Efficient Expansion of Polyfunctional Virus-Specific T Cells from Human Lymph Nodes: Implications for Cellular Therapies

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is feasible to generate highly-reactive EBV-specific T cells from human lymph node tissue using the methodology compatible with good manufacturing practice (GMP). In contrast to VST cells derived from peripheral blood, increased expression of CD28 and IL-2 on lymph node derived EBV reactive cells may indicate a superior capacity to survive, expand in vivo and eradicate EBV-driven disease upon adoptive transfer.Figure 1. Characterization of lymph node derived EBV reactive T cells.A) Expanded T cells from Blood (BL), iliac lymph node (iLN), mesenteric lymph node (MLN), and spleen (Spl), were restimulated with EBNA1 or LMP1 peptides for 6 hours, followed by surface and intracellular cytokine stain and flow cytometry. (A) Shown are the live cell counts in each culture per 100,000 cells plated; (B) the frequencies of VST cells (TNF-α/IFN- positive) in each culture and (C) the frequency of cytotoxic CD107a / Granzyme B (GZMB) positive cells within the VST cell population. (D) Representative flow cytometry data from matched samples of an organ donor is shown to the left of compiled data showing subsets of the EBNA1 reactive cells defined by CD28 and IL-2 expression. (mean ± SEM, n = 2-4). *P < 0.05 t-test with comparison to blood.Figure.DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Source: Blood - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: 203. Lymphocytes, Lymphocyte Activation, and Immunodeficiency, including HIV and Other Infections: Poster III Source Type: research