A critical role for regulatory T cells in driving cytokine profiles of Th17 cells and their modulation of glioma microenvironment

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2011 Dec;60(12):1739-50. doi: 10.1007/s00262-011-1069-4. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Abstract

IL-17A, produced by Th17 cells, may play a dual role in antitumor immunity. Using the GL261-glioma model, we investigated the effects of Th17 cells on tumor growth and microenvironment. Th17 cells infiltrate mouse gliomas, increase significantly in a time-dependent manner similarly to Treg and do not express Foxp3. To characterize the direct effects of Th17 cells on GL261 murine gliomas and on tumor microenvironment, we isolated IL-17-producing cells enriched from splenocytes derived from naïve (nTh17) or glioma-bearing mice (gTh17) and pre-stimulated in vitro with or without TGF-β. Spleen-derived Th17 cells co-expressing IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-10, but not Treg marker Foxp3, were co-injected intracranially with GL261 in immune-competent mice. Mice co-injected with GL261 and nTh17 survived significantly longer than gTh17 (P < 0.006) and gliomas expressed high level of IFN-γ and TNF-α, low levels of IL-10 and TGF-β. In vitro IL-17 per se did not exert effects on GL261 proliferation; in vivo gliomas grew equally well intracranially in IL-17 deficient and wild-type mice. We further analyzed relationship between Th17 cells and Treg. Treg were significantly higher in splenocytes from glioma-bearing than naïve mice (P = 0.01) and gTh17 produced more IL-10 than IFN-γ (P = 0.002). In vitro depletion of Treg using PC61 in splenocytes from glioma-bearing mice causes increased IL-17/IFN-γ cells (P = 0.007) and decreased IL-17/IL-10 cells (P = 0.03). These results suggest that Th17 polarization may be induced by Treg and that Th17 cells in gliomas modulate tumor growth depending on locally produced cytokines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Separation
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glioma / immunology*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines