Adenovirus-mediated delivery of the MHC-II Transactivator CIITA gene induces tumor cell killing in immunocompetent glioblastoma organoids

Abstract Background Although immunotherapies represent an encouraging approach against cancer, to date none translated to the clinical benefit in Glioblastoma (GBM). One aspect contributing to this failure is the highly immunosuppressive GBM microenvironment. Our approach to overcome immunosuppression is to increase anti-tumor immune responses via adenovirus (AdV)-mediated delivery of the MHC-II Transactivator (CIITA) gene. CIITA-induced MHC-II expression is anticipated to convert GBM cells into surrogate antigen presenting cells able to prime T helper cells, therefore promoting CD4+ and CD8+ mediated immunity. Material and Methods We generated AdVs containing wild type CIITA (Ad-CIITA) using a replication-defective serotype5 adenoviral backbone. AdVs containing a mutated, non-functional version of CIITA (Ad-CIITA mutant) and an empty CMV promoter (Ad-null) were used as controls. AdV-mediated MHC-II expression was monitored at mRNA, protein and cell surface level. For the functional assessment of anti-tumor immune responses, we developed an advanced human GBM organoid model system consisting of tumor organoids co-cultured with either human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or isolated CD3+ T cells. T cell mediated tumor cell killing was monitored over time via live cell imaging and flow cytometry. Results We successfully constructed and produced a CIITA-armed AdV that induces MHC-II expression in infected GBM cells, indicating the efficient expression of transcriptionally active CIITA for at least six days post infection. In immunocompetent human GBM organoids, Ad-CIITA infection of tumor cells led to prominent organoid disruption and tumor cell death, an effect that was not observed in the absence of PBMCs or CD3+ T cells. Tumor organoids infected with Ad-CIITA mutant remained intact, demonstrating the implication of cell surface MHC-II molecules in the observed phenotype. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that AdV-mediated delivery of CIITA is a promising strategy to increase T cell mediated immunity against glioblastoma.