CAR T cells and T cells phenotype and function are impacted by glucocorticoid exposure with different magnitude

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is associated with high risk of adverse events. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are cornerstone in the management of high-grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Given the potentially deleterious effects of GCs on CAR T cells anti-tumor activity, increasing our understanding of GCs impact on CAR T cells is crucial.

Using several CAR T cells i.e., CD19, mesothelin (MSLN)-CD28 and MSLN-41BB CAR T cells (M28z and MBBz), we compared phenotypical, functional, changes and anti-tumor activity between i) transduced CD19 CAR T cells with untransduced T cells, ii) M28z with MBBz CAR T cells induced by Dexamethasone (Dx) or Methylprednisolone (MP) exposures.

Higher levels of GC receptor were found in less differentiated CAR T cells. Overall, Dx and MP showed a similar impact on CAR T cells. Compared to untreated condition, GCs exposure increased the expression of PD-1 and TIM-3 and reduced the expression of LAG3 and function of T cells and CAR T cells. GC exposures induced more exhausted (LAG3 + PD1 + TIM3 +) and dysfunctional (CD107a-INFγ-TNF-IL2-) untransduced T cells in comparison to CD19 CAR T cells. GC exposure impaired more CD4 + than CD8 + CD19 CAR T cells. GC exposures increased more PD-1 expression associated with reduced proliferative capacity and function of M28z as compared to MBBz CAR T cells. CAR T cells anti-tumor activity was greatly affected by repeated GC exposure but partly recovered within 48h after GCs withdrawal.

In summary, GCs impacted phenotype and function of untransduced and CAR T cell with different magnitude. The nature of the CAR costimulatory domain influenced the magnitude of CAR T cell response to GCs.