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% \documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\documentclass{report}
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\usepackage{siunitx}
\usepackage{multicol}
\setlength{\columnsep}{1cm}
\usepackage[acronym]{glossaries}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
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\usepackage{titlesec}
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\usepackage{upgreek}
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%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% acronyms for the lazy
\renewcommand{\glossarysection}[2][]{} % remove glossary title
\makeglossaries{}
\newacronym{act}{ACT}{adoptive cell therapies}
\newacronym{car}{CAR}{chimeric antigen receptor}
\newacronym[longplural={monoclonal antibodies}]{mab}{mAb}{monoclonal antibody}
\newacronym{ecm}{ECM}{extracellular matrix}
\newacronym{cqa}{CQA}{critical quality attribute}
\newacronym{cpp}{CPP}{critical process parameter}
\newacronym{dms}{DMS}{degradable microscaffold}
\newacronym{doe}{DOE}{design of experiments}
\newacronym{gmp}{GMP}{Good Manufacturing Practices}
\newacronym{cho}{CHO}{Chinese hamster ovary}
\newacronym{all}{ALL}{acute lymphoblastic leukemia}
\newacronym{pdms}{PDMS}{polydimethylsiloxane}
\newacronym{dc}{DC}{dendritic cell}
\newacronym{il2}{IL2}{interleukin 2}
\newacronym{rhil2}{rhIL2}{recombinant human interleukin 2}
\newacronym{apc}{APC}{antigen presenting cell}
\newacronym{mhc}{MHC}{major histocompatibility complex}
\newacronym{elisa}{ELISA}{enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay}
\newacronym{nmr}{NMR}{nuclear magnetic resonance}
\newacronym{haba}{HABA}{4-hydroxyazobenene-2-carboxylic-acid}
\newacronym{pbs}{PBS}{phosphate buffered saline}
\newacronym{bca}{BCA}{bicinchoninic acid assay}
\newacronym{bsa}{BSA}{bovine serum albumin}
\newacronym{stp}{STP}{streptavidin}
\newacronym{snb}{SNB}{sulfo-nhs-biotin}
\newacronym{cug}{CuG}{Cultispher G}
\newacronym{cus}{CuS}{Cultispher S}
\newacronym{pbmc}{PBMC}{peripheral blood mononuclear cells}
\newacronym{macs}{MACS}{magnetic activated cell sorting}
\newacronym{aopi}{AO/PI}{acridine orange/propidium iodide}
\newacronym{igg}{IgG}{immunoglobulin G}
\newacronym{crispr}{CRISPR}{clustered regularly interspaced short
palindromic repeats}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% SI units for uber nerds
% NOTE the \SI macro is depreciated but the arch repo (!!!) hasn't been updated
% with the latest package yet (texlive-science)
\sisetup{per-mode=symbol,list-units=single}
\DeclareSIUnit\IU{IU}
\DeclareSIUnit\rpm{RPM}
\DeclareSIUnit\dms{DMS}
\DeclareSIUnit\cell{cells}
\DeclareSIUnit\ab{mAb}
\DeclareSIUnit\molar{M}
\DeclareSIUnit\gforce{\times{} g}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% commands for lazy farts like me
\newcommand{\mytitle}{
\Large{
\textbf{
Optimizing T Cell Manufacturing and Quality Using Functionalized
Degradable Microscaffolds
}
}
}
\newcommand{\mycommitteemember}[3]{
\begin{flushleft}
\noindent
#1 \\
#2 \\
\textit{#3}
\end{flushleft}
}
\newcommand{\invivo}{\textit{in vivo}}
\newcommand{\invitro}{\textit{in vitro}}
\newcommand{\exvivo}{\textit{ex vivo}}
\newcommand{\cd}[1]{CD{#1}}
\newcommand{\anti}[1]{anti-{#1}}
\newcommand{\anticd}[1]{\anti{\cd{#1}}}
\newcommand{\cdp}[1]{\cd{#1}+}
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}
{
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}
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% begin document (proceed with caution)
\begin{document}
\begin{titlepage}
\begin{mytitlepage}
\mytitle{}
\vfill
\Large{
A Dissertation \\
Presented to \\
The Academic Faculty \\
\vspace{1.5em}
by
\vspace{1.5em}
Nathan John Dwarshuis, B.S. \\
\vfill
In Partial Fulfillment \\
of the Requirements for the Degree \\
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering in the \\
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
\vfill
Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University \\
August 2021
\vfill
COPYRIGHT \copyright{} BY NATHAN J. DWARSHUIS
}
\end{mytitlepage}
\end{titlepage}
\onecolumn \pagenumbering{roman}
\clearpage
\begin{mytitlepage}
\mytitle{}
\end{mytitlepage}
\vfill
\large{
\noindent
Committee Members
\begin{multicols}{2}
\begin{singlespace}
\mycommitteemember{Dr.\ Krishnendu\ Roy\ (Advisor)}
{Department of Biomedical Engineering}
{Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University}
\vspace{1.5em}
\mycommitteemember{Dr.\ Madhav\ Dhodapkar}
{Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology}
{Emory University}
\vspace{1.5em}
\mycommitteemember{Dr.\ Melissa\ Kemp}
{Department of Biomedical Engineering}
{Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University}
\columnbreak{}
\null{}
\vfill
\mycommitteemember{Dr.\ Wilbur\ Lam}
{Department of Biomedical Engineering}
{Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University}
\vspace{1.5em}
\mycommitteemember{Dr.\ Sakis\ Mantalaris}
{Department of Biomedical Engineering}
{Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University}
\end{singlespace}
\end{multicols}
\vspace{1.5em}
\hfill Date Approved:
}
\clearpage
\chapter*{acknowledgements}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{acknowledgements}
Thank you to Lex Fridman and Devin Townsend for being awesome and inspirational.
