Imaging of Sleeping Beauty-Modified CD19-Specific T Cells Expressing HSV1-Thymidine Kinase by Positron Emission Tomography

Amer M. Najjar, Pallavi R. Manuri, Simon Olivares, Leo Flores, Tiejuan Mi, Helen Huls, Elizabeth J. Shpall, Richard E. Champlin, Nashaat Turkman, Vincenzo Paolillo, Jason Roszik, Brian Rabinovich, Dean A. Lee, Mian Alauddin, Juri Gelovani, Laurence J.N. Cooper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: We have incorporated a positron emission tomography (PET) functionality in T cells expressing a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to non-invasively monitor the adoptively transferred cells. Procedures: We engineered T cells to express CD19-specific CAR, firefly luciferase (ffLuc), and herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (TK) using the non-viral-based Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon/transposase system adapted for human application. Electroporated primary T cells were propagated on CD19+ artificial antigen-presenting cells. Results: After 4 weeks, 90 % of cultured cells exhibited specific killing of CD19+ targets in vitro, could be ablated by ganciclovir, and were detected in vivo by bioluminescent imaging and PET following injection of 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-5-ethyl-1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl-uracil ([18F]FEAU). Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating the use of SB transposition to generate T cells which may be detected using PET laying the foundation for imaging the distribution and trafficking of T cells in patients treated for B cell malignancies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)838-848
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular Imaging and Biology
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Keywords

  • B cell malignancy
  • Chimeric antigen receptor
  • Immunotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Facility
  • Research Animal Support Facility
  • Small Animal Imaging Facility

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