their target if even a single copy of their cognate ligand is expressed8,9,10. Thus, B:9-23/MHCII specific CD8 T cells are expected to have higher efficiency in eliminating the unwanted antigen presentation than the parent antibody, which will likely need to bind to multiple complexes on the same APC to exert its effect. CAR T cells have been used for treating multiple human cancers11,12,13, and may also be efficacious in autoimmunity14. However, CAR-T cells with specificity for pathogenic peptide-MHC complexes have not so far been used to modify the progression of T1D. By using the optimized CD8 T cell transduction technique described below, we recently demonstrated proof of principle that this indeed represents a viable approach7.
In this protocol, we outline an efficient and streamlined transduction and expansion method. Our protocol is applicable to other studies requiring the generation of mouse CD8 CAR T cells with high efficiency.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Mercaptoethanol (50mM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>21985-023</td>
			<td>50 uM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5&#8217; RACE PCR</td>
			<td>Clontech</td>
			<td>634859</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-mouse CD28 antibodies</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>14-0281-86</td>
			<td>final concentration at 1&#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-mouse CD3e antibody</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>145-2C11</td>
			<td>final concentration at 1&#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat Anti-Mouse IFN-&#947;</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>554410</td>
			<td>Working concentration at 0.5 &#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7030</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Endo-free Maxi-Prep kit</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>12362</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gentamicin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15750-060</td>
			<td>Final 50 &#181;g/ml.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heat inactivated FCS</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30087.03</td>
			<td>Final 10% FCS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES (100X)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td>1X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IAg7-CLIP tetramer-BV421</td>
			<td>NIH tetramer Facility at Emory</td>
			<td>per approval</td>
			<td>Working concentration at 6 &#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IAg7-insulin P8E tetramer-BV421</td>
			<td>NIH tetramer Facility at Emory</td>
			<td>per approval</td>
			<td>Working concentration at 6 &#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium-Ethanolamine (ITS 100x)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>51500056</td>
			<td>Final concentraion is 1x</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipofectamine 2000</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11668019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LS Columns</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-042-401</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS Separation Buffer</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-091-221</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse CD8a+ T Cell Isolation Kit</td>
			<td>Miletenyi Biotec Inc</td>
			<td>130-104-075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse CD8a+ T Cell Isolation Kit</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-104-075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM medium</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>31985070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin (5000U/ml)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>15070063</td>
			<td>50 U/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phoenix-ECO cells</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CRL-3214</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10010-023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMIG II</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>52107</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMSCV-IRES-GFP II</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>52107</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purified Rat Anti-Mouse IFN-&#947;</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>551216</td>
			<td>Working concentration at 3 &#181;g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Red cell lysis buffer</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>R7767</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RetroNectin</td>
			<td>Takara</td>
			<td>T100A</td>
			<td>Working concentration at 50 &#181;g/ml in PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rhIL-2 (stock concentration 105 IU/ul)</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>200-02</td>
			<td>Final concentration at 200 IU/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rmIL-7 ( stock concentration 50ng/ul)</td>
			<td>R&#38;D</td>
			<td>407-ML-005</td>
			<td>Final concentration at 0.5ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI-1640</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11875-093</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile Cell Strainers</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>22-363-548</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryple</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>12605-028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

high-efficiency generation of antigen-specific primary mouse cytotoxic t cells for functional testing in an autoimmune diabetes model

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is characterized by islet-specific autoimmunity leading to beta cell destruction and absolute loss of insulin production. In the spontaneous non-obese diabetes (NOD) mouse model, insulin is the primary target, and genetic manipulation of these animals to remove a single key insulin epitope prevents disease. Thus, selective elimination of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) bearing this pathogenic epitope is an approach to inhibit the unwanted insulin-specific autoimmune responses, and likely has greater translational potential.
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can redirect T cells to selectively target disease-causing antigens. This technique is fundamental to recent attempts to use cellular engineering for adoptive cell therapy to treat multiple cancers. In this protocol, we describe an optimized T-cell retrovirus (RV) transduction and in vitro expansion protocol that generates high numbers of functional antigen-specific CD8 CAR-T cells starting from a low number of naive cells. Previously multiple CAR-T cell protocols have been described, but typically with relatively low transduction efficiency and cell viability following transduction. In contrast, our protocol provides up to 90% transduction efficiency, and the cells generated can survive more than two weeks in vivo and significantly delay disease onset following a single infusion. We provide a detailed description of the cell maintenance and transduction protocol, so that the critical steps can be easily followed. The whole procedure from primary cell isolation to CAR expression can be performed within 14 days. The general method may be applied to any mouse disease model in which the target is known. Similarly, the specific application (targeting a pathogenic peptide/MHC class II complex) is applicable to any other autoimmune disease model for which a key complex has been identified.

