Inhibition of cell-mediated immunity in type 1 diabetes by beta cell-targeted PD-1 agonists in pancreas tissue slices

Tissue-targeted immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D) hold potential to protect pancreatic beta cells while minimizing systemic immunosuppression. We used a bispecific agonist called Immune Modulating Monoclonal-TCR Against Autoimmune Disease (ImmTAAI), consisting of a T cell receptor (TCR) targeting domain fused with a PD-1 agonist to specifically bind beta cells and suppress autoreactive T cells. We used live pancreas slices to demonstrate targeting of ImmTAAI molecules to pre-proinsulin peptide-HLA-A2 complexes on human beta cells. ImmTAAI protected beta cells from T cell killing by increasing T cell motility and inhibiting cytokine secretion. ImmTAAI treatment also increased the motility of islet-infiltrating T cells in slices from a donor with recent-onset T1D and preserved insulin secretion in slices co-cultured with T cell avatars transduced with diabetogenic TCRs. These data demonstrate that ImmTAAI molecules have the potential to limit T cell activity locally, making this an attractive platform to elicit targeted immunoregulation in T1D.