Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist

Background CMP-001, also known as vidutolimod, is a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist that is showing promise in early clinical trials. Our group previously demonstrated that the immunostimulatory effects of CMP-001 are dependent on an anti-Qβ antibody response which results in opsonizat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: George J Weiner, Aliasger K Salem, Shakoora A Sabree, Andrew P Voigt, Sue E Blackwell, Ajaykumar Vishwakarma, Michael S Chimenti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-06-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/6/e002484.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846172949298544640
author George J Weiner
Aliasger K Salem
Shakoora A Sabree
Andrew P Voigt
Sue E Blackwell
Ajaykumar Vishwakarma
Michael S Chimenti
author_facet George J Weiner
Aliasger K Salem
Shakoora A Sabree
Andrew P Voigt
Sue E Blackwell
Ajaykumar Vishwakarma
Michael S Chimenti
author_sort George J Weiner
collection DOAJ
description Background CMP-001, also known as vidutolimod, is a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist that is showing promise in early clinical trials. Our group previously demonstrated that the immunostimulatory effects of CMP-001 are dependent on an anti-Qβ antibody response which results in opsonization of CMP-001 and uptake by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that then produce interferon (IFN)-α. IFN-α then leads to an antitumor T-cell response that is responsible for the in vivo efficacy of CMP-001. Here, we explore mechanisms by which the initial effects of CMP-001 on pDCs activate other cells that can contribute to development of an antitumor T-cell response.Methods Uptake of CMP-001 by various peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations and response to anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 were evaluated by flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. Purified monocytes were treated with anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 or recombinant IFN-α to evaluate direct and secondary effects of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 on monocytes.Results Monocytes had the highest per cell uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 with lower levels of uptake by pDCs and other cell types. Treatment of PBMCs with anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 induced upregulation of IFN-responsive genes including CXCL10, PDL1, and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression by monocytes. Most of the impact of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 on monocytes was indirect and mediated by IFN-α, but uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 altered the monocytic response to IFN-α and resulted in enhanced expression of PDL1, IDO, and CD80 and suppressed expression of CXCL10. These changes included an enhanced ability to induce autologous CD4 T-cell proliferation.Conclusions Anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 induces IFN-α production by pDCs which has secondary effects on a variety of cells including monocytes. Uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 by monocytes alters their response to IFN-α, resulting in enhanced expression of PDL1, IDO and CD80 and suppressed expression of CXCL10. Despite aspects of an immunosuppressive phenotype, these monocytes demonstrated increased ability to augment autologous CD4 T-cell proliferation. These findings shed light on the complexity of the mechanism of action of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 and provide insight into pathways that may be targeted to further enhance the efficacy of this novel approach to immunotherapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-4b2849718b58408bbeccee7f317793da
institution Kabale University
issn 2051-1426
language English
publishDate 2021-06-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
spelling doaj-art-4b2849718b58408bbeccee7f317793da2024-11-08T19:20:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262021-06-019610.1136/jitc-2021-002484Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonistGeorge J Weiner0Aliasger K Salem1Shakoora A Sabree2Andrew P Voigt3Sue E Blackwell4Ajaykumar Vishwakarma5Michael S Chimenti6Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA3 Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAMedical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAMedical Scientist Training Program, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USAHolden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USALaboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USAIowa Institute of Human Genetics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USABackground CMP-001, also known as vidutolimod, is a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist that is showing promise in early clinical trials. Our group previously demonstrated that the immunostimulatory effects of CMP-001 are dependent on an anti-Qβ antibody response which results in opsonization of CMP-001 and uptake by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that then produce interferon (IFN)-α. IFN-α then leads to an antitumor T-cell response that is responsible for the in vivo efficacy of CMP-001. Here, we explore mechanisms by which the initial effects of CMP-001 on pDCs activate other cells that can contribute to development of an antitumor T-cell response.Methods Uptake of CMP-001 by various peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations and response to anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 were evaluated by flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. Purified monocytes were treated with anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 or recombinant IFN-α to evaluate direct and secondary effects of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 on monocytes.Results Monocytes had the highest per cell uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 with lower levels of uptake by pDCs and other cell types. Treatment of PBMCs with anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 induced upregulation of IFN-responsive genes including CXCL10, PDL1, and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression by monocytes. Most of the impact of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 on monocytes was indirect and mediated by IFN-α, but uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 altered the monocytic response to IFN-α and resulted in enhanced expression of PDL1, IDO, and CD80 and suppressed expression of CXCL10. These changes included an enhanced ability to induce autologous CD4 T-cell proliferation.Conclusions Anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 induces IFN-α production by pDCs which has secondary effects on a variety of cells including monocytes. Uptake of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 by monocytes alters their response to IFN-α, resulting in enhanced expression of PDL1, IDO and CD80 and suppressed expression of CXCL10. Despite aspects of an immunosuppressive phenotype, these monocytes demonstrated increased ability to augment autologous CD4 T-cell proliferation. These findings shed light on the complexity of the mechanism of action of anti-Qβ-coated CMP-001 and provide insight into pathways that may be targeted to further enhance the efficacy of this novel approach to immunotherapy.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/6/e002484.full
spellingShingle George J Weiner
Aliasger K Salem
Shakoora A Sabree
Andrew P Voigt
Sue E Blackwell
Ajaykumar Vishwakarma
Michael S Chimenti
Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
title_full Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
title_fullStr Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
title_full_unstemmed Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
title_short Direct and indirect immune effects of CMP-001, a virus-like particle containing a TLR9 agonist
title_sort direct and indirect immune effects of cmp 001 a virus like particle containing a tlr9 agonist
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/6/e002484.full
work_keys_str_mv AT georgejweiner directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT aliasgerksalem directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT shakooraasabree directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT andrewpvoigt directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT sueeblackwell directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT ajaykumarvishwakarma directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist
AT michaelschimenti directandindirectimmuneeffectsofcmp001aviruslikeparticlecontainingatlr9agonist