Typically, the transduction efficiency using this protocol is ~60-90%. In the experiment shown in Figure 3, prior to sorting approximately, 70% of the CD8 T cells co-expressed GFP. They also co-expressed CD28 and CD3 (Figure 3C). Importantly, all of the &#8220;test&#8221; GFP+ cells also co-stained with IAg7-B:R3 tetramers, but not with the control tetramer (Figure 4). Similarly...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High-Efficiency Generation of Antigen-Specific Primary Mouse Cytotoxic T Cells for Functional Testing in an Autoimmune Diabetes Model at JoVE.com

High-Efficiency Generation of Antigen-Specific Primary Mouse Cytotoxic T Cells for Functional Testing in an Autoimmune Diabetes Model

This article describes a protocol for the generation of antigen-specific CD8 T cells, and their expansion in vitro, with the aim of yielding high numbers of functional T cells for use in vitro and in vivo.

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is characterized by islet-specific autoimmunity leading to beta cell destruction and absolute loss of insulin production. In the ...

high-efficiency-generation-antigen-specific-primary-mouse-cytotoxic-t

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Immunology and Infection

7.7K Views.  University of Colorado Denver. This article describes a protocol for the generation of antigen-specific CD8 T cells, and their expansion in vitro, with the aim of yielding high numbers of functional T cells for use in vitro and in vivo.

Video: High-Efficiency Generation of Antigen-Specific Primary Mouse Cytotoxic T Cells for Functional Testing in an Autoimmune Diabetes Model

Retroviral Transduction of T-cell Receptors in Mouse T-cells

T-cell receptors (TCRs) play a central role in the immune system. TCRs on T-cell surfaces can specifically recognize peptide antigens presented by antigen presenting cells (APCs)1. This recognition leads to the activation of T-cells and a series of functional outcomes (e.g. cytokine production, killing of the target cells). Understanding the functional role of TCRs is critical to harness the power of the immune system to treat a variety of immunology related diseases (e.g. cancer or autoimmunity).
It is convenient to study TCRs in mouse models, which can be accomplished in several ways. Making TCR transgenic mouse models is costly and time-consuming and currently there are only a limited number of them available2-4. Alternatively, mice with antigen-specific T-cells can be generated by bone marrow chimera. This method also takes several weeks and requires expertise5. Retroviral transduction of TCRs into in vitro activated mouse T-cells is a quick and relatively easy method to obtain T-cells of desired peptide-MHC specificity. Antigen-specific T-cells can be generated in one week and used in any downstream applications. Studying transduced T-cells also has direct application to human immunotherapy, as adoptive transfer of human T-cells transduced with antigen-specific TCRs is an emerging strategy for cancer treatment6.
Here we present a protocol to retrovirally transduce TCRs into in vitro activated mouse T-cells. Both human and mouse TCR genes can be used. Retroviruses carrying specific TCR genes are generated and used to infect mouse T-cells activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. After in vitro expansion, transduced T-cells are analyzed by flow cytometry.

We present a protocol to produce antigen-specific mouse T-cells using retroviral transduction

T-cell receptors (TCRs) play a central role in the immune system. TCRs on T-cell surfaces can specifically recognize peptide antigens presented by antigen ...

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Na&iuml;ve and Memory T Cells

The development and maintenance of immunosuppressive CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the peripheral tolerance needed to remain in immunologic homeostasis with the vast amount of self and commensal antigens in and on the human body. Perturbations in the balance between Tregs and inflammatory conventional T cells can result in immunopathology or cancer. Although therapeutic injection of Tregs has been shown to be efficacious in murine models of colitis1 , type I diabetes2 , rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease,4 several fundamental differences in human versus mouse Treg biology5 has thus far precluded clinical use. The lack of sufficient number, purity, stability and homing specificity of therapeutic Tregs necessitated a dynamic platform of human Treg development on which to optimize conditions for their ex vivo expansion6.
Here we describe a method for the differentiation of induced Tregs (iTregs) from a single human peripheral blood donor which can be broken down into four stages: isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, magnetic selection of CD4+ T cells, in vitro cell culture and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of T cell subsets. Since the Treg signature transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) is an activation-induced transcription factor in humans7 and no other unique marker exists, a combinatorial panel of markers must be used to identify T cells with suppressor activity. After six days in culture, cells in our system can be demarcated into na&iuml;ve T cells, memory T cells or iTregs based on their relative expression of CD25 and CD45RA. As memory and na&iuml;ve T cells have different reported polarization requirements and plasticities8 , pre-sorting of the initial T cell population into CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ subsets can be used to examine these discrepancies. Consistent with others, our CD25HiCD45RA- iTregs express high levels of FoxP39 , GITR and CTLA-411 and low levels of CD12712 . Following FACS of each population, resultant cells can be used in a suppressor assay which evaluates the relative ability to retard the proliferation of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled autologous T cells.

