T Cell Genesis: In Vitro Veritas Est?. Issue 12 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brauer, Patrick M.; Singh, Jastaranpreet; Xhiku, Sintia; Zúñiga-Pflücker, Juan Carlos
• Is Part Of: Trends in immunology. Volume 37:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: 889
• Page End: 901
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; 571.96
• DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2016.09.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4906

Abstract

Abstract : T cells, as orchestrators of the adaptive immune response, serve important physiological and potentially therapeutic roles, for example in cancer immunotherapy. T cells are readily isolated from patients; however, the yield of antigen-specific T cells is limited, thus making their clinical use challenging. Therefore, the generation of T lymphocytes from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in vitro provides an attractive method for the large-scale production and genetic manipulation of T cells. In this review, we discuss recent strategies for the generation of T cells from human HSPCs and PSCs in vitro . Continued advancement in the generation of human T cells in vitro will expand their benefits and therapeutic potential in the clinic. Trends: The generation of T cells in vitro is an attractive tool to produce therapeutic agents in cancer immunotherapy and immunodeficiencies. Better in vitro 3D, 2D, and particularly feeder-free systems could provide clinically relevant methods to generate and expand T cells for therapeutic applications. Injection of T cell progenitors may enhance the production of new donor-derived T cells following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Genetic engineering of patient-derived or induced PSC (iPSC)-derived T cells with chimeric antigen receptors specific for tumor antigens has shown remarkable clinical promise in cancer immunotherapy. Autologous cell types, such as iPSCs, may overcome histocompatibility issues, although their potential to generate T cells is currently limited.