Intratumoral IFN-α gene delivery reduces tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells through the downregulation of tumor CCL17 expression

Cancer Gene Ther. 2019 Sep;26(9-10):334-343. doi: 10.1038/s41417-018-0059-5. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Abstract

The effect of IFN-α on the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is not fully understood. We previously reported that intratumoral IFN-α gene transduction decreased the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor by inducing the secretion of IL-6 from dendritic cells. In this study, we examined whether IFN-α affects the trafficking of Tregs to the tumor. Since CT26 cells expressed CCL17 among Treg-attracting chemokines, we focused on its role in IFN-α-mediated Treg suppression. IFN-α directly suppressed CCL17 production from CT26 cells in vitro, and IFN-α transduction reduced CCL17 expression in tumors in vivo. Next, to investigate whether CCL17 downregulation is related to the suppression of Treg trafficking, CCL17-downregulated CT26 cells produced using short hairpin RNA (CT26-shCCL17) were inoculated into mice. The frequency of Tregs in CT26-shCCL17 tumors was reduced and tumor growth was suppressed. Finally, to examine the combinatorial effect of IFN-α expression with CCL17 downregulation, IFN-α was transduced into CT26-shCCL17 tumors. This resulted in an elevation of CT26-specific CD8+ T cells and the complete eradication of tumors. This study shows a novel mechanism of IFN-α-mediated Treg suppression, and combining IFN-α gene therapy with strong CCL17 downregulation could offer a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemokine CCL17 / genetics*
  • Chemokine CCL17 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • CCL17 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL17
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Small Interfering