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Na&#239;ve and Memory T Cells

We describe a method for generating regulatory, memory and na&#239;ve T cells from a single human blood donor. Polarized Tregs can be then compared to other subsets in a variety of genetic and functional applications with genetic homogeneity, including a suppression assay also detailed here.

The development and maintenance of immunosuppressive CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the peripheral tolerance needed to remain in ...

piggyBac Transposon System Modification of Primary Human T Cells

The piggyBac transposon system is naturally active, originally derived from the cabbage looper moth1,2. This non-viral system is plasmid based, most commonly utilizing two plasmids with one expressing the piggyBac transposase enzyme and a transposon plasmid harboring the gene(s) of interest between inverted repeat elements which are required for gene transfer activity. PiggyBac mediates gene transfer through a "cut and paste" mechanism whereby the transposase integrates the transposon segment into the genome of the target cell(s) of interest. PiggyBac has demonstrated efficient gene delivery activity in a wide variety of insect1,2, mammalian3-5, and human cells6 including primary human T cells7,8. Recently, a hyperactive piggyBac transposase was generated improving gene transfer efficiency9,10.
Human T lymphocytes are of clinical interest for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer11. Of note, the first clinical trial involving transposon modification of human T cells using the Sleeping beauty transposon system has been approved12. We have previously evaluated the utility of piggyBac as a non-viral methodology for genetic modification of human T cells. We found piggyBac to be efficient in genetic modification of human T cells with a reporter gene and a non-immunogenic inducible suicide gene7. Analysis of genomic integration sites revealed a lack of preference for integration into or near known proto-oncogenes13. We used piggyBac to gene-modify cytotoxic T lymphocytes to carry a chimeric antigen receptor directed against the tumor antigen HER2, and found that gene-modified T cells mediated targeted killing of HER2-positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo in an orthotopic mouse model14. We have also used piggyBac to generate human T cells resistant to rapamycin, which should be useful in cancer therapies where rapamycin is utilized15.
Herein, we describe a method for using piggyBac to genetically modify primary human T cells. This includes isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human blood followed by culture, gene modification, and activation of T cells. For the purpose of this report, T cells were modified with a reporter gene (eGFP) for analysis and quantification of gene expression by flow cytometry.
PiggyBac can be used to modify human T cells with a variety of genes of interest. Although we have used piggyBac to direct T cells to tumor antigens14, we have also used piggyBac to add an inducible safety switch in order to eliminate gene modified cells if needed7. The large cargo capacity of piggyBac has also enabled gene transfer of a large rapamycin resistant mTOR molecule (15 kb)15. Therefore, we present a non-viral methodology for stable gene-modification of primary human T cells for a wide variety of purposes.

piggyBac Transposon System Modification of Primary Human T Cells

We describe a method to genetically modify primary human T cells with a transgene using the non-viral piggyBac transposon system. T cells modified to using the piggyBac transposon system exhibit stable transgene expression.

The piggyBac transposon system is naturally active, originally derived from the cabbage looper moth1,2. This non-viral system is plasmid based, most ...

Killer Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (KaAPC) for Efficient In Vitro Depletion of Human Antigen-specific T Cells

Current treatment of T cell mediated autoimmune diseases relies mostly on strategies of global immunosuppression, which, in the long term, is accompanied by adverse side effects such as a reduced ability to control infections or malignancies. Therefore, new approaches need to be developed that target only the disease mediating cells and leave the remaining immune system intact. Over the past decade a variety of cell based immunotherapy strategies to modulate T cell mediated immune responses have been developed. Most of these approaches rely on tolerance-inducing antigen presenting cells (APC). However, in addition to being technically difficult and cumbersome, such cell-based approaches are highly sensitive to cytotoxic T cell responses, which limits their therapeutic capacity. Here we present a protocol for the generation of non-cellular killer artificial antigen presenting cells (KaAPC), which allows for the depletion of pathologic T cells while leaving the remaining immune system untouched and functional. KaAPC is an alternative solution to cellular immunotherapy which has potential for treating autoimmune diseases and allograft rejections by regulating undesirable T cell responses in an antigen specific fashion.

