Figure S11 from Type I Interferon Signaling via the EGR2 Transcriptional Regulator Potentiates CAR T Cell–Intrinsic Dysfunction

Jung, In-Young; Bartoszek, Robert L.; Rech, Andrew J.; Collins, Sierra M.; Ooi, Soon-Keat; Williams, Erik F.; Hopkins, Caitlin R.; Narayan, Vivek; Haas, Naomi B.; Frey, Noelle V.; Hexner, Elizabeth O.; Siegel, Donald L.; Plesa, Gabriela; Porter, David L.; Cantu, Adrian; Everett, John K.; Guedan, Sonia; Berger, Shelley L.; Bushman, Frederic D.; Herbst, Friederike; Fraietta, Joseph A.

doi:10.1158/2159-8290.23391326.v1

cd-22-1175_figure_s11_suppsf11.pdf (1.61 MB)

Figure S11 from Type I Interferon Signaling via the EGR2 Transcriptional Regulator Potentiates CAR T Cell–Intrinsic Dysfunction

journal contribution

posted on 2023-06-08, 13:40 authored by In-Young Jung, Robert L. Bartoszek, Andrew J. Rech, Sierra M. Collins, Soon-Keat Ooi, Erik F. Williams, Caitlin R. Hopkins, Vivek Narayan, Naomi B. Haas, Noelle V. Frey, Elizabeth O. Hexner, Donald L. Siegel, Gabriela Plesa, David L. Porter, Adrian Cantu, John K. Everett, Sonia Guedan, Shelley L. Berger, Frederic D. Bushman, Friederike Herbst, Joseph A. Fraietta

Analysis of survival outcomes and EGR2 gene expression in CD19 CAR T-cell products. The figure presents the P values and hazard ratio of different EGR2 molecular marker stratification points in relation to A, overall survival and B, event-free survival The black arrows indicate the stratification points used in the study. C, EGR2-targeted gene expression scores in CD19 CAR T-cell products from responders and non-responders in pediatric ALL. D, Summary of how EGR2 regulates resistance to CAR T-cell therapy through the type I IFN pathway.

History

ARTICLE ABSTRACT

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown promise in treating hematologic cancers, but resistance is common and efficacy is limited in solid tumors. We found that CAR T cells autonomously propagate epigenetically programmed type I interferon signaling through chronic stimulation, which hampers antitumor function. EGR2 transcriptional regulator knockout not only blocks this type I interferon–mediated inhibitory program but also independently expands early memory CAR T cells with improved efficacy against liquid and solid tumors. The protective effect of EGR2 deletion in CAR T cells against chronic antigen-induced exhaustion can be overridden by interferon-β exposure, suggesting that EGR2 ablation suppresses dysfunction by inhibiting type I interferon signaling. Finally, a refined EGR2 gene signature is a biomarker for type I interferon–associated CAR T cell failure and shorter patient survival. These findings connect prolonged CAR T cell activation with deleterious immunoinflammatory signaling and point to an EGR2–type I interferon axis as a therapeutically amenable biological system. To improve CAR T cell therapy outcomes, modulating molecular determinants of CAR T cell–intrinsic resistance is crucial. Editing the gene encoding the EGR2 transcriptional regulator renders CAR T cells impervious to type I interferon pathway–induced dysfunction and improves memory differentiation, thereby addressing major barriers to progress for this emerging class of cancer immunotherapies.