Aberrant Expression of MHC Class II in Melanoma Attracts Inflammatory Tumor-Specific CD4+ T- Cells, Which Dampen CD8+ T-cell Antitumor Reactivity

Marco Donia, Rikke Andersen, Julie W Kjeldsen, Paolo Fagone, Shamaila Munir, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Mads Hald Andersen, Per Thor Straten, Inge Marie Svane

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the absence of a local inflammatory response, expression of MHC class II molecules is restricted mainly to hematopoietic cells and thymus epithelium. However, certain tumors, such as melanoma, may acquire aberrant constitutive expression of MHC class II. In a set of primary melanoma cell populations and correspondingly expanded autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), we show how MHC class II expression on melanoma cells associates with strong MHC class II-restricted CD4+T-cell responses that are specific for tumors. Notably, we found that tumor-specific CD4+T-cell responses were dominated by TNF production. TNF reduced CD8+T-cell activation in IFNγ-rich environments resembling a tumor site. Conversely, direct CD4+T-cell responses had no influence on either the proliferation or viability of melanoma cells.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Research
Volume75
Issue number18
Pages (from-to)3747-59
Number of pages13
ISSN0008-5472
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2015

Keywords

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, MHC Class II
  • HLA-D Antigens
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma Release Tests
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
  • Melanoma
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Aberrant Expression of MHC Class II in Melanoma Attracts Inflammatory Tumor-Specific CD4+ T- Cells, Which Dampen CD8+ T-cell Antitumor Reactivity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this