Killer Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells KaAPC for Efficient In Vitro Depletion of Human Antigen-specific T Cells

Guidelines are presented for the generation of killer artificial antigen presenting cells, KaAPC, an efficient tool for in vitro depletion of human antigen-specific T cells and an alternative solution to cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases in an antigen-specific fashion without compromising the remaining immune system.

Current treatment of T cell mediated autoimmune diseases relies mostly on strategies of global immunosuppression, which, in the long term, is accompanied ...

Isolation of Infiltrating Leukocytes from Mouse Skin Using Enzymatic Digest and Gradient Separation

Dissociating murine skin into a single cell suspension is essential for downstream cellular analysis such as the characterization of infiltrating immune cells in rodent models of skin inflammation. Here, we describe a protocol for the digestion of mouse skin in a nutrient-rich solution with collagenase D, followed by separation of hematopoietic cells using a discontinuous density gradient. Cells thus obtained can be used for in vitro studies, in vivo transfer, and other downstream cellular and molecular analyses including flow cytometry. This protocol is an effective and economical alternative to expensive mechanical dissociators, specialized separation columns, and harsher trypsin- and dispase-based digestion methods, which may compromise cellular viability or density of surface proteins relevant for phenotypic characterization or cellular function. As shown here in our representative data, this protocol produced highly viable cells, contained specific immune cell subsets, and had no effect on integrity of common surface marker proteins used in flow cytometric analysis.

This protocol describes enzymatic digestion of mouse skin in nutrient-rich medium followed by gradient separation to isolate leukocytes. Cells thus derived can be used for diverse downstream applications. This is an effective, economical, and improved alternative to tissue dissociation machines and harsher trypsin and dispase-based tissue digestion protocols.

Dissociating murine skin into a single cell suspension is essential for downstream cellular analysis such as the characterization of infiltrating immune ...

Development of Stem Cell-derived Antigen-specific Regulatory T Cells Against Autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases arise due to the loss of immunological self-tolerance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important mediators of immunologic self-tolerance. Tregs represent about 5 - 10% of the mature CD4+ T cell subpopulation in mice and humans, with about 1 - 2% of those Tregs circulating in the peripheral blood. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated into functional Tregs, which have a potential to be used for cell-based therapies of autoimmune diseases. Here, we present a method to develop antigen (Ag)-specific Tregs from iPSCs (i.e., iPSC-Tregs). The method is based on incorporating the transcription factor FoxP3 and an Ag-specific T cell receptor (TCR) into iPSCs and then differentiating on OP9 stromal cells expressing Notch ligands delta-like (DL) 1 and DL4. Following in vitro differentiation, the iPSC-Tregs express CD4, CD8, CD3, CD25, FoxP3, and Ag-specific TCR and are able to respond to Ag stimulation. This method has been successfully applied to cell-based therapy of autoimmune arthritis in a murine model. Adoptive transfer of these Ag-specific iPSC-Tregs into Ag-induced arthritis (AIA)-bearing mice has the ability to reduce joint inflammation and swelling and to prevent bone loss.

We present here a method to develop functional antigen (Ag)-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for immunotherapy of autoimmune arthritis in a murine model.

Autoimmune diseases arise due to the loss of immunological self-tolerance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important mediators of immunologic ...

Detection and Enrichment of Rare Antigen-specific B Cells for Analysis of Phenotype and Function

B cells reactive with a specific antigen usually occur at a frequency of &lt;0.05% of lymphocytes. For decades researchers have sought methods to isolate and enrich these rare cells for studies of their phenotype and biology. Approaches are inevitably based on the principle that B cells recognize native antigen by virtue of cell surface receptors that are representative in specificity of antibodies that will eventually be secreted by their differentiated daughters. Perhaps the most obvious approach to the problem involves use of fluorochrome-conjugated antigens in conjunction with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). However, the utility of these methods is limited by cell frequency and the achievable rate of analysis and isolation by electronic sorting. A novel method to enrich rare antigen-specific B cells using magnetic nanoparticles that results in high yield enrichment of antigen-reactive B cells from large starting cell populations is described. This method enables improved monitoring of the phenotype and biology of antigen reactive cells before and following in vivo antigen encounter, such as after immunization or during development of autoimmunity.