\clearpage
\chapter*{summary}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{summary}
\Gls{act} using \gls{car} T cells have shown promise in treating cancer, but
manufacturing large numbers of high quality cells remains challenging. Currently
approved T cell expansion technologies involve \anti-cd{3} and \anti-cd{28}
\glspl{mab}, usually mounted on magnetic beads. This method fails to
recapitulate many key signals found \invivo{} and is also heavily licensed by a
few companies, limiting its long-term usefulness to manufactures and clinicians.
Furthermore, we understand that highly potent T cells are generally
less-differentiated subtypes such as central memory and stem memory T cells.
Despite this understanding, little has been done to optimize T cell expansion
for generating these subtypes, including measurement and feedback control
strategies that are necessary for any modern manufacturing process.
The goal of this thesis was to develop a microcarrier-based \gls{dms} T cell
expansion system as well as determine biologically-meaningful \glspl{cqa} and
\glspl{cpp} that could be used to optimize for highly-potent T cells. In Aim 1,
we develop and characterized the \gls{dms} system, including quality control
steps. We also demonstrate the feasiblity of expanding highly-potent memory and
CD4+ T cells, and showing compatibility with existing \gls{car} transduction
methods. In aim 2, we use \gls{doe} methodology to optimize the \gls{dms}
platform, and develop a computational pipeline to identify and model the effect
of measurable \glspl{cqa} and \glspl{cpp} on the final product. In aim 3, we
demonstrate the effectiveness of the \gls{dms} platform \invivo{}. This
thesis lays the groundwork for a novel T cell expansion method which can be used
in a clinical setting, and also provides a path toward optimizing for product
quality in an industrial setting.
\clearpage
\tableofcontents
\clearpage
\listoffigures
\clearpage
\listoftables
\clearpage
% \twocolumn
\chapter*{acronyms}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{acronyms}
\printglossary[type=\acronymtype]
\clearpage
\pagenumbering{arabic}
\clearpage
\chapter{introduction}
\section*{overview}
% TODO this is basically the same as the first part of the backgound, I guess I
% can just trim it down
T cell-based immunotherapies have received great interest from clinicians and
industry due to their potential to treat, and often cure, cancer and other
diseases\cite{Fesnak2016,Rosenberg2015}. In 2017, Novartis and Kite Pharma
received FDA approval for \textit{Kymriah} and \textit{Yescarta} respectively,
two genetically-modified \gls{car} T cell therapies against B cell malignancies.
Despite these successes, \gls{car} T cell therapies are constrained by an
expensive and difficult-to-scale manufacturing process with little control on
cell quality and phenotype3,4. State-of-the-art T cell manufacturing techniques
focus on \anticd{3} and \anticd{28} activation and expansion, typically
presented on superparamagnetic, iron-based microbeads (Invitrogen Dynabead,
Miltenyi MACS beads), on nanobeads (Miltenyi TransACT), or in soluble tetramers
(Expamer)\cite{Roddie2019,Dwarshuis2017,Wang2016, Piscopo2017, Bashour2015}.
These strategies overlook many of the signaling components present in the
secondary lymphoid organs where T cells expand \invivo{}. Typically, T cells are
activated under close cell-cell contact, which allows for efficient
autocrine/paracrine signaling via growth-stimulating cytokines such as
\gls{il2}. Additionally, the lymphoid tissues are comprised of \gls{ecm}
components such as collagen, which provide signals to upregulate proliferation,
cytokine production, and pro-survival pathways\cite{Gendron2003, Ohtani2008,
Boisvert2007, Ben-Horin2004}. We hypothesized that culture conditions that
better mimic these \invivo{} expansion conditions of T cells, can significantly
improve the quality and quantity of manufactured T cells and provide better
control on the resulting T cell phenotype.
