Limited representation of intratumoral immune cells is a major barrier to tumor control distinct from the barrier of immunosuppression. Understanding and overcoming this limitation will enable us to extend the effectiveness of many immunotherapies to a broader cross-section of cancer patients. It has been assumed that all tumor- infiltrating lymphocytes are effectors that differentiate in tumor-draining lymph nodes (LN) and subsequently enter the tumor. However, we showed that naive CD8 T cells (TCD8) enter tumors directly, where they differentiate into functional effectors. Naive TCD8 infiltration depends on L-selectin and CCR7, and on the development of tumor blood vessels that express peripheral node addressing (PNAd) and the chemokine CCL21 and resemble LN high endothelial venules. We have also identified organized tertiary lymphoid tissue (TLO) in juxtaposition to this LN-like vasculature. PNAd+ LN-like vasculature has been reported in human solid tumors in association with TLO-like tissue, and correlated with longer metastasis-free, disease-free, and overall survival in breast cancer patients. These data suggest that induction of LN-like vasculature could bolster anti- tumor immunity by enhancing the infiltration and in situ activation of naive TCD8. Induction of high endothelial venules in LN is controlled by lymphotoxin-b receptor signaling. However, we found that CCL21 expression depends on IFNg secreted by TCD8 effectors, while PNAd expression is controlled by lymphotoxin-a3. This suggests that early infiltration of effectors induces LN-like vasculature, which in turn supports a self-sustaining recruitment of nave T cells that differentiate within the tumor.
The aims of this application are: (1) to determine how TNF receptor ligands regulate the expression of PNAd on tumor vasculature. We will evaluate which scaffolding proteins and enzymes are responsible for tumor associated PNAd. We will also determine if TNF? and lymphotoxin-a3 act redundantly to induce PNAd expression in subcutaneous tumors, since both are ligands for TNF receptors 1 and 2; (2) to determine how the expression of CCL21 in tumors is regulated. We will determine how IFNg controls the expression of CCL21 by gp38+CD31neg cell and endothelial cells in IP tumors. We will also identify mechanisms controlling CCL21 expression in SC tumors; (3) to evaluate the organization and function of TLO-like structures that form in association with LN-like vasculature in tumors. We will evaluate the role of gp38+CD31neg cells as organizers of TLO in tumors, and the factors that influence their activity. We will also determine whether these TLO serve as a locus for positive or negative regulation of anti- tumor immunity. As an R21 application, our purpose is to conduct experiments that will distinguish among different novel mechanisms that control expression of these molecules, enabling development of a future R01 application to investigate means to manipulate them to enhance anti-tumor immunity and cancer control.
This is a proposal to characterize the mechanisms that induce the formation of blood vasculature in tumors that resembles that of lymph node high endothelial venules. We have shown that this vasculature enables the infiltration of naive CD8 T cells that differentiate into effectors, providing a long-lasting source of anti-tumor immunity. Others have shown that this vasculature can be associated with features of tertiary lymphoid organs and inflammatory chemokines. Its presence is a positive prognostic indicator in human cancer patients. Our purpose is to conduct experiments that will distinguish among different novel mechanisms that control expression of these molecules, enabling future investigations to manipulate them to enhance anti-tumor immunity and cancer control.
| Engelhard, Victor H; Rodriguez, Anthony B; Mauldin, Ileana S et al. (2018) Immune Cell Infiltration and Tertiary Lymphoid Structures as Determinants of Antitumor Immunity. J Immunol 200:432-442 |
| Rodriguez, Anthony B; Peske, J David; Engelhard, Victor H (2018) Identification and Characterization of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in Murine Melanoma. Methods Mol Biol 1845:241-257 |
| Peske, J David; Woods, Amber B; Engelhard, Victor H (2015) Control of CD8 T-Cell Infiltration into Tumors by Vasculature and Microenvironment. Adv Cancer Res 128:263-307 |
| Peske, J David; Thompson, Elizabeth D; Gemta, Lelisa et al. (2015) Effector lymphocyte-induced lymph node-like vasculature enables naive T-cell entry into tumours and enhanced anti-tumour immunity. Nat Commun 6:7114 |