A simple yet effective method that employs magnetic nanoparticles to detect and enrich antigen-reactive B cells for functional and phenotypic analysis is described.

B cells reactive with a specific antigen usually occur at a frequency of &lt;0.05% of lymphocytes. For decades researchers have sought methods to isolate ...

In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-specific T-cell Cytolytic Function Using a Vaccination Model

Current methodologies for antigen-specific killing are limited to in vitro use or utilized in infectious disease models. However, there is not a protocol specifically intended to measure antigen-specific killing without an infection. This protocol is designed and describes methods to overcome these limitations by allowing for the detection of antigen-specific killing of a target cell by CD8+ T cells in vivo. This is accomplished by merging a vaccination model with a traditional CFSE-labeled target killing assay. This combination allows the researcher to assess the antigen-specific CTL potential directly and quickly as the assay is not dependent upon tumor growth or infection. In addition, the readout is based on flow cytometry and so should be readily accessible to most researchers. The major limitation of the study is identifying the timeline in vivo that is appropriate to the hypothesis being tested. Variations in antigen strength and mutations in the T cells that may result in differential cytolytic function need to be carefully assessed to determine the optimal time for cell harvest and assessment. The appropriate concentration of peptide for vaccination has been optimized for hgp10025-33 and OVA257-264, but further validation would be needed for other peptides that may be more appropriate to a given study. Overall, this protocol allows a quick assessment of killing function in vivo and can be adapted to any given antigen.

In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-specific T-cell Cytolytic Function Using a Vaccination Model

The goal of this protocol is to allow for detection of in vivo antigen-specific killing of a target cell in a murine model.

Current methodologies for antigen-specific killing are limited to in vitro use or utilized in infectious disease models. However, there is not a protocol ...

Generation of Discriminative Human Monoclonal Antibodies from Rare Antigen-specific B Cells Circulating in Blood

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are powerful tools useful for both fundamental research and in biomedicine. Their high specificity is indispensable when the antibody needs to distinguish between highly related structures (e.g., a normal protein and a mutated version thereof). The current way of generating such discriminative mAbs involves extensive screening of multiple Ab-producing B cells, which is both costly and time consuming. We propose here a rapid and cost-effective method for the generation of discriminative, fully human mAbs starting from human blood circulating B lymphocytes. The originality of this strategy is due to the selection of specific antigen binding B cells combined with the counter-selection of all other cells, using readily available Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC). Once specific B cells are isolated, cDNA (complementary deoxyribonucleic acid) sequences coding for the corresponding mAb are obtained using single cell Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology and subsequently expressed in human cells. Within as little as 1 month, it is possible to produce milligrams of highly discriminative human mAbs directed against virtually any desired antigen naturally detected by the B cell repertoire.

We describe a method for the production of human antibodies specific for an antigen of interest, starting from rare B cells circulating in human blood. Generation of these natural antibodies is efficient and rapid, and the antibodies obtained can discriminate between highly related antigens.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are powerful tools useful for both fundamental research and in biomedicine. Their high specificity is indispensable when the ...

Multicolor Flow Cytometry-based Quantification of Mitochondria and Lysosomes in T Cells

T cells utilize different metabolic programs to match their functional needs during differentiation and proliferation. Mitochondria are crucial cellular components responsible for supplying cell energy; however, excess mitochondria also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that could cause cell death. Therefore, the number of mitochondria must constantly be adjusted to fit the needs of the cells. This dynamic regulation is achieved in part through the function of lysosomes that remove surplus/damaged organelles and macromolecules. Hence, cellular mitochondrial and lysosomal contents are key indicators to evaluate the metabolic adjustment of cells. With the development of probes for organelles, well-characterized lysosome or mitochondria-specific dyes have become available in various formats to label cellular lysosomes and mitochondria. Multicolor flow cytometry is a common tool to profile cell phenotypes, and has the capability to be integrated with other assays. Here, we present a detailed protocol of how to combine organelle-specific dyes with surface markers staining to measure the amount of lysosomes and mitochondria in different T cell populations on a flow cytometer.

This article illustrates a powerful method to quantify mitochondria or lysosomes in living cells. The combination of lysosome- or mitochondria-specific dyes with fluorescently conjugated antibodies against surface markers allows the quantification of these organelles in mixed cell populations, like primary cells harvested from tissue samples, by using multicolor flow cytometry.

T cells utilize different metabolic programs to match their functional needs during differentiation and proliferation. Mitochondria are crucial cellular ...