Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR

IntroductionTumors may utilize different strategies to escape T cell immunosurveillance. Besides the overexpression of checkpoint ligands (such as PDL1) or the secretion of immunosuppressive agents, several studies have shown that cancer aberrant sialylation can, through interaction with selected re...

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Main Authors: Shiran Didi-Zurinam, Erel Katzman, Cyrille J. Cohen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1536868/full
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author Shiran Didi-Zurinam
Erel Katzman
Cyrille J. Cohen
author_facet Shiran Didi-Zurinam
Erel Katzman
Cyrille J. Cohen
author_sort Shiran Didi-Zurinam
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionTumors may utilize different strategies to escape T cell immunosurveillance. Besides the overexpression of checkpoint ligands (such as PDL1) or the secretion of immunosuppressive agents, several studies have shown that cancer aberrant sialylation can, through interaction with selected receptors such as those from the Siglec family, neutralize NK and T cell function.MethodsHerein, we wanted to take advantage of the presence of inhibitory sialic acid ligands on the tumor cell surface to enhance T cell anti-tumor activity. To this end, we devised a novel chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular portion of Siglec-7 and the intracellular portion of 41BB, which can convert inhibitory signals into stimulatory ones when expressed in human T-cells.ResultsThis co-stimulatory chimeric switch receptor (CSR), when co-expressed with a tumor-specific TCR, facilitated higher cytokine secretion and activation profiles following co-culture with tumor cells. Additionally, T cells equipped with Siglec-7 CSR demonstrated improved anti-tumor function in vivo.DiscussionGiven the broad expression pattern of Siglec-7 ligands on tumor cells, our data suggest this CSR may act as a general adjuvant to boost TCR T cell function. Overall, this work provides an approach to improve engineered T-cell-based cancer treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-d722f27c2e564db5bedca669e430871d2025-08-20T03:52:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15368681536868Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSRShiran Didi-ZurinamErel KatzmanCyrille J. CohenIntroductionTumors may utilize different strategies to escape T cell immunosurveillance. Besides the overexpression of checkpoint ligands (such as PDL1) or the secretion of immunosuppressive agents, several studies have shown that cancer aberrant sialylation can, through interaction with selected receptors such as those from the Siglec family, neutralize NK and T cell function.MethodsHerein, we wanted to take advantage of the presence of inhibitory sialic acid ligands on the tumor cell surface to enhance T cell anti-tumor activity. To this end, we devised a novel chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular portion of Siglec-7 and the intracellular portion of 41BB, which can convert inhibitory signals into stimulatory ones when expressed in human T-cells.ResultsThis co-stimulatory chimeric switch receptor (CSR), when co-expressed with a tumor-specific TCR, facilitated higher cytokine secretion and activation profiles following co-culture with tumor cells. Additionally, T cells equipped with Siglec-7 CSR demonstrated improved anti-tumor function in vivo.DiscussionGiven the broad expression pattern of Siglec-7 ligands on tumor cells, our data suggest this CSR may act as a general adjuvant to boost TCR T cell function. Overall, this work provides an approach to improve engineered T-cell-based cancer treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1536868/fullT-cellsimmunotherapyco-stimulatory chimeric switch receptor (CSR)sialic acidsSiglec-7
spellingShingle Shiran Didi-Zurinam
Erel Katzman
Cyrille J. Cohen
Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
Frontiers in Immunology
T-cells
immunotherapy
co-stimulatory chimeric switch receptor (CSR)
sialic acids
Siglec-7
title Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
title_full Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
title_fullStr Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
title_full_unstemmed Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
title_short Potentiating T cell tumor targeting using a combination of TCR with a Siglec-7 based CSR
title_sort potentiating t cell tumor targeting using a combination of tcr with a siglec 7 based csr
topic T-cells
immunotherapy
co-stimulatory chimeric switch receptor (CSR)
sialic acids
Siglec-7
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1536868/full
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