T cell receptor precision editing of regulatory T cells for celiac disease

Abstract

Celiac disease, a gluten-sensitive enteropathy, demonstrates a strong human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association, with more than 90% of patients carrying the HLA-DQ2.5 allotype. No therapy is available for the condition except for a lifelong gluten-free diet. To address this gap, we explored the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells (T regs ). By orthotopic replacement of T cell receptors (TCRs) through homology-directed repair, we generated gluten-reactive HLA-DQ2.5–restricted CD4 + engineered (e) T effector cells (T effs ) and eT regs and performed in vivo experiments in HLA-DQ2.5 transgenic mice. Of five validated TCRs, TCRs specific for two immunodominant and deamidated gluten epitopes (DQ2.5-glia-α1a and DQ2.5-glia-α2) were selected for further evaluation. CD4 + eT effs exposed to deamidated gluten through oral gavage colocalized with dendritic and B cells in the Peyer’s patches and gut-draining lymph nodes and specifically migrated to the intestine. The suppressive function of human eT regs correlated with high TCR functional activity. eT regs specific for one epitope suppressed the proliferation and gut migration of CD4 + eT effs specific for the same and the other gluten epitope, demonstrating bystander suppression. The suppression requires an antigen-specific activation of eT regs given that polyclonal T regs failed to suppress CD4 + eT effs . These findings highlight the potential of gluten-reactive eT regs as a therapeutic for celiac disease.