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Effects of starting cellular material composition on chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell expansion and characteristics
Author(s) -
Elavia Nasha,
Panch Sandhya R.,
McManus Andrew,
Bikkani Thejaswi,
Szymanski James,
Highfill Steven L.,
Jin Ping,
Brudno Jennifer,
Kochenderfer James,
Stroncek David F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.15287
Subject(s) - cd19 , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , antigen , t cell , cd8 , cd28 , microbiology and biotechnology , cd3 , chimeric antigen receptor , t lymphocyte , chemistry , immunology , biology , immune system , in vitro , biochemistry
BACKGROUND When manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells using anti‐CD3/anti‐CD28 beads, ex vivo T‐cell expansion is dependent on the composition of leukocytes used in the manufacturing process. We investigated the effects of leukocyte composition on CAR T‐cell expansion and characteristics using an alternative manufacturing method. METHODS Anti–B‐cell maturation antigen and CD19‐CAR T cells were manufactured using autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) concentrates. The PBMNCs were enriched for lymphocytes using density gradient separation, which were used for CAR T‐cell culture initiation. T‐cell expansion was stimulated with soluble anti‐CD3 and interleukin‐2. RESULTS Fifty‐one CAR T‐cell products were evaluated; 28 anti–B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T cells produced for 24 patients and 27 CD19 CAR T cells produced for 24 patients. CAR T‐cell expansion was reduced when greater quantities of monocytes were present in the post–density gradient separation PBMNCs. In addition, the ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells in the CAR T‐cell products after 7 days of culture was dependent on the quantity of monocytes, RBCs, and neutrophils in the post–density gradient separation PBMNCs. Greater quantities of monocytes and RBCs were associated with a greater proportion of CD4+ cells and greater quantities of neutrophils were associated with a greater proportion of CD8+ cells. CONCLUSIONS The composition of leukocytes used to manufacture CAR T cells can affect cell expansion and the composition of CAR T‐cell products. More uniform or complete lymphocyte enrichment of PBMNCs improves the consistency of final CAR T‐cell products.