Zhang and Ren et al. developed a heterodimeric antibody combining an anti-CTLA-4 antibody with SIRPα, the ligand of CD47 (the ‘don’t eat me’ signal) to further enhance phagocytosis. This heterodimer specifically depletes Tregs in the tumor microenvironment, in particular, the highly suppressive ICOShigh Tregs. Treatment of established murine MC38 and CT26 colon tumors resulted in tumor growth inhibition and increases in antigen-specific T cells and cytokines related to T cell activation; tumors were rejected upon rechallenge. A humanized version of the heterodimer had similar depleting effects on Tregs and a good safety profile in a humanized mouse model.
Contributed by Maartje Wouters
ABSTRACT: Blockade of CD47, the "do not eat me" signal, has limited effects in solid tumors despite its potent antitumor effects in hematopoietic malignancies. Taking advantage of the high expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) on Treg cells and abundant Fc receptor-expressing active phagocytes inside the tumor microenvironment (TME), we designed and tested a heterodimer combining an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, which targets Treg cells, with the CD47 ligand, signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), to selectively block CD47 on intratumoral Treg cells. We hypothesized that heterodimer treatment would increase antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis of the targeted Treg cells. We found that anti-CTLA-4×SIRPα preferentially depleted ICOShigh immunosuppressive Treg cells in the TME and enhanced immunity against solid tumors, including MC38 and CT26 murine colon cancers. Mechanistically, we found that CD47 expression on Treg cells limited anti-CTLA-4-mediated depletion and Fc on the heterodimer-enhanced depletion. Furthermore, anti-human CTLA-4×SIRPα depleted tumor Treg cells and exhibits less toxicity than anti-human CTLA-4 in a humanized mouse model. Collectively, these results demonstrate that simultaneously modulating both "eat me" and do not eat me signals induces Treg cell depletion inside the TME and may be an effective strategy for treating solid tumors.
Author Info: (1) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (2) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (3) Aetio Bi
Author Info: (1) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (2) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (3) Aetio Biotherapy, Dallas, TX 75247, USA. (4) Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. (5) Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (6) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (7) Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. (8) Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. (9) Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. yang-xin.fu@utsouthwestern.edu.
