Steady-state lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) can induce peripheral tolerance by presenting endogenous antigens on MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules. Recent evidence suggests that lymph node LECs can cross-present tumor antigens on MHC-I to suppress tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. Whether LECs can act as immunosuppressive cells in an MHC-II dependent manner in the local tumor microenvironment (TME) is not well characterized. Using murine heterotopic and spontaneous tumor models, we show that LECs in the TME increase MHC-II expression in the context of increased co-inhibitory signals. We provide evidence that tumor lymphatics in human melanoma and breast cancer also upregulate MHC-II compared to normal tissue lymphatics. In transgenic mice that lack LEC-specific MHC-II expression, heterotopic tumor growth is attenuated, which is associated with increased numbers of tumor-specific CD8+ and effector CD4+ T cells, as well as decreased numbers of T regulatory CD4+ cells in the TME. Mechanistically, we show that murine and human dermal LECs can take up tumor antigens in vitro. Antigen-loaded LECs in vitro can induce antigen-specific proliferation of CD8+ T cells but not CD4+ T cells; however, these proliferated CD8+ T cells have reduced effector function in the presence of antigen-loaded LECs. Taken together, our study suggests LECs can act as immunosuppressive cells in the TME in an MHC-II dependent manner. Whether this is a result of direct tumor antigen presentation on MHC-II requires additional investigation.
Keywords: lymphatic immunomodulation; tumor microenvironment; tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.