This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary Data Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zhang, T. Articles by Sentman, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zhang, T. Articles by Sentman, C. L.

Chimeric NKG2D–Modified T Cells Inhibit Systemic T-Cell Lymphoma Growth in a Manner Involving Multiple Cytokines and Cytotoxic Pathways

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire

Requests for reprints: Charles L. Sentman, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, 6W Borwell Building, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756. Phone: 603-650-8007; Fax: 603-650-6223; E-mail: charles.sentman{at}dartmouth.edu.

In this study, the efficacy and mechanisms of chimeric NKG2D receptor (chNKG2D)–modified T cells in eliminating NKG2D ligand–positive RMA/Rae1 lymphoma cells were evaluated. Intravenous injection of RMA/Rae1 cells led to significant tumor formation in spleens and lymph nodes within 2 weeks. Adoptive transfer of chNKG2D-modified T cells after tumor injection significantly reduced tumor burdens in both spleens and lymph nodes, and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Multiple treatments with chNKG2D T cells resulted in long-term tumor-free survival. Moreover, these long-term survivors were resistant to rechallenge with RMA tumor cells (NKG2D ligand–negative), and their spleen and lymph node cells produced IFN- in response to RMA but not to other tumors in vitro, indicating immunity against RMA tumor antigens. ChNKG2D T cell–derived IFN- and granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor, but not perforin (Pfp), tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand, or Fas ligand (FasL) alone were critical for in vivo efficacy. T cells deficient in both Pfp and FasL did not kill NKG2D ligand–positive RMA cells in vitro. Adoptive transfer of Pfp^–/–FasL^–/– chNKG2D T cells had reduced in vivo efficacy, indicating that chNKG2D T cells used both mechanisms to attack RMA/Rae1 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that chNKG2D T-cell–mediated therapeutic effects are mediated by both cytokine-dependent and cytotoxic mechanisms in vivo. [Cancer Res 2007;67(22):11029–36]