% TODO mention the Cloudz stuff that's in my presentation
A variety of solutions have been proposed to make the T cell expansion process
more physiological. One strategy is to use modified feeder cell cultures to
provide activation signals similar to those of \glspl{dc}\cite{Forget2014}.
While this has the theoretical capacity to mimic many components of the lymph
node, it is hard to reproduce on a large scale due to the complexity and
inherent variability of using cell lines in a fully \gls{gmp}-compliant manner.
Others have proposed biomaterials-based solutions to circumvent this problem,
including lipid-coated microrods\cite{Cheung2018}, 3D-scaffolds via either
Matrigel\cite{Rio2018} or 3d-printed lattices\cite{Delalat2017}, ellipsoid
beads\cite{meyer15_immun}, and \gls{mab}-conjugated \gls{pdms}
beads\cite{Lambert2017} that respectively recapitulate the cellular membrane,
large interfacial contact area, 3D-structure, or soft surfaces T cells normally
experience \invivo{}. While these have been shown to provide superior expansion
compared to traditional microbeads, none of these methods has been able to show
preferential expansion of functional naïve/memory and CD4 T cell populations.
Generally, T cells with a lower differentiation state such as naïve and memory
cells have been shown to provide superior anti-tumor potency, presumably due to
their higher potential to replicate, migrate, and engraft, leading to a
long-term, durable response\cite{Xu2014, Fraietta2018, Gattinoni2011,
Gattinoni2012}. Likewise, CD4 T cells are similarly important to anti-tumor
potency due to their cytokine release properties and ability to resist
exhaustion\cite{Wang2018, Yang2017}. Therefore, methods to increase naïve/memory
and CD4 T cells in the final product are needed, a critical consideration being
ease of translation to industry and ability to interface with scalable systems
such as bioreactors.
% TODO probably need to address some of the modeling stuff here as well
This thesis describes a novel degradable microscaffold-based method derived from
porous microcarriers functionalized with \anticd{3} and \anticd{28} \glspl{mab}
for use in T cell expansion cultures. Microcarriers have historically been used
throughout the bioprocess industry for adherent cultures such as stem cells and
\gls{cho} cells, but not with suspension cells such as T
cells\cite{Heathman2015, Sart2011}. The microcarriers chosen to make the DMSs in
this study have a microporous structure that allows T cells to grow inside and
along the surface, providing ample cell-cell contact for enhanced autocrine and
paracrine signaling. Furthermore, the carriers are composed of gelatin, which is
a collagen derivative and therefore has adhesion domains that are also present
within the lymph nodes. Finally, the 3D surface of the carriers provides a
larger contact area for T cells to interact with the \glspl{mab} relative to
beads; this may better emulate the large contact surface area that occurs
between T cells and \glspl{dc}. These microcarriers are readily available in
over 30 countries and are used in an FDA fast-track-approved combination retinal
pigment epithelial cell product (Spheramine, Titan Pharmaceuticals) {\#}[Purcell
documentation]. This regulatory history will aid in clinical translation. We
show that compared to traditional microbeads, \gls{dms}-expanded T cells not
only provide superior expansion, but consistently provide a higher frequency of
naïve/memory and CD4 T cells (CCR7+CD62L+) across multiple donors. We also
demonstrate functional cytotoxicity using a CD19 \gls{car} and a superior
performance, even at a lower \gls{car} T cell dose, of \gls{dms}-expanded
\gls{car}-T cells \invivo{} in a mouse xenograft model of human B cell
\gls{all}. Our results indicate that \glspl{dms} provide a robust and scalable
platform for manufacturing therapeutic T cells with higher naïve/memory
phenotype and more balanced CD4+ T cell content.
\section*{hypothesis}
The hypothesis of this dissertation was that using \glspl{dms} created from
off-the-shelf microcarriers and coated with activating \glspl{mab} would lead to
higher quantity and quality T cells as compared to state-of-the-art bead-based
expansion. The objective of this dissertation was to develop this platform, test
its effectiveness both \invivo{} and \invivo{}, and develop computational
pipelines that could be used in a manufacturing environment.
\section*{specific aims}
The specific aims of this dissertation are outlined in
\cref{fig:graphical_overview}.
\begin{figure*}[ht!]
\begingroup
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{example-image-a}
\endgroup
\caption[Project Overview]{High-level workflow.}
\label{fig:graphical_overview}
\end{figure*}
\subsection*{aim 1: develop and optimize a novel T cell expansion process that
mimics key components of the lymph nodes}
% TODO this might be easier to break apart in separate aims
In this first aim, we demonstrated the process for manufacturing \glspl{dms},
including quality control steps that are necessary for translation of this
platform into a scalable manufacturing setting. We also demonstrate that the
\gls{dms} platform leads to higher overall expansion of T cells and higher
overall fractions of potent memory and CD4+ subtypes desired for T cell
therapies. Finally, we demonstrate \invitro{} that the \gls{dms} platform can be
used to generate functional \gls{car} T cells targeted toward CD19.
