Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are one of the most important components in the immune suppressive networks in the tumor microenvironment. Tregs dampen tumor associated antigen (TAA)-specific T cell immunity and are thought to be the main obstacle tempering successful immunotherapy and active vaccination. Accumulating evidence indicates that tumor microenvironment controls the recruitment of Tregs, and Tregs interact with antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T cells to mediate immune suppression. Multiple modes of action of suppression are proposed in the literature to dissect their suppressive mechanisms. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the survival, the phenotypic and functional integrity of Tregs in the human tumor microenvironment remain poorly understood. In this proposal we take human ovarian cancer as a typical research model to address these significant questions.
Our specific aims are:
Aim 1 is to test our hypothesis that functional CXCR4 on Tregs is induced by hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment. The HIF/CXCR4 pathway will be explored.
Aim 2 is to test our hypothesis that Tregs survive hypoxia through interacting with tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. The CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway will be explored.
Aim 3 is to test the hypothesis that hypoxia regulates Treg functional stability and integrity in human ovarian cancer. The HIF/Notch pathway will be explored. Our proposal will provide a novel mechanism linking the HIF signaling pathway to Treg survival, phenotype and functional integrity in the human tumor microenvironment. Understanding this new molecular link and the relevance will shed significant light on human Treg biology and provide useful information for designing novel therapeutic strategies to treat patients with cancer.

Public Health Relevance

It has been shown that tumor infiltrating effector T cells are positively and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are negatively associated with patient outcome in multiple human cancers. Tumor associated antigen (TAA)-specific T cell responses are induced by tumor immune therapy and vaccination in patients with cancer. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the survival, the phenotypic and functional integrity of Tregs in the human tumor microenvironment remain poorly understood. Understanding the molecular circuitry that contributes to the maintenance and survival of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment will generate novel information on human Treg biology, and provide insight into new approaches in cancer therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA099985-07
Application #
8434263
Study Section
Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy Study Section (CII)
Program Officer
Howcroft, Thomas K
Project Start
2003-04-01
Project End
2015-01-31
Budget Start
2013-02-01
Budget End
2014-01-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$203,951
Indirect Cost
$71,944
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Crespo, Joel; Wu, Ke; Li, Wei et al. (2018) Human Naive T Cells Express Functional CXCL8 and Promote Tumorigenesis. J Immunol 201:814-820
Nagarsheth, Nisha; Wicha, Max S; Zou, Weiping (2017) Chemokines in the cancer microenvironment and their relevance in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 17:559-572
Maj, Tomasz; Wang, Wei; Crespo, Joel et al. (2017) Oxidative stress controls regulatory T cell apoptosis and suppressor activity and PD-L1-blockade resistance in tumor. Nat Immunol 18:1332-1341
Wang, Weimin; Kryczek, Ilona; Dostál, Lubomír et al. (2016) Effector T Cells Abrogate Stroma-Mediated Chemoresistance in Ovarian Cancer. Cell 165:1092-1105
Zhao, Ende; Maj, Tomasz; Kryczek, Ilona et al. (2016) Cancer mediates effector T cell dysfunction by targeting microRNAs and EZH2 via glycolysis restriction. Nat Immunol 17:95-103
Peng, Dongjun; Tanikawa, Takashi; Li, Wei et al. (2016) Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Endow Stem-like Qualities to Breast Cancer Cells through IL6/STAT3 and NO/NOTCH Cross-talk Signaling. Cancer Res 76:3156-65
Nagarsheth, Nisha; Peng, Dongjun; Kryczek, Ilona et al. (2016) PRC2 Epigenetically Silences Th1-Type Chemokines to Suppress Effector T-Cell Trafficking in Colon Cancer. Cancer Res 76:275-82
Zou, Weiping; Wolchok, Jedd D; Chen, Lieping (2016) PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-1 pathway blockade for cancer therapy: Mechanisms, response biomarkers, and combinations. Sci Transl Med 8:328rv4
Peng, Dongjun; Kryczek, Ilona; Nagarsheth, Nisha et al. (2015) Epigenetic silencing of TH1-type chemokines shapes tumour immunity and immunotherapy. Nature 527:249-53
Kryczek, Ilona; Lin, Yanwei; Nagarsheth, Nisha et al. (2014) IL-22(+)CD4(+) T cells promote colorectal cancer stemness via STAT3 transcription factor activation and induction of the methyltransferase DOT1L. Immunity 40:772-784

Showing the most recent 10 out of 29 publications