Gene editing ofCD3 epsilongene to redirect regulatory T cells for adoptive T cell transfer

Abstract

Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a promising strategy to combat immunopathologies in transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Antigen-specific Tregs are more effective in modulating undesired immune reactions, but their low frequency in peripheral blood poses challenges for manufacturing and their clinical application. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to redirect T-cell specificity have been applied to Tregs using retroviral vectors. However, retroviral gene transfer is costly, time consuming, and raises safety issues. Here, we explored non-viral gene editing to redirect Tregs with CARs, using HLA-A2-specific constructs for proof-of-concept studies in transplantation models. We introduce a virus-free CRISPR-Cas12a approach to integrate an antigen-binding domain into theCD3 epsilon(CD3ϵ) gene, generating Tregs expressing a T cell receptor fusion construct (TruC). TheseCD3ϵ-TruC Tregs exhibit potent antigen-dependent activation while maintaining responsiveness to TCR/CD3 stimulation. This enables preferential enrichment of TruC-redirected Tregs via repetitive CD3/CD28-stimulation in a GMP-compatible expansion system. Non-viral gene editedCD3ϵ-TruC Tregs retained their canonical phenotypic, epigenetic, and functional identity. In a humanized mouse model, HLA-A2-specificCD3ϵ-TruC Tregs demonstrate superior protection of allogeneic HLA-A2+ skin grafts from rejection compared to polyclonal Tregs. This approach provides a pathway for developing clinical-gradeCD3ϵ-TruC-based Tregs cell products for transplantation immunotherapy and other immunopathologies.