Cutting edge: tumor-specific CD8+ T cells infiltrating prostatic tumors are induced to become suppressor cells

KA Shafer-Weaver, MJ Anderson… - The Journal of …, 2009 - journals.aai.org
KA Shafer-Weaver, MJ Anderson, K Stagliano, A Malyguine, NM Greenberg, AA Hurwitz
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
We previously reported that naive, tumor-specific CD8+(TcR-I) T cells transferred into
prostate tumor-bearing mice traffic to the prostate where they become tolerized. We now
report that TcR-I cells suppress the proliferation of naive T cells. This suppression is
mediated at least in part by secreted factors, and the suppressive activity can be blocked by
Abs directed against TGF-β. We further report that TcR-I cells must infiltrate the prostate to
acquire suppressive activity. Delivery of tumor-specific CD4+ T cells prevents the conversion …
Abstract
We previously reported that naive, tumor-specific CD8+(TcR-I) T cells transferred into prostate tumor-bearing mice traffic to the prostate where they become tolerized. We now report that TcR-I cells suppress the proliferation of naive T cells. This suppression is mediated at least in part by secreted factors, and the suppressive activity can be blocked by Abs directed against TGF-β. We further report that TcR-I cells must infiltrate the prostate to acquire suppressive activity. Delivery of tumor-specific CD4+ T cells prevents the conversion of TcR-I cells into suppressor cells. Taken together, our findings may have critical implications for sustaining T cell responsiveness during immunotherapy, as the development of suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment may eliminate the potency of T cells primed in the periphery or delivered during adoptive immunotherapy.
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