855 Diacylglycerol kinase alpha and zeta dual inhibitors enhance T cell responses and promote robust and durable anti-tumor T cell immunity

• Published in: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 2022-11, Vol.10 (Suppl 2), p.A894-A894
• Main Authors: Steinberg, Marcos, Spasova, Darina, Eto, Danelle, Pferdekamper, AnneMarie, Nguyen, Phuong, Le, Brian, Naiman, Zachary, Murphy, Susan, Gozo, Maricel, Skipper, James, Taylor Ismaili, Liu, Xikui, Sahdeo, Sunil, Hu, Xiao, Isharat Yusuf, Kristen Taylor Meadows, Carter, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CRISPR; Immunotherapy; Lymphocytes; Peptides
• ISSN: 2051-1426
• DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-SITC2022.0855

BackgroundDiacylglycerol kinases (DGK) convert diacylglycerol (DAG) into phosphatidic acid which limits DAG-induced propagation of T cell activation.1 T cells predominantly express DGK alpha and DGK zeta isoforms (DGKalpha/zeta),2 and deletion of either enhances T cell activation and function.3,4 DGKalpha/zeta are overexpressed in tumor infiltrating T cells and may limit the anti-tumor activity of these cells.5 Thus, inhibition of DGKalpha/zeta is a potential therapeutic avenue to enhance T cell anti-tumor responses. We demonstrate that inhibition of DGKalpha/zeta with novel dual DGKalpha/zeta inhibitors (DGKi) enhances anti-tumor T cell activity.MethodsThe role of DGKalpha/zeta in T cell activation was studied using wildtype and CRISPR-knockout T cells. In vitro studies assessing the effect of DGKi were conducted using various mouse and human T cell functional assays. T cell exhaustion studies were performed in T cells from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) clone 13-infected mice. In vivo activity of DGKi was assessed by measuring T cell activation in OT-I mice challenged with OVA-peptides. Efficacy studies and memory rechallenge experiments were performed in the MC38 syngeneic tumor model.ResultsCRISPR knockout studies characterizing the role of DGKalpha/zeta on T cells demonstrated that both isoforms regulate T cell activation and function. DGKi enhanced IFN gamma production by human melanoma-specific T cells stimulated with the weak affinity MART1 antigen. Similarly, treatment of mouse OT-I cells with DGKi enhanced responses to low-affinity OVA-peptides and OT-I-mediated cytotoxicity of MC38-OVA tumor cells. Treatment of exhausted CD8 T cells with DGKi reverted exhaustion caused by chronic LCMV infection, and enhanced T cell function with PDL1 blockade. DGKi rescued cytokine release from T cells suppressed by adenosine, TGF beta or PGE2 treatment. Oral administration of DGKi resulted in dose-dependent increase in T cell activation in mice. Furthermore, DGKi in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy was efficacious in the MC38 model with complete tumor regressions in treated animals. These mice eradicated tumors upon rechallenge with MC38 cells two months later, demonstrating durable anti-tumor memory responses.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that DGKalpha/zeta negatively regulates T cell activity. Dual DGKalpha/zeta inhibition restores T cell responses to weak tumor antigens, overcomes cell exhaustion, and enhances CD8 T cell cytotoxic activity. In vivo