Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor inactivation in CAR T-cells prevents monocyte-dependent release of key cytokine release syndrome mediators

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has been shown to be clinically effective for managing a variety of hematological cancers. However, CAR T-cell therapy is associated with multiple adverse effects, including neurotoxicity and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS arises from massive cytokine secretion and can be life-threatening, but it is typically managed with an anti-IL-6Ra mAb or glucocorticoid administration. However, these treatments add to a patient’s medication burden and address only the CRS symptoms. Therefore, alternative strategies that can prevent CRS and neurotoxicity associated with CAR T-cell treatment are urgently needed. Here, we explored a therapeutic route aimed at preventing CRS rather than limiting its consequences. Using a cytokine-profiling assay, we show that granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) is a key CRS-promoting protein. Through a combination of in vitro experiments and gene-editing technology, we further demonstrate that antibody-mediated neutralization or TALEN-mediated genetic inactivation of GMCSF in CAR T-cells drastically decreases available GMCSF and abolishes macrophage-dependent secretion of CRS biomarkers, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL) 6, and IL-8. Of note, we also found that the genetic inactivation of GMCSF does not impair the antitumor function or proliferative capacity of CAR T-cells in vitro. We conclude that it is possible to prevent CRS by using “all-in-one” GMCSF-knockout CAR T-cells. This approach may eliminate the need for anti-CRS treatment and may improve the overall safety of CAR T-cell therapies for cancer patients.