Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has proven effective in relapsed and refractory B-cell malignancies, but resistance and relapses still occur. Better understanding of mechanisms influencing CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and the potential for modulation using small-molecule drugs could improve current immunotherapies. Here, we systematically investigated druggable mechanisms of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity using >500 small-molecule drugs and genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screens. We identified several tyrosine kinase inhibitors that inhibit CAR T-cell cytotoxicity by impairing T-cell signaling transcriptional activity. In contrast, the apoptotic modulator drugs SMAC mimetics sensitized B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells to anti-CD19 CAR T cells. CRISPR screens identified death receptor signaling through FADD and TNFRSF10B (TRAIL-R2) as a key mediator of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and elucidated the RIPK1-dependent mechanism of sensitization by SMAC mimetics. Death receptor expression varied across genetic subtypes of B-cell malignancies, suggesting a link between mechanisms of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and cancer genetics. These results implicate death receptor signaling as an important mediator of cancer cell sensitivity to CAR T-cell cytotoxicity, with potential for pharmacological targeting to enhance cancer immunotherapy. The screening data provide a resource of immunomodulatory properties of cancer drugs and genetic mechanisms influencing CAR T-cell cytotoxicity.

Abstract. We studied the distribution of the 0/1-0/6 subunits of BI integrins in developing and adult human kidney using a panel of mAbs in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.Uninduced mesenchyme displayed a diffuse immunoreactivity for only the 0/1 integrin subunit. At the S-shaped body stage of nephron development, several of the 0/subunits were characteristically expressed in distinct fetal nephron segments, and the pattern was retained also in the adult nephron. Thus, the 0/i subunit was characteristically expressed in mesangial and endothelial cells, the 0/2 in glomerular endothelium and distal tubules, the 0/3 in podocytes, Bowman's capsule, and distal tubules, and the 0/6 subunit basally in all tubules, and only transiently in podocytes during development. Unlike the 0/3 and or6 subunits, the t~2 subunit displayed an overall cell surface distribution in distal tubules. It was also distinctly expressed in glomerular endothelia during glomerulogenesis. The B4 subunit was expressed only in fetal collecting ducts, and hence the 0/6 subunit seems to be complexed with the B1 rather than f14 subunit in human kidney. Of the two fibronectin receptor 0/subunits, 0/4 and 0/5, only the latter was expressed, confined to endothelia of developing and adult blood vessels, suggesting that these receptor complexes play a minor role during nephrogenesis.The present results suggest that distinct integrins play a role during differentiation of specific nephron segments. They also indicate that 0/3fll and otd31 integrin complexes may function as basement membrane receptors in podocytes and tubular epithelial cells.

SummaryCdc42 mediates bone resorption principally by stimulating osteoclastogenesis. Whether its sister GTPase, Rac, meaningfully impacts upon the osteoclast and, if so, by what means, is unclear. We find that whereas deletion of Rac1 or Rac2 alone has no effect, variable reduction of Rac1 in osteoclastic cells of Rac2 2/2 mice causes severe osteopetrosis. Osteoclasts lacking Rac1 and Rac2 in combination (Rac double-knockout, RacDKO), fail to effectively resorb bone. By contrast, osteoclasts are abundant in RacDKO osteopetrotic mice and, unlike those deficient in Cdc42, express the maturation markers of the cells normally. Hence, the osteopetrotic lesion of RacDKO mice largely reflects impaired function, and not arrested differentiation, of the resorptive polykaryon. The dysfunction of RacDKO osteoclasts represents failed cytoskeleton organization as evidenced by reduced motility of the cells and their inability to spread or generate the key resorptive organelles (i.e. actin rings and ruffled borders), which is accompanied by abnormal Arp3 distribution. The cytoskeleton-organizing capacity of Rac1 is mediated through its 20-amino-acid effector domain. Thus, Rac1 and Rac2 are mutually compensatory. Unlike Cdc42 deficiency, their combined absence does not impact upon differentiation but promotes severe osteopetrosis by dysregulating the osteoclast cytoskeleton.

The promising clinical effects of mesenchymal stromal/ stem cells (MSCs) rely especially on paracrine and nonimmunogenic mechanisms. Delivery routes are essential for the efficacy of cell therapy and systemic delivery by infusion is the obvious goal for many forms of MSC therapy. Lung adhesion of MSCs might, however, be a major obstacle yet to overcome. Current knowledge does not allow us to make sound conclusions whether MSC lung entrapment is harmful or beneficial, and thus we wanted to explore MSC lung adhesion in greater detail. We found a striking difference in the lung clearance rate of systemically infused MSCs derived from two different clinical sources, namely bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and umbilical cord blood (UCB-MSCs). The BM-MSCs and UCB-MSCs used in this study differed in cell size, but our results also indicated other mechanisms behind the lung adherence. A detailed analysis of the cell surface profiles revealed differences in the expression of relevant adhesion molecules. The UCB-MSCs had higher expression levels of a4 integrin (CD49d, VLA-4), a6 integrin (CD49f, VLA-6), and the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met) and a higher general fucosylation level. Strikingly, the level of CD49d and CD49f expression could be functionally linked with the lung clearance rate. Additionally, we saw a possible link between MSC lung adherence and higher fibronectin expression and we show that the expression of fibronectin increases with MSC culture confluence. Future studies should aim at developing methods of transiently modifying the cell surface structures in order to improve the delivery of therapeutic cells.

This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org Supplementary key words glycerophospholipid profi le • mesenchymal stem cell • arachidonic acid • docosahexaenoic acid • lipid signaling • mass spectrometry Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSC) are currently being studied in a number of clinical applications, for example, to improve the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cell transplant, to promote myocardial repair, and to control immunological responses in graft versus host diseases, autoimmune diseases, and solid organ transplantations ( 1-5 ). In addition to being immunologically privileged, these cells can modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses in vitro and in vivo. hMSCs have been shown to be able to inhibit T-cell proliferation, inhibit dendritic cell maturation ( 6 ), recruit regulatory T-cells ( 7,8 ), and modulate B-cell functions ( 9 ). The mechanisms by which these cells exert their immune modulatory functions are still unclear, but it is likely that both direct cell-cell contacts and the secretion of soluble factors are needed. Several cytokines, growth factors, enzymes, and lipid mediators, such as transforming growth factor ␤ 1, the