\subsection*{aim 2: develop methods to control and predict T cell quality}
For this second aim, we investigated methods to identify and control \glspl{cqa}
and glspl{cpp} for manufacturing T cells using the \gls{dms} platform. This was
accomplished through two sub-aims:
\begin{itemize}
\item[A --] Develop computational methods to control and predict T cell
expansion and quality
\item[B --] Perturb \gls{dms} expansion to identify additional mechanistic
controls for expansion and quality
\end{itemize}
\subsection*{aim 3: confirm potency of T cells from novel T cell expansion
process using \invivo{} xenograft mouse model}
In this final aim, we demonstrate the effectiveness of \gls{dms}-expanded T
cells compared to state-of-the-art beads using \invivo{} mouse models for
\gls{all}.
\section*{outline}
In Chapter~\ref{background}, we provide additional background on the current
state of T cell manufacturing and how the work in this dissertation moves the
field forward. In Chapters~\ref{aim1},~\ref{aim2}, and~\ref{aim3} we present the
work pertaining to Aims 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Finally, we present our final
conclusions in Chapter~\ref{conclusions}.
\chapter{background and significance}\label{background}
\section*{background}
% TODO break this apart into mfg tech and T cell phenotypes/quality
% TODO consider adding a separate section on microcarriers and their use in
% bioprocess
% TODO add stuff about T cell licensing
\subsection*{current T cell manufacturing technologies}
\Gls{car} T cell therapy has received great interest from both academia and
industry due to its potential to treat cancer and other
diseases\cite{Fesnak2016, Rosenberg2015}. In 2017, Novartis and Kite Pharma
acquired FDA approval for \textit{Kymriah} and \textit{Yescarta} respectively,
two \gls{car} T cell therapies against B cell malignancies. Despite these
successes, \gls{car} T cell therapies are constrained by an expensive and
difficult-to-scale manufacturing process\cite{Roddie2019, Dwarshuis2017}.
Of critical concern, state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques focus only on
Signal 1 and Signal 2-based activation via anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 \glspl{mab},
typically presented on a microbead (Invitrogen Dynabead, Miltenyi MACS beads) or
nanobead (Miltenyi TransACT), but also in soluble forms in the case of antibody
tetramers (Expamer)\cite{Wang2016, Piscopo2017, Roddie2019, Bashour2015}. These
strategies overlook many of the signaling components present in the secondary
lymphoid organs where T cells normally expand. Typically, T cells are activated
under close cell-cell contact via \glspl{apc} such as \glspl{dc}, which present
peptide-\glspl{mhc} to T cells as well as a variety of other costimulatory
signals. These close quarters allow for efficient autocrine/paracrine signaling
among the expanding T cells, which secrete gls{il2} and other cytokines to
assist their own growth. Additionally, the lymphoid tissues are comprised of
\gls{ecm} components such as collagen, which provide signals to upregulate
proliferation, cytokine production, and pro-survival pathways\cite{Gendron2003,
Ohtani2008, Boisvert2007, Ben-Horin2004}.
A variety of solutions have been proposed to make the T cell expansion process
more physiological. One strategy is to use modified feeder cell cultures to
provide activation signals similar to those of \glspl{dc}\cite{Forget2014}.
While this has the theoretical capacity to mimic several key components of the
lymph node, it is hard to reproduce on a large scale due to the complexity and
inherent variability of using cell lines in a fully \gls{gmp}-compliant manner.
Others have proposed biomaterials-based solutions to circumvent this problem,
including lipid-coated microrods\cite{Cheung2018}, 3D-scaffolds via either
Matrigel\cite{Rio2018} or 3d-printed lattices\cite{Delalat2017}, ellipsoid
beads\cite{meyer15_immun}, and \gls{mab}-conjugated \gls{pdms}
beads\cite{Lambert2017} that respectively recapitulate the cellular membrane,
large interfacial contact area, 3D-structure, or soft surfaces T cells normally
experience \textit{in vivo}. While these have been shown to provide superior
expansion compared to traditional microbeads, no method has been able to show
preferential expansion of functional memory and CD4 T cell populations.
Generally, T cells with a lower differentiation state such as memory cells have
been shown to provide superior anti-tumor potency, presumably due to their
higher potential to replicate, migrate, and engraft, leading to a long-term,
durable response\cite{Xu2014, Gattinoni2012, Fraietta2018, Gattinoni2011}.
Likewise, CD4 T cells are similarly important to anti-tumor potency due to their
cytokine release properties and ability to resist exhaustion\cite{Wang2018,
Yang2017}, and no method exists to preferentially expand the CD4 population
compared to state-of-the-art systems.
