Characterizing the Role of Monocytes in T Cell Cancer Immunotherapy Using a 3D Microfluidic Model

oleh: Sharon Wei Ling Lee, Sharon Wei Ling Lee, Sharon Wei Ling Lee, Giulia Adriani, Erica Ceccarello, Erica Ceccarello, Andrea Pavesi, Anthony Tanoto Tan, Antonio Bertoletti, Roger Dale Kamm, Roger Dale Kamm, Siew Cheng Wong, Siew Cheng Wong

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-03-01

Deskripsi

In the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma tumor microenvironment (TME), monocytes reportedly impede natural T cell functions via PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. However, it remains unclear if T cell receptor-redirected T cells (TCR T cells) are similarly inhibited. Hence, we developed a 3D intrahepatic TME microfluidic model to investigate the immunosuppressive potential of monocytes toward HBV-specific TCR T cells and the role of PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. Interestingly, in our 3D static microfluidic model, we observed that monocytes suppressed only retrovirally transduced (Tdx) TCR T cell cytotoxicity toward cancer cells via PD-L1/PD-1, while mRNA electroporated (EP) TCR T cell cytotoxicity was not affected by the presence of monocytes. Importantly, when co-cultured in 2D, both Tdx and EP TCR T cell cytotoxicity toward cancer cells were not suppressed by monocytes, suggesting our 3D model as a superior tool compared to standard 2D assays for predicting TCR T cell efficacy in a preclinical setting, which can thus be used to improve current immunotherapy strategies.