B cells are critical to T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity induced by a combined immune-stimulatory/conditionally cytotoxic therapy for glioblastoma

Neoplasia. 2011 Oct;13(10):947-60. doi: 10.1593/neo.11024.

Abstract

We have demonstrated that modifying the tumor microenvironment through intratumoral administration of adenoviral vectors (Ad) encoding the conditional cytotoxic molecule, i.e., HSV1-TK and the immune-stimulatory cytokine, i.e., fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) leads to T-cell-dependent tumor regression in rodent models of glioblastoma. We investigated the role of B cells during immune-mediated glioblastoma multiforme regression. Although treatment with Ad-TK+Ad-Flt3L induced tumor regression in 60% of wild-type (WT) mice, it completely failed in B-cell-deficient Igh6(-/-) mice. Tumor-specific T-cell precursors were detected in Ad-TK+Ad-Flt3L-treated WT mice but not in Igh6(-/-) mice. The treatment also failed in WT mice depleted of total B cells or marginal zone B cells. Because we could not detect circulating antibodies against tumor cells and the treatment was equally efficient in WT mice and in mice with B-cell-specific deletion of Prdm 1 (encoding Blimp-1), in which B cells are present but unable to fully differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells, tumor regression in this model is not dependent on B cells' production of tumor antigen-specific immunoglobulins. Instead, B cells seem to play a role as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Treatment with Ad-TK+Ad-Flt3L led to an increase in the number of B cells in the cervical lymph nodes, which stimulated the proliferation of syngeneic T cells and induced clonal expansion of antitumor T cells. Our data show that B cells act as APCs, playing a critical role in clonal expansion of tumor antigen-specific T cells and brain tumor regression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / enzymology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Thymidine Kinase / genetics
  • Thymidine Kinase / immunology
  • Thymidine Kinase / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • flt3 ligand protein
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • Thymidine Kinase