Here we propose a method using microcarriers functionalized with anti-CD3 and
anti-CD28 \glspl{mab} for use in T cell expansion cultures. Microcarriers have
historically been used throughout the bioprocess industry for adherent cultures
such as stem cells and \gls{cho} cells, but not with suspension cells such as T
cells\cite{Heathman2015, Sart2011}. The carriers have a macroporous structure
that allows T cells to grow inside and along the surface, providing ample
cell-cell contact for enhanced autocrine and paracrine signaling. Furthermore,
the carriers are composed of gelatin, which is a collagen derivative and
therefore has adhesion domains that are also present within the lymph nodes.
Finally, the 3D surface of the carriers provides a larger contact area for T
cells to interact with the \glspl{mab} relative to beads; this may better
emulate the large contact surface area that occurs between T cells and
\glspl{dc}.
\subsection*{strategies to optimize cell manufacturing}
The \gls{dms} system has a number of parameters that can be optimized, and a
\gls{doe} is an ideal framework to test multiple parameters simultaneously. The
goal of \gls{doe} is to answer a data-driven question with the least number of
resources. It was developed in many non-biological industries throughout the
\nth{20} century such as the automotive and semiconductor industries where
engineers needed to minimize downtime and resource consumption on full-scale
production lines.
% TODO add a bit more about the math of a DOE here
\Glspl{doe} served three purposes in this dissertation. First, we used them as
screening tools, which allowed us to test many input parameters and filter out
the few that likely have the greatest effect on the response. Second, they were
used to make a robust response surface model to predict optimums using
relatively few resources, especially compared to full factorial or
one-factor-at-a-time approaches. Third, we used \glspl{doe} to discover novel
effects and interactions that generated hypotheses that could influence the
directions for future work.
\subsection*{strategies to characterize cell manufacturing}
A number of multiomics strategies exist which can generate rich datasets for T
cells. We will consider several multiomics strategies within this proposal:
\begin{description}
\item[Luminex:] A multiplexed bead-based \gls{elisa} that can measure
many bulk (not single cell) cytokine concentrations simultaneously
in a media sample. Since this only requires media (as opposed to
destructively measuring cells) we will use this as a longitudinal
measurement.
\item[Metabolomics:] It is well known that T cells of different
lineages have different metabolic profiles; for instance memory T
cells have larger aerobic capacity and fatty acid
oxidation\cite{Buck2016, van_der_Windt_2012}. We will interrogate
key metabolic species using \gls{nmr} in collaboration with the
Edison Lab at the University of Georgia. This will be both a
longitudinal assay using media samples (since some metabolites may
be expelled from cells that are indicative of their phenotype) and
at endpoint where we will lyse the cells and interogate their entire
metabolome.
\item[Flow and Mass Cytometry:] Flow cytometry using fluorophores has been used
extensively for immune cell analysis, but has a practical limit of
approximately 18 colors\cite{Spitzer2016}. Mass cytometry is analogous to
traditional flow cytometry except that it uses heavy-metal \gls{mab}
conjugates, which has a practical limit of over 50 markers. This will be
useful in determining precise subpopulations and phenotypes that may be
influencing responses, especially when one considers that many cell types can
be defined by more than one marker combination. We will perform this at
endpoint. While mass cytometry is less practical than simple flow cytometers
such as the BD Accuri, we may find that only a few markers are required to
accurately predict performance, and thus this could easily translate to
industry using relatively cost-effective equipment.
\end{description}
% TODO add a computational section
% TODO add a section explaining causal inference since this is a big part of
% the end of aim 1
\section{Innovation}
\subsection{Innovation}
Several aspects of this work are novel considering the state-of-the-art
technology for T cell manufacturing:
\begin{itemize}
\item \Glspl{dms} offers a compelling alternative to state-of-the-art magnetic
bead technologies (e.g. DynaBeads, MACS-Beads), which is noteworthy because
the licenses for these techniques is controlled by only a few companies
(Invitrogen and Miltenyi respectively). Because of this, bead-based expansion
is more expensive to implement and therefore hinders companies from entering
the rapidly growing T cell manufacturing arena. Providing an alternative as we
are doing will add more options, increase competition among both raw material
and T cell manufacturers, and consequently drive down cell therapy market
prices and increase innovation throughout the industry.
\item This is the first technology for T cell immunotherapies that selectively
expands memory T cell populations with greater efficiency relative to
bead-based expansion Others have demonstrated methods that can achieve greater
expansion of T cells, but not necessarily specific populations that are known
to be potent.
\item We propose to optimize our systems using \gls{doe} methodology, which is a
strategy commonly used in other industries and disciplines but has yet to gain
wide usage in the development of cell therapies. \Glspl{doe} are advantageous
as they allow the inspection of multiple parameters simultaneously, allowing
efficient and comprehensive analysis of the system vs a one-factor-at-a-time
approach. We believe this method is highly relevant to the development of cell
therapies, not only for process optimization but also hypotheses generation.
Of further note, most \textit{in vivo} experiments are not done using a
\gls{doe}-based approach; however, a \gls{doe} is perfectly natural for a
large mouse study where one naturally desires to use as few animals as
possible.
\item The \gls{dms} system is be compatible with static bioreactors such as the
G-Rex which has been adopted throughout the cell therapy industry. Thus this
technology can be easily incorporated into existing cell therapy process that
are performed at scale.
\item We analyzed our system using a multiomics approach, which will enable the
discovery of novel biomarkers to be used as \glspl{cqa}. While this approach
has been applied to T cells previously, it has not been done in the context of
a large \gls{doe}-based model. This approach is aware of the whole design
space, and thus enables greater understanding of process parameters and their
effect on cell phenotype.
\end{itemize}
\chapter{aim 1}\label{aim1}
\section{introduction}
The first aim was to develop a microcarrier system that mimics several key
aspects of the \invivo{} lymph node microenvironment. We compared compare this
system to state-of-the-art T cell activation technologies for both expansion
potential and memory cell formation. The governing hypothesis was that
microcarriers functionalized with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 \glspl{mab} will
provide superior expansion and memory phenotype compared to state-of-the-art
bead-based T cell expansion technology.
% TODO this doesn't flow that well and is repetitive with what comes above
Microcarriers have been used throughout the bioprocess industry for adherent
cell cultures such as \gls{cho} cells and stem cells, as they are able to
achieve much greater surface area per unit volume than traditional 2D
cultures\cite{Heathman2015, Sart2011}. Adding adhesive \glspl{mab} to the
microcarriers will adapt them for suspension cell cultures such as T cells.
Consequently, the large macroporous structure will allow T cells to cluster more
closely, which in turn will enable better autocrine and paracrine signaling.
Specifically, two cytokines that are secreted by T cells, IL-2 and IL-15, are
known to drive expansion and memory phenotype respectively\cite{Buck2016}.
Therefore, the proposed microcarrier system should enable greater expansion and
better retention of memory phenotype compared to current bead-based methods.
\section{methods}
\subsection{dms functionalization}
Gelatin microcarriers (\gls{cus} or \gls{cug}, GE Healthcare, DG-2001-OO and
DG-0001-OO) were suspended at \SI{20}{\mg\per\ml} in 1X \gls{pbs} and
autoclaved. All subsequent steps were done aseptically, and all reactions were
carried out at \SI{20}{\mg\per\ml} carriers at room temperature and agitated
using an orbital shaker with a \SI{3}{\mm} orbit diameter. After autoclaving,
the microcarriers were washed using sterile \gls{pbs} three times in a 10:1
volume ratio. \gls{snb} (Thermo Fisher 21217) was dissolved at approximately
\SI{10}{\micro\molar} in sterile ultrapure water, and the true concentration was
then determined using the \gls{haba} assay (see below).
\SI{5}{\ul\of{\ab}\per\mL} \gls{pbs} was added to carrier suspension and allowed
to react for \SI{60}{\minute} at \SI{700}{\rpm} of agitation. After the
reaction, the amount of biotin remaining in solution was quantified using the
\gls{haba} assay (see below). The carriers were then washed three times, which
entailed adding sterile \gls{pbs} in a 10:1 volumetric ratio, agitating at
\SI{900}{\rpm} for \SI{10}{\minute}, adding up to a 15:1 volumetric ratio
(relative to reaction volume) of sterile \gls{pbs}, centrifuging at
\SI{1000}{\gforce} for \SI{1}{\minute}, and removing all liquid back down to the
reaction volume.
To coat with \gls{stp}, \SI{40}{\ug\per\mL} \gls{stp} (Jackson Immunoresearch
016-000-114) was added and allowed to react for \SI{60}{\minute} at
\SI{700}{RPM} of agitation. After the reaction, supernatant was taken for the
\gls{bca} assay, and the carriers were washed analogously to the previous wash
step to remove the biotin, except two washes were done and the agitation time
was \SI{30}{\minute}. Biotinylated \glspl{mab} against human CD3 (Biolegend
317320) and CD28 (Biolegend 302904) were combined in a 1:1 mass ratio and added
to the carriers at \SI{0.2}{\ug\of{\ab}\per\mg\of{\dms}}. Along with the
\glspl{mab}, sterile \gls{bsa} (Sigma A9576) was added to a final concentration
of \SI{2}{\percent} in order to prevent non-specific binding of the antibodies
to the reaction tubes. \glspl{mab} were allowed to bind to the carriers for
\SI{60}{\minute} with \SI{700}{\rpm} agitation. After binding, supernatants were
sampled to quantify remaining antibody concentration using an \anti{\gls{igg}}
\gls{elisa} kit (Abcam 157719). Fully functionalized \glspl{dms} were washed in
sterile \gls{pbs} analogous to the previous washing step to remove excess
\gls{stp}. They were washed once again in the cell culture media to be used for
the T cell expansion.
