Optimizing canine T cell activation, expansion, and transduction

Treyvon W Davis1, Jennifer C Holmes2, Arissa He3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, North Carolina, Raleigh, United States of America.

Plos One
|September 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Optimizing canine T cell immunotherapy requires effective T cell activation. Plate-bound antibodies, specifically αCD3 clone CA17.6F9 with αCD28 clone 5B8 or PMA/ionomycin, enhance T cell activation, expansion, and transduction for better cancer treatment outcomes in dogs.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Veterinary Oncology
  • Cell Therapy

Background:

  • Dogs serve as valuable models for human cancer research.
  • Canine T cell immunotherapy shows promise but is limited by suboptimal T cell activation and transduction methods.
  • Existing research lacks a comprehensive comparison of different antibody stimulation strategies and presentation methods for canine T cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the most effective methods for canine T cell activation, expansion, and viral transduction for immunotherapy.
  • To compare the efficacy of plate-bound versus bead-bound antibodies for T cell stimulation.
  • To evaluate different antibody clone combinations and mitogens for optimizing canine T cell responses.

Main Methods:

  • Tested 12 antibody stimulation strategies, including combinations of two αCD3 and two αCD28 antibody clones presented on plates or beads.
  • Evaluated two mitogens: phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) with ionomycin and concanavalin A (ConA).
  • Assessed the impact of stimulation strategies on T cell activation, expansion, transduction efficiency, CD4/CD8 T cell subset proportions, and regulatory T cell (Treg) prevalence.

Main Results:

  • Plate-bound antibodies were significantly more effective than bead-bound antibodies for canine T cell stimulation.
  • Plate-bound αCD3 clone CA17.6F9 combined with αCD28 clone 5B8, or with the mitogen PMA/ionomycin, yielded superior activation, expansion, and transduction.
  • These optimal strategies also resulted in favorable T cell subset profiles, including CD4/CD8 ratios and Treg prevalence, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Plate-bound antibody stimulation, particularly using specific αCD3/αCD28 combinations or PMA/ionomycin, is superior for canine T cell immunotherapy.
  • Optimized T cell activation and transduction strategies can enhance the efficacy and safety of T cell-based cancer treatments in dogs.
  • Findings provide a critical foundation for advancing canine T cell immunotherapy, with potential implications for human cancer therapies.

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