The concentration of the final \gls{dms} suspension was found by taking a
\SI{50}{\uL} sample, plating in a well, and imaging the entire well. The image
was then manually counted to obtain a concentration. Surface area for
\si{\ab\per\um\squared} was calculated using the properties for \gls{cus} and
\gls{cug} as given by the manufacturer {Table X}.
%TODO this bit belongs in the next aim
% In the case of the \gls{doe} experiment where
% variable mAb surface density was utilized, the anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAb mixture
% was further combined with a biotinylated isotype control to reduce the overall
% fraction of targeted mAbs (for example the 60\% mAb surface density corresponded
% to 3 mass parts anti-CD3, 3 mass parts anti-CD8, and 4 mass parts isotype
% control).
\subsection{dms quality control assays}
Biotin was quantified using the \gls{haba} assay (\gls{haba}/avidin premix from
Sigma as product H2153-1VL). In the case of quantifying sulfo-NHS-biotin prior
to adding it to the microcarriers, the sample volume was quenched in a 1:1
volumetric ratio with \SI{1}{\molar} NaOH and allowed to react for
\SI{1}{\minute} in order to prevent the reactive ester linkages from binding to
the avidin proteins in the \gls{haba}/avidin premix. All quantifications of
\gls{haba} were performed on an Eppendorf D30 Spectrophotometer using \SI{70}{\ul}
uCuvettes (BrandTech 759200). The extinction coefficient at \SI{500}{\nm} for
\gls{haba}/avidin was assumed to be \SI{34000}{\per\cm\per\molar}.
\gls{stp} binding to the carriers was quantified indirectly using a \gls{bca}
kit (Thermo Fisher 23227) according to the manufacturer’s instructions, with the
exception that the standard curve was made with known concentrations of purified
\gls{stp} instead of \gls{bsa}. Absorbance at \SI{592}{\nm} was
quantified using a Biotek plate reader.
\Gls{mab} binding to the microcarriers was quantified indirectly using an
\gls{elisa} assay per the manufacturer’s instructions, with the exception that
the same antibodies used to coat the carriers were used as the standard for the
\gls{elisa} standard curve.
Open biotin binding sites on the \glspl{dms} after \gls{stp} coating was
quantified indirectly using FITC-biotin (Thermo Fisher B10570). Briefly,
\SI{400}{\pmol\per\ml} FITC-biotin were added to \gls{stp}-coated carriers and
allowed to react for 20 min at room temperature under constant agitation. The
supernatant was quantified against a standard curve of FITC-biotin using a
Biotek plate reader.
\Gls{stp} binding was verified after the \gls{stp}-binding step visually by
adding biotin-FITC to the \gls{stp}-coated \glspl{dms}, resuspending in 1\%
agarose gel, and imaging on a lightsheet microscope (Zeiss Z.1). \Gls{mab}
binding was verified visually by first staining with \anti{gls{igg}}-FITC
(Biolegend 406001), incubating for \SI{30}{\minute}, washing with \gls{pbs}, and
imaging on a confocal microscope.
\subsection{t cell culture}
Cryopreserved primary human T cells were either obtained as sorted CD3
subpopulations (Astarte Biotech) or isolated from \glspl{pbmc} (Zenbio) using a
negative selection \gls{macs} kit for the CD3 subset (Miltenyi Biotech
130-096-535). T cells were activated using \glspl{dms} or \SI{3.5}{\um} CD3/CD28
magnetic beads (Miltenyi Biotech 130-091-441). In the case of beads, T cells
were activated at the manufacturer recommended cell:bead ratio of 2:1. In the
case of \glspl{dms}, cells were activated using \SI{2500}{\dms\per\cm\squared}
unless otherwise noted. Initial cell density was
\SIrange{2e6}{2.5e6}{\cell\per\ml} to in a 96 well plate with \SI{300}{\ul}
volume. All media was serum-free Cell Therapy Systems OpTmizer (Thermo Fisher)
or TexMACS (Miltentyi Biotech 170-076-307) supplemented with
\SIrange{100}{400}{\IU\per\ml} \gls{rhil2} (Peprotech 200-02). Cell cultures
were expanded for \SI{14}{\day} as counted from the time of initial seeding and
activation. Cell counts and viability were assessed using trypan blue or
\gls{aopi} and a Countess Automated Cell Counter (Thermo Fisher). Media was
added to cultures every \SIrange{2}{3}{\day} depending on media color or a
\SI{300}{\mg\per\deci\liter} minimum glucose threshold. Media glucose was
measured using a ChemGlass glucometer.
% this belongs in aim 2
% In order to remove \glspl{dms} from
% culture, collagenase D (Sigma Aldrich) was sterile filtered in culture media and
% added to a final concentration of \SI{50}{\ug\per\ml} during media addition.
Cells on the \glspl{dms} were visualized by adding \SI{0.5}{\ul} \gls{stp}-PE
(Biolegend 405204) and \SI{2}{ul} anti-CD45-AF647 (Biolegend 368538), incubating
for an hour, and imaging on a spinning disk confocal microscope.
\subsection{chemotaxis assay}
Migratory function was assayed using a transwell chemotaxis assay as previously
described62. Briefly, \SI{3e5}{\cell} were loaded into a transwell plate
(\SI{5}{\um} pore size, Corning) with the basolateral chamber loaded with
\SI{600}{\ul} media and 0, 250, or \SI{1000}{\ng\per\mL} CCL21 (Peprotech
250-13). The plate was incubated for \SI{4}{\hour} after loading, and the
basolateral chamber of each transwell was quantified for total cells using
countbright beads (Thermo Fisher C36950). The final readout was normalized using
the \SI{0}{\ng\per\mL} concentration as background.
\subsection{degranulation assay}
Cytotoxicity of expanded CAR T cells was assessed using a degranulation assay as
previously described63. Briefly, \num{3e5} T cells were incubated with
\num{1.5e5} target cells consisting of either K562 wild type cells (ATCC) or
CD19- expressing K562 cells transformed with \gls{crispr} (kindly provided by Dr.\
Yvonne Chen, UCLA)64. Cells were seeded in a flat bottom 96 well plate with
\SI{1}{\ug\per\ml} anti-CD49d (eBioscience 16-0499-81), \SI{2}{\micro\molar}
monensin (eBioscience 00-4505-51), and \SI{1}{\ug\per\ml} anti-CD28 (eBioscience
302914) (all \glspl{mab} functional grade) with \SI{250}{\ul} total volume.
After \SI{4}{\hour} incubation at \SI{37}{\degreeCelsius}, cells were stained
for CD3, CD4, and CD107a and analyzed on a BD LSR Fortessa. Readout was
calculated as the percent \cdp{107a} cells of the total CD8 fraction.
\subsection{car expression}
% TODO add acronym for PE
\gls{car} expression was quantified as previously described65. Briefly, cells
were washed once and stained with biotinylated Protein L (Thermo Fisher 29997).
After a subsequent wash, cells were stained with PE-\gls{stp} (Biolegend
405204), washed again, and analyzed on a BD Accuri. Readout was percent PE+
cells as compared to secondary controls (PE-\gls{stp} with no Protein L).
\subsection{car plasmid and lentiviral transduction}
The anti-CD19-CD8-CD137-CD3z \gls{car} with the EF1$\upalpha$ promotor29 was
synthesized (Aldevron) and subcloned into a FUGW lentiviral transfer plasmid
(Emory Viral Vector Core). Lentiviral vectors were synthesized by the Emory
Viral Vector Core or the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Viral
Vector Core. To transduce primary human T cells, retronectin (Takara T100A) was
coated onto non-TC treated 96 well plates and used to immobilize lentiviral
vector particles according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly,
retronectin solution was adsorbed overnight at \SI{4}{\degreeCelsius} and
blocked the next day using \gls{bsa}. Prior to transduction, lentiviral
supernatant was spinoculated at \SI{2000}{\gforce} for \SI{2}{\hour} at
\SI{4}{\degreeCelsius}. T cells were activated in 96 well plates using beads or
DMSs for \SI{24}{\hour}, and then cells and beads/\glspl{dms} were transferred
onto lentiviral vector coated plates and incubated for another \SI{24}{\hour}.
Cells and beads/\glspl{dms} were removed from the retronectin plates using
vigorous pipetting and transferred to another 96 well plate wherein expansion
continued.
% TODO add statistics section (anova, regression, and causal inference)
\section{results}
\section{discussion}
\chapter{aim 2}\label{aim2}
\section{introduction}
\section{methods}
\section{results}
\section{discussion}
\chapter{aim 3}\label{aim3}
\section{introduction}
\section{methods}
\section{results}
\section{discussion}
\chapter{conclusions and future work}\label{conclusions}
\section{conclusions}
\section{future work}
\onecolumn
\clearpage
% TODO some people put appendices here....not sure if I need to
\chapter{References}
\renewcommand{\section}[2]{} % noop the original bib section header
\bibliography{references}
\bibliographystyle{naturemag}
